. ■ dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora” Volume 14, Number 2 March/April 1990 George Kelly: Father of Rocky Mountain Horticulture David Adamson, The Nature Conservaricy George Whitfield Kelly was born in 1894 in Scotchridge, Ohio, population 15. George’s father was a strict evangelist preacher but George chose to preach a little differently. As Earth Day nears, it is appropriate to remember a man who spoke up for environmental education, wilderness preservation, and xeriscap- ing long before any of this was popular. And 95 years later, from his home in Cortez, George Kelly is still at it. the Denver Botanic Garden’s Green Thumb newsletter, he described his travels and the need to protect the areas he visited. The newsletter was also a platform for Kelly to express his other ecological opinions. Those of us who are only now discovering recycling, bicycle transportation, composting, and or- ganic produce might well read his 1950 article Does the organic movement have a lot of tmth and a little fanaticism? During the First World War, Kelly came to Denver and through a variety of careers expressed his love for the West and its plants. He owned several nur- series and landscaping businesses and was a tireless (and perhaps lonely) promoter of saving water in gardens and using native plants. He was the first full- time horticulturist for the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association, which merged into the Denver Botanic Gardens in the early 1950’s. He was the first acting director of the Gardens as well. But the man who won the 1954 ‘Johnny Appleseed Award’ was not content to simply putter around in the garden. Beginning in the 1920’s, he spent as much time as he could introducing people both young and old to Colorado’s natural areas. As editor of Kelly was a prolific writer who published more than 100 articles in the Green Thumb as well as eleven books on Colorado horticulture and nature ap- preciation in general. Useful Native Plants of the Four-Comers Area ^ a small pocketbook describing 125 plants used by the Indians and earlier settlers for various purposes, and >4 Way to Beauty, a complete book on appropriate landscape gardening for the Rocky Mountains, are particularly notable and useful. A resolution to understand and use Colorado’s native plants with the aid of these books would be a great way to celebrate Earth Day. On my recent trip to Cortez, the con- tinuing strength of Kelly’s passion for nature was revealed. Noting that ‘It’s later than we think’, Kelly feels that healing our global environmental crisis can only come through the inspired teaching of nature educators of many kinds. His books provide a means for us all to follow in his lively and positive footsteps. Ed. Note: If you*d like to write to Mr. Kelly, his address is: Mr. George Kelly, 15126 Colorado Rd. 6, McElmo Route, Cortez, CO 81321. In this Issue ... RMNP Project Update 3 Prairie Garden Chapter News 4 Pawnee Lands Weed Control 5 Little Bluestem 1990 Field Trips 6,7 Seasonal Shrubs 8 9 10 11 Page 2 Aquilegia Volume 14 About this Issue This issue begins our descriptions of field trips for 1990, page 6. A summary of CONPS field trip policy and a reminder about the waiver are also provided with the trip descriptions themselves. If you need a full copy of either the policy or the waiver, contact Jeff Dawson at 722-6758. We welcome new contributor Rick Brune, whose series on The Prairie Gar- den begins this issue. Rick also promises specific articles on individual plant species useful in prairie landscapes. We especially appreciate his contribution to the ticklish issue of pronunciation of the genus to which little bluestem belongs (see page 10). Rick can now, we hope, attest to the fact that the process of writing for Aquilegia is not too painful for would-be authors. We hope more of you will be encouraged to try it! [For illustrators, the process is even more comfortable!] In a final (for now) stage in the continu- ing improvement of Aquilegia^ we are also pleased to present the first issue to be printed entirely on recycled paper. The Board approved use of recycled paper in January, and we have switched beginning this issue to a 100% recycled stock called Minimal Impact. This paper differs from most other recycled papers in its production, which uses less water, fewer chemicals, and creates one-tenth as much solid waste. The paper is off- white, as it is not bleached, and may vary slightly in color. Please let us know if you have any comments on its readibility, durability, or other thoughts. recycled paper Schedule of Membership Fees Aquilegia is published six times per year by the Colorado Native Plant Society. This newsletter is available to members of the Society, and others with an inter- est in native plants. Contact the Society for subscription information. Articles from Aquilegia may be used by other native plant societies if fully cited to author and attributed to Aquilegia. The Colorado Native Plant Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora. Membership is open to all with an interest in our na- tive plants, and is comprised of plant en- thusiasts, both professional and non- professional. Please join us in helping to encourage interest in enjoying and protecting the variety of native plants in Colorado. The Society sponsors field trips, workshops and other activities through local chap- ters and statewide. Contact the Society or a chapter representative or commit- tee chair for more information. Life Family or Dual Supporting Individual Organization Student or Senior $250.00 $12.00 $50.00 $8.00 $25.00 $4.00 Membership Renewals/Information Please direct all membership applica- tions, renewals and address changes to the Membership chairperson, in care of the Society’s mailing address. Please direct all other inquiries regard- ing the Society to the Secretary in care of the Society’s mailing address. Newsletter Contributions Please direct