Sabino Canyon Herp and Plant Trip
2023-08-20 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Phoenix)
Sunday, August 20th
6pm-8pm
Meet at the Sabino Canyon Visitors Center
RSVP to nativeplantstucson@gmail.com

Join 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.

Grass Identification Class (Day 2)
2023-08-25 09:00 - 15:00 | University of Arizona Herbarium, Herring Hall
This is a two-day combination lecture and hands-on workshop for students serious about doing grass identification 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)

Prescott Wildflower Celebration
2023-08-26 08:00 - 12:00
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.
PrescottNativePlantSociety@gmail.com

Lower Carrie Nation Trail Plant & Nature Walk Madera Canyon
2023-08-26 08:00 - 13:00
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 restroom on 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.

A Morning Stroll in a Happily Recovering Desert at the Waterman Restoration Site
2023-09-02 08:00 - 10:00, 2023-09-03 08:00 - 10:00
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!

Bisbee Bloomers Garden Tour
2023-09-02 08:00 - 16:00

September Plant Walk at Catalina State Park near Tucson, 6:30am
2023-09-09 06:30 - 10:00 | Catalina State Park
It’s been a tough monsoon season, but there are still some things out there flowering. Lyn Loveless will lead a leisurely plant walk around the Canyon Loop trail (about 2.5 miles) to see what we can find. We’ll meet at the trailhead mosaic at 6:30 am. The hike is mostly level, with one descent of stairs halfway through. Bring water, wear sunscreen and a hat, and dress for conditions. We should be done by 10 am.
The trip is open to anyone who is interested, but please register at nativeplantstucson@gmail.com so we know how many to expect.

Free Native Plant Gardening Workshop (Phoenix)
2023-09-14 18:00 - 19:30
Free in-person workshop “Native plant gardening: Bringing the Sonoran desert to your outdoor spaces” at the South Mountain Community Library.
See the event flyer for more information. Registration is not required.

Tucson September Chapter Meeting - Arizona Fireflies, presented by Dr Joseph Cicero
2023-09-14 19:00 - 20:30 | ENR Building, Room 215, University of Arizona, & on zoom
Arizona FIREFLIES: Summertime in the South or on the East Coast is synonymous with fireflies. As darkness falls children have collected them in jars and turned them into summertime lanterns. But fireflies in Arizona? Believe it or not – yes! Dr. Joe Cicero will present the three kinds of fireflies that occur in our state, the life cycles of these insects, how they communicate by way of luminescence, how their habitat is in jeopardy, where in Arizona you can see them, and what other kinds of luminescing insects occur here.
Fireflies in the Arizona Evening
Dr. Joe Cicero has a PhD in Entomology from Gainesville, Florida and a MS from the University of Arizona. He professes expertise in insect faunistics, the evolution of insect ontogeny, and external and internal insect anatomy, with secondary studies in botany and electron microscopy. Additionally he has specializations in several insect groups including bioluminescent, flightless and wood boring species. Dr. Cicero has hiked the mountains and valleys of southern Arizona and California for many years identifying and characterizing the region’s fireflies and glowworms.

Phoenix Chapter September Meeting - Botanical Gardens & Arboreta
2023-09-17 14:00 - 15:30 | via Zoom
Join us at our virtual Chapter meeting on Sunday, September 17th at 2:00 PM. All Arizona Native Plant Society members and friends are welcome to attend!
We’ll begin the meeting with 10-15 minutes of networking and socializing, enabling participants to seek tips and recommendations from members on topics related to native plants.
Next, we’ll share AZNPS announcements and a brief demonstration of useful tools on our website.
Then, we’ll have a group discussion about Botanical Gardens and Arboretums. This is the topic of Plant Press Arizona‘s Summer 2023 edition. We encourage you to read this prior to our meeting. Plant Press Arizona is available for free on our website.
To attend the meeting, register via Zoom.

Flagstaff Chapter Meeting: Using Trained Dogs to Detect Endangered Spiranthes delitescens
2023-09-19 19:00 - 20:30 | via Zoom
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.
Regular 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.

Prescott Chapter Workshop: Aster Family Workshop at Highlands Center for Natural History
2023-09-23 08:00 - 13:00 | Highlands Center for Natural History, 375 S. Walker Rd., Prescott, AZ, 86303, United States
Aster Family Workshop at Highlands Center for Natural History September 23, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Pre-registration required. Visit the website to register (https://aznps.com/chapters/prescott/).

