Call for Botany Conference Papers, Posters and Presentations
Comments Off on Call for Botany Conference Papers, Posters and Presentations
Save the Date: Botany Conference 2024
Comments Off on Save the Date: Botany Conference 2024
The Arizona Native Plant Society will hold its annual Botany 2024 Conference, the first in-person meeting since 2019, on 17 and 18 August. The venue for the conference will be the comfortable Center for Performing Arts at the Pima Community College (West Campus) in Tucson. The campus is easily accessible from I-10 and offers abundant free parking.
The conference agenda will include oral and poster presentations from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, 17 August. A continental breakfast will be offered from 8:30 to 9:00 AM on Saturday with a catered lunch at noon. On Sunday, August 18, several guided field trips will be offered to local areas, such as Tucson Mountain Park, Mount Lemmon, Catalina State Park, Ironwood Forest NM, and Tumamoc Hill. Attendees may also wish to visit independently some of the other natural history attractions in the Tucson area such as the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the Tucson Botanical Gardens, and the Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens and Gallery.
The conference committee is currently developing ideas for a conference theme and lining up potential speakers. Specific details about the conference agenda and registration information will be made available soon on the AZNPS website and through direct communications to Chapters and individual members
Chiricahua Weekend Workshop 2023
Comments Off on Chiricahua Weekend Workshop 2023Late Summer in the Chiricahua Mountains
September 16, 17, and 18, 2023
Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Cochise County
The Cochise and Tucson Chapters of the Arizona Native Plant Society are again sponsoring a long weekend in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Cochise County.
These richly diverse mountains are one the northern-most islands in the Madrean Archipelago that encompasses parts of Arizona, New Mexico , Sonora, and Chihuahua. Come enjoy this weekend with us.
Whatever the weather, there will be botanical treats and great company.
Tentative Schedule:
Day 1: Arrive mid to late afternoon, check in, eat supper and head for the education center for some plant talks and discussion.
Day 2: An all-day field trip to a location to be determined. Or alternatively, stay nearer SWRS and attend one or both of two shorter field trips. Happy Hour at the pool before dinner. Evening program in the station’s education center consisting of a plant ID workshop for plants encountered during the field trips.
Day 3: A morning field trip, lunch, and then depart.
Registration:
Accommodations, including meals, will be provided by the Southwestern Research Station.
PLEASE CONTACT DOUG RIPLEY (jdougripley@gmail.com) FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM.
Invasive Species Alert – Stinknet!
Comments Off on Invasive Species Alert – Stinknet!Help control the spread of Stinknet to protect native habitats and prevent wildfires!
Also known as Globe chamomile (Oncosiphon pilluliferum), Stinknet is a noxious weed that is spreading quickly throughout central Arizona. In Spring and early Summer, flowering Stinknet plants can easily be spotted, as they look like little yellow lollipops. If you have it on your property, take action to remove and dispose of the plants before the seeds ripen and have a chance to spread!
Learn more by viewing our Stinknet pamphlet, which is available in English and Spanish. Please download, read, and share this important information with others!
Happenings – Spring 2023 Newsletter
Comments Off on Happenings – Spring 2023 NewsletterThe Spring 2023 edition of Happenings is now available! Download a copy to learn more about activities of Arizona Native Plant Society chapters around the state.
Arizona’s Desert Tortoise Adoption Program
Comments Off on Arizona’s Desert Tortoise Adoption ProgramDid you know that Arizona has a Desert Tortoise adoption program?
This was the topic of the Phoenix Chapter’s May meeting. Kellie Tharpe of the Arizona Game and Fish Department gave a feature presentation. The recording is available to watch any time on the AZNPS YouTube Channel.
Watch the video to learn about the adoption program, including how to create tortoise habitat in your yard using native plants!
Information about the adoption program is available on the Arizona Game and Fish Department website. Also, for a list of native plants that tortoises love to eat, see the Native Plants for Desert Tortoises pamphlet.
June 27, 2024 Presentation
Comments Off on June 27, 2024 PresentationNatural History Institute in Prescott, AZ has a free talk coming up on June 27th which may be of interest to members of your group. Carrie Cannon, a professional Ethnobotanist with the Hualapai Tribe of the Grand Canyon, will be giving a lecture on “Plants of the Mojave Desert and Traditional Tribal Uses” at 7pm AZ Time on Thursday, June 27th. *The event is free, but space is limited, and registration is required to attend. Use the Eventbrite link above to register.
If you or any member of your group would like to attend in person, it would be a wonderful opportunity to connect with the Prescott Native Plant Society co-presidents and members who will be in attendance. The talk can also be live-streamed remotely at this link on our Youtube channel. The live-stream recording will be posted on the Flagstaff chapter YouTube channel for you to watch at your convenience if the timing of the event doesn’t suit you well.
Field TripSunday, June 23, 2024
Comments Off on Field TripSunday, June 23, 2024Mt. Elden Agaves
Join Susan Holiday as she shows us native Agave parryi (Parry’s Agave)
that grow in the “banana belt” of Mt. Elden. Contact Susan at
naris123@cs.com for specific details.
June 18, 2024 Chapter Meeting at 7 p.m.
Comments Off on June 18, 2024 Chapter Meeting at 7 p.m. Wendy McBride: Conserving Rare Plants and Their Pollinators
The need for information on the basic biology, including reproductive systems and pollination ecology, of rare species is integral to both species-and community-level conservation efforts. Angiosperms are often dependent upon interactions with animal pollinators for successful reproduction, and pollinators are often reliant upon plants for vital food and other resources.
This talk explores the pollination ecology of two rare plants occurring in Arizona, Erigeron rhizomatus (Zuni fleabane), and Sphaeralcea gierischii (Gierisch’s globemallow), and the tightly bound relationship between plants and their pollinators. This mutual dependence informs conservation efforts and reminds us of the complexity of organisms, their intricate connections and interconnected fates, much of which we still do not understand despite our impacts on the environment around us.
Wendy is a botanist based in Flagstaff. She has a background in teaching, independent botanical research,
and working as a consulting botanist. She has been working with plants for 18 years and enjoys opportunities to learn more about plants and explore their biology, ecology, and taxonomy
July 16, 2024 Chapter Meeting
Comments Off on July 16, 2024 Chapter MeetingTuesday, July 16, 7:00 PM: Jesse Duff-Woodruff. Plants Endemic to the Kaibab
National Forest
August 20, 2024 Chapter Meeting @ 7 p.m.
Comments Off on August 20, 2024 Chapter Meeting @ 7 p.m.Zane Robertson. Rumex thoneurus
Rumex orthoneurus is an herbaceous riparian perennial within the Polygonaceae or Buckwheat family native to Arizona and is a Forest Service sensitive species. One of the issues regarding the “threatened” status of R. orthoneurus is the taxonomic istinctions between R. orthoneurus and closely
related species, such as R. densiflorus, R. pycnanthus, and R. occidentalis. My research focuses on using ribosomal RNA extracted from herbarium specimens, GenBank sequences, and other historic records to provide insight on the identity of R. orthoneurus and better inform conservation efforts.
Zane Robertson is a Plant Biology and Conservation M.S. graduate of Arizona State University. His interest lies in rare plant conservation and molecular biology, and his thesis focuses on combining historic and molecular techniques to clarify the identity of the rare plant Rumex orthoneurus. He is
from Mukilteo, Washington State, where he first gained interest in plant biology while volunteering at the community garden. He graduated from Everett Community College within the Ocean Research College Academy program, where he gained an interest in research and the principles of conservation within the natural world. During his time at Montana State University, he studied wheat breeding and tested a quantitative trait loci (QTL) from spring wheat varieties to identify the effect of the QTL on different traits. He is currently working as a Conservation and Land Management Program (CLM) Intern with the U.S. Forest Service at Tonto National Forest and Chicago Botanical Garden.
Announcing Grass Identification Class
Comments Off on Announcing Grass Identification ClassBack by popular demand, the AZ Native Plant Society and the University of Arizona Herbarium will offer a
two-day combination lecture and hands-on workshop for students serious about doing grass ID work. The course goals are to impart sufficient knowledge for students to make wise decisions regarding collection of grasses, to provide complete information on grass morphology, and to teach the use of keys for identification of most Arizona species. Handout materials, dissecting scopes, tools, and pressed grass specimens for study will be provided. The first day will be lecture mixed with hands-on work. The second day can be for review if needed or desired and questions, plus working with keys from various references.
Total enrollment for the class is 18 students. Last year the class filled rapidly, and a waiting list was established.
This year we will consult the 2023 waiting list and offer class slots to individuals on last year’s waiting list and who wish to take the course this year.
Instructors: Mike Bauer with assistance from several AZNPS members, Dr. Shelley McMahon, Herbarium
Curator and Associate Professor, UA, and George Ferguson, UA Herbarium Collections Manager.
Sponsors: University of Arizona Herbarium and Arizona Native Plant Society
When: August 16 and 30, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Where: University of Arizona Herbarium, Herring Hall
Cost: $40
For Registration Contact: Douglas Ripley, jdougripley@gmail.com, 520-909-3132
Yuma Chapter News April 2024
Comments Off on Yuma Chapter News April 2024Our latest issue of the PLANT PRESS ARIZONA, Winter 2023/2024, is online here.
Comments Off on Our latest issue of the PLANT PRESS ARIZONA, Winter 2023/2024, is online here.Read about Native Alternatives to Common Non-Native Landscaping Plants. Oleander? Vinca? Heavenly Bamboo? Lantana? We suggest native alternatives. Book Review, News, and more. CLICK HERE
Cochise Chapter Update
Comments Off on Cochise Chapter UpdateThe Chapter’s monthly meetings continue to be on a hiatus. We are looking into
various options for resuming the meetings such as establishing a new meeting
room, lining up member volunteers to help run the meetings, and identifying
potential speakers. Consequently, we are not announcing any new meetings
currently. Members may learn of upcoming meetings, field trips, and other
activities from the Chapter Facebook website. Also, we will inform members of
all future activities in advance via the Chapter email roster. We would really
appreciate suggestions for future meeting topics and speakers. Please contact
Chapter President Douglas Ripley for any questions you may have regarding
future activities (jdougripley@gmail.com). Our most recent activity was the
annual Chiricahua weekend which was held on 16-18 September 2023. Thanks to
the conscientious assistance of several volunteers and the staff of the
Southwestern Research Station, I think it is safe to say that a good time was had
by all!
The Chapter has established a Facebook website (http://www.facebook.com/
AZNPSCochise) where much useful information about the chapter and its
members is posted.
Tonto Basin Chapter Meeting
Comments Off on Tonto Basin Chapter MeetingFriday, December 1, 10:00 – 12:00 PM
Exploring the Foothills of the Four Peaks Wilderness at Rock Creek Trailhead located on Forest
Service Road 445 & Highway 188. This botany walk will highlight keystone species in the riparian areas of
the Tonto National Forest.
6 AGAVES DOMESTICATED BY SOUTHWESTERN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Comments Off on 6 AGAVES DOMESTICATED BY SOUTHWESTERN INDIGENOUS PEOPLEPublished in the Annals of Botany, Desert Botanical Garden researchers Wendy Hodgson, Andrew Salywon and volunteer Jane Rosenthal describe six rare domesticated agave species whose clones remarkably can still be found living in ancient agricultural fields in Arizona that have not been tended for hundreds of years.
Read here.
