After being in an inactive status for over two years, the Cochise Chapter is being reactivated! An in-person meeting was held on Saturday morning, October 11, at 10:00 AM at the San Pedro House Nature Center, San
Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, 9800 AZ-90, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635.
The meeting included a review of the history of the Cochise Chapter and outline projects and activities that could be offered in the future.
The Chapter has established a Facebook website (http://www.facebook.com/ AZNPSCochise) where much useful information about the chapter and its members is posted.
Chapter Leadership
Name
Role
Contact
Doug Ripley
President
jdougripley@gmail.com
Elliott Hendricks
Vice President
emhndrks@yahoo.com
Deanna Sanner
Secretary
longeyes1@msn.com
Pat Sullivan
Treasurer
patolisa@cox.net
Volunteering Opportunities
Want to get involved? We've got just the thing!
Chapter News
Cochise Chapter Video: Bob Parks Presents an Introduction to Hymenoptera: Ants, Wasps, and Bees
Posted on May 01, 2021
At the March 19, 2021 meeting of the Cochise Chapter, Bob Parks presented beautiful pictures of what many of us don’t find all that pretty: Ants, Wasps, and Bees. But these were indeed visually stunning and worthy of your time to watch.
Friday, March 19 Robert Parks, Entomologist and Nature Photographer: An Introduction to the Hymenoptera: Ants, Wasps, and Bees
Bob will present a visual program on the Hymenoptera using his superb macro photos. His emphasis will be on common and colorful species that can be found in Cochise County, highlighting some of their interesting characteristics. He will also discuss the vital mutual dependence ants, wasps, and, bees share with plants.
male Xylocopa varipuncta;
female serrated Anthidium maculosium
male Xylocopa varipuncta
Friday, April 16: Mike Foster, Nature Videographer, Arizona Native Plant Society, Sierra Vista. Video Stories about Native Plants
Mike is an extremely creative nature videographer based in Sierra Vista. This evening he will present
numerous short examples of his work focusing on plants. Following is a description of Mike’s work and philosophy: “I am captivated by how we interact with plants. It is not just that a plant is useful. It is good to know the time of year it is harvested, which are the best varieties, and how it can be processed. Generations grow up selectively breeding plants. As an example, you don’t just eat any prickly pear. I believe we also should have an emotional relationship with the plants. They are the backdrop of our lives. Our memories are attached to them. Most obviously we remember the tree colors and those feelings in the air during fall. I try to make videos that cover these issues, and I love the audience that sees plants as participants and living companions in our world. I even think it helps to attribute our qualities to plants to improve our connection. I will share numerous short examples of my work and answer questions.”
Story of La Llorona
Story of the Devil’s Claw
Story of Yerba de la Flecha
Friday, May 21. Dylan Dorey, Park Naturalist, Kartchner Caverns State Park. Twenty Years of Conservation: Above and Below Ground at Kartchner Caverns State Park
Dylan will review the natural history of the park and the cave, how they have stayed at the forefront of
scientific discovery, and various projects and techniques that are in progress to preserve this pristine
environment. He will also discuss the various vegetative types in the park and interesting plant species he has found.
Cochise Chapter: Sue Carnahan Presents “Diversity in a Grassland: Flora of the Salero Ranch” (YouTube)
Posted on Jan 23, 2021
Sue Carnahan’s presentation at the January 15, 2021 meeting of the Cochise Chapter is now available on YouTube. She discusses about the Salero Ranch, located in Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona, and her efforts to catalog nearly 800 plant species in the area.