all contributions to the newsletter to: Peter Root 4915 West 31st Avenue Denver, CO 80212 Deadlines for newsletter materials are February 15, April 15, June 15, August 15, October 15 and December 15. Officers President Jim Borland Vice-President WillMoir Secretary Rob Udall Treasurer Myma P. Steinkamp Board of Directors Betsy Neely (90) Boulder Jim Borland (90) Denver Beth Painter (91) Ft Collins Brian W. Geils (90) Ft Collins Tina Jones (91) Denver Tamara Naumann (91) Boulder Elizabeth Otto (90) Idaho Spg Velma Richards (90) Englewood Robert Udall (91) Ft Collins Gayle Weinstein (91) Denver Chapter Presidents Boulder Margie Wortzman Denver Metro Carol Dawson Ft. Collins Jennifer Crane Yamparika Reed Kelley San Juan Peggy Lyon Conservation Committees Sue Martin Editorial Peter Root Education Miriam Denham Field Trips Jeff Dawson Florissant Mary Edwards Horticulture/ Rehabilitation Dorothy Udall Membership Myma Steinkamp Publicity Tina Jones Workshops Bill Jennings 329-9198 4824872 482-9826 226-3371 443-8094 329-9198 482-2283 482-8607 759-9701 440-8933 567-2384 794-5432 482-9826 333-3024 494-1640 722-6758 493-2142 8784666 626-5526 226-3371 433-9340 442-1020 722-6758 233-8133 482-9826 226-3371 759-9701 666-8348 Number 2 Aquilegia Page 3 CNAP Budget Restored! On March 15th, the Joint Budget Com- mittee voted 3-2 (really 4 were in favor) to reinstate the Colorado Natural Areas Program (CNAP) budget and keep three full-time employees in the program. Dick Bond (D-Greeley) spearheaded the effort to save CNAJP, with the support of Jim Rizzuto (D- Trinidad). Position shifts on the part of Mike Bird (R-Colorado Springs) and Tony Grampsas (R- Metro, Evergreen) reversed the committee’s original vote to eliminate the CNAP budget. Both were strongly influenced by the number of calls they received supporting the program. CNAP staff are profoundly grateful for the support of CONPS members. This demonstrates that the Society continues to be an effective force in conserving Colorado’s native floras. The Society’s efforts also played a significant role in the landmark BLM Piceance ACEC designations in 1988, which has strongly influenced subsequent BLM planning processes with respect to protection of native plants. The mutual support be- tween CONPS and CNAP is necessary to ensure preservation of unique and important plants and habitats. Many thanks to the CONPS members who responded with calls of support. And many thanks are also due to Sue Martin of the Conservation Committee for the prompt notification! Thanks Team! Now . . . perhaps a thank-you call or let- ter to Mr. Bird and Mr. Grampsas is in order. Last Call!! Check your mailing label on this newsletter ... if it says ‘Paid thru 1989’, this is the last newsletter you will receive! Please send your dues and membership questionnaire to CONPS, PO Box 200, Ft. CoUins CO 80522. Park Cooperative Restoration Project Dorothy Udali Many agencies and individuals are con- cerned with the need for revegetating disturbed areas. The usual techniques involve planting either seed or started plants which often are not native to the site. Little study has been conducted to determine the natural processes of revegetation from seeds or roots which may remain in the soil from the original vegetation, or which may migrate into the site from adjacent undisturbed areas, unassisted or unimpeded by the efforts of man. During 1989 five CONPS members have been working with Richard Keigley (Ecologist at Rocky Mountain National Park) to investigate this situation. The study site is located on a 10-acre dry south-facing slope on South Deer Ridge Mountain. The disturbed area was pre- viously occupied by an inholding house which was removed in 1988. Soil was brought in from the Longmont area and the site was graded to conform with ad- jacent slopes. Every two weeks during this past sum- mer, collections of seedlings, flowering plants and seeds were made in the dis- turbed and nearby undisturbed areas. About 140 species of plants were found, seven of which were new to the park catalog, and some at least were prob- ably brought in with the imported soil. These collections will be used as a baseline for future studies to determine what comes up in the disturbed area. Other studies will be undertaken to determine what natural factors in- fluence rate of revegetation and plant succession and what treatments may en- hance the process. Another aspect of the study involves control of invasive weedy species, often a problem in revegetation efforts. A CSU weed specialist is being consulted on this concern. A technique for separating seeds from the soil has been developed and seeds from the summer collection are being photographed in order to be able to identify seeds in soil samples or surface collections. It is expected that this cooperative project between CONPS and RMNP will continue over several years. The study may provide a model for coopera- tive research between CONPS and other elements of the Park Service in Colorado. jf. Page 4 Aquilegia Volume 14 Chapter News and Schedules Yamparika Events Boulder Meetings April 10th, 7:30PM: From Winter Wheat to Western Wheat(grass): The Future of Gunbarrel Hill The City of Boulder Open Space program has undertaken an exciting prairie restoration project on Gunbarrel Hill. Using federal Con- servation Reserve Program funds in cooperation with private agricultural lessees, the city intends to remove from crop production portions of city open space on Gunbarrel Hill, with the land to be returned to a native prairie condi- tion. The program will be presented by Dick Antonio, City of Boulder Open Space Agricultural Manager. This will be a joint meeting with the Boulder Co. Nature Association at the Foothills Na- ture Center, 4201 N. Broadway in Boulder. May 8th, 6PM: Picnic and Hike at Beech Open Space Bring a sack supper for the final meeting of the season; we’ll social- ize and exchange ideas for our chapter. This new county open