Aquilegia Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society Dedicated to furthering the knowledge, appreciation and conservation of native plants and habitats of Colorado through education, stewardship and advocacy Volume 36 - Number 2 - 2012 Annual Meeting Issue ISSN 2161-7317 (print) - ISSN 2162-0865 (online) Colorado Native Plant Society and 201 2 Rare Plant Symposium DETAILS INSIDE SEPTEMBER 28 - 30 2012 Colorado Rare Plant Symposium Friday Evening Reception, Big Horn Lodge 2012 CoNPS Annual Meeting Agenda CoNPS Annual Meeting Speakers and Abstracts 2012 ^^Canyons of the Arkansas^^ Field Trip Options CANON CITY Lodging Options in Canon City Things to Do in Canon City A Few Words About the Southeast Chapter CoNPS Membership Application and Renewal Form Colorado Native Plant Society 9TH annual COLORADO RARE PLANT SYMPOSIUM CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND STATUS REVIEW OF THE G2 & G3 plants OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO Friday, September 28, 2012 -- 9:00 am-4:oo pm Holy Cross Abbey Events Complex 2951 E. Highway 50, Canon City, CO 81212 Join members of the Colorado Rare Plant Technical Committee (RPTC) for the 9^^ Annual Colorado Rare Plant Symposium. The RPTC is an ad-hoc group of agency, academic, and NGO botanists that has been working for years to advance rare plant conservation efforts in the state. This year, the RPTC will provide a photo review of the imperiled and vulnerable (G2 & G3) plant species known from southeast Colorado. Discussion of their relationship to Colorado’s important plant biodiversity areas, current conservation status, and potential threats will be emphasized. Come prepared to ex- change your knowledge of some of our rarest plant species with other amateur and professional botanists from throughout the state. This one-day workshop will be held in collaboration with the Colorado Native Plant Society’s annual meet- ing (Sept. 29-30, 2012). The symposium is open to any one with an interest in the rare plants of Colorado. Contact Jill Handwerkfor more information at 970/491 5857 orjill.handwerk@colostate.edu. Registration is $10. To register, visit the CoNPS website www.conps.org or register at the door. The Holy Cross Abbey is a 200-acre complex that includes vineyards, a winery, picnic areas, lodging and an events center. JOIN US FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL FRIDAY NIGHT RECEPTION AT AN EXCEPTIONAL LOCATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 5:30 P.M. TO 8 P.M. BIG HORN LODGE, ON THE RIM OF THE ROYAL GORGE Say hello and socialize with fellow CoNPS mem- bers at this special Southeast Chapter Reception! We'll meet at the Big Horn Lodge, which is an- chored to the rim of the fantastic Royal Gorge - the most spectacular and deepest canyon of the Arkansas River. Have a glass of wine ($4) or beer ($3) from the cash bar, or a soft drink while you enjoy the view from the observation room. Directions: The lodge is located just outside the entrance to Royal Gorge Park. From Pueblo, go east on Hwy. 50 and take the left turn toward the east entrance of the Royal Gorge Park (well signed). Drive this winding road several miles to the bridge, and the lodge driveway is on the left as you enter the large parking lot. Park in the main lot and walk up the driveway about 200 feet to the lodge. Note: If you’d like to stay at the exceptional Big Horn Lodge while you're in Canon City, a limited number of rooms are available at $100 per night for double occupancy. Call Doris at 719 322-3902 before August 22 for all of the details and to make your reservation. Colorado Native Plant Society and 201 2 Rare Plant Symposium 7:15 - 8:15 a-m. AGENDA Saturday, September 29, 2012 The Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City, CO Registration Book sales until 2 p.m., silent auction begins 8:15- 8:30 a.m. Welcome, announcements and field trip information 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. Plant Life History Knowledge and Tribal Lore from Native American Plant Names Don Hazlett, Ph.D., Ethnobotany Assistant, Denver Botanic Gardens 9:15-10:00 a.m. The Plants of Southeast Colorado Bernadette Kuhn. Botanist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program 10:00-10:30 a.m. Break 10:30-11:45 a.m. The Flora of the Future (presentation plus question and answer session) Jennifer Ackerfield, Assistant Curator, Colorado State University Herbarium 11:45 a-m* - 12:45 P-m* Lunch 12:45-1:30 p.m. Peak to Prairie: Botanical Landscapes of the Pikes Peak Region Tass Kelso, Ph.D., Professor, Colorado College 1:30 - 2 p.m. Break 2 p.m. Book