Browse the Index of “Plant Press Arizona”
Comments Off on Browse the Index of “Plant Press Arizona”Published semiannually in themed issues, the “Plant Press Arizona” offers in-depth articles on a topic, such as rare plant conservation and regular features such as book reviews, committee reports, and spotlights on specific native plants.
All current and back issues of “Plant Press Arizona” have been professionally indexed. Our Index page is here.
A google-like search function is also available on our “Plant Press Arizona” page.
Our current issue is about the “Botanical Gardens and Arboreta of Arizona”. Read it online here.
This journal has an interesting 46-year history that can be found here.
Bisbee Earns National Wildlife Federation Recognition
Comments Off on Bisbee Earns National Wildlife Federation RecognitionThis story is part of the Arizona Spotlight episode which aired on August 24, 2023.
A group of volunteers in Bisbee is celebrating their city’s official designation as a Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
The group, Project Wildlife: Bisbee, got at least 100 property owners to commit to planting native species to provide food for pollinators, cover, and a place to raise young.
Fall 2023 Chapter Meetings
Comments Off on Fall 2023 Chapter MeetingsRegular evening programs are presented on the third Tuesday of the month, March through October, at 7:00 PM via Zoom. Some of the meetings have been recorded and can be viewed the Flagstaff Chapter’s Facebook or at The Arizona Native Plant Society. For details about upcoming meetings, please see our email distribution list (naris123@cs.com), Facebook page, or AZNPS.com. Field trips are typically held the weekend following the evening presentation. Watch the email distribution list for information about upcoming field trips.
Tuesday, September 19, 7:00 PM: Andrew Salywon. Using Trained Dogs to Detect Endangered Spiranthes delitescens
The objective of this work is to determine the ability of detection dogs to identify the presence of Spiranthes delitescens. If successful, the use of detection dogs would be a powerful tool to aid future surveys to relocate historical populations or discover previously undocumented populations of Canelo Hills ladies’ tresses. Utilizing trained dogs and their powerful sense of smell can greatly aid conservationists by making plant surveying much more efficient, thus requiring less human effort and resources. Spiranthes delitescens have recently been observed in small numbers at only one of four historically documented sites.
Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 PM:
Lane Butler. Assessment and Status of Rumex orthoneurus, a Rare and Vulnerable Forest Service Conservation Agreement Species on the Tonto National Forest
This talk will tell the story of Rumex orthoneurus on the Tonto National Forest from the late seventies to the present. How have populations changed? How has management changed? What actions have been taken to conserve the species under Conservation Agreements? What is the species status today and what does its future look like? Lane will address these questions and more.
Lane Butler is currently working on several rare and endangered plant conservation grants at the Desert
Botanical Garden. She enjoys hunting for (and finding!) rare plants, especially flowering Arizona hedgehog cacti on the Tonto National Forest. In 2015, she earned her Master of Science at ASU in Plant Conservation Biology in the riparian plant community ecology lab. Her project emphasized the relationships of plant and butterfly abundance and diversity to stream-flow permanence along Sonoran Desert streams.
Tonto Basin Events: September-December 2023
Comments Off on Tonto Basin Events: September-December 2023We will kick off the fall season with a Meet & Greet Social on
Saturday, September 30, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin.
Regular Chapter meetings will resume in October. Locations, dates and times will be posted on our
Facebook (https://tinyurl.com/27eb2hj3) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/aznpstontobasin/) accounts.
First Friday Field Trips will begin October 6 and be held monthly thru May at various locations in Gila County.
Details and updates for all our chapter meetings, First Friday Field Trips, and special events will be posted
on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. If you don’t want to miss out on our Chapter’s activities, please
email your contact info to tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com. We would love to have you join us!
Our chapter is looking for volunteers to help with botany walks, community service events and social
media. If you would like to help, please contact us at tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com.
Calendar of Events
Saturday, September 30, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: In the Garden Meet & Greet
Social at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Bring your coffee or tea and enjoy the company of other plant loving folks while we have fun identifying
native plants in a six-acre garden.
Friday, October 6, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Plant Families Botany Walk, Payson, AZ (exact location TBD )
Saturday, October 28, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Nighttime Pollinators & Full Moon Walk,
268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Friday, November 3, 10:00 am – 12:00 PM: First Friday Field Trip, Tonto National Monument
Saturday, November 18, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Botany 101, Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, 45675 N. Highway 188, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Friday, December 1, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Exploring the Foothills of The Four Peaks Wilderness
Plant Press Arizona, Summer 2023
Comments Off on Plant Press Arizona, Summer 2023Plan a Road Trip! Read all about the many Botanical Gardens and Arboreta of Arizona in our online version of Plant Press Arizona.
If you love nature, then Arizona is a great place to live. Its diversity is broad and deep. Where the Colorado River leaves Arizona and flows into Mexico, the elevation is about 70 feet, and the top of Humphrey’s Peak north of Flagstaff is 12,637 above sea level. Annual rainfall in the state ranges from less than 3 inches, near Yuma, to the record 58.92 inches at Hawley Lake in 1978. The topography can be flat or mountainous, and the geology is a very busy scramble.
These contrasts in elevation, precipitation, terrain, and substrate result in a great deal of contrast in ecological zones. That contrast leads to a lot of different plant species — 4,260 according to the Arizona checklist on the website for the Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet).
This amazing book is free to download as a PDF
Comments Off on This amazing book is free to download as a PDFFind the book here:
https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2022-01/BLMCO.Plant_.ID_.Guide_.2021_508.pdf
The goal of this field guide is to enable readers to identify 54 flowering plant families. The focus is on illustrating the field recognition characters with photographs. Take the plunge – learn the characteristics of the plant families presented here – and in short order you will be automatically classifying the plants you encounter.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 2021. Recognizing Plant Families of the West: Field Guide. Bureau of Land Management, Colorado.
Late SummerField Trips, Workshops and Mixers
Comments Off on Late SummerField Trips, Workshops and MixersWe have a number of excellent field trip offerings at this time for AZNPS members. Contact emails are not the same for all trips, so pay attention to the email address inserted in each trip announcement.
Don’t forget our Monsoon Mixer and Plant Swap on Friday, August 18th at the MSA Annex on 267 South Avenida Del Convento
A Morning Stroll in a Happily Recovering Desert at the Waterman Restoration Site
Saturday-Sunday September 2 and 3,
8:00 – 10:00 AM
Bring water, camelback recommended
Wear sturdy boots and long pants
Open to the Public
Please rsvp to tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com
Directions : Turn west at I-10 Avra Valley Road exit 242
Drive west exactly 19.5 miles
Turn left immediately after the HOLCIM sign
Drive straight ahead 1 mile, bearing left all the way
Meet at the first turn-out
The Waterman Restoration site on Ironwood Forest National monument is now in full desert recovery with over 110 native plant species and a gradually increasing number of insects, birds, small mammals, reptiles and even visits of desert sheep. In the mid-2000s this same site was known as the “Mother of all Buffelgrass Patches.” After generous recent rains, the desert is now coming alive. Perennial plants are leafing out and new plants are emerging underfoot. We will stroll through a desert in various stages of restoration, walking among mid-size and newly emerging desert trees, ocotillos, and bushes; learning how to identify them in different phases. We will learn about many overlooked plants that are powerful restoration agents and soil builders. We will see plant succession in action among trees and shrubs. We will also see how simple water harvesting techniques have brought life-giving moisture to the landscape and healed areas that had been bare and apparently “sterile.” Best of all, we will discover new things from participants who happen to see something unexpected or who have knowledge or observations to share with the group. This will be an opportunity to enjoy the desert together and learn from one another!
Roadside Grasses, including the newly discovered roadside Trailing Grama
Sunday 20 August
8am to 10am
Meet on the north side of the Trader Joe’s Parking area on the SE corner of Magee/Oracle
Limit: 12 participants
RSVP to tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com
Roadsides are unlikely but surprising places to find dozens of native (and non-native) grasses. Join John Scheuring on a driving grass tour of roadside basins briming with various grass species. This will be a great way to learn our common grasses by seeing them side-by-side in bloom. We will also see Trailing Grama Grass (Bouteloua diversispicula), the newly discovered roadside species common in Sonora that had only been previously found in Arizona in one remote area of Ironwood Forest. We will not park or walk on busy roadways but bring a reflective vest if you have one.
Lower Carrie Nation Trail Plant & Nature Walk
Madera Canyon
Saturday, August 26 8:00 am- 1:00 pm
Leader: Doug Moore. Friends of Madera Canyon Naturalist
Limit: 10 participants; AZNPS members only
on the Wrightson loop drive)RSVP to tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com Meet at Mt. Wrightson Picnic Area: 3rd upper right-side parking lot (with 1st restroomon the Wrightson loop drive)
Morning plant/nature walk on the beautiful lower Carrie Nation Trail, hiking up to & just above the “big rock” at the 2nd stream crossing seeking wildflowers, plants, birds, butterflies, & more We will watch for Elegant Trogon, Chiricahua Mountain Larkspur, Charles Mason’s Ragwort, Huachuca Mountain Addersmouth, Orchids, & other monsoon specialties along the trail.
Description: Approx. 1.75 miles roundtrip; moderate to difficult hiking on uneven, rocky ground w/ steady elevation gain & a stream crossing. The trail is mostly shaded, but the weather may be warm. Must be able to hike/stand for several hours & negotiate long downhill returning to parking area. Participants need to be in good physical shape & health for this activity!
Bring: water, good hiking shoes or boots, walking stick/poles, binoculars, sunscreen, sun hat & trail snacks for stop at the top. Optional: hand-held camera. Note: May need to return to parking lot immediately in the event of thunderstorm & lightening.
Sabino Canyon Herp and Plant Trip
Sunday, August 20th, 6pm-8pm
Meet at the Sabino Canyon Visitors Center
RSVP to nativeplantstucson@gmail.comJoin Tucson Herpetological Society President Robert Villa and AZNPS Tucson Chapter President Jack Dash on a natural history walk in Sabino Canyon. We will be looking out for reptiles, amphibians, plants, and whatever else we happen across. This trip is open to members of THS and AZNPS and is free (however Sabino Canyon does charge an $8 parking fee).
Despite our lack of reliable rainfall this summer Sabino Canyon should hold some interesting species for us to discuss. We will be hiking in the evening so flashlights/blacklights are encouraged for the walk back to the parking lot. Remember to bring plenty of water.
Late Summer in the Chiricahua Mountains
September 16, 17, and 18, 2023
Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Cochise CountyQuestions or More Information: Please contact Doug Ripley at jdougripley@gmail.com
The Cochise and Tucson Chapters of the Arizona Native Plant Society are again sponsoring a long weekend in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Cochise County.
These richly diverse mountains are one the northern-most islands in the Madrean Archipelago that encompasses parts of Arizona, New Mexico , Sonora, and Chihuahua. Come enjoy this weekend with us. Whatever the weather, there will be botanical treats and great company.
Accommodations, including meals, will be provided by the Southwestern Research Station.
Late Summer in the Chiricahua Mountains, September 16, 17, and 18, 2023
Comments Off on Late Summer in the Chiricahua Mountains, September 16, 17, and 18, 2023Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Cochise County.
The Cochise and Tucson Chapters of the Arizona Native Plant Society are again sponsoring a long weekend in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Cochise County.
These richly diverse mountains are one the northern-most islands in the Madrean Archipelago that encompasses parts of Arizona, New Mexico , Sonora, and Chihuahua. Come enjoy this weekend with us.