space is known for its Niobrara limestone and shale out- crops, home of the double bladder-pod, Physaria bellii. We’ll also s&c Astragalus tridactylus and Townsendia hookeri and several species of cacti. To reach Beech open space from Boulder, head north on 36 and take a right on Neva Road across from Beech Aircraft. The picnic area is immediately to the right and is covered in case of wet weather. Boulder meetings are held at 7:30 PM at the Foothills Nature Center, 4201 No. Broadway, Boulder, unless otherwise specified. Call Margie Wortzman (494- 1640) or Allison Peck (443-0284) for ad- ditional information on chapter activities. jf. Sunday March 11, 3PM: Mr. Paul Gil- bert, retired wildlife officer, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and long-time CONPS member from Hot Sulfur Springs, will be guest speaker at our monthly program. His topic is Native American Use of the Native Florae at the Meeker United Methodist Church, 8th & Park, Meeker. Saturday, April 21, time TBA: Chap- ter/Society field trip to the Dudley Bluffs Natural Area on Piceance Creek to catch the threatened Dudley Bluffs bladderpod {Lesquerella congesta) in bloom and maybe even the Piceance twinpod {Physaria obcordata). These species were among those discussed by Rusty Roberts at the February meeting of the chapter. The San Juan Chapter met on February 22 for a program on relationships be- tween soils and aspen regrowth. John Murray and Doug Cryer of the Soil Con- servation Service presented their re- search on "serai" versus "stable" aspen soils. This subject is especially of inter- est to Ouray and Telluride cirea mem- bers concerned about controversial clear-cutting of aspen. Cryer and Mur- ray contend that, contrary to Forest Ser- vice doctrine, there are sites in western Colorado where aspen is, if not climax^ at least stable rather than a trcmsitional stage toward an eventual spruce-fir forest. They are beginning a five-year study which should help in identifying factors for determining whether or not specific stands should be harvested, and predicting the future growth of sites that are cut. Plans were also made for spring programs. On March 1, members planned to meet for a work party to paint the chapter’s new room at the Sunday, May 13, tentative: Chapter field trip to Dinosaur National Monu- ment out of Dinosaur, Colorado, includ- ing a presentation from Park Service personnel on the floristic survey of the Monument recently completed by Colorado Natural Areas Program staff. Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28: Hosting CONPS field trip to Rio Blan- co County Rare Plants and Natural Areas. Trip will start at the Rangely Museum in Rangely, CO. See trip description, page 6. For information about this chapter or final details of the activities listed above, please call Reed Kelley (878-4666) or Jean Herron, chapter secretary- treasurer (878-4862). ^ Ouray Historical Museum. This sum- mer, common native plants will be col- lected for a mini-herbarium where visitors will be able to compare and identify the wildflowers they encounter while hiking and four-wheeling in the San Juans. On March 15th, the chapter will meet at the new Ridgway Recreation Area to review plans for plantings in the park with the landscape architect. In late April (date to be set later), mem- bers will spend a day at the Wacker Ranch near Montrose, now managed by The Nature Conservancy. They will help search for, map, inventory and monitor populations of Penstemon retrorsus and Lomatium concinnum. The May program will be a field trip to Escalante Canyon near Delta. This trip . is offered as a scheduled Society func ^ tion described on page 6. 4; San Juan Chapter News Number 2 Aquilegia Pages ‘Undesirable Plants’ Defined for Management Bryan Pritchett, Colo. Weed Mngt. Assoc. Denver Chapter Activities April 25th: Topic to be announced May 23rd: Election of Officers and pot- luck supper; details later Meetings are at 7:30 PM in Classroom A at the Denver Botanic Gardens unless otherwise specified. Contact Carol Dawson at 722-6758 for more informa- tion. End of the Season Winter Workshops The workshop season is extending into April, and there may still be an oppor- tunity to join in the last workshops of the season. Cancellations may create open- ings up to the day of the workshop, so contact Bill Jennings at 666-8348 if you are interested in: Colorado Conifers Saturday, April 7th, SAM to Noon Leader: Jim Trammell at Chatfield Arboretum, SW Denver Adopt a Rare Plant Saturday, April 21th, SAM to 4PM Leaders: Neely, Naumann, and Jennings; at Foothills Nature Center in Boulder On January 19, the Colorado Un- desirable Plant Management Act was introduced to the Colorado State Legis- lature. The bill has become more wide- ly known as the ‘Weed Law’ or House Bill 1175 (HB1175). This piece of legislation states that it is the duty of everyone in this state to manage undesirable plants on property. The bill declares several plants as economic and environmental threats to Colorado. These include leafy spurge {Euphorbia esula), and three species of knapweeds: spotted {Centaurea maculosa), Russian (C repens), and dif- fuse (C diffusa). The bill requires that local governments adopt an integrated undesirable plant management program for at least these weeds by January 1, 1992. Loccil governments may also include other weed species in their programs. The ‘Weed Law’ was drafted by the Colorado Weed Management Associa- tion (CWMA), a coalition of private and public organizations and individuals in- terested in managing and minimizing weed impacts on Colorado’s agriculture and natural resources. The bill passed unanimously out of the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee, and on February 19th was passed out of the House by a vote of 60 in favor, 5 op- posed. The Senate Agriculture Com- mittee tabled the bill on February 27th, and no further information was avail- able at press time. Much discussion has centered on the definitions describing undesirable plants and how they may be interpreted by local governing bodies wishing to add plants other than leafy spurge and knap- weeds to their weed control programs. The bill’s primary sponsor, Representa- tive Lewis H. Entz (R-Hooper), has agreed to change these definitions to better represent the intent of HB1175. For example, the term ‘exotic plant’ has been removed from the text and replaced by the term ‘alien plant.’ An ‘alien plant’ is further defined by the bill as "a plant species which is not in- digenous to the state of Colorado," It is felt that this will ensure no native plants can be incorporated into any local government’s weed management program. If you have further questions or con- cerns regarding the law or its intent or purpose, you can call Bryan Pritchett, CWMA President, at 278-5986, or Jim Borland, CONPS President, at 329- 9198. jf. Full workshop descriptions were CONPS Field Trip Policies printed in Vol. 14, No. 1. Just a reminder of the guidelines for participation in Society trips. Contact Jeff Dawson if you need a copy of the full text. 1. Plant collecting is forbidden on CONPS field trips, with two exceptions: (1) Collecting for scientific study (with the appropriate permit). (2) Instructional purposes by trip leader, not including rare plants. 2. Car-pooling and ride-sharing arc en- couraged on CONPS trips. All drivers who provide rides to others will gra- ciously accept payment on the scale listed in the March/April 1988 issue. 3. Pets are not permitted on field trips. 4. Field trips are designed primarily for adults, unless state otherwise. 5. CONPS’s purpose is to promote ap- preciation and preservation of our flora. Use it lightly. ^ Pages Aquilegia Volume 14 Saturday, May 19 Leader: Jim Ferguson (BLM, Montrose) Escalante Canyon is a BLM ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Con- cern) located near Delta in western Colorado. Outstanding botanical fea- tures include Uinta Basin bookless cac- tus, a listed endangered species; hanging gardens of Aquilegia micrantha, Epipactis gigantea, and Mimulus eastwoodiae on canyon walls; Grand Junction milkvetch {Astragalus linifolius), a candidate species for listing as endangered; and several Colorado listed plant communities which are rare in Colorado, such as the alkali cordgrass association, or which are in virtually pre- settlement condition. Field Trips for 1990 Escalante Canyon This area also has interesting geologic^ and historical features, which will be discussed on the field trip. This area is located on a tributsiry of the Gunnison River, and swimming will be available at potholes in the river. A trail leads into the nearby Dominguez Wilderness Study Area, for those interested in a hike after the field trip. Participants will meet at the roadside park located about 10 miles northwest of the Delta city limits on Highway 50. This site is well-marked as the Escalante turnoff, with an interpretative sign, pic- nic tables, and toilet facilities, and is lo- cated immediately adjacent to the highway. The meeting time will be 10:00 AM. Travel will be on a gravel county road, and normal passenger cars will be appropriate. Primitive camping is avail- able in the canyon for people arriving early, but the area may be heavily used, and no potable water is available in the canyon. Delta offers a KOA and several motels. Bring the usual, including a hand lens, botanical keys, a lunch, water, and insect repellent. Suggested advance reading is Muriel Marshall’s Red Hole in Time. For more information and for reserva- tions, call Peggy Lyon at (303) 626-5526. This trip will be the May program for the San Juan chapter, and a regular CONPS field trip. ^ “Have you ever seen a stud pile?" or Rio Blanco County rare plant and natural areas field trip Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28 Leaders: Rusty Roberts, plant specialist and range conservationist. White River Resource Area, BLM; Reed Kelley, president of the Yamparika Chapter and Chairman of the Colorado Natural Areas Council. This field trip will begin at 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 26th in Rangely, CO (292 miles from Denver), at the Rangely Museum located on the west end of town. The first site visited will be the Raven Ridge Natural Area/BLM Area of Critical Concern. This is a north- south trending exposure of the Green River Formation which supports several species otherwise not found in Colorado. Included are Graham’s penstemon {P. grahamii). White River penstemon {P. scariosus albifluvis), Rol- lins cat’s-eye (Cryptantha rollinsii), ephedra buckwheat {Etiogonum ephedroides) , Parthenium ligulatum, and Phacelia incana. In the late afternoon we will visit the Greasewood Creek Natural Areas to look at Uinta gilia (G. stenothyrsa and pinyon-juniper. Great Basin grassland, and lowland sage communities. The group will return to the Rangely Museum for an evening barbeque. Motel accomodations and camping facilities are available in Rangely for Saturday night. Sunday, May 27, will begin with a drive over Calamity Ridge (through wild horse country with stud piles!) to the South Cathedral Bluffs Natural Area. This is a tremendously scenic locale overlooking Douglas Creek which sup- ports populations of Piceance bladder- pod {Lesquerella parviflora)^ sun-loving meadowrue {Thalictrum heliophilum), and Utah gentian {Gentianella tortuosa) as well as more Great Basin grassland. After lunch on Sunday, the group will drop down onto Piceance Creek to visit the Dudley Bluffs Natural Area, and see the federally threatened Dudley Bluffs bladderpod {Lesquerella congesta) and Piceance twinpod {Physaria obcordata). From Dudley Bluffs, we will drive up Piceance Creek to the Deer Gulch Natural Area. Here we will walk into an old growth Douglas fir stand and inves- tigate rare Utah fescue {Festuca dasyclada) and oil shale columbine (Aquilegia bamebyi). The day will end