The Arizona Native Plant Society

TUCSON FIELD TRIP - Native Plant Responses to the Bighorn Fire
2024-05-09 07:30 - 10:30 (America/Phoenix) | Catalina State Park
Meet at Catalina State Park : After the entrance proceed straight ahead to the end of the main road to the main parking area. We will meet up at the mosaic panel near the main kiosk. Wear sturdy hiking boots, a hat and bring plenty of water.
No RSVP required
There has been remarkable desert native plant resilience on Catalina State Park following the devastating Bighorn Fire of 2020. We will sample the habitats at the beginning of the Birder Trail and then proceed to walk the two-mile Canyon Loop Trail to see the remarkable tree and bush species shifts now happening in response to the Bighorn Fire. Along the Loop trail we will see the recovery of native grama grassland and the unique grass/fairy duster habitats associated with Mariposa Lily populations. We will walk along the base of Romero canyon and witness the impressive recovery of native riparian plants following both the Bighorn Fire and the multiyear AZNPS effort to suppress invasive species. Many late Spring wildflowers will be in bloom.

Tonto Basin Chapter Meeting: Frida,y May 3, 2024
2024-05-03 10:00 - 13:00 | 268 E. Stephens Way, 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ, 85553, United States
Friday, May 3, 10:00 – 1:00 pm:
“Seven Layers of the Forest,” presented by Charles Locke, Soil Food Web Specialist. Learn how to create native habitats that will increase biodiversity in your own landscapes. Stay for a year-end potluck picnic in the Chapter President’s garden located at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ

Saguaros Like You Have Never Seen Them
2024-04-20 08:00 - 11:00 | Ironwood Forest National Monument, Waterman Restoration Site
Saturday April 20
Saguaros Like You Have Never Seen Them. West Avra Valley Road, 35 mile car loop. 8-11am with John Scheuring. Fifteen-person limit. We will carpool west on Avra Valley Rd 20 miles with four stops for an eye-opening learning tour about saguaros and their associated native plants. This will include a half mile slow hike through desert filled with saguaros like you have never seen them: multi-armed saguaros of all types and stages of development, a saguaro singularly preferred by flickers, a lightning struck saguaro, multiple saguaro families around and under nurse trees, and telltale early signs of saguaro decline. Finally we will drive west to an area where we will discuss the natural history of saguaro pollination and genetic relatedness between neighboring saguaros. Many desert annual species will be in full bloom. Meet on the East side of the Marana Airport parking lot. The Marana airport is exactly 5 miles west of I-10 on Avra Valley road on the north side of the road. Note : ALL participants MUST be willing to carpool so we can limit the number of cars parked along the roadsides. Regular sedans and SUVs are welcome. For more information or to register, email tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com

Flagstaff Chapter Meeting: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
2024-04-16 19:00 - 20:30 | AZ
Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 PM: Janice Busco. The Life and Seasons of the Living Roof.
Hybrid meeting: In-person and via Zoom
Highgate Senior Living Center at 1831 N Jasper Dr. on McMillan Mesa.
Park anywhere in the parking lot or on the street.
Buzz to be let in if the door is locked and come upstairs to the second floor.

Tiny to Huge Native Plants. Upper Romero Canyon and Green Pirate Rock, Catalina State Park
2024-04-14 08:00 - 11:30 | Catalina State Park
Sunday April 14
Tiny to Huge Native Plants. Upper Romero Canyon and Green Pirate Rock, 8-1130am with John Scheuring. Fourteen-person limit. This slow hike will traverse actively growing riparian areas, desert grassland, and saguaro-studded bajadas as we learn about key plant species in each habitat and dynamic plant successions now in progress. We’ll also see desert wildflowers, bushes, and trees in full bloom. We will encounter steep climbs and rocky stream crossings and hike a total of 3 miles. Bring a hiking stick to help yourself balance at stream crossings, plenty of water and snacks. Meet at Catalina State Park Main Parking lot and trailhead area at the information kiosk. For more information or to register, email tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com

National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (Albuquerque, NM)
2024-04-14 - 2024-04-19 | AZ
The National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER) features presentations and field trips dedicated to both small- and large-scale restoration in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Monday will be a full day of talks focused on the desert Southwest region.
View the conference website for more information.