Whatever the weather, there will be botanical treats and great company.
Tentative Schedule:
Day 1: Arrive mid to late afternoon, check in, eat supper and head for the education center for some plant talks and discussion.
Day 2: An all-day field trip to a location to be determined. Or alternatively, stay nearer SWRS and attend one or both of two shorter field trips. Happy Hour at the pool before dinner. Evening program in the station’s education center consisting of a plant ID workshop for plants encountered during the field trips.
Day 3: A morning field trip, lunch, and then depart.
Registration:
Accommodations, including meals, will be provided by the Southwestern Research Station.
PLEASE CONTACT DOUG RIPLEY (jdougripley@gmail.com) FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM.
Flagstaff Chapter Meeting, August 11, 2023
Comments Off on Flagstaff Chapter Meeting, August 11, 2023August Meeting
Friday, August 11th 4:00-6:00pm
Mark Your Calendar for the Monsoon Mixer
Comments Off on Mark Your Calendar for the Monsoon MixerAnnual Monsoon Mixer:
This year’s AZNPS Tucson chapter Monsoon Mixer is scheduled for August 18th at 6:30pm at the MSA Annex at 267 South Avenida del Convento, Tucson, AZ 85745. Put the date on your calendars, and keep an eye out for further updates. This will be a plant like last year, so set aside native plants, native plant literature, and seed to exchange. Membership is not required to attend this event.
July Flagstaff Chapter AZNPS meeting July 18th, 7 PM, Nora Ventrella – Rare and Restoration Plants of The Navajo Nation
Comments Off on July Flagstaff Chapter AZNPS meeting July 18th, 7 PM, Nora Ventrella – Rare and Restoration Plants of The Navajo NationThe July meeting of the Flagstaff Chapter of the AZNPS will be the third Tuesday, July 18th, at 7 PM via Zoom. You will need to register ahead of time to get a Zoom invitation.Nora Ventrella – Rare and Restoration Plants of The Navajo Nation; Conservation Activities of the Navajo Natural Heritage Program
Nora Ventrella has been the botanist for the Navajo Natural Heritage Program with the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife for the past 6 years. As a part of this program she collects, manages, and disseminates information on threatened and endangered plant species on Navajo lands, and is the curator of the Navajo Nation herbarium located in Flagstaff. This talk will cover monitoring and conservation efforts by NNHP focused on threatened and endangered plants of the Navajo Nation. This talk will also focus on seed banking and plant propagation activities conducted by the newly created Diné Native Plants Program; a tribally-run restoration program focused on bringing native and culturally-important plants back to tribal lands.
Nora has her master’s degree in plant biology and conservation from the joint program between Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Her research background focused on Colorado plateau flora, invasive species, local adaptation, and seed sourcing for restoration.
Register in advance for this meeting at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMuc-iprTIsGtwHuaXeTxp0l575nT-3MBIT
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Arizona Native Plant Society talks are free and open to the public. See aznps.com to become a member.
The Facebook Event page if you wish to register that way is: https://fb.me/e/5ScgwnhAf
FILM RELEASE – Native Seeds: Supplying Restoration
Comments Off on FILM RELEASE – Native Seeds: Supplying RestorationThe International Network for Seed-based Restoration (INSR) is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of “Native Seeds: Supplying Restoration,” a nine-part video series about the native seed supply chain in the Western United States. Episodes will be posted weekly starting June 29 at ser-insr.org/native-seed-film. The summer series will culminate in the release of a feature-length film version on August 24.
Filmed over four seasons, this documentary series explores the people working to scale up the supply of native seeds to meet the growing restoration demand, weaving together footage with seed collectors, farmers, researchers, and land managers across the Western United States. We see the extensive scale of damage to vast landscapes and meet tenacious people who are finding creative, scrappy solutions to restore ecosystems.
Thank you to the many PCA federal and non-federal cooperators who were involved in the funding and production of this video series!
Visit the PCA twitter (@natseedstrategy) or Facebook page (@PlantConservationAlliance) to view the trailer today. Updates about the series will be posted on these social media pages throughout the summer as the episodes are released.
Upcoming AZNPS Volunteer opportunities June-July-August
Comments Off on Upcoming AZNPS Volunteer opportunities June-July-August
This summer there will be several conservation related volunteer activities to support our ongoing native plant restoration efforts on the Waterman Restoration Site and A-Mountain. If you are interested in participating please contact for details : aznpsconservation@yahoo.com
- Foothill Palo Verde Pod Harvesting along west Avra Valley road. Seed from this harvest will be planted at the Waterman Restoration and on A-Mountain. Volunteers will clear (lop) undergrowth to make room for harvest, catch seed pods with tarps, and whack trees to harvest the pods.
Date and Time : 7am on Saturday 1 July
Meeting Location : Intersection of Avra Valley and Pump Station Roads (1st cattle guard)
Wear : sturdy boots, long sleeved plants and shirt, and bring work gloves
RSVP to aznpsconservation@yahoo.com
- Baby Saguaro transplanting on the Waterman Restoration Site. Volunteers will meet at the Waterman Restoration Site to dig holes, pre-water, and transplant baby saguaros gifted to AZNPS by the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society.
Date and Time : 7am on Saturday 1 July
Meeting Location : Waterman Restoration Site. 19 Miles from I-10 on Avra Valley Rd, then turn left at the new Holcim sign and drive straight for 1 mile, bearing left.
Wear : sturdy boots, long sleeved plants and shirt, and bring work gloves
RSVP to aznpsconservation@yahoo.com
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Native Plant Art Show at UA through August 3
Comments Off on Native Plant Art Show at UA through August 3Native Plant Art Show
This summer the UA Special collections Gallery is running a show titled: “Inspired by Plants: the Art and Science of the UA Campus Floregium”
This show features illustrations of the plants in the Joseph Wood Krutch Garden at the University. The exhibit runs until August 3. Click the link below for more details
https://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/inspired-plants-exhibit
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Wild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023, Part 3
Comments Off on Wild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023, Part 3What an incredible spring this has been and my story continues to the east to the Rincon Mountain foothills, March, April, and May and south to Santa Cruz County, May.
Throughout February and March, the Rincon foothills were rather drab compared to Picacho Peak and the Watermans. A hard freeze during the winter had killed the tops of the brittlebush, so they had to resprout new buds before they could bloom. But snow in early March gave a nice boost to seedlings, including plants in the mustard family. Gordon’s bladderpod (Physaria gordonii), western white bladderpod (Physaria purpurea), and jewel weed (Streptanthus carinatus arizonicus) were blooming in abundance by early April.
But something was missing. There were almost no spring native bees. Andrena prima is an early native bee that specializes on the bladderpods. In previous years of good blooms, there had been dozens, if not hundreds, of these red and black bees in Colossal Cave Mountain Park. This year, I saw a total of only three Andrena prima bees over weeks of checking several miles of trails.
One of the earliest cacti to bloom is Echinomastus erectocentrus, which can bloom in late March or early April. It is a treat to see its pale pink flowers tucked in among the rugged limestone of the Rincon foothills. Littleleaf sumac (Rhus microphylla) and broom milkwort (Polygala scoparioides) are also among the early bloomers, though many people may not notice them. As the temperatures warm, those are followed by yellow mariposa lilies (Calochortus kennedyi) and the incredible blue Cochise beardtongue (Penstemon dasyphyllus).
There are easily over 100 species of plants that flower during the spring in this area, so I can only include a tiny fraction of them here. The hillslopes of the Rincon foothills host a succession of large plants putting on a show during March, April, and May. First, the banana yucca (Yucca baccata) is the main show, followed by ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), followed by foothills palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and lastly, the stately saguaros (Carnegiea gigantea).
Among my favorites though are the less conspicuous, smaller flowers, among them, snapdragon vine (Maurandya antirrhiniflora) and Arizona Wrightwort (Carlowrightia arizonica), which reminds me of a flock of tiny swans taking flight. In shady spots, especially near the banks of washes, Thurber’s desert honeysuckle (Anisacanthus thurberi) attracts brilliant metallic green broadbill hummingbirds.
And now South to Santa Cruz County. By late May, the snow of early March seems like a distant memory. Temperatures routinely reach the mid 90’s., and the ephemeral poppies and lupines are long gone. But late May has its own wildflower rewards. Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), white thorn acacia (Vachellia constricta), prickly poppy (Argemone pleiacantha), saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), coral bean (Erythrina flabelliformis), and soaptree yucca (Yucca elata) flowers are familiar to many. But other flowers may be less familiar. Among my favorites are kidneywood (Eysenhardtia orthocarpa), because the clusters of white flowers smell like root beer. Another favorite is the rock trumpet (Mandevilla brachysiphon), which smells like gardenias to me. I also love the purple scalystem (Elytraria imbricata) because it has such whimsical looking flowers. Sandbells (Nama hispidum) are another favorite, sometimes forming a mound of purple flowers.
But one special plant had eluded me for all these years: a wild Arizona rainbow cactus (Echinocereus rigidissimus) in bloom. This had long been on my wish list. I always found one just a little too soon or a little too late. This spring, Santa Cruz County granted my wish, with several cacti in full bloom. One especially large specimen had 8 massive flowers. The Arizona rainbow cactus makes a fitting grand finale to this roller coaster ride of spring wildflowers.
See other parts of my Wild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023: Part 1 at Picacho Peak and Part 2 at the Ironwood Mountain Nation Monument.
Tucson saguaros in a “super bloom” thanks to winter rain
Comments Off on Tucson saguaros in a “super bloom” thanks to winter rainJohn Scheuring, Conservation Committee Chairman for the Arizona Native Plant Society, appeared on TV-KOLD to talk about this. He said it’s been years since Tucson has seen this many saguaro blooms.
“This year we had wonderful winter rains. We didn’t have that much, maybe about four inches, but they were well spaced during the month of December, January and February,” said Scheuring.
See the full article and video clip here.
High Altitude Native Plant Landscape Resource
Comments Off on High Altitude Native Plant Landscape ResourcePlant choice, water conservation and much more is addressed in Flagstaff Fabulous Plants.
Click below for full size two page brochure.
Yuma Meeting News
Comments Off on Yuma Meeting NewsYuma will forgo regular monthly, in-person meetings for the foreseeable future.
Instead, we will focus on outdoor activities, such as field trips and work projects,
with a virtual format for meetings and similar indoor activities.
Announcements of these events and other news updates will be posted via email.
If you would like to receive updates, please contact us at our chapter email
(yumanativeplant@gmail.com) and ask to be put on our list.
Chapter Offices
President: Valerie Morrill; Vice President: Karen Reichhardt; Secretary: Deirdre MacDonald; Treasurer: Tom Fox
Trip Reports
This spring, Yuma came to life again, both the chapter and the desert! Following a hiatus, members
reconvened in time for a limited but surprisingly good spring bloom. During our first outing, we visited
Imperial Sand Dunes, Tumco Historic Mining District, with the option of a tour of the Center of the
World. The sand dunes stop is a favorite of ours, as we can count on seeing the unusually tall creosote. But what we hadn’t expected was an abundance of blooming flowers. En route to our next stop, we marveled over a small runnel exploding in pink. There we were, again so enamored with the array of blossoms, we oohed and aahed in delight. We eventually completed the half-mile or so to our destination, but instead of entering the historic site, we made a side trip down a wash to see even more spectacular blooms. We had the presence of mind to take the obligatory photo (after about half of us had left, of course!) to prove that we had indeed been there. Perhaps next time we’ll try to see the site.