with a Yamparika Chapter sponsored get-together in the Meeker area. Camping and motels are available at Meeker. Monday, Memorial Day, is open for now. Depending on the interests of the participants we could visit such Meeker phenomena as the White River Museum, Sleepy Cat Resort, or even Trappers Lake in the Flattops Wilder- ness Area. Bring lunches and water each day. Regular cars will be appropriate. For more information and to register, call Reed Kelley at (303) 878-4666, Rusty Roberts at (303) 878-3601, or Jeff Daw- son (field trip chairman in Denver) at (303) 722-6758. This trip will be limited to about 20 participants. jf. Number 2 Aquilegia Page 7 ''v:V Southeastern Colorado Canyonlands Saturday, June 9, 1990 Leader: Rich Rhoades, District Conservationist, Soil Conservation Service Southeastern Colorado sandstone canyonlands will be the subject of a one- day tour to be held Saturday, June 9. The canyonlands, particularly where the Huerfano and Cucharas Rivers meet, are very scenic and should have some in- teresting plant species to identify. Along the way we will stop to view and discuss Conservation Reserve Program grass seedings that were established two years ago. All stops will be on private landholdings that have given us permis- sion for this one time only. To get there, travel on 1-25 thirty minutes south of Pueblo to the Graneros Exist (No. 71). We will meet on the east side of the exit at 9:00 AM. We will return to our starting point. If you plan to leave a vehicle and ride with someone else you can do so at the Graneros Exit. Bring a lunch and water with you. Two wheel drive pick-ups will be sufficient. We will travel on gravel roads and acress rangelands with trail roads. Small pick- ups and high-clearance cars may find the going rough as the trail roads were made by full size pick-ups. We plan to return to Pueblo by 6:00 PM. There will be moderate hiking involved. You can register by contacting Rich Rhoades at home (719-545-4352) or at work (719-543-8384).^ 4, i-tUCOCfli Illustrations by Ann Cooper Poudre and Laramie River Meadows and Fens Saturday, June 30, 1990 Leaders: Dieter Wilkin and Jan McKee This trip will visit several wet meadows and fens along the upper Poudre and Laramie River drainages. Depending on the season we anticipate visiting populations of Lilium philadelphicum (wood lily), Lomatogonium rotatum (marsh felwort), Utricularia (bladder- wort), and Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar), among many other species ex- pected to be flowering. This trip will also include a visit to Bos- ton Peak fen, a 10,000 year old glacial ^ kettle remnant, which supports Salix Candida^ Carex livida, C. limosa, and C diandra, taxa that are relatively rare in Colorado. If time permits we also will visit populations of Sisyrinchium pal- lidum and Penstemon laricifolius (larch leaf penstemon) along the Laramie River. This trip will include scenic views of the Rawah Wilderness and the op- portunity of returning home either via Wood’s Landing and Laramie, or across the scenic Sand Creek Pass Road to Cherokee Park or Red Feather lakes. Participants will meet at 9:00 AM at the Narrows Picnic Site along Highway 14, about 20-21 miles west of the junction with US Highway 287 northwest of Fort Collins (formerly Ted’s Place). This USFS picnic site is approximatley one mile past the north end of the Big Nar- rows Gorge. Those desiring to camp nearby should plan to arrive early on Friday, June 29. Several USFS campgrounds are nearby, including Mountain Park and Kelley Flats. Motel accomodations are available in Fort Collins, approximately 1.5 hours from the meeting site. Reservations are required: Call Dieter Wilken to sign up, at 303-491-6036 (days) or 303-482-2283 (nights). We strongly recommend a change of foot- ware or waders for several of the site ex- cursions. In accordance with CONPS policy and both USFS and Colorado Division of Wildlife regulations in effect at most sites to be visited, no plant col- lecting will be permitted. jf. Aquilegia Volume 14 Pages The Prairie Garden Rick Brune Viewing the lawns of exotic grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, peren- nial rye, etc.) surrounding us, it is easy to forget that our cities, suburbs, and lawns east of the foothills were once at- tractive prairies. A prairie remains an appropriate landscape element. Using our imagination, and depending on cir- cumstances, a little or a lot of work (real- ly a labor of love), we can create a landscape resembling that lost prairie. Once established, our homegrown prairie will result in a great reduction in mowing, fertilizing, and watering while providing many enjoyable hours of in- vestigation and observation. Although there is controversy about whether the shortgrass prairie is a climax ecosystem or a disclimax caused by overgrazing, the shortgrass prairie is a very appropriate plant community to try to recreate here. Seed availability makes the creation of either a blue grama-buffalo grass prairie (Bouteloua gracilis- Buchloe dactyloides Shortgrass Prairie is the formal plant association) or a blue grama prairie the most prac- ticable types. These two prairie types are named for the dominant plants which give them their overall character. Both are well adapted to most eastern Colorado soils except aeolian (wind- deposited) sand or gravelly or very rocky soils. Blue grama and buffalo grass are easily seeded into realistic-looking prairies. These shorter grasses fill in quickly and suppress weed growth. Many species of wildflowers grow very well in this shortgrass environment. Dozens of other prairie types occur in Colorado. Some, such as tallgrass prairies, climax sandhills prairies, and loess prairies, are on the verge of extir- pation here. Most of these other prairies contain attractive taller elements which conservative Colorado neighborhoods may not be ready to accept. Use them in smaller areas at first. There is always, for example, that