Spring Native Plants and Wildflowers galore.
2024-04-13 08:00 - 11:00 | Ironwood Forest National Monument, Waterman Restoration Site
Saturday, April 13: Spring Native Plants and Wildflowers galore. Waterman Restoration Area, Ironwood Forest NM, 8:00 -11 am with John Scheuring and Andrew Gourevitch. Stroll through this impressive desert restoration site on a limestone foothill slope snuggled at the base of the Waterman Mountains. Fourteen years after getting a monoculture of buffelgrass under control and installing passive water harvesting, we will see many of the 115 native species growing and blooming on the 18 acres, with focus on the keystone species that serve to restore and maintain the desert. We will walk slowly about ½ mile over uneven ground. Directions : Turn off I-10 onto Avra Valley Rd (Exit 242), turn west and drive 19 miles straight ahead. Turn left at the large HOLCIM sign on your left and drive one mile, bearing left. For more information or to register, email : tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com
The Waterman Restoration Site in spring

Spring Native Plants and Wildflowers galore.
2024-04-12 08:00 - 11:00 | Ironwood Forest National Monument, Waterman Restoration Site
Friday April 12: Spring Native Plants and Wildflowers galore. Waterman Restoration Area, Ironwood Forest NM, 8:00 -11 am with John Scheuring and Andrew Gourevitch. Stroll through this impressive desert restoration site on a limestone foothill slope snuggled at the base of the Waterman Mountains. Fourteen years after getting a monoculture of buffelgrass under control and installing passive water harvesting, we will see many of the 115 native species growing and blooming on the 18 acres, with focus on the keystone species that serve to restore and maintain the desert. We will walk slowly about ½ mile over uneven ground. Directions : Turn off I-10 onto Avra Valley Rd (Exit 242), turn west and drive 19 miles straight ahead. Turn left at the large HOLCIM sign on your left and drive one mile, bearing left. For more information or to register, email : tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com
The Waterman Restoration Site in spring

Tucson April Monthly Chapter Meeting- Flora of the Sierra Murrieta, Sonora, Mexico. Presented by Tom Van Devender.
2024-04-11 19:00 - 20:00 | ENR2 building, Room 215, University of Arizona, and on Zoom, 1064 E Lowell St, Tucson, Arizona, 85719
The flora of the Sierra Murrieta was inventoried on a Madrean Archipelago Biotic Assessment Expedition from July 31 to August 2, 2014, and a Madrean Discovery Expedition (MDE) on September 13-17, 2022. The vegetation is foothills thornscrub at lower elevations and oak woodland above. A unique feature is an open limestone habitat on the top of the Sierra Murrieta. The flora has strong floristic affinities with tropical southern Sonora and the temperate Sierra Madre Occidental and Sky Island mountain ranges in the Madrean Archipelago.
Agave parviflora in Tierras de Jimenez

Pristine Desert Spring Flowers on the way to Ragged Top in Ironwood Forest National Monument
2024-04-07 08:00 - 12:00 | Ironwood Forest National Monument, Waterman Restoration Site
Sunday April 7.
Pristine Desert Spring Flowers on the way to Ragged Top in Ironwood NM, 8am to noon with John Scheuring. Fifteen-person limit. Join AZNPS member John Scheuring on a slow drive with many stops and a short but steep and rocky hike in the pristine foothills of Ragged Top on Ironwood Forest NM. We will see amazing swathes of blooming Mexican Poppies, Coulter Globemallow, and Lupine along roadside stops. On our short hike we will see Desert Hibiscus and various “belly flowers” in glorious bloom. Wear sturdy hiking boots. EVERYONE on the tour must be willing to carpool because of the narrow road that does not allow for 2-way traffic in most areas. Only high clearance vehicles can make the trip, with a limit of 5 vehicles. Meet on the east side of the Marana Airport parking area. The Marana Airport is exactly 5 miles west of I-10 on Avra Valley Rd (Exit 242). For more information or to register, email tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com

Inauguration of the Takoi c Moho U'im (Desert Grasslands Habitat) at the Mission Garden
2024-04-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Mission Garden Tucon, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, United States
Saturday, April 6, 9am-12 noon: the inauguration of our Takoi c Moho U’im (Desert Grasslands Habitat) exhibit at Mission Garden in Tucson

The exhibit name, translated as “Where we gather Yucca and Beargrass,” acknowledges and displays the higher desert grasslands habitat known to the original residents of S-cuk Ṣon, the O’odham village and present day site of Mission Garden. The event will include Basket Dancers from San Xavier, O’odham blessing, basketry demonstrations, speakers including grasslands author Jim Koweek, and refreshments.