sales end 2 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (estimated) Field trips (See "Field Trip Options") 2012 ANNUAL MEETING SPEAKERS AND ABSTRACTS PLANT LIFE HISTORY KNOWLEDGE AND TRIBAL LORE FROM NATIVE AMERICAN PLANT NAMES Donald L. Hazlett Abstract: This presentation will summarize and dis- cuss English translations of indigenous plant names from published Native American plant lists: Arapaho, Chiricahua & Mescalero Apache, Plains Apache, Navajo, and Lakota (Sicanu/Brule). Six categories of translated names will be presented and discussed: descriptive plant names, plant names with animal references, unanalyzable lexemes, medicinal or food use infer- ences, ecological knowledge, and folklore. Southern Colorado and New Mexico plant uses, pioneer and Na- tive American folklore will be emphasized. Don Hazlett is a Colorado native who earned his Ph.D. in tropical forest ecology from the University of Washing- ton, Seattle. He has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles, has taught at eight different coileges and uni- versities, and has developed an expertise in shortgrass steppe ecoiogy, floristics and ethnobotany. He is now working as an ethnobotany research assistant at the Denver Botanic Gardens. His current research objective is to develop the materials collections at the DBG, which inciudes piants from Native American markets and from Hispanic herb stores in Colorado and the Southwest. (Photographs of representative collections can be viewed on the DBG website.) THE PLANTS OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO Bernadette Kuhn Abstract: Southeastern Colorado contains some of the most exquisite, often overlooked plants and plant communities in the state. We will explore common plant communities of the region, as well as the rare and endemic plant species from a geographic perspective. Bernadette Kuhn is a botanist at the Coiorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University. She be- came fascinated by the plants of southeastern Colorado while conducting research for her Master's thesis: A Flo- ristic Inventory of the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. Bernadette has a M.S. in Botany (University of Wyoming), and a B.A. in Environmental Policy (Univer- sity of Kansas). She currently serves as Vice President for the Colorado Native Plant Society. THE FLORA OF THE FUTURE Jennifer Ackerfield Abstract: The Flora of Colorado, currently being com- piled by CSU Assistant Curator Jennifer Ackerfield, is nearing completion. Presently, identifying a plant in Colorado can be quite challenging for students as well as amateur and even professional botanists. The mate- rial available is either outdated, incomplete for the state, or taxonomically unstable and challenging to use. (The shortcomings of these floras will be covered in detail.) The Flora of Colorado strives to use the most easily recognizable morphological characteristics to separate taxonomic groups, making for a more user- friendly key, and lists the general range, habitat, and flowering time of each species as well. Recent drafts have been very well received by numerous botanists across the state. The plant families follow the Angio- sperm Phylogeny Group III (2009) guidelines, providing a much needed update to family taxonomy for the Col- orado flora and reflecting a modern, systematic ap- proach to the phylogenetic relationships at the family level. Jennifer Acker field teaches plant identification and has been the Assistant Curator of the herbarium in the Col- lege of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University in Fort Collins, since 1998. She completed her master's de- gree in botany in 2001, focusing on the taxonomy and systematics of the genus Hedera (Araliaceae family). She writes, "My initial goal was to go through the entire her- barium, verify all the specimens, update the nomencla- ture, and make a reference collection for specimens in Colorado. What I found was that I was pulling out 4 or 5 floras in order to key out a plant, and many groups were in desperate need of work. So, I began writing my own keys as I would work through a particular family or ge- nus. Of course, some required more work than others and some were more taxonomically challenging (i.e. fun!). It was like a big puzzle. My goal is that anyone can pick up this book and key out a plant. Included in the completed flora will be color pictures of morphologically challenging features, such as the nutlets of Cryptantha or the fruit ofAtriplex, next to the keys for these groups. These will greatly aid botanists in keying out species in these