We made our second field trip to Painted Desert trail, in the Imperial Wildlife Refuge. This trail, through
bands of volcanic tuff, is colorful in its varied palette of infertile ash, but it is not known as a wildflower
hotspot. However, 50 species later, our group was content with the outing. Again, we posed for an obligatory photo after several of our group had headed back to civilization. We were glad we remembered how to document, even if it was old school.
On a completely different note, the city of Yuma reached out to our chapter to collaborate on the annual
dinner theater event, Native Gardens. In conjunction with Master Gardeners and AZ Wildlife Federation,
we advised on native plant ingredients for set design, table decor, and dinner and specialty beverages
(prickly-pear margaritas!). In addition to acknowledging our collaboration in the printed programs and
during performances, the city gave us the opportunity to provide information displays. And perhaps by
accident, we also performed as extras in the play.
This sort of collaboration could be a wonderful opportunity for chapters across the state. It gave us
exposure to upwards of 900 attendees, providing them with access to information on native plants that
may be new to them. For additional information on Native Gardens, please see playwright Karen Zacarías’s website (www.karenzacarias.com/plays/native-gardens-2/).
Lastly, the summer is a time for Yumans to hibernate, estivate, or migrate. We will continue learning and
exploring our virtual options to stay engaged and look forward to returning in the fall with field trips
across our region. Stay tuned.
Ironwood Forest National Monument, March and April
Comments Off on Ironwood Forest National Monument, March and AprilWild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023, Part 2
by Jillian Cowles
What an incredible spring this has been!
The contrast between the Ironwood Forest National Monument and Picacho Peak was startling. Though not far apart geographically speaking (about 13 miles as the raven flies), there was very little overlap in the species of wildflowers blooming.
In March, the Ironwood Forest National Monument had miniature composites (Monoptilon bellioides and Eriophyllum lanosum) scattered across the ground, in some areas as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Desert onion (Allium macropetalum) and blue dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus pauciflorus) grew best when tucked in the shelter of other vegetation.
Dipterostemon capitatus pauciflorus
Dipterostemon capitatus pauciflorus
Desert anemones (Anemone tuberosa) and scorpionweed (Phacelia crenulata) added touches of pink or purple. Caliche mallow (Sphaeralcea laxa) blooms with pinkish flowers in the Waterman Mountains, different from the orange form seen more commonly in the Rincon foothills. The mallow specialist bee Diadasia diminuta can often be seen in these flowers.
To be expected, plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) were among the earliest blooming wildflowers, including Gordon’s bladderpod (Physaria gordonii) and jewelweed (Streptanthus carinatus arizonicus).
By mid-April, hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus fasciculatus), mountain larkspur (Delphinium scaposum), rock hibiscus (Hibiscus denudatus), and many other flowers were blooming.
Some were tiny, such as the spineflower (Chorizanthe rigida) and Guadalupe cat’s eye (Cryptantha maritima).
The Waterman restoration site was carpeted with a dazzling mass of brittlebush flowers, beautiful to see. But it was also getting hot by mid-April. Even photographing a few plants such as desert pincushion (Chaenactis stevioides), desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum), and threadstem (Nemacladus orientalis) left me wiped out. I never did get photos of the spectacular brittlebush.
Upcoming Activities
Comments Off on Upcoming ActivitiesSaturday, June 17th, 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Natural History Institute hosts a Prescott Chapter of Arizona Native Plant Society field experience to the
Alligator Juniper that serves as a Granite Mountain Hotshot crew memorial. Join us on this Father’s Day to visit what is sometimes referred to as the “Grandfather Juniper.” Bring snacks, water and be prepared to walk up to 5 miles.
Saturday, July 15, 8:00 – 1:00 PM
Highlands Center for Natural History hosts a Prescott Chapter of Arizona Native Plant Society guided walk and workshop. Learn more about the parsley and carrot plant family with a short stroll followed by a hands-on investigation at the Discovery Gardens ramada. Bring snacks, water and be prepared to walk up to one mile.
Saturday, August 26, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
City of Prescott Community Nature Center and Highlands Center for Natural History hosts a Prescott
Chapter of Arizona Native Plant Society community and family-friendly Wildflower Celebration event.
Participants can expect to go on short, guided walks and engage with hands-on learning activities. Bring
snacks, water and be prepared to walk up to one mile.
Upcoming Flagstaff Chapter Events
Comments Off on Upcoming Flagstaff Chapter EventsMeetings
Tuesday, June 20, 7:00 PM: LoriAnne Barnett Warren and Madeline Burton.
Arizona’s Magnificent Trees.
The Arizona Magnificent Tree Program, managed by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire
Management, recognizes trees in our state that are the largest of their species, both here and nationwide, as well as those that have cultural significance to our community members. Each year we accept nominations for new trees that qualify, using all of the champions to tell a story about the value of trees in our communities and forests. This presentation will provide an overview of our program, share how to nominate a tree, and highlight some of the amazing trees in and around Flagstaff. We will also share how you can be involved with the program as a nominator or a certified tree measurer! Join LoriAnne Barnett Warren, the Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager at the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and our Urban Forestry Specialist, Madeline Burton, for insight into this one-of-a-kind program
Tuesday, July 18, 7:00 PM: Nora Ventrella. Rare and Restoration Plants of the Navajo Nation: Conservation Activities of the Navajo Natural Heritage Program
Nora Ventrella has been the botanist for the Navajo Natural Heritage Program with the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife for the past 6 years. As a part of this program she collects, manages, and disseminates information on threatened and endangered plant species on Navajo lands, and is the curator of the Navajo Nation herbarium located in Flagstaff. This talk will cover monitoring and conservation efforts by NNHP focused on threatened and endangered plants of the Navajo
Nation. This talk will also focus on seed-banking and plant propagation activities conducted by the newly created Diné Native Plants Program, a tribally-run restoration program focused on bringing native and culturally-important plants back to tribal lands. Nora has her master’s degree in plant biology and conservation from the joint program between Northwestern University and the Chicago
Botanic Garden. Her research background focused on Colorado plateau flora, invasive species, local
adaptation, and seed-sourcing for restoration.
Friday, August 11, 4:00 – 6:00 PM: Potluck & Plant Swap at the MNA Colton Community Garden See members live and in-person! We’ll meet to swap native plants, native seeds, and botany books. Bring a dish to share. No alcohol, please
Grass Identification Class
Comments Off on Grass Identification ClassThis is a two-day combination lecture and hands-on workshop for students serious about doing grass i.d.
work. The goals are to impart sufficient knowledge for students to make wise decisions regarding collection of grasses, to provide complete information on grass morphology, and to teach the use of keys for identification of most Arizona species. Handout materials, dissecting scopes, tools, and pressed grass specimens for study will be provided. The first day will be lecture mixed with hands-on work. The second day can be for review if needed or desired and questions, plus working with keys from various references.
Instructor: Mike Bauer
Sponsors: University of Arizona Herbarium and Arizona Native Plant Society
When: August 11 and 25, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Where: University of Arizona Herbarium, Herring Hall
Cost: $25
Registration contact: Doug Ripley (jdougripley@gmail.com
Wild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023
Comments Off on Wild Ride on a Roller Coaster, Spring 2023by Jillian Cowles
What an incredible spring this has been! Reflecting back upon the millions of wildflowers I have seen, it has been difficult to organize the material into something smaller than the Encyclopedia Britannica. Finally, I decided to divide up the material into regions. Picture a compass, with Tucson in the middle. We will be chasing a progression of wildflowers starting in February and running through May: first North-west (Picacho Peak). Additional posts will then go West (Ironwood Forest), then East (Rincon Mountain foothills), and last of all South (Santa Cruz County).
The desert is a land of contrasts: hot and cold, blinding sunlight and deep shade, delicate ephemerals and enduring rocks, tiny belly flowers and towering saguaros. So, fasten your seat belts for a wildflower ride.
Part 1, Northwest: Picacho Peak, February and March.
In over 45 years of living in southern Arizona, I had never seen Picacho Peak’s poppies in bloom. Between a brutal work schedule and over a decade of drought, I had given up on ever seeing the poppies on Picacho Peak. So, you can imagine how I felt when I first saw them this year, after an excellent winter rainfall. It was early morning in late February. Only about a dozen people were quietly walking on the trails, speaking in hushed tones as though they were in church. The Mexican gold poppies (Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana) were gradually opening as the sun rose higher. None had been trampled yet. As each of the millions of poppies fully opened, they reflected a radiant light. It was as though I were standing among a million tiny suns. Photographs can only hint at the beauty. It made me wish that Vincent van Gogh were still alive; perhaps he could have captured the intensity of the colors.
The east end of the park near the entrance had rivers of gold poppies flowing down from the slopes and pooling on the flats. A few lupines (Lupinus sparsiflorus) and patches of purple scorpionweed (Phacelia crenulata) provided occasional contrast.
But at the west end of the park, near Sunset Vista Trailhead, a reef of rock towered over slopes that were splashed with almost solid patches of gold poppies and blue lupines. And at the far end of the park was a sea of blue lupines.
Subsequent visits to the park in early March were still lovely. There even was a sure sign of spring: a western diamondback rattlesnake enjoying the warmth of the March sun. Unfortunately, the nice spring temperatures brought out more humans as well. By mid-March, the crowds had trampled numerous paths among the poppies. It was time to move on.
Interlude: Snow. March 2. On March 2 I woke up to snow! What the heck?! Six inches of snow in the Rincon foothills broke palo verde branches, but also provided a nice, deep soak to the wildflowers of the desert.
Award Recognition given to Tom Orum and Nancy Ferguson
Comments Off on Award Recognition given to Tom Orum and Nancy FergusonSaguaro National Park invited the Tucson’s native plant community to attend an award ceremony for Tom Orum and Nancy Ferguson at Saguaro National Park East on Friday June 2, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Tom and Nancy received the Raymond M. Turner Award for lifetime achievement in science at Saguaro National Park. The award, named in honor of the late Sonoran Desert ecologist Ray Turner, celebrates Tom and Nancy’s nearly five decades of monitoring of saguaros in the park on plots that have been surveyed every year since 1941.
Tom and Nancy are the third generation of researchers on these plots, and they continued their monitoring long after their retirement from University of Arizona. They have always been generous of their time and knowledge of saguaros to the park and the research community. Saguaro National Park wishes to express our gratitude for their years of service in science to our park. A link to Tom and Nancy’s 2016 article in PLOS ONE is here: Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) Mortality and Population Regeneration in the Cactus Forest of Saguaro National Park: Seventy-Five Years and Counting | PLOS ONE
Mystery plant – is it a weed?
Comments Off on Mystery plant – is it a weed?Dear Plant Nerd,
My neighbor calls this weed/volunteer in my yard a “brittle bush”. I like the yellow flowers. Is it a keeper?
If you call this a weed in front of us, we’ll give you an earful. Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) is called tohavs by the O’odham. Sometimes in their creation stories, coyote is called the same thing. Not because he is silvery white (as the etymology of that word implies) but because coyote was raised on a hill and often laid in a bed of brittlebush leaves.