Wildflowers, Mariposa Lily habitat and much more along the Loop Trail at Catalina State Park.
2024-04-06 08:00 - 11:00 | Catalina State Park
Saturday, April 6
Wildflowers, Mariposa Lily habitat and much more along the Loop Trail at Catalina State Park. 8am to 11am. Arizona Native Plant Society member John Scheuring will lead this learning field trip covering big picture themes like plant succession after the bighorn fire, the contrast between native grasses and invasive Lehmann Lovegrass on spring native plant growth, the unique habitat of Mariposa Lilies, and the effect of invasive grass control on bringing back native plants in Romero Canyon. The wildflowers will be in peak bloom! Meet at the Catalina State Park Main parking lot and trailhead area at the east side information kiosk. For more information or to register, email tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com

Native Plant Sale at Gila Watershed Partnership, Safford AZ
2024-04-05 12:00 - 18:00 | Gila Watershed Park, 1651 W. Discovery Park Blvd., Safford, AZ

Tonto Basin Chapter Botany Walk
2024-04-05 10:00 - 11:30 | AZ
Friday, April 5, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Desert Bloom Walk. Location to be determined. Contact chapter for developing information.

Wildflowers along Canyon Loop Trail, Catalina State Park
2024-04-01 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
Wildflowers along Canyon Loop Trail, Catalina State Park, 8:00 am with Lyn Loveless. This is an unhurried 2-mile hike mostly on flat terrain (one long up and one long down) and includes upland and riparian sections. If there is water in Sutherland Wash, you will get slightly wet feet. Meet at the Catalina State Park trailhead by the mosaic sign by 8am. For information or to register send an email to nativeplantstucson@gmail.com with CANYON LOOP in the subject line.

Easter Wildflowers and Native Plants on Tucson A-Mountain Summit
2024-03-31 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
Easter Wildflowers and Native Plants on Tucson A-Mountain Summit, 8:00 am. AZNPS members Jack Dash and John Scheuring will lead this Easter Morning walk up the loop road and pathways to the summit of A Mountain, enjoying the views and abundance and diversity of native plants that have come back after 8 years’ effort to get buffelgrass under control. We will have a fun Easter Plant Hunt to find as many different plant species as possible. We will see blooming Gordon bladderpod, lupine, jewelflowers, Mexican poppies, brittlebush, nama and other delights. Meet at the closed gate at the bottom of the Sentinel Park A Mountain loop road in Tucson by 8am. For more information or to register, email nativeplantstucson@gmail.com with A MOUNTAIN in the subject line.

Spring Flowers at Tucson Greasewood Park
2024-03-30 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
Spring Flowers at Tucson Greasewood Park, 8:00 am with Gay Gilbert and Jack Dash. Our goals are to identify common and uncommon plants in this Arizona Uplands unmanicured city park and begin a Park plant list. Park trails are narrow, mostly gravely, uneven terrain with minimal elevation gain. There will be easy walking and standing as we discover and discuss plants, soil, climate, etc. Meet at the large ramada near the parking lot just off N Greasewood Road on the Southwest corner of Speedway and Greasewood. For information or to register, send an email to: nativeplantstucson@gmail.com with GREASEWOOD in the subject line.

A Wildflower Hike on the Sutherland Trail, Catalina State Park
2024-03-25 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
A Wildflower Hike on the Sutherland Trail, Catalina State Park, 8:00 am with Lyn Loveless. This slow 3 mile hike will follow the Sutherland Trail out and back, through a varied landscape with some easy hills. We hope to see a diversity of lovely spring wildflowers. Meet at the tile mosaic at the main Catalina State Park trailhead. To register, email to nativeplantstucson@gmail.com with SUTHERLAND in the subject line.

