Tucson

Meetings of the Tucson Chapter

Location for Chapter Meetings

The Tucson chapter holds meetings between September and May each year, with a summer break.  We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm.  We hold  “hybrid” meetings, where we meet both  in person and also on Zoom.  The live meetings will be in the ENR2 (Environment and Natural Resources 2) building at the University of Arizona, located on 6th street near Park.  We meet in Room S215.  Parking is available in the 6th St parking garage adjacent to ENR2.  A credit card is required to pay for garage parking.  If you are not on our mailing list and wish to attend one of our meetings on Zoom, email us at NativePlantsTucson@gmail.com to request the Zoom link.  Videos of past meetings can be found on our YouTube channel.

JOIN OUR CHAPTER E-LIST

Join Our Chapter E-list:  If you would like to receive announcements about field trips and meetings via e-mail, send a note to the Tucson Chapter email to be added to the list. Stay informed by joining us on Facebook.

Usually, the most up-to-date information about upcoming chapter events can be found on our Facebook page.

Sonoran Desert Plants: Seasonal Flowering Schedules – Based on 20 years of data from 1966-1985 by William G. McGinnies

 

Chapter Leadership

Name Role Contact
Lyn Loveless President nativeplantstucson@gmail.com
Janice Johnson Vice President
Andrew Gourevitch Treasurer gourevitch@yahoo.com
Georgette Mehalik Secretary


Volunteering Opportunities

Want to get involved? We've got just the thing!

Cholla flower with visiting Diadasia

Do you like native plants?

Caring for agave and baby cacti? Consider volunteer opportunities at the Pima County Native Plant Nursery! Located at 5845 N. Camino de la Tierra, the Pima County Native Plant Nursery grows native plants for public projects and is looking for volunteers to help with weeding, watering and propagation. The nursery is open Monday to Friday 7:00am to 3:30 pm. Email Amy for available times/days and details. Plant salvage at Cortaro Farms from Camino Del Oeste to Thornydate prior to road improvement project.

 

Chapter News

Summer 2026 Events

Posted on May 21, 2026

Update from Susan Husband: Many people leave for the summer, seeking cooler and greener spaces, but there are also those who shelter in place. We enter the dry summer, patiently waiting for the entourage of clouds, wind, dust, lightning, and finally—rain!
Our monthly meetings go on hiatus in May and resume in September. Two summer events that are anticipated each years are 1) a nature hike and plant walk in Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, led by renowned naturalist Doug Moore, and 2) the Monsoon Mixer.

The walk with Doug Moore has not been scheduled yet, and it will be limited in attendance and also only open to current AZNPS members.

The Monsoon Mixer is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, at Slow Body Beer Co, 831 E 17th Street, in Tucson. This informal gathering is open to all interested and is an opportunity to share stories and plant adventures, beverages, and food with fellow plant fanatics. You might come away with a plant, a book, or some other appropriate item.

Chapter events are advertised through e-blasts. You may be added to the mailing list by sending a message with your name and email address to NativePlantsTucson@gmail.com

Spring 2026 Activities

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

Recent rains have made a good wildflower show seem like a possibility. The wonder of the event is that we never know when it will occur until the flowers present themselves, so we will be out there watching. We anticipate flower walks in Catalina State Park, Tucson’s east side near the Rincon Mountains, the Waterman Restoration site in the Silverbell Mountains, and other locations.


Meetings
Thursday, March 12, 7:00 PM. Bob Perrill: Living with Giants
This program will provide an overview of a Sonoran Desert keystone species, the
saguaro. All aspects of its life cycle will be explored, including animal relationships
and environmental pressures.

Thursday, April 9, 7:00 PM. Carrianne Funicelli, owner of Strategic Habitat Enhancements: Landscaping for the Future


Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM. Linda Kennedy and Dan Robinett: A Beginner’s Guide to Grasses
This program will cover techniques for identifying grasses without a microscope.

Upcoming Meetings

Posted on Nov 23, 2025


Thursday, December 11, 7:00 PM. Holiday Celebration and Members Showcase


Thursday, January 8, 7:00 PM. Jack Dash: The Southwest Native Plant Primer:
235 Plants for an Earth Friendly Garden

Thursday, February 12, 7:00 PM. Francesca Claverie, Borderlands Restoration
Network: Propagation for Restoration


Gallery

See what your chapter has been up to!