challenging groups." PEAK TO PRAIRIE: BOTANICAL LAND- SCAPES OF THE PIKES PEAK REGION Tass Kelso Abstract: From our famous fourteener to the Arkansas River Valley lowland prairies, the Pikes Peak region is blessed with exceptional botanical diversity nurtured by its exceptionally diverse geology. Ancient oceans, dunes, volcanoes and glaciers have shaped our region topography, and their geological remainders shape our botanical landscapes today. This presentation will ex- amine how the geology and the botany of the Pikes Peak region are entwined on multiple scales, and por- tray the how, where, and why of some of our geobotanical riches, from rare endemics to geographic disjuncts of the Eastern forests. Midwest prairies and the Southwest mountains. Tass Kelso has taught at Colorado College since 1987, and is currently Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Biology. She received her Ph.D. in botany from the Uni- versity of Alaska, Fairbanks, an M.A. in Geography from the University of Colorado, and a BA from Dartmouth College. She is the author of, or contributor to, a long list of peer-reviewed articles appearing in various scholarly publications, as well as writing for a more general audi- ence in magazine articles and in her monograph, "Botany of the Pikes Peak Region." Fler research interests include evolution, biogeography and the systematics of the Primulaceae, rare plant conservation, regional biogeog- raphy and the botany of the Rocky Mountains and southeastern Colorado. Colorado Native Plant Society and 2012 Rare Plant Symposium Holy Cross Abbey, Canon City, Colorado REGISTRATION FORM Please fill out a new registration form for each person attending and submit by September 12, 2012. Late regis- tration will be available at the door. However, box lunches will not be available to late registrants. Name: Phone: Add ress : E-mail Please check if you would like to be contacted about carpooling to Canon City. (Your contact information will be provided to others interested in carpooling.) • The 9th Annual Rare Plant Symposium Fee is $10: Join botanists from across the state to review and discuss the imperiled and vulnerable (G2 & G3) plant species of southeast Colorado. • Friday Night Reception cost is $5: The Southeast Chapter is hosting a Friday Evening Social Event at the dramatic Big Horn Lodge overlooking the Royal Gorge. (See the article in this issue.) There will be snacks and a cash bar. • The 2012 Annual Meeting Fee is $35: Entitles you to all presentations and field trips occurring Satur- day, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Sept. 30 Attend both the 9th Annual Rare Plant Symposium AND the 2012 "Canyons of the Arkansas" Annual Meeting for $40, a savings of $5. • Box Lunches are $15 each: Box lunches are being offered for both the Rare Plant Symposium on Fri- day, and the Saturday session of the 2012 "Canyons of the Arkansas" Annual Meeting. Box Lunch for the 9th Annual Rare Plant Symposium, Friday, September 28 (mark your choice): All lunches include veggie cup with ranch dressing dip, chips, cookie, fruit and drink, and choice of . . . Chicken Salad Croissant; Ham Croissant; Vegetarian Option (Chef's Choice) Box Lunch for the "Canyons of the Arkansas" Annual Meeting, Saturday, Sept. 29 (mark your choice): All lunches include veggie cup with ranch dressing dip, chips, brownie, fruit and iced tea or water, and choice of Roast Beef Wrap; ^Turkey Wrap; Vegetarian Option (Chef's Choice) FIELD TRIP OPTIONS see complete descriptions in this issue of Aquilegia before selecting your trip(s). Saturday Field Trips. Please note your first and second choice. All Saturday trips are shorter trips. Note: To preserve habitat and improve the quality of these trips, group size may be limited at the discretion of the lead er(s). Rim of the Royal Gorge; The Tanner Trail "Guided Tour of the Real Jurassic Park" for CoNPS family members. CoNPS membership is not required, but admission will be charged for the Dinosaur Depot Museum. Please indicate how many will participate; Sunday Field Trips. Please mark your first and second choice. Note: To preserve habitat and improve the quality of these trips, group size may be limited at the discretion of the leader(s). Longer trips: Lion Canyon Trail Beaver Creek Short trip option: The 4-Way Ranch IMPORTANT NOTE: Attendance is limited to those who are members of the Colorado Native Plant Society. If you are not currently a member, please join us by indicating the appropriate annual membership category below and include the amount shown with your 2012 Annual Meeting fee. (Existing members may renew