too-big vegetable garden, part of which could become a tallgrass prairie project! Tallgrass prairie plant- ings are now increasingly accepted landscape elements in yards of the Mid- west — so with time perhaps there’s hope. Depending on our sense of perfection, tallgrass prairie species (for example, big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii, and indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans) need to be set out as individual plants if we want to grow them in small areas in realistic climax-approximating den- sities. The spaces between individual tallgrass plants are open to weeds for several years until the grasses mature and shade the ground. At this stage, a tallgrass prairie is probably more resis- tant to weeds than a shortgrass prairie. The elegant beauty of the tallgrasses and their attractive fall foliage should earn them a place in every garden. Prairies dominated by mid-grasses (about knee-high) usually have large quantities of needle grasses such as needle- and-thread (Stipa comata). The very sharp seeds of the Stipas greatly reduce their desir-ability in the prairie garden if the gardener enjoys walking bare-foot in the grass. Stipas are a desirable addi- tion, however. Try some New Mex- ico feathergrass {Stipa neomex- icana). The prairie garden is only one im- aginative step away from plant- ing a buffalo grass and/or blue grama lawn. Detractors of buffalo grass lawns complain that this species doesn’t stay ‘green’ year- round. Neither does the prairie garden. However, many of these same detractors live in a temperate climate because they enjoy the other changes the seasons bring — fall colors in leaves, spring bulbs, skiing, etc. Our prairie landscape doesn’t just turn brown in fall and winter. It becomes every warm and cheerful shade of yel- low, gold, bronze, maroon, purple, and red. In short, a golden winter prairie provides a mental lift during winter that you can’t get from a dingy-green tradi- tional lawn. On wintry nights, your tawny prairie will glow among the dark holes of neighboring yards. Our homegrown prairie will never be a true replica of the real prairie. John Weaver, in North American Prairie, states that “Climax prairie is the outcome of thousands of years of sorting out of species and adaptations to the soil and climate. The vegetation represents not only an evaluation of the present environmental con- ditions but also those of the past. It is exceedingly complex and remarkably stable.” Number 2 Aquilegia Page 9 continued from previous page ^ When we plant our prairie, we can take advantage of some of those thousands of years of sorting out, but we can’t recreate the vegetative history in the soil, climate, and the plants and effects of herbivores, carnivores, large and small, that are part of the real prairie. It’s infinitely better to preserve existing prairie than to try to recreate it. What can we expect from our homegrown prairie? Certainly expect the frustrations of weeding that are part of any new garden, but also expect the ^ satisfaction of watching weeds succumb to the vigor of prairie plants. Expect the disappointment of seeing your hard- earned seedlings damp off, but also the thrill of coming home from an evening stroll to the fragrance of the evening- blooming sand verbena {Abronia fragrans) permeating your house and yard. We will anxiously wait three years for the first spectacul 2 ir bloom on our bush morning-glory {Ipomoea leptophylla), sw- and wonder why we only planted one. We will learn that there are hundreds of prairie plants we can use in the landscape, each fascinating in its own right. Most important, we will be educating people to appreciate and conserve Colorado’s native flora. This introductory article is the first in a series in which Rick will share the trials and joys of prairie gardening Look for The Prairie Garden: Getting Started in the next issue of Aquilegia. CONPS Supports Land Transfer Rick Brune The US Forest Service, F£u*mers Home Administration (FmHA), environmen- tal organizations, local farmers and ranchers, and interested citizens dis- cussed the transfer of FmHA land to the Pawnee National Grassland at a public meeting in New Raymer, Colorado on January 18, 1990. FmHA currently holds 5060 acres of foreclosed farm and rangeland on the Pawnee National Grassland. The Forest Service wants to transfer 3160 acreas of this land to the National Grassland. This transfer would be done without cost to the Forest Service. The land proposed for transfer is ad- jacent to current Forest Service owned land. Implementing the proposed trans- fer will help reduce the unmanageable checkerboard ownership pattern of public and private land on the eastern half of the Pawnee. A more con- solidated ownership pattern will also allow greater flexibility for trying dif- ferent grazing systems in an attempt to improve the quality of the grasslands. Two areas of wetlands with potholes are included in the proposed transfer. The Forest Service believes it can improve the quality of these wetlands and provide better wildlife habitat in the process. At the public meeting (no public hear- ing is required), testimony by area resi- dents was heatedly against the creation of additional public land on the Pawnee. Many viewed this as an attempt by the Forest Service to acquire all private land on the Pawnee and force local farmers and ranchers out of business. Others were opposed on the grounds that there is already far too much government in- tervention in their operations. Some preferred eliminating the National Grasslands and all public land in general. Rick Brune and Sue Martin attended the meeting on behalf of CONPS. They presented statements supporting the transfer of additional land to the Forest Service. Rick encouraged the FmHA to investigate possible land exchanges which would eventually result in the transfer of more native or revegetated prairie to the Forest Service. As far as we can