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.
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
Tucson Chapter Meetings
Posted on Sep 01, 2026
Fall Kickoff!
September – November 2026
On September 10, the Tucson Chapter will inaugurate its fall season at Molino Basin, a lovely woodland on the slopes of the lower Santa Catalina Mountains. At 3:30 Lyn Loveless and John Schering will lead a plant ramble. At 5:00 we will break for a picnic. The board will provide the sandwiches; attendees are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Due to summer rains in the region, we are looking forward to many amazing finds. Maybe there will even be water in the creek!
Meetings
Thursday, October 8, 7:00 PM. Dan Beckman: Flora of the Rincon Mountains
Dan is a botanist and field technician with Saguaro National Park. Dan has explored and collected in these mountains since 2017 and plans to publish an updated flora of the region.
Thursday, November 12, 7:00 PM. Chris Robie, Xerces Society: The Moths of Southeastern Arizona
Chris will speak about the moths of our region, highlighting their connections to the local flora and
ecosystems.
Thursday, December 10, 7:00 PM: Members Showcase
The theme of this meeting is crafty garden projects. Perhaps you make your own seed-collecting or starting kits, yard art, pots, trellises, labels, or signs for your plants. Please think of sharing your creativity in a 10 – 15 minute presentation. For more information, contact Susan Husband (sushus12@gmail.com) or 520 327 0405.
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.