at any time by emailing Administrative Assistant Linda Smith at conpsoffice@aoLcom.) Senior $12 (65+) Student $12 Individual $20 Family $30 Supporting $50 Lifetime $300 When you join CoNPS, we ask that you indicate your preferred chapter affiliation. (Part of your dues will be shared with the chapter you select.) Note, however, as a current member of the CoNPS you are invited to participate in any function, event or field trip offered by any CoNPS chapter, regardless of your preferred affiliation. Boulder Gore Range Metro-Denver Northern Plateau Southeast Southwest Please enter the appropriate fees and total $ 9th Annual Rare Plant Symposium, Friday, September 28 - $10 $ Friday evening reception, September 28 - $5 $ "Canyons of the Arkansas" Annual Meeting Registration, Saturday and/or Sunday - $35 $ Combination Rate for Rare Plant Symposium and Annual Meeting Registration (Special for both events) - $40 $ Box Lunch for Rare Plant Symposium, Friday, September 28 - $15 $ Box Lunch for "Canyons of the Arkansas" Annual Meeting, Saturday, September 29 - $15 $ Membership fee for new member(s). See above for rates and chapter choices $ Donation to help defray 2012 annual meeting costs $ TOTAL ENCLOSED PLEASE ENCLOSE THIS FORM AND YOUR CHECK MADE OUT TO “CoNPS” AND MAIL TO: CoNPS Attn: Linda Smith 4057 Cottonwood Drive Loveland, CO 80535 THANK YOU! If you have questions, please call 970-663-4085, or e-mail conpsoffice(a)aol.com. 2012 ’’CANYONS OF THE ARKANSAS” FIELD TRIP OPTIONS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29. All are shorter trips starting at 2 p.m. The Rim of the Royal Gorge A short but spectacular hike along the rim of Royal Gorge just east of the bridge, mostly for the spectacu- lar scenery, but also a typical pinon/juniper area with several kinds of cacti, scrub oak and cliff -side plants. We'll see what species we can find clinging to the pre- carious ledges a thousand feet above the Arkansas Riv- er. Length is about a mile or so, lasting around 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Doris Drisgill, leader, is an amateur wildf lower fan who has lived in Colorado Springs for 25 years and has led wildf lower walks in the Pikes Peak area since 1993, and with the CoNPS SE Chapter since 2003. The Tanner Trail The Tanner Trail is on the northeastern edge of the Wet Mountains, about five miles south of Canon City. Slopes are moderate to steep with generally eastern aspects. Elevation at the trailhead is about 6,500 feet. The area is underlain by gneiss and 1.7 billion-year-old granite. We will go through pinyon-juniper woodlands, mixed shrubs, and ponderosa pine woodland, and may reach mixed confer forest if time permits. Plants likely to be seen include kinnikinnick (Arctostaphy/os uva- ursi), prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida), alderleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus), hairy false goldenaster (Heterothecd villosa), tulip pricklypear (Opuntia phaeacantha), and skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata). Remnants of Degener’s beardtongue (Penstemon degeneri) may also be present. Steve Olson, leader, is Forest Botanist for the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron-Comanche National Grasslands since late 2002. Areas of interest include birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, geology and soils, biogeography, and ecology. A Guided Tour of the ’’Real Jurassic Park” A must for the dinosaur-obsessed non-botanists in the family, or for those who are just interested in the giant reptiles that lived and walked in the Canyon City area. (See following page for more details. ) SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. LONGER TRIPS (Start Times To Be Announced During Saturday’s Meeting) The Beaver Creek Wilderness Area Beaver Creek is a dramatic, low-elevation canyon with a perennial creek draining the southeast slopes of Pikes Peak through the Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area. It's a rugged and nearly inaccessible region of crags and canyons that has been on the list for designation as a National Wilderness Area for many years. Southern and desert species mingle with the flora of the Pikes Peak foothills. Our three-to-five-mile hike will take us into the mouth of the main canyon, in pinyon/juniper habitat, where Arkansas Valley species such as turbinella oak and claret cup cactus meet foothills spe- cies such as mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) and boulder raspberry (Rubus deliciosus). We may even find an uncommon cliffbrake fern. George Cameron and Doris Drisgill, co-leaders. George Cameron grew up in Colorado Springs, has taught botany at Pikes Peak Community College for many years, and is a specialist in Pikes Peak area flora. Doris Drisgill, leader, is an amateur wildf lower fan who has lived in Colorado Springs for 2^ years and has led wildf lower walks in the Pikes Peak area since 1993, and has been a member of the CoNPS SE Chapter since 200^. The Lion Canyon Trail We'll hike from the Oak Creek Campground up the Lion Canyon Trail into Locke Park. The area is part of the San Isabel National Forest. It's about a 6. 