Brittlebush is an iconic shrub of the Sonoran Desert. Silvery shrub growing to about 4×4’. May need cutting back occasionally or may freeze back during cold spells. Grow in full sun, takes low water when established, root hardy to 5° F. Leaves look more silvery in drier, sunnier locations. May look green with more shade or water. Flowers heavy in spring, sporadic the rest of the year. Flowers are visited by various insects including butterflies, moths, flies, bees, wasps, and beetles. There are some native bee species that specifically and exclusively depend on this plant. The dominant herbivores on brittlebush leaves are the larvae and adults of the leaf beetle Trirhabda geminata. Desert tortoises love the flowers. This species is an important colonizing plant in foothill regions, acting as a nurse plant for many other plants. Brittlebush was used by native tribes for medicinal and other purposes.
Found on dry, rocky or gravelly slopes below 3,000 ft. in southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, Arizona, southern California; south into northwestern Mexico.
Our plant nerd answer for this question is from the Spadefoot Nursery in Tucson.
Native Chile?
Comments Off on Native Chile?Dear Plant Geek, is there an Arizona native chile?
Yes, the chiltepin! It is our only local native chili and it’s native in a variety of habitats like in riparian areas, mesquite bosques, and rocky foothills.
Looking more like a small round berry than a chile, the Chiltepin – pronounced “chill tuh peen” – is one of the oldest of the very few remaining wild chiles still available. Considered by many to be the mother of all chiles, it is the only indigenous pepper to the U.S., still growing on shrubs under nurse plants in canyons throughout southern Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico.
Its name comes from the Aztec Nahuatl language – spoken when Cortés arrived and still used today by approximately 1 ½ million people in Mexico – of chiltecpin, “chilli” + “tecpintl”, meaning “flea chile”. The pea-sized scarlet berries are an irresistible snack to the wild birds who are credited with their spread from South America all the way up to the southern U.S. and why they are also known as “bird peppers” in the Southwest.
Today this unique little chile goes by many names – chile tepin, chile del monte, chillipiquin, a’al kokoli (in O’odham), chiltepictl (in Nahuatl), amash (in Mayan), chilillo, chilpaya, huarahuao, and piquen.
On first taste, the heat is intense and unapologetic, coming on fast and strong – the flavor introduces itself later. The heat quickly passes, leaving you with a fruity, mineral flavor.
Grow in full to part sun, with moderate to regular water, will suffer some frost damage most winters if not covered but most often recovers quickly. The more sun you provide the more fruits you will get but also the more you will need to water. Birds also love the fruits and spread them naturally, lending this and many similar peppers to be called “bird pepper”.
From the Spadefoot Nursery in Tucson
The Beautiful Procession of Palo Verde Flowers
Comments Off on The Beautiful Procession of Palo Verde Flowersby John Scheuring
Across the Sonoran Desert regions of Arizona there is a prolonged Palo Verde bloom each year starting in late March, spanning the entire month of April and extending well into May. Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida) leads off the flowering and overlaps with the onset of Foothill Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) in mid to late April. The transition is so subtle that many people are not aware of the two distinct Palo Verde species.
Blue Palo Verde has evolved in desert ephemeral washes where it thrives alongside other species that require more soil moisture than is available on dry desert slopes (bajadas). Blue Palo Verde flowers are rich deep yellow. Each flower is composed of several petals that are all deep yellow.
Foothill Palo Verde has evolved alongside the Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea). Both of these species are especially well adapted to well drained desert slopes and can tolerate prolonged periods of drought. Well over 95% of the Palo Verdes in Arizona are Foothill Palo Verdes. Foothill Palo Verde flowers appear distinctly lighter yellow than those of Blue Palo Verdes. The “keel” petal of the Foothill Palo Verde is white while all the other petals are light yellow.
Look up anywhere on our desert slopes and you will find the oft forgotten Foothill Palo Verdes side by side with the iconic saguaro cactus.
Central Arizona’s Desert Defenders
Comments Off on Central Arizona’s Desert DefendersDesert Defenders is a collaborative, community science program focused on finding, mapping, and removing invasive species.
Desert Defenders is a partnership of organizations and volunteers from around the Valley, including the Arizona Native Plant Society. Through individual and collective efforts, native plants and wildlife can thrive!
Learn and help spread word about Desert Defenders by viewing and sharing the Desert Invaders fact sheet. Also, visit the Maricopa County Parks website to get involved with Desert Defenders volunteer events.
Yuma Chapter AZNPS Field Trip March 22, 2023
Comments Off on Yuma Chapter AZNPS Field Trip March 22, 2023Comments Off on
The Prescott Chapter is starting up again. For more information, send an email to: PrescottNativePlantSociety@gmail.com
Please Join Us for These Events
Comments Off on Please Join Us for These Events
Plant Press Arizona – Winter 2022/2023
Comments Off on Plant Press Arizona – Winter 2022/2023The Winter 2022/2023 edition of Plant Press Arizona is available to view or download for free from our website. Read to learn about the importance of grasses and grasslands!
American Penstemon Society Grant Opportunity
Comments Off on American Penstemon Society Grant OpportunityChapter Meetings This Spring
Comments Off on Chapter Meetings This SpringTuesday, April 18, 7:00 PM: Gayle Gratop, Susan Holiday, and Patti VanTuyl.
Gardening with High Elevation Native Plants
There are many benefits to gardening with native plants, including increasing biodiversity in your yard, conserving water, and providing food and habitat for local pollinators. This presentation will cover the basics of incorporating native plants into your garden. Learn how to choose the best plants for your environment, find out where to get them, and hear some expert tips on how to become a successful
native plant gardener from Gayle Gratop of UA Coconino County Cooperative Extension and Master Gardeners Sue Holiday and Patti Van Tuyl.
Tuesday, May 16, 7:00 PM: Debbie DeWolf Allen. The Brothers Boutelou and the
Grass They Barely Knew: A Journey into Botany, History, Exploration, and Two
Remarkable Men
Botanical names can be challenging to pronounce and to spell, yet they hold a treasure trove of meaning.
Latin plant names often describe a distinctive characteristic of the plant, but sometimes they honor a person: some mysterious, unknown figure from the past who must have some importance in the botanical world.
In this talk by Debbie Allen, we delve into the origin of the name Blue Grama Grass, Bouteloua gracilis. Blue grama is native to the Southwest, and it is charming, distinctive, and easy to identify. The origin of the genus name, Bouteloua, takes us back to a tale that intertwines two Spanish gardeners from the late 1700s, an enlightened king of Spain, an expedition to explore the New World, and some remarkable botanical drawings that were lost for almost 200 years. Come take a fascinating journey that encompasses botany, history, exploration, and a tale of two exceptional men.
Chapter Meeting: March 21, 2023
Comments Off on Chapter Meeting: March 21, 2023Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 PM: Carrie Cannon. Plants of the Mojave Desert and
Traditional Tribal Uses
Although the desert may seem devoid of life, it is actually home to hundreds of unique species. Some are only visible or appear alive for a short time, while others grow for hundreds of years; many are found
nowhere else on Earth. Participants will learn about many traditional tribal plant uses, plant life that makes North American Deserts unique, and how the Mojave Desert stands apart from the rest of America.
Carrie Cannon is a member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and is also of Oglala Lakota descent. She has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and an M.S. in Resource Management. She began working for the Hualapai Tribe of Peach Springs, Arizona, in 2005, where she began the creation of an intergenerational ethnobotany program for the Hualapai community. She is currently employed as an ethnobotanist for the Hualapai Department of Cultural Resources. She administers a number of projects promoting the intergenerational teaching of Hualapai ethnobotanical knowledge, working towards preservation and revitalization to ensure tribal ethnobotanical knowledge persists as a living practice and tradition.
Join Us for Monthly Meetings at EAC Campus
Comments Off on Join Us for Monthly Meetings at EAC CampusUpper Gila Chapter
The Upper Gila Chapter has chosen to suspend monthly meetings during the summer months. We will resume on September 21, with monthly meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park Campus.
Eastern Arizona College
Discovery Park Campus
1651 W. Discovery Park Blvd.
Safford, AZ 85546
The address will get you as far as the parking lot and main building, but to get to the meeting in the southern building you drive a route that’s posted for personnel only so hopefully this map helps. It’s possible to park in the main lot shown and walk to the building but much nicer to drive the whole way.
Remembering Ellen Dorn (1950 – 2023)
Comments Off on Remembering Ellen Dorn (1950 – 2023)Ellen Dorn, a longtime member and supporter of the Arizona Native Plant Society, passed away unexpectedly on January 4, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona. Born in Philadelphia, she graduated from Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania (1968) and earned a BA degree from Temple University (1980), and Masters degree in classical Persian literature from the University of Washington, and did significant work towards a Masters degree in classical Chinese literature. Ellen eventually moved west and was employed as a librarian in Seattle, Washington, for several years before moving to Flagstaff, Arizona, where she was employed as a librarian with the City of Flagstaff library system. As a young woman, she spent some time in China where she worked as an English language teacher.
In 2010, Ellen relocated to Tucson where the center of her life was either directly or indirectly associated with the University of Arizona. As someone deeply interested in medieval and ancient history, she was a frequent patron of the UA Libraries. Her other major interests were rooted in the biological sciences. She devoted much of her time as a valuable volunteer with the University Turf Farm operation and Desert Legume Program. At the UA Herbarium she volunteered two days a week engaged in various activities such as mounting plant specimens (over 10,000), helping to maintain the collection’s records, and assisting with plant identifications for herbarium visitors. Ellen was also an extremely able and valuable teaching assistant for the various general botany and plant identification courses sponsored by the Arizona Native Plant Society and the UA Herbarium. As a member of the Tucson Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society, Ellen provided articles and performed other services for the Society’s journal, Plant Press Arizona.
She was predeceased her parents, Albert and Anna Dorn, and by her brother, Michael Dorn. She is survived by a cousin in Philadelphia and her beloved dog, Bahar, who has been adopted by a friend. Ellen will be remembered as a gentle, intelligent, and scholarly friend.
Mark Your Calendar for Chapter Events
Comments Off on Mark Your Calendar for Chapter EventsFebruary 24: Chapter Meeting, 10 – 12noon, Payson Public Library
Tonto Natural Bridge Park Ranger, Micah Kipple will present “The Great Sympatry: How Similar Species May Be Related, But Different.”
March 3: First Friday Field Trip, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Mills Ridge parking area on FS Road 429 and Highway 188 (Roosevelt Lake) “Sentinels of the Sonoran Desert.”
March 23-29 Chapter Community Service Project at Tonto National Monument: Revegetation and Nonnative Invasive Plant Removal
April 14: (Second) Friday Field Trip,
1:00 – 3:00 pm, Tonto Natural Bridge. “Plants of Higher Elevations”
April 21: Chapter Meeting, 10 – 12noon, Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, Gila County Extension Agent, Chris Jones, will present “A Noxious Problem: Nonnative Invasive Plants of Tonto Basin.”
May 5: First Friday Field Trip: “Botany, Burgers and Brews!”
New Peach Springs Chapter!
Comments Off on New Peach Springs Chapter!Meetings are held in the evening on the second Wednesday of the month. For location and additional information, contact Carrie Cannon Carrie.Cannon@hualapai-nsn.gov
Creosote: That unforgettable desert aroma, and so much more!
Comments Off on Creosote: That unforgettable desert aroma, and so much more!AZNPS Board member Jack Dash recently appeared on Arizona Public Media’s Arizona Illustrated.