Fall Plant Sale at Borderlands Nursery & Seed in Patagonia
2023-09-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Borderlands Nursery and Seed, 42 San Antonio Road, Patagonia, Arizona, 85624
10% discount on all plants and seeds. Visit the Borderlands Nursery & Seed website for more information.

Tonto Basin Chapter: In the Garden Meet & Greet Social
2023-09-30 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Arizona Insect Festival at the University of Arizona
2023-10-01 10:00 - 15:00
Insect Fest 2023! You’re invited to the 11th annual Insect Fest.
Sunday October 1, 2023 – 10am to 3pm, ENR2 building on UA campus, 1064 E Lowell St, Tucson, AZ
This year’s theme at the Arizona Insect Festival is the big and bold tarantula hawk, Pepsis formosa. Known for its sting, it paralyzes and lays its eggs on tarantulas, providing a large meal for its developing offspring.
It’s easily recognized by its jet black body, bright orange wings, and often curled antennae. They can be surprisingly large and are often seen sipping nectar from flowers all over Tucson.

Tonto Basin Chapter Meeting: Plant Families in Payson
2023-10-06 10:00 - 12:00
Friday, October 6, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Plant Families Botany Walk, Payson, AZ (exact location TBD)

Urban Wildlife Conservation Day 2023 (Phoenix)
2023-10-07 08:00 - 12:00
Urban Wildlife Conservation Day is a national day of celebration for our urban green spaces and urban wildlife. This free event will have multiple family-friendly activities including a native plant sale, kids art zone, music, food, and a festival of partner organizations.

7:00-8:00 am: River Heroes- Salt River Cleanup
8:15-8:45 am: Nature Nook- Live Animal Demonstrations
9:00-10:00 am: Walk for the Wild kick off with plant, animal, and cultural guides
9:15-9:45 am: Nature Nook- Storyteller
10:15-10:45 am: Nature Nook- Live Animal Demonstrations
11:00-11:30 am: Pollinator Planting

Location: 7th Avenue Trailhead (2801 S. 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85041)
Hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, City of Phoenix, Rio Reimagined, Corazon Latino, and Audubon Southwest.
View these event flier in English or Spanish for more information.

Tucson October Chapter Meeting - Sonoita Grasslands, Trends and Conservation, presented by Dan Robinett and Dr. Linda Kennedy
2023-10-12 19:00 - 20:30 | ENR Building, Room 215, University of Arizona, & on zoom
Grasslands near Elgin, AZ
Our beautiful southeastern Arizona grasslands face many challenges, but fortunately they also have champions, professionals like Linda Kennedy and Dan Robinett. Linda is a former director of the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch of the National Audubon Society, located near Elgin, AZ. Her presentation will focus on vegetation monitoring and control of exotic grasses for conservation of native species in southern Arizona grasslands. Dan has worked in rangeland conservation in Southern Arizona for over 45 years. He will focus on our warming and drying climate and what that means for grasslands in our area going forward.
Linda Kennedy is the former director of the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch of the National Audubon Society, located near Elgin, AZ. Dan Robinette has worked in rangeland conservation in Southern Arizona for over 45 years.
To receive the zoom link for the meeting, send an email to: nativeplantstucson@gmail.com

Fall Plant Sale at Boyce Thompson Arboretum
2023-10-13 - 2023-10-29 | Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 E. Arboretum Way, Superior, AZ, 85173, United States
October 13 (Arboretum members), October 14 – 29 (public)
See the Boyce Thompson Arboretum website for full details.

Phoenix Chapter October Meeting - Native Landscaping Plants & Where to Find Them
2023-10-13 18:00 - 19:30 | via Zoom
Fall is the BEST time to plant and shop for plants, so get the most out of this year’s planting season!
Join us at our virtual Chapter meeting on Friday, October 13th at 6:00 PM. All Arizona Native Plant Society members and friends are welcome to attend!
We’ll begin the meeting with 10-15 minutes of networking and socializing, enabling participants to seek tips and recommendations from members on topics related to native plants.
Next, we’ll share AZNPS announcements.
Then, we’ll have a presentation by our Chapter President, Lisa Rivera, about recommended native landscaping plants for Metro Phoenix. Learn which plants are best-suited to our area and where you are most likely to find them available for sale. Lisa will also demonstrate how to use The Plant List resource on the AZNPS website.
See the Phoenix Chapter webpage for more information about native landscaping plants in the Metro Phoenix area.
To attend the meeting, register via Zoom.