determine, the proposed trans- fer will have no real adverse effect on any ranching or farming operation. The land proposed for transfer will be avail- able for grazing at the usual below- market rates. Other environmental groups speaking in favor of the land transfer were the Colorado Environmental Coalition, Denver Audubon Society, and Greeley Audubon Society. The Colorado Native Plant Society has sent a letter in support of the land transfer to the Forest Service and FmHA. Unfortunately, by the time you read this, the deadline for public comment will have passed. The final decision will be made by FmHA in Washington, D.C. Page 10 Aquilegia Volume 14 Little Bluestem in the Landscape Rick Brune Little bluestem {Schizachyrium scoparium*) is an ornamental native prairie grass that deserves much more use in our landscapes. Once you have seen the beautiful maroon to red fall fohage, I think you will be convinced of the value of this warm-season perennial. Although many plants add a pleasant touch of fall color to our yeu^ds, the first snowfall usually removes the colorful leaves, leaving a scene dominated by greys. Only a few plants provide color in the form of leaves and stems during winter. The red stems (culms) and leaves of lit- tle bluestem will add a cheery winter ac- cent to any yard or garden. Furthermore, the red color is long-last- ing, fading little during winter. The stiff- ly erect stems are resistant to being flattened by wind or snow. Peak fall color is reached in mid-October, yet in mid-February mine looks almost as good as it did four months ago. I expect it to look good at the end of March, too. Not only are the leaves and stems very attractive shades of red, but they are topped by an inflorescence (flower stalk) made up of many hairy spikelets which are strikingly silver-white when backlit by the sun. In an indoor dried ar- rangement, or in a vase by itself, little bluestem is in a class with the best. In- doors, the color lasts for years, which is good because your friends will probab- ly be harvesting your outdoor crop for their own use! Little bluestem grows in every state ex- cept California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada. It reaches its greatest abundance in states formerly covered with tallgrass prairie. The red colors of the tallgrass prairies in fall are due in large part to the presence of little blues- tem. In Colorado, it is a dominant plant in little bluestem mixed prairie, little bluestem loess prairie, big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)-\itt\& bluestem xeric tallgrass prairie, and it is some- times an important part of the under - story in pinon-juniper woodland. It typically grows on gravelly hill crests or exposed rocky slopes. It may also be found on heavier soils where additional moisture collects. In a mesic tallgrass prairie environment, little bluestem reaches a height of 3.5 feet. On gravel breaks, it is usually 1.5 to 2.0 feet tall. The latter height is typical- ly reached in the home landscape with minimal supplemental watering. Be- cause this is a bunchgrass, its lushness may be controlled by varying the amount of water it receives without having rhizomes sprouting in undesirable places. Little bluestem is definitely not a turfgrass. It is easily damaged by tram- pling and should not, therefore, be planted where it will be walked on. It decreases with overgrazing, probably because removal of the growing tip will stop growth for the season. Similarly, it should not be mowed too often during the growing season. During the drought of the 1930’s, large areas of little bluestem prairie died. Many ‘dead’ plants were later to provide an example of the amazing resiliency of prairie plants. John Weaver of the University of Nebraska reported in his classic v/ork North American Prairie that little bluestem began to break its long drought-induced dormancy after only one year of good rainfall. He reported “In 1943 it revived in certain places on dry south slopes where it had not been seen since 1934. At first only a few stems appeared even from large bunches. Often the remainder of the crown was dead.” Little bluestem is easily grown from seed. Moist stratification at 5®C (4rF) is recommended but I find that I get all the plants I need without stratifying. Seed should be planted about 0.5 inches deep with the soil gently firmed over the seed to insure good contact between the fluffy seed and the moist soil. Daytime temperatures around 2TC (Sl^F) fol- lowed by nighttime temperatures around ITC (63°F) are reported to en- hance germination. Seed germinates within one week but growth is very slow and plants maybe only one inch tall after six weeks. Newly seeded little bluestem is very fragile, often barelly attached to the ground. Plants remain only two or three inches tall for most of the first growing season. Late August or early September often sees a surge of growth and some first-year bloom, an indieation that the slow-growing plants of summer were putting energy into the root system to ensure survival before risking energy for top growth and reproduction. Second- year plants are fairly robust. Plants should be watered enough the second and third years to prevent them from going dormant (or dead). After that, they should be able to take whatever our climate dishes out. Like other prairie plants, it prefers a sunny exposure. Little bluestem seed is available from Arkansas Valley Seed Co. in Denver. As of February 1990, their price for native seed was $4.98 per pound. ^ * Schizachyrium is derived from the Greek schizein, to split, and achyron,^^ chaff, and refers to the split palea in the type species. Schizophrenia and schizoid are derived from the same Greek root and refer to spHt personality disorders. The preferred pronuncia- tions are: shiz-a-kiriumor skiz-a-kirium. Number 2 Aquilegia Page 1 1 ^ Sally White Wildflowers may charm the spirit, but shrubs and grasses are the matrix of the foothills