Upcoming Activities
Comments Off on Upcoming ActivitiesDuring the winter months, our chapter will be assisting the Tonto National Monument by planting agave, saguaro, prickly pear, and yuccas in the area that was affected by the 2019 Woodbury Fire. Sturdy boots are required as we will be working off-trail. We will also work on removing non-native, invasive plant species during the winter. This is a great way to learn many of the plants in the Tonto National Forest. Snake gaiters, gloves, and tools are provided by the monument; in addition, participants will be required to complete a release of liability. Dates will be determined by the resource staff at Tonto National Monument
As a newly developing chapter, we are in the process of setting up our Facebook and Instagram accounts. Please contact us at tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com for more information. First Friday field trip will begin in December from 1:00 – 3:00 PM and continue thru May 2023. Locations will be determined based on trail accessibility, plant diversity, and parking. Monthly Chapter meetings will begin in January and continue thru May 2023. We will not meet during the summer months of June, July, and August.
We are having a Chapter Meeting, Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 – 12 noon. We will be meeting at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ. You can include our chapter email for more info about the meeting.
Videos from 2022 AZNPS Annual Botany Meeting
Comments Off on Videos from 2022 AZNPS Annual Botany MeetingThe 2022 annual meeting was another online success, with a little different format than the previous two years: one day of presentations on Saturday December 3, 2022 over about six and a half hours, with breaks.
If you missed it — or if you were there and want to rewatch any of the sessions — hop on over to the AZNPS YouTube channel, or click the playlist contents below.
Maricopa Pollinator Pathway: Garden Certification Program for AZ
Comments Off on Maricopa Pollinator Pathway: Garden Certification Program for AZThe Maricopa Pollinator Pathway is a new initiative of the Maricopa Native Seed Library which helps to build interconnected pollinator habitat. The Pathway also offers a free pollinator habitat certification program for Maricopa County and other low & intermediate desert areas of Arizona (under 3000 feet elevation).
Danielle Carlock, the seed library’s founder, recently gave a presentation about the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway to the Phoenix Chapter. The presentation recording is available on the Arizona Native Plant Society’s YouTube channel. Watch to learn how to create pollinator habitat in your outdoor space using native plants. Then, certify your habitat with the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway!
The Phoenix Chapter assisted in the development of the habitat certification criteria. So, we are excited to help promote the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway and increase the number of pollinator-friendly gardens in Arizona. We encourage you to spread word about the program to your family, friends, and neighbors!
Native Plants for Desert Tortoises: 2022 Update
Comments Off on Native Plants for Desert Tortoises: 2022 UpdateThe Phoenix Chapter collaborated with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to update the Native Plants for Desert Tortoises pamphlet. The native plants listed provide captive desert tortoises a nutritious diet. (These plants are also great choices for landscaping, even if you don’t have a tortoise!)
Arizona’s desert tortoise adoption program is open to all Arizona residents. Native Plants for Desert Tortoises provides tips on creating and maintaining a tortoise habitat, which is required to adopt a tortoise.
Desert tortoise adoption was the topic of a recent Phoenix Chapter meeting, where Kellie Tharpe of the Arizona Game and Fish Department gave a feature presentation. The recording is available to watch any time on the AZNPS YouTube Channel.
Information about the desert tortoise adoption program is also available on the Arizona Game and Fish Department website.
Remembering Pam McMillie
Comments Off on Remembering Pam McMilliePhoenix Chapter Vice President, Pam McMillie, passed away unexpectedly in September after experiencing health issues. The loss of Pam has left us heartbroken and stunned.
Pam was our VP for 2 years and brought a wealth of experience, with a background in gardening, environmental stewardship, ecological restoration, education, and military service. We benefited from her expertise and joyful presence at our virtual Chapter meetings, and she was heading our new Outreach Committee.
If you did not have the pleasure of meeting Pam, below are links to two articles that highlight her passion for wildlife and gardening with native plants.
Native Plants for Backyard Birds
Also, during our Chapter meeting in August, Pam mentioned that the following 3 books “changed her understanding of the wild”:
- Where the Wild Things Were by William Stolzenburg
- What the Robin Knows by Jon Young
- The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Pam may be gone, but her giving spirit will live on through programs and activities she championed as a leader with our organization, as well as Maricopa County Parks, Phoenix Parks, the Texas Native Plant Society, and as a Master Naturalist in Arizona, Virginia, and Texas.
As stated in her obituary, “In lieu of sending flowers or other donations, please take a few minutes for yourself to enjoy a bit of the outdoors in a park or have a walk along a trail which was one of the things Pam so very much loved.”
The feature presentation of our November Chapter meeting is dedicated to Pam and her help in developing and implementing the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway. We will also remember Pam at a future Phoenix Chapter member meet up in the great outdoors.
Tucson Chapter Monthly Meeting
Comments Off on Tucson Chapter Monthly MeetingOctober 12, 2022 at 7:00 pm
The Founding of the Ironwood Forest National Monument, and an Update on the I-11 Project
Presented by Carolyn Campbell
We will meet at 7:00 pm at the ENR2 building, University of Arizona Campus, Room 107S. Parking is available at the 6th street garage. You must have a credit card to pay for parking; cash is not accepted. For the zoom link, contact nativeplantstucson@gmail.com.
A presentation by Smith to the Flagstaff Chapter, August 12, 2022
Comments Off on A presentation by Smith to the Flagstaff Chapter, August 12, 2022“Archaeo Palynology”
Aug 17, 2022
A presentation by Kara Barron to the Flagstaff Chapter, June 2022
Comments Off on A presentation by Kara Barron to the Flagstaff Chapter, June 2022“Collecting Seed for Conservation and Restoration” June 2022
A presentation by Colleen Cooley to the Flagstaff Chapter on August 17, 2022
Comments Off on A presentation by Colleen Cooley to the Flagstaff Chapter on August 17, 2022“Navajo Woman and Non Human Relatives”
A presentation by Garry Neil to the Flagstaff Chapter, May 2022
Comments Off on A presentation by Garry Neil to the Flagstaff Chapter, May 2022“What the heck is a lichen?”
A presentation by Rachel Burke to the Flagstaff Chapter on July 22, 2021
Comments Off on A presentation by Rachel Burke to the Flagstaff Chapter on July 22, 2021“Mapping Nectarivorous Bat Habitat”
Mapping nectarivorous bat habitat from the nectary up; implications for Agave conservation in the southwestern U.S. The lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae), Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis), and the Mexican long-tongued bat (Choeronycteris mexicana) undertake long‐distance migrations from south‐central Mexico to the southwestern United States. Following a corridor of seasonal food availability, these bats play important ecological roles as pollinators and seed dispersers throughout their ranges. While these bats feed on many species of plants throughout their ranges, Palmer’s agave (Agave palmeri) is among one of the most important food sources in the summer portion of their range. As part of a landscape scale project to better understand summer habitat and inform management for these bat species, I mapped the distribution of Agave palmeri at multiple scales and assess summer habitat quality via plant density and potential nectar production. This information can help managers better protect important foraging grounds for these bats and identify potential restoration sites for Agave palmeri.
A presentation by Dr. Judith Bronstein to the Flagstaff Chapter from June 2021
Comments Off on A presentation by Dr. Judith Bronstein to the Flagstaff Chapter from June 2021“Binders Full of Women: Female Scientists in the journal The American Naturalist, 1867-1917”
Dear Plant Nerd,
Comments Off on Dear Plant Nerd,Help! We are Tucson homeowners and want to know of a nice tall, non toxic, bush we can plant for shade on the SW side of our home. The previous owners planted Oleander, which we removed. Wowza, that side of the house gets hot!
I immediately think of desert hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa), either the green or purple variety.
Or Arizona rosewood (Vauquelinia californica).
If you want color, yellow bells or esperanza (Tecoma stans) is great and are blooming when everything else is struggling.
Thank you, Spadefoot Nursery, for this great advice.
Wear gloves when you tackle those weeds.
Comments Off on Wear gloves when you tackle those weeds.Homeowners who have enjoyed the summer monsoons and the lush growth of landscape the rains have promoted may also be dealing with a lush growth of weeds. Spurge is one of the most common of the unwanted plants appearing between sidewalk cracks, invading rock gardens, and often defying pre-emergent applications.
Spurge aka Euphorbia/Chamaesyce is everywhere this time of year. There are annuals and perennials, sand mats and upright plants. They all have a milky sap that isn’t nice to other living things. According to some sources, Euphorbia increases sensitivity to sun. It may exacerbate cancer. The milky white sap is an irritant and can be poisonous.
Join us for these upcoming events
Comments Off on Join us for these upcoming eventsSaturday, September 10th
Native Plant Walk at the West Fork Little Colorado River (near Greer, Az)
9:30am to 11:30am
A map will be posted on our Facebook page soon.
Event is listed here on FB: https://fb.me/e/B1YirGka7
Saturday, October 1st
Native Plant Walk at Big Springs Trail (Lakeside, Az)
9am to 11:00am
Event is listed here: https://fb.me/e/2Ow6Xb4Qe
DEAR PLANT GEEK, Tell me about a really cool plant for the Sonoran Desert.
Comments Off on DEAR PLANT GEEK, Tell me about a really cool plant for the Sonoran Desert.The coral bean (Erythrina flabelliformis) is one of the coolest plants in southern Arizona.
Deciduous shrub (in our region) usually growing to about 4’ high and wide. This is actually a tropical tree—our region used to be tropical, and when the tropics receded, a few tropical remnants adapted to the colder and drier times. In nature this plant is found in rocky foothills and hillsides, and gets frozen back every few years, finding refuge in the deep cracks of those places. Plants take full to part sun, (and flower best with sun) moderate to low water with good drainage.
It has a frost tolerance that depends on the location—if the roots and/or lower trunk is protected, they can take temps down into the low 20s °F. If it doesn’t freeze it can get about 15’ high in our region, (usually about the size of a house where it is protected) and in Sonora it reaches over 30’ high.
This plant has a long dormancy, and leafs out in late spring. Often it flowers before that with gorgeous red, tubular flowers, provided the previous monsoon was sufficient. The flowers are followed by large pods that reveal bright red seeds. Hummingbirds depend on this flower during the spring. This plant is a larval host for various Pyralid and Crambid moths.
Found on rocky slopes, in canyons and along washes from 3,000-5,500 ft. in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico; south into central Mexico.
Thank you JARED MCKINLEY from Spadefoot Nursery for this.
Trailing Grama Grass (Bouteloua diversispicula) in Arizona: Recent Learnings
Comments Off on Trailing Grama Grass (Bouteloua diversispicula) in Arizona: Recent LearningsContributed by John Scheuring, AZNPS State Conservation Committee Chairman aznpsconservation@yahoo.com
Trailing Grama is a perennial native grass that in wet summers forms prolific stolons that knit desert soils together in shallow rooted turf-like stands. Tom van Devender’s 2020 Plant Press article describes Trailing Grama as a “keystone species” that binds soil together in fragile desert areas and underpins the growth of other desert native grasses and forbs. Unfortunately, vast Trailing Grama mixed desert grasslands in Sonora have been ripped and planted to buffelgrass over the years.
Here in Arizona on Ironwood Forest National Monument, Trailing Grama has been long established on RaggedTop, Silverbell Peak and three adjacent foothill areas. Those plants grow side-by-side Bouteloua repens, Muhlenbergia porteri, Tridens muticus, and various Aristida species.