5-7.0 mile round trip and we should return by mid-afternoon. This trail goes up a rich canyon into a montane park com- plex. It is a north-trending canyon with fairly steep sides of gneisses, so aspects are to the east, west, and north. Elevation gain is about 1,500 feet. Vegetation includes mixed conifers, ponderosa pine forest, Doug- las-fir, Gambel oak, aspen (fora bit of fall color), and montane grassland. Among species we may see are ragleaf bahia (Bahia dissecta), pine dropseed (Blepharoneuron tricholepis), spotted coralroot (Corallorrhiza maculata), scarlet hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus), Parry’s gentian (Gentiana parryi), creeping barberry (Mahonia repens), woolly cinquefoil (Potentilla hippiana), and smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve). The most interesting plant that may still be visible (although probably only in fruit) is Degener's beardtongue (Penstemon degeneri), en- demic in the Canon City vicinity. Steve Olson, leader, is Forest Botanist for the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron-Comanche National Grasslands since late 2002. Areas of interest include birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, geology and soils, biogeography, and ecology. SHORTER TRIP OPTION: The 4 Way Ranch (This will be a relatively short trip ~ about 2-3 hours, but would be good for those heading north to go home from there.) The 4 Way Ranch, a historical ranch covering ca. 7000 acres between Falcon and Peyton, is a natural beef op- eration run by the Lee family. It covers most of the Black Squirrel Creek drainage system, one of the few remaining perennial streams of the Palmer Divide area. Due to the high water table and local aquifers, plus a relatively high elevation (6500-7000 feet), this region has a highly diverse flora in perennial stream drainages, hoodoos, seeps, springs, and diverse grassland types that include relict tallgrass and mixed grass prairies. This area encompasses one of the last remaining tallgrass prairies in the Pikes Peak region that should be colorful in this season. There is a strong component of Midwest prairie species like fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), lilac penstemon (Penstemon gracilis), common blue violet (Viola sororia), Flail’s milkweed (Asclepias hallii), stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum), and prairie goldenrod (0. album), as well as montane wildflowers that otherwise occur in the foot- hills or higher. Aquatic plants are also abundant here. While we are not likely to find much in bloom late in September, the Black Squirrel drainage has an unusual- ly high composition of rare and locally unusual plants that include wetland species like common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta), Rocky Mountain blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis), Crawe’s sedge (Carex crawei), wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum), and lesser bladderwort (Utricularia minor). These drainages are also the only known Colorado locations for lesser fringed gentian (Gentianopsis virgata) and smallhead rush (Juncus brachycephalus). Tass Kelso, leader, is Professor of Biology at Colorado College since 1987, research specialties include local biodiversity, rare plants, and the connections between geology and botanical distributions. A Guided Tour of the ’’Real Jurassic Park” Saturday, September 29 from 2 p.m. to ap- proximately 5:30 p.m. The Dinosaur Depot Museum We'll start with a tour and orientation at the Dinosaur Depot Museum, including the examination of fossils with special access and a close up demonstration of what goes on in the paleontology lab. Then, weMI visit at least one of the three dinosaur quar- ries in the famous Garden Park area, which has pro- duced world-class late Jurassic dinosaur fossils - such as the most complete skeleton of Stegosaurus stenops - -for over 125 years. The trip will be led by two experts who will explain the geology of the park, as well as all of the details about the giants that lived and walked the land, and