Carpets of Desert Spring Flowers on Ragged Top in Ironwood NM
2024-03-24 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
Carpets of Desert Spring Flowers on Ragged Top in Ironwood NM, 8:00 am. Fifteen-person limit. Join AZNPS member John Scheuring on a slow drive with many stops and a short but steep and rocky hike in the pristine foothills of Ragged Top on Ironwood Forest NM. We will see amazing swathes of blooming Gordon Bladderpod, Mexican Poppies, Coulter Globemallow, and Lupine along roadside stops. On our short hike we will see Desert Hibiscus and various “belly flowers” in glorious bloom. Wear sturdy hiking boots. EVERYONE on the tour must be willing to carpool because of the narrow road that does not allow for 2-way traffic in most areas. Only high clearance vehicles can make the trip, with a limit of 5 vehicles.
Meet on the east side of the Marana Airport parking area. The Marana Airport is exactly 5 miles west of I-10 on Avra Valley Rd (Exit 242). For more information or to register, email tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com

Tonto Basin Chapter Meeting
2024-03-23 10:00 - 23:30 | Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, 45675 N Arizona Highway 188, Tonto Basin, AZ, 85553, United States
Saturday, March 23, 10:00 – 11:30 am
“Nonnative, Invasive Plants of Gila County“ will be presented by Chris Jones from the Gila County Cooperative Extension at the Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, 45675 N Arizona Hwy 188, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553

Tiny to Huge Native Plants
2024-03-23 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
Tiny to Huge Native Plants. Upper Romero Canyon and Green Pirate Rock, 8:00 am with John Scheuring. Fourteen-person limit. This slow hike will traverse actively growing riparian areas, desert grassland, and saguaro-studded bajadas as we learn about key plant species in each habitat and dynamic plant successions now in progress. We’ll also see desert blooming wildflowers. We will encounter steep climbs and rocky stream crossings and hike a total of 3 miles. Bring a hiking stick to help yourself balance at stream crossings, plenty of water and snacks. Meet at Catalina State Park Main Parking lot and trailhead area at the information kiosk. For more information or to register, email tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com

Spring Plant Sale at Scottsdale Community College
2024-03-21 | Scottsdale Community College, 9000 East Chaparral Rd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85256, United States
March 21 from 10am – 1pm and 5:00pm – 6:30pm
The Center for Native and Urban Wildlife’s (CNUW) bi-annual fundraising plant sale at SCC will have a diversity of native flowering plants including old favorites, milkweed, and harder to find species.
View the CNUW website and the event flyer for full details.
During the event, they are also accepting donations of used pots (especially 1 gallon size) which they will happily reuse in their greenhouse!

Flagstaff Chapter Meeting: Tuesday March 19, 2024
2024-03-19 19:00 - 20:30 | AZ
Tuesday, March 19, 7:00 PM: Catherine Young. The Efficacy of Using Terminal and Axillary Bud Cuttings as a Means of Propagation for the Endemic Alpine Species Packera franciscana
Hybrid meeting: In-person and via Zoom
Highgate Senior Living Center at 1831 N Jasper Dr. on McMillan Mesa.
Park anywhere in the parking lot or on the street.
Buzz to be let in if the door is locked and come upstairs to the second floor.

Saguaros Like You Have Never Seen Them
2024-03-17 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
Saguaros Like You Have Never Seen Them. West Avra Valley Road, 20 mile car loop. 8:00 am with John Scheuring. Fifteen-person limit. We will carpool west on Avra Valley Rd 20 miles with four stops for an eye opening learning tour about saguaros and their associated native plants. This will include a half mile slow hike through desert filled with saguaros like you have never seen them: multi-armed saguaros of all types and stages of development, a saguaro singularly preferred by flickers, a lightning struck saguaro, multiple saguaro families around and under nurse trees, and telltale early signs of saguaro decline. Finally we will drive west to an area where we will discuss the natural history of saguaro pollination and genetic relatedness between neighboring saguaros. Even saguaro experts will have something new to learn and think about! Many desert annual species will be in full bloom. Meet on the East side of the Marana Airport parking lot. The Marana airport is exactly 5 miles west of I-10 on Avra Valley road on the north side of the road. Note : ALL participants MUST be willing to carpool so we can limit the number of cars parked along the roadsides. Regular sedans and SUVs are welcome. For more information or to register, email tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com