In 2020, AZNPS roadside buffelgrass control volunteers discovered Trailing Grama growing in the right-of-way of Oracle Rd/US77 on the northern edge of Oro Valley. In 2016 ADOT contracted the hydroseeding of the right-of-ways along the newly widened Oracle Road. The hydroseed contractor had sourced most of the grass seed in Sonora and the Trailing Grama was probably mixed with other native seeds. As soon as the Oracle Road plants were discovered, they were sent to the UA herbarium to verify their Bouteloua diversispicula identity.
With the very wet 2021 and 2022 monsoons in NW Tucson, the Trailing grama has spread 6 miles along Oracle Road and one mile along Tangerine Rd.
The spread is evidenced as little toeholds on the edge of the pavement followed by spread of plantlet and runners (stolons) growing down the slopes and the roadway runoff gradient. The Trailing Grama plants opportunistically fill in empty spaces especially in the wetter areas near the pavement edges. The spread stops when there is insufficient residual moisture to support it. The plants knit the soil together and provide ideal resistance to soil erosion.
The really good news is that this year for the first time there is clear evidence that Trailing Grama is outcompeting Bermudagrass along moist roadsides.
Trailing Grama holds tremendous potential for roadside erosion control and urban landscaping. There is a lot to learn.
One-gallon pots of Trailing Grama can be purchased at Desert Survivors Native Plant Nursery, 1020 W Starr Pass Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85713.
Monsoon Plant Sale in Tucson
Comments Off on Monsoon Plant Sale in TucsonNative Seeds/SEARCH is having a plant sale Friday & Saturday, August 5th & 6th at the Conservation Center, 3584 E River Rd., Tucson.
Pick up veggie starts, seeds, native landscape plants & wildflowers for your monsoon garden. In addition to plants, select retail items and seeds will be available. More info & plant list is at: nativeseeds.org/plantsale
(BYOB! We’ll have boxes available to carry purchased plants, but please feel free to bring your own!)
Plant Press Arizona – Summer 2022
Comments Off on Plant Press Arizona – Summer 2022The Summer 2022 edition of Plant Press Arizona is now available to view or download for free from our website.
Read to learn about The Desert Legume Program, plants of the Arizona strip and the Kaibab Plateau, secrets of the Grand Canyon, and more!
Past editions of Plant Press Arizona are also available to view or download from our online archive.
Dear Plant Nerd – Is there a native plant like Giant Bamboo for my Sonoran Desert yard?
Comments Off on Dear Plant Nerd – Is there a native plant like Giant Bamboo for my Sonoran Desert yard?Yes! Let me tell you about a native grass that looks like a tiny bamboo.
Meet bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) native to Arizona, south into Mexico. This graceful plant grows to about 3 feet tall and eventually gets about 4-5 feet wide. Stems somewhat resemble bamboo, and tips of stems are lacy and wispy forming a billowy canopy. This is a nice, soft texture to add to the sometimes prickly landscape. Bamboo muhly looks incredible near large boulders.
Plant in full sun to filtered shade. Plants take moderate water and if they get rangy, sheer to a few inches from the ground. Hardy to about 0º F. Larval food host for Orange skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca) and Cestus skipper (Atrytonopsis cestus). Great plant for tortoise enclosures (they like to hang out in the shade of this plant and they eat the foliage).
JARED MCKINLEY, SPADEFOOT NURSERY, RETAIL LOCATION, 2831 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson
Calling All Artists and Photographers
Comments Off on Calling All Artists and PhotographersThe California Native Plant Society invites you to digitally submit your art and photos for the chance to be featured at the 2022 California NPS Conference.
“We invite artists and photographers to share work that explores the interrelationships between native plants, places, and people. All accepted submissions will be displayed on the October conference website and virtually projected during every session. Your artwork will be seen by more than 1,000 plant lovers and professionals at the conference, and thousands more online.”
Free to enter and cash prizes will be awarded. The deadline to submit art or photography is September 18, 2022.
Summer 2022 Book Discussion
Comments Off on Summer 2022 Book DiscussionJoin in this summer as the Phoenix Chapter reads and discusses The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate by Peter Wohlleben.
We will discuss our thoughts at a virtual Chapter meeting on Sunday, August 28 at 2:00 PM. All Arizona Native Plant Society members and friends are welcome to attend!
If you would like to participate in our discussion, please obtain the book and read it prior to our meeting date. It is available at several library districts in print, e-book, and audio format (though you may need to request a hold). It is also available through online retailers and possibly at local bookstores.
To attend the meeting, register in advance via Zoom.
Perfil de la Planta: Maderista
Comments Off on Perfil de la Planta: MaderistaKathleen M. McCoy
¿Tienes visiones de panqueques goteando con deliciosa miel cuando tú oyes alforfón? Si así es, tú visión es parcialmente correcta. Maderista (Eriogonum faciculatum var. polifolium) es un alforfón arbusto que es redondeado y de rápido crecimiento y no debe ser confundido con alforfón común (Fagopyrum esculentum), un cultivo domestico que es cultivado para semillas comestibles.
A través de todo el suroeste más de 355 miembros de la familia alforfón (Polygonaceae), usualmente difícil de a distinguirse estructuralmente, encuentran su hogar en tierra que es soleada, tosca, y bien drenada cercana a los arroyos y las laderas rocosas. En los desiertos El Mojave y Sonorense, E. faciculatum es el alforfón más común.
Aunque muchos Maderistas decoraran el desierto, este pequeño arbusto de hoja perenne mide solo 1 pie de alto por 2 pies de ancho con follaje típico verde gris. Viniendo al final de la primavera, grupos de flores blancas de copa plana gradualmente se transforman a rosados en el verano, después un color óxido en otoño.
El olor de las flores es un poco fragrante, pero es muy popular para algunas mariposas, especialmente el Mormón metalmark (Apodemia mormo), el Rocky Mountain dotted-blue (Euphilotes ancilla), y el Lupine blue (Icaricia lupini). Estas mariposas usan Maderista como una planta huésped para sus orugas.
Por suerte para los humanos, abejas usan estas plantas predominantemente como una base para la miel deliciosa. Esta miel no solo es saludable para nuestras dietas, sino también saludable para la economía. E. faciculatum es la planta principal que produce la miel en el sur de California. Hace mucho tiempo cuando otras flores se han convertido en semillas, Maderista sigue produciendo la comida para aves hambrientas debido a su estación larga de crecimiento.
De hecho, algunos agricultores usan Maderista para dos objetivos, hacer la miel y como una forma de manejo integrado de plagas. Cuando ellas están plantadas a lado de los cultivos, su néctar atrae insectos benéficos que en su turno reducen las plagas. La reducción de las plagas significa menos necesidad de químicos en nuestros jardines flores y vegetales. Maderista puede también actuar como un cultivo de cobertura del suelo ayudando a mejorar la salud de la tierra, además proveer protección para los cultivos de los patógenos en el suelo.
E. faciculatum es una planta desierta de bajo perfil, a menudo pasado por alto e subestimado. Si quieres aumentar y crear un jardín polinizador para casi todo el año, crece Maderista… una planta que no necesita mucho cuidado y provee comida dulce para las mariposas, las abejas, las aves, y posiblemente tus tortitas de alforfón.
Autor de las fotos: Lisa Rivera
Bibliografía:
SEINnet. Eriogonum fasciculatum. https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=3474&clid=8
SEINnet. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium. https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxauthid=1&taxon=12915&clid=15#
Southwest Desert Flora. (2017). Eriogonum fasciculatum, flat-top buckwheat. http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Polygonaceae/Eriogonum%20fasciculatum,%20Flat-top%20Buckwheat.html
Xerces Society. (n.d.). Who are the pollinators? https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/about-pollinators
Plant Profile: Flattop Buckwheat
Comments Off on Plant Profile: Flattop BuckwheatWho Put the ‘B’ in Buckwheat?
By Kathleen M. McCoy, AZNPS Phoenix Chapter Member
Does “flattop buckwheat” summon visions of stacks of pancakes dripping in delicious honey? If so, your mouthwatering vision is partially correct. Flattop buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium), also known as Eastern Mojave buckwheat, is a low, rounded, fast-growing shrub not to be confused with common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), a domestic crop cultivated for edible seeds.
Across the entire Southwest over 355 members of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), often difficult to distinguish structurally, find their home in sunny coarse and well drained soils along washes and rocky slopes. In the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, E. fasciculatum is the most common buckwheat.
Although lots of Flattop buckwheat decorate the desert, this miniature evergreen fully grown is usually only 1 foot tall by 2 feet wide with typical desert gray-green foliage. Arriving in late spring, clusters of flat-topped white flowers gradually turn pink in summer, then rust colored in fall.
The ‘B’ in buckwheat is for butterflies, bees, and birds. The slightly fragrant flowers are a wildly popular lure for several butterflies, most notably the Mormon metalmark (Apodemia mormo), the Rocky Mountain dotted-blue (Euphilotes ancilla) and the Lupine blue (Icaricia lupini). These butterflies also use Flattop buckwheat as a host plant for their caterpillars.
A favorite of bees, native and nonnative, this pollinator plant provides a good source of nectar. Luckily for humans, bees use these plants predominantly as a basis for tasty honey. Not only is this honey healthy for our diets, but also for the economy. E. fasciculatum is the principal honey-producing plant in southern California. When other flowers have long gone to seed, flattop buckwheat still supplies food for hungry birds due to its extensive growing season.
In fact, some farmers use buckwheat for a dual purpose, making honey and as a form of integrated pest management. When planted next to crops or in cultivated gardens, their nectar attracts beneficial insects that in turn reduce pests. Pest reduction means less need for chemicals in our flower beds and vegetables. Flattop buckwheat can also serve as a ground cover crop, helping to improve soil health plus providing crops protection from soilborne pathogens.
Wild E. fasciculatum is a low-profile desert plant, often overlooked and underappreciated. If you want to enhance and create an almost year-round pollinator garden, raise Flattop buckwheat… a low maintenance, easy-to-grow plant that sweetens the pot for butterflies, bees, birds, and possibly your buckwheat pancakes.
Photo credits: Lisa Rivera
Sources:
SEINnet. Eriogonum fasciculatum. https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=3474&clid=8
SEINnet. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium. https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxauthid=1&taxon=12915&clid=15#
Southwest Desert Flora. (2017). Eriogonum fasciculatum, flat-top buckwheat. http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Polygonaceae/Eriogonum%20fasciculatum,%20Flat-top%20Buckwheat.html
Xerces Society. (n.d.). Who are the pollinators? https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/about-pollinators
Why do you love Native Plants?
Comments Off on Why do you love Native Plants?Carianne Campbell told us why she loves native plants:
“I love native plants because they locate me on the globe. I know where I am when I am looking at the plants. When I am in the Sonoran Desert and I see saguaro cactus and palo verde trees and all the rest of my other very favorite plants in the universe, I know where I am in the world!
I have a sense of place.
And they are so incredibly beautiful that they need to be celebrated.”
Happenings – Summer 2022 newsletter
Comments Off on Happenings – Summer 2022 newsletterThe Summer 2022 edition of Happenings is now available! Download a copy to learn more about activities of Arizona Native Plant Society chapters around the state.