and plains environments. At this time of year, the mosaic of shrubs provides a particular fascination. At other seasons, the foothills shrublands may seem a jumbled or uniform matrix, but a pattern becomes evident in spring as shrubs leaf out and flower in response to different chmatic signals. Botanists and other plant speciiists have long used the concept of cool- and warm- , season grasses. Here’s a brief look at the seasonality of our native shrubs, based on my observations in the foothills at the base of Mt. Falcon. First to show themselves are the wax currants {Rides cereum): They will sud- denly appear bright green on the distant hillside while all else remains Hfeless. Other currants, such as the golden cur- rant (Ribes aureum), are also early, but less obvious in this landscape. In the course of a few more weeks, the moun- tain mahogany {Cercocarpus montanus) begins to turn gray-green, sorting itself out sharply from the skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata) sharing the hillside. Eventually the sumac follows suit, its brownish-purple clumps first develop- ing a yellowish cast as it flowers, then fully leafing out. In summer, these shrubs blend together again in a range of greens. A closer look at some of the species involved suggests that their seasonal appearance is related to broader geographic affinities. The skunkbush sumac is last to show leaves in spring, first to show color in fall — clearly cooler temperatures are not hospitable to it. Our other sumacs be- have similarly, none seeming to depart from this basic preference for warmth. All are members of the genus Rhus in Shrubs in Season the Anacardiaceae, the Cashew family. This plant family is dominated by tropi- cal species, with only a few temperate representatives. These few, if we can judge by their phenology, retain then- fondness for tropical regimes even though they thrive here. Their close relatives, after all, are the cashews, pis- tachios, mangoes, and other tropical species. Even poison ivy follows the trend, being slower still to leaf out than the skunkbush. Many of our foothills^ shrubs belong to the Rose^Famify; a family perhaps too Jug-aildwdespread for generalization, but one most of us would probably as- sociate with temperate situations. Our local species seem to come along just behind the currants as spring progres- ses. Now, in mid-March, serviceberry, mountain mahogany, pincherry, chokecherry, and wild plum are content to wait a while longer before showing themselves. When the currant leaves are fully ma- ture, and the serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) is in full leaf and flower, the Gambel’s oak still waits. The Fagaceae is also largely a subtropical family, and the genus Quercus has strong southern affinities. Gambel’s oak (Quercus gam- belii), the only member of the family in most of Colorado, reaches its present northeastern limit only a mile or two from where I watch its development. In mid-May, the flower buds are just fat- tening, the leaf primordia expanding toward visibility. It displays no hint that next week is officially spring. This late habit is shared with other genera as well, and even has a predictive value, at least as a gross generalization. Having made the connection, I thought of the buckbrush (Ceanothus fendleri) on up the trail, guessed it was also a warm-season shrub and went to check its progress. In early May, it remained completely lifeless in appearance, be- hind even the sumacs. True to our generalization, the Rhamna^^aer^ "widely distributed''faiiulytjf50genera, is "coinmbh^r in warmer regions" jPofter, 1967). And what of our Ribesl The family to which it belongs, the Grossulariaceae, has about 130 species "in temperate and alpine regions" (Porter, 1967). This seems to confirm the northern affinity suggested by the extremely early ap- pearance of its leaves and flowers. As I write this in mid-March, it’s just begin- ning to show green in its buds. They’re iced over today, but they’re green! Such characters are not very useful in taxonomy, but they do help those of us interested in the behaviors of plants to understand and speculate on both genetic and geographic relationships among species. And they do aid basic identification, especially for non- botanists, because they are such obvious characteristics. Working within a rela- tively limited area, with a manageable shrub flora and a somewhat mixed climatic message, the concept of warm- and cool-season shrubs has much to recommend it. With or without a work- ing knowledge of plant geography, simple observation enables us to recog- nize that the oaks and sumacs respond to a different signal, one carried on a warm wind from the south. Porter, C.L. 1967. Taxonomy of Flower- ing Plants. W.H. Freeman & Co. Currant ■ ■ ■ ■ Easter Daisy Pasque Fir Serviceberry Mtn. Ball Cactus Mtn. Ninebark ■ ■ ■ ■ ' ■ ■ ■ Gambel’s Oak ■ ■ ■ ■ Skunkbush , Blue Penstemon I March Sketch of approximate sequence — April May Based on 1989, at ~ 6000-7000 ft. June Calendar Overview Additional information about calendar items will be found throughout this issue. 1990 Workshops April 7th Colorado Conifers Jim Trammell April 21th Adopt a Rare Plant Neely, Naumann, Jennings Other Events Chapter Activities Page 4 Denver Meetings: April 25th, May 23rd Boulder Meetings: April 10th, May 8th Yamparika Trips: April 21, May 13 RETURN AND MAILING ADDRESS Colorado Native Plant Society P.O. Box 200 Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 1990 Fieid Trips May 19 Escalante Canyon Leader: Jim Ferguson May 26-28 Rio Blanco Rarities Leaders: Rusty Roberts, Reed Kelley June 9 Southeastern Canyons Leader: Rich Rhoades June 30 Poudre/Laramie Fens Leaders: Dieter Wilkin, Jan McKee Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit #1475 Denver, (Colorado Time Value Materi 2 J - Mailed on or about March 26 1003 PAID THFHj 1989 TAMARA S:. NAUMANN PETER A. WILLIAMS 940 QUINN ST.. BOULDER CO 80303