Spring Growth. Waterman Restoration Area, Ironwood Forest NM
2024-03-16 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
Spring Growth. Waterman Restoration Area, Ironwood Forest NM, 8:00 am with John Scheuring and Andrew Gourevitch. Stroll through this impressive desert restoration site on a limestone foothill slope snuggled at the base of the Waterman Mountains. Fourteen years after getting a monoculture of buffelgrass under control and installing passive water harvesting, we will see many of the 110 native species growing on the 18 acres, with focus on the keystone species that serve to restore and maintain the desert. We will walk slowly about ½ mile over uneven ground. Turn off I-10 onto Avra Valley Rd (Exit 242), turn west and drive 19 miles straight ahead. Turn left at the large HOLCIM sign on your left and drive one mile, bearing left. For more information or to register, email tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com

Early Spring Wildflowers POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN Canyon Loop Trail, Catalina State Park
2024-03-15 08:00 - 10:00 | AZ
THIS HIKE HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL MONDAY, MARCH 18, at 8:00 am. Rain has been forecast for Friday, and so the trip is being delayed.
Early Spring Wildflowers, Canyon Loop Trail, Catalina State Park, 8:00 am with Lyn Loveless. This is an unhurried 2-mile hike mostly on flat terrain (one long up and one long down) and includes upland and riparian sections. If there is water in Sutherland Wash, you will get slightly wet feet. Meet at the Catalina State Park trailhead by the mosaic sign by 8am. For information or to register send an email to nativeplantstucson@gmail.com with CANYON LOOP in the subject line.

Spring Plant Sale at Boyce Thompson Arboretum (Superior)
2024-03-15 - 2024-03-31 | Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 E. Arboretum Way, Superior, AZ, 85173, United States
October 15 (Arboretum members), October 16 – 31 (public)
See the Boyce Thompson Arboretum website for full details.

Tucson March Monthly Chapter Meeting. "The Earth Laughs in Flowers": Wildflowers and their Pollinators, presented by Pinau Merlin.
2024-03-14 19:00 - 20:00 | ENR2 building, Room 215, University of Arizona, and on Zoom, 1064 E Lowell St, Tucson, Arizona, 85719
Tucson Monthly March Chapter Meeting. “The Earth Laughs in Flowers”: Wildflowers and their Pollinators, presented by Pinau Merlin.
Quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In special springs, when the winter rains have been plentiful, nature throws an exuberant party with wildflowers as the guests of honor. The unpredictability of these special shows makes them all the more precious. This spring may bring some surprises as the rains came late but have been abundant.
Pinau Merlin and friend
We’ll look at various germination strategies of the ephemerals and how flowers and their pollinators have co evolved together in a rich interplay of strategies, tactics and syndromes to aid the survival and reproduction of each other and contribute to each other’s success. Often, we think of flowers as passive in this pollination endeavor, yet they are actively and deftly luring and managing their pollinators.
Pinau Merlin is a nationally known speaker, naturalist, and writer. She is the author of several books (including A Field Guide to Desert Holes) and a contributing author to A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert.

Spring Flowers, Ferns and Petroglyphs, Kings Canyon, Tucson Mts and Saguaro NP West
2024-03-14 08:00 - 10:00 | King Canyon Trailhead
Plants and Petroglyphs, Kings Canyon, Saguaro NP West, 8:00 am with Jack Dash. We will be hiking about a mile on the main trail before heading back along the King Canyon wash. We will see an abundance of wildflowers, ferns, petroglyphs, and the uncommon ragged rock flower (Crossosoma bigelovii). The total distance will be about two miles with minor elevation gain. The wash portion of the hike involves walking through sand and a couple descents down narrow paths around rock dams. Meet at the King Canyon parking lot by 8am. For information or to register send an email to nativeplantstucson@gmail.com with KINGS CANYON in the subject line.

Spring Plant Sale at Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix)
2024-03-14 07:00 - 2024-03-17 15:00 | Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ, 85008, United States
SPRING PLANT SALE
DATE: March 14-17
TIME: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., last admission at 2 p.m.
PRICE: Free Admission. Reservations required.

RESERVATIONS OPEN JAN. 26 FOR MEMBERS & FEB. 9 FOR GENERAL ADMISSION
Spring has sprung! Discover hundreds of varieties of native plants, succulents, cactus and pollinator-friendly species with more than 30,000 plants to choose from. Free admission to shop!

March 14 | Members Day | 7 a.m.– 3 p.m. with last entry at 2 p.m.
March 15-17 | General Public | 7a.m. – 3 p.m. with last entry at 2 p.m.

For 2024 Spring Plant Sale Guide, click here.