Comments Off on
New Directions in Native Landscape, Summer Education Series
Comments Off on New Directions in Native Landscape, Summer Education SeriesAn accomplished group of presenters will include Darrel Morrison, Piet Oudolf, Veronica Tyson Strait, Gerould Wilhelm, Angela Kyle, and Larry Weaner. Some will present virtually on the artistic, social, and
ecological considerations that can inform landscape design. Others will guide “In the Field‘’ sessions to observe and analyze the real world results of various ecology-based landscape approaches. All will explore avenues for expanding the practice of landscape design. N E W D I R E C T I O N S in the
A M E R I C A N L A N D S C A P E F o u n d e d i n 1 9 9 0 b y L a r r y W e a n e r
Questions? Email info@ndal.org
Cosponsored by:
American Horticultural Society
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Wild Ones – Native Plants, Natural Landscapes
Native Orchid Photo Contest
Comments Off on Native Orchid Photo ContestMost folks who enjoy observing wildflowers, native orchids in particular, are also inclined to photograph what they find in meadows, parks and forests. Then what? Show a few friends, solicit identification help, maybe even change your computer monitor wallpaper. The more creative among us may design orchid greeting cards or frame a few images to hang on the office wall. However, the vast majority of our photos simply collect digital dust on some unseen hard drive, in the cloud or wherever else digital bits reside. That’s about to change!!
The Native Orchid Conference is pleased to announce its inaugural Native Orchid Photo Contest. NOC member Dave Taylor proposed the idea which was well received by the Directors. It was decided that year one will be low-key. Perhaps we’ll call it an exhibit rather than a contest. There will be no fees, no prizes, no administrative hassle and no pressure … simply an opportunity to share. An NOC committee will select an assortment of images to be published in an edition of the NOC Journal which will be devoted entirely to your photos. What better way to share the joy of our native orchids ?
We hope the idea will catch on and evolve into a full-fledged contest complete with experienced judges, prizes and additional publication opportunities. Meanwhile, the orchids are blooming. Start organizing your photos and watch for details. We’ll provide specifics at the Olympic Peninsula symposium and in a follow-up email.
A Tucson area HOA president sent photos of ailing prickly pears in the development:
Comments Off on A Tucson area HOA president sent photos of ailing prickly pears in the development:Can you identify what is the problem with these Prickly Pear, and if there is any treatment, or what should we do? It is quite widespread in our community. I am hoping you can help with some suggestions.
Tucson Chapter President Jack Dash replied: What you have there is Phyllosticta commonly called Pad Spot Fungus. This has been a very widespread issue this year because we had a perfect confluence of events to encourage fungal spread. First we had the extremely dry year of 2020 into spring of 2021 which caused severe stress on most prickly pear populations both in urban and natural settings. Then we had the incredible rainfall of Summer 2021 which created the moist, humid conditions necessary for Phyllosticta to spread and thrive. The fungus tends to go more or less dormant when conditions dry out so most of the damage you are seeing is essentially old damage.
There is no fungicide currently recommended for Phyllosticta to the best of my knowledge. You could confirm that by calling our local University Agricultural Extension. Essentially the best practice is to remove infected growth, and in extreme cases remove whole plants. The fungus seems to affect most if not all species of prickly pear but I do tend to see it more on Opuntia engelmanii (which appears to be what you have in your photos) and there may be species or cultivars which are more resistant.
In huge patches of Prickly Pear it can be difficult to remove all infected pads or plants and in reality the plants may recover just fine but it is obviously unsightly.
Sorry I can’t provide a clear solution to the problem, again you may check with the Ag Extension office to see if they recommend a particular product to treat infected plants but there is not much literature in print or online that I have seen which advocates spraying for Phyllosticta.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is seeking motivated, creative, and passionate Horticulturists to join their talented team in the Botany Department!
Comments Off on The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is seeking motivated, creative, and passionate Horticulturists to join their talented team in the Botany Department!White Mtn Chapter hosts Native Plant Identification Walk
Comments Off on White Mtn Chapter hosts Native Plant Identification Walk
Parking is limited. Carpooling is encouraged.
Native Plants for Backyard Birds
Comments Off on Native Plants for Backyard BirdsThe Phoenix Chapter’s Vice President, Pam McMillie, was interviewed for an article in the Fall 2021 issue of Desert Rivers Audubon Magazine. In the article, entitled “Improve your Backyard Bird Count with Native Plants,” is on page 10.
Pam provided tips on how to decide what to plant and where. She also shared a few of her favorite bird-friendly plants and recommendations on how to grow them.
To see past issues of the magazine, visit their archives link.
Estelle Stern-Eilers is a Ben’s Bells Bellee
Comments Off on Estelle Stern-Eilers is a Ben’s Bells BelleeHoward Weiss nominated Estelle for her work in the Rillito Bend neighborhood in Tucson and in April 2022 Estelle was awarded a Ben’s Bell.
Congratulations, Estelle!
Estelle Stern-Eilers has been the catalyst for improving and beautifying the Rillito Bend neighborhood in Tucson. Through her leadership and example she has identified streetscape projects along Cactus Boulevard that have resulted in the planting of hundreds of plants and trees. Her efforts have turned a once-barren street into a flowering desert landscape. She has organized neighborhood residents who have contributed hundreds of hours of their time to make a neighborhood beautiful while providing habitat for native species of plants, animals, birds and insects.
Our neighborhood and Tucson are better because of Estelle.
April 2022 was National Native Plant Month
Comments Off on April 2022 was National Native Plant Month
Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) are co-sponsors of a bipartisan Senate Resolution to designate April 2022 as National Native Plant Month.
On March 22, 2022, the resolution was introduced before the Senate, and on March 30, 2022, Senate Resolution 570 was unanimously approved in the Senate making April 2022 National Native Plant Month! Please visit the following website for full details: https://www.nationalnativeplantmonth.org/
Spring Wildflowers in Kings Canyon near Tucson
Comments Off on Spring Wildflowers in Kings Canyon near TucsonJillian Cowles shared her photos from a walk on March 3, 2022.
“After a long, cold, windy, and dry winter, the urge to bask in the sun and see some spring wildflowers becomes irresistible. Luckily, there is a special place where flowers can be found this spring, despite the lack of rain. Kings Canyon is accessible and relatively close to Tucson, and an easy one mile stroll up the wash will reward the diligent and observant botany buff with a number of gems: blue, red, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and white. Some are tiny, while others are quite conspicuous. In some cases, only a single example of a species might be all that can be found, so it does take a bit of careful inspection not to miss them.”
Adding to the interest are the life and death dramas of insects nectaring, courting, and hunting on the brittlebush flowers, along with the occasional crab spider lying in wait for the less alert pollinators.
As you walk along the wash, you might see a zebra tail lizard scampering ahead, waving its distinctive black and white tail.
Walk in beauty. Life can be beautiful.
Our “Happenings” newsletter for March-May is available now.
Comments Off on Our “Happenings” newsletter for March-May is available now.See news of upcoming chapter meetings via Zoom, field trips, plant sales, website additions and more. Find this issue, March-May, here. Or use the link on the homepage.
Celebrate Earth Day With Wildflowers
Comments Off on Celebrate Earth Day With WildflowersElfrida Library is the place to learn about native plants, pollinators and more!
Happenings – Spring newsletter
Comments Off on Happenings – Spring newsletterThe Spring 2022 edition of Happenings is now available! Download a copy to learn more about activities of Arizona Native Plant Society chapters around the state.
New on our Website: “Sue Rutman Plant Identification Guides”
Comments Off on New on our Website: “Sue Rutman Plant Identification Guides”Welcome, White Mountain Chapter!
Comments Off on Welcome, White Mountain Chapter!The White Mountain Chapter is excited to kick off 2022 as a brand new chapter of AZNPS! The chapter covers all of Navajo and Apache counties, but welcomes native plant enthusiasts from Greenlee and northern Gila counties also. Meetings will start in a couple months. Stay tuned for further information.
Check out their chapter-specific web page here, which will have more updated information as it becomes available.
Chapter Officers
Stinknet is Now Emerging in Phoenix and Tucson
Comments Off on Stinknet is Now Emerging in Phoenix and TucsonResponding to the copious December rains, Stinknet (Onchosiphon pilluliferum) is now emerging in known infested areas in both Phoenix and Tucson. Stinknet is a winter annual plant that can start to emerge in November and goes to seed and dies starting in April during wet winters. Stinknet is an Arizona Noxious weed that has rapidly infested the Phoenix metropolitan area over the past 5 years. It started a foothold in Tucson along I-10 starting around 2018. The stinknet history in Arizona was recently published in the Plant Press. In 2017 AZNPS produced a trifold printable brochure with descriptions of the plant, its growth and its control. You can read more about stinknet on our Invasive Plants web page .
Comments and questions can be addressed to aznps.stinknet@gmail.com.
Scientific Name: Oncosiphon piluliferum
Common Name: Stinknet
Also called: Globe Chamomile
Family: Asteraceae, Sunflower family
Status: Arizona Noxious Weed
Duration: Winter Annual
Size: Up to 2 feet or more
Growth Form: Forb/herb
Leaves: Twice finely dissected
Flowers: Round yellow or gold
Origin: South Africa, Cape Province
SPOTLIGHT ON A NATIVE PLANT, Lemon Lily by David Stith
Comments Off on SPOTLIGHT ON A NATIVE PLANT, Lemon Lily by David StithThis article is a reprint from the Fall 2012 issue of Plant Press.
Lemon lily (Lilium parryi) is the only true lily (the genus Lilium) native to Arizona. It is an herbaceous perennial that inhabits the mid to upper elevations of the mountain ranges of Southern California where it is uncommon and Southeastern Arizona where it is rare. It has also been found in the Sierra Los Ajos in Sonora, Mexico. It is named for Dr. Charles Christopher Parry who was among the first to collect it along with John Gill Lemmon in the San Bernardino Mountains of California in the summer of 1876. It grows primarily along shaded mountain streams but can also be found in bogs and meadows.
In Arizona the species has been reported in the Santa Rita, Huachuca, and Chiricahua Mountains. Accounts from the Chiricahuas and Santa Ritas are sporadic. The majority of the Arizona populations occur in the Huachuca Mountains in Miller, Carr, Ramsey, and Bear Canyons with the largest population occurring in Miller Canyon. In 1989 an additional population was discovered in Huachuca Canyon.
The stems can grow to a height of six feet and support as many as thirty flowers; however, many plants have only a few flowers. The leaves are mostly lanceolate to narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate. They are alternate in young plants and both alternate and whorled in mature plants. The stem originates from a rhizomatous bulb consisting of segmented scales.
The four-inch trumpet-shaped flowers are lemon yellow in color for which it gets its name. The sepals are often sparsely speckled. The flowers open just before sunset and are deliciously fragrant, attracting hawk moths such as the white-lined sphinx (Hyles lineate) and the elegant sphinx (Sphinx perelegans) as well as many other insects. In Arizona they bloom in May and June and fruit in July and August.
The fruit are composed of a three-chambered capsule which may contain one hundred seeds stacked like coins within the pod. The seeds are hydrophobic and can be carried away in the current of a stream or blown across the surface of the water. Few of the seeds will ever grow to mature plants.
Predators include gophers which feed on the bulbs, and deer and bear which consume the fruit. Boring insects may also damage the flowers and consume the seeds.
Throughout its range the lemon lily has suffered greatly from human activities. While not on the endangered species list, it is listed as a G3 (Vulnerable Species) by NatureServe and the California and Arizona Heritage Programs. Hence, wherever it is found it should be considered a sensitive species requiring monitoring and protection. It has been and remains the object of restoration efforts in both Arizona and California. Idyllwild, California hosts an annual Lemon Lily Festival.