Fall Plant Sale at Tohono Chul (Tucson)
2023-10-14 - 2023-10-15 | Tohono Chul, 7366 N Paseo Del Norte, Tucson, AZ, 85704, United States
Tohono Chul Members’ Preview:
Wednesday, October 11 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
General Public:
Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

A selection of over 430 species and more than 6,000 plants, plus garden soil, native seeds, ceramic pots, and yard accessories.
The sale is located in the main parking lot off of Paseo del Norte.
View the Tohono Chul website for more information.

Southwest Monarch Butterfly Festival (Scottsdale)
2023-10-14 08:00 - 10:30 | Scottsdale Community College, 9000 East Chaparral Rd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85256, United States
Join Scottsdale Community College and the Southwest Monarch Study in celebrating 20 years of supporting and monitoring monarch butterfly populations. Learned about the amazing monarch
and how you can join the cause to save this threatened species and its migration.
Festival activities:

Milkweed plant sale
Maricopa Native Seed Library (free wildflower seeds)
Discovery tables with hands-on activities where you can talk to monarch community researchers
Speakers to help you learn:

About the Southwest monarch’s migration
How to provide habitat for monarchs & pollinators
How to observe and identify butterflies
How to set up a certified Monarch Waystation

View the event flier for more information.

Friends of the San Pedro Workshop: Water Sustains Life: Winterizing Your Backyard for Birds and Plants for Adult Beginner Gardeners
2023-10-14 08:00 - 13:00
OCT 14 2023 Xeriscape Class Agenda FINAL (2)

Flagstaff Chapter Meeting: Assessment and Status of Rumex orthoneurus, a Rare and Vulnerable Forest Service Conservation Agreement Species on the Tonto National Forest
2023-10-17 19:00 - 20:30 | via Zoom
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.
Regular 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.

Southwest Vegetation Management Association 2023 Conference
2023-10-18 - 2023-10-19
In-Person Meeting October 18: 9 AM – 4 PM, Arizona American Italian Club, 7509 North 12th St, Phoenix, AZ
Field Trip October 19: 8 AM -noon, Restoration sites along the Gila River near Phoenix
Conference Highlights:

Challenges facing vegetation managers in Arizona.
Invasive plant removal and management of key problem invaders.
Wildfire effects and habitat restoration/revegetation with an emphasis on riparian habitat.
Herbicide safety and most effective treatment methods for AZ’s top invaders.

Visit the conference webpage for registration details.

Fall Plant Sale at Desert Botanical Garden
2023-10-19 - 2023-10-22 | Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ, 85008, United States
October 19 (Garden members) 20 – 22 (public). Reservations required for entry.
See the Desert Botanical Garden website for full details.

Workshop: Attract & Support Pollinators (Phoenix)
2023-10-19 18:00 - 19:30 | South Mountain Community Library, 7050 S 24th St, Phoenix, AZ, 85042, United States
Do you want to create an outdoor space of beauty at home while supporting butterflies and other pollinators?
This in-person workshop will teach how to attract and support pollinators using region-specific guidelines developed by a local panel of experts (including the Arizona Native Plant Society, Phoenix Chapter).
You will learn about our pollinators and their needs and the practical steps you can take to set up and maintain your habitat. Anyone can participate, even with a few potted plants on a balcony.
Workshop participants will also learn about the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway, a free local program to get habitat certified.
Thursday, October 19th from 6-7:30 at the South Mountain Community Library
Workshop taught by Danielle Carlock, founder of the Maricopa Native Seed Library and Maricopa Pollinator Pathway.
See the event link for more information.

Prescott Chapter Field Trip: Fall Colors
2023-10-21 08:00 - 12:00
Fall color field experience, Location TBD, October 21, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Preregistration appreciated. Visit the Prescott Chapter webpage to register (https://aznps.com/chapters/prescott/).

Wildflower Sowing & Seed Packing (Phoenix)
2023-10-24 - 2023-10-25 | South Mountain Community Library, 7050 S 24th St, Phoenix, AZ, 85042, United States
Come have fun and take action in honor of Sustainability Month!
Tuesday, October 24
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Wildflower garden seed sowing at the South Mountain library
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Help pack seeds for the Maricopa Native Seed Library
1:00 PM -2:00 PM: Screening of Necessity: Climate Justice & The Thin Green Line

Wednesday, October 25
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Screening of Chasing Carbon Zero
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Wildflower garden seed sowing at the South Mountain library
12:00 PM -2:00 PM: Help pack seeds for the Maricopa Native Seed Library

View the event link for more information.