the foot- prints and fossils they left behind. Be sure to indicate how many of your family members would like to take this trip back in time on the registra- tion form. (There is a minimal cost of $4.00 for adults, and $2.00 for kids 12 and under, for admission to the museum.) LODGING OPTIONS IN CANON CITY Canon City has long been one of Colorado's premier vacation destinations. So, there are plenty of lodging options to choose from. MOTELS The large motel chains, such as Hampton Inn, Quality Inn & Suites (within walking distance of the Abbey), Econo Lodge, Comfort Inn, and Travel Lodge are here, plus a number of highly rated independent motels and B&Bs. (We suggest you visit www.tripadvisor.com for more information.) RV campgrounds abound in the area, including the Royal Gorge KOA Kampground, and the RV facility at the Abbey itself. (See www.goodsamclub.com or www.rvparkreviews.com for reviews and details.) There are even several tent camping areas nearby, complete with hot showers and other amenities. (For details, see www.coloradodlrectory.com/Tents/f^^inc- royalgorge.) THE ABBEY OPTIONS The Holy Cross Abbey offers two types of inexpensive lodging options. The first is the well-maintained Hedley Hall Dormitory, which is often used by college field study groups and retreat groups at the Abbey. Each room is a typical dorm room set up with shared bath- rooms, two twin beds, two closets, a sink and a securi- ty door. Rates are: Single Room (1 person), $34.00 per night Double Room (2 people, 2 twin beds & shower), $46.00 per night Prefect Room (2 people, private bath) $53.00 per night Some choices may have limited availability so book as early as possible. Another lodging option at the Abbey are rooms in the Monastery Building itself, where the monks resided when the Abbey was a working monastery. (The Mon- astery was built in 1924, and is on the National Historic Register.) Rates are $75.00 per night per room. Ameni- ties vary, so call for details. Finally, the Abbey has a limited number of its own RV and tent camping spaces: RV camping with power (12 amp cord included), $25.00 per night RV camping without electric, $ 15.00 per night For a photo gallery of the rooms, visit www.theabbeycc.com. For more information on these lodging options and to make reservations, call 719 275-8631, or send an e-mail to lodging(Stheabbeycc.com. THINGS TO DO IN CANON CITY As one of Colorado's premier vacation destinations, Canon City has a lot to offer. Here are just a few of the highlights: 1. Rafting. Depending on the water flow, this can be an excellent time of the year to take a raft trip through the Royal Gorge. If a whitewater thrill ride interests you, we suggest contacting Raftmasters, although there are other good rafting companies that can offer this trip. See www.raftmasters.com for more infor- mation. Reservations: 1 800 568-7238. Note: 10% dis- count for 10 or more making reservations at the same time. 2. The Royal Gorge. Generally a mandatory stop to experience the 1,053 foot deep gorge that the Arkansas River has carved through solid granite, and it only took 3 million years! For an exceptional adrenaline rush, take the Soaring Eagle Zip Line over the Gorge. (Of course, there's no turning back.) Visit the www.conps.org website and dick on "Annuai Meeting" to get a $4.50 "VIP Discount Coupon" for $4.50 off general admission (per person, for up to six people). Visit www.royaigorgebridge.com for a com- plete rundown of activities available in the park. 3. Dinosaurs. Take time to visit the real "Jurassic Park!" The Garden Park area near Canon City is one of the top destinations for dinosaur fossil excavations. This area has produced world-class, late Jurassic dino- saur fossils for over 125 years, and major universities still work the fossil quarries. Examples populate a number of major natural history museums (including Denver's). The most complete skeleton of Stegosaurus stenops was removed from Garden Park in 1992 and brought to the Dinosaur Depot Museum Laboratory for prepara- tion. The Dinosaur Depot Museum is also a must for the di- nosaur-obsessed, or for those who are just interested in the giant reptiles that lived and walked in the Canyon City area. (In a few instances, leaving their footprints.) For more information about the museum, and visiting the Garden Park quarries, visit www.dinosaurdepot.com. NOTE: See the article, "A Guided Tour of the Real Jurassic Park , " about a special field trip available to CoNPS family members. 4. Take the train. The Royal Gorge Route offers a choice of departures and a less challenging way to see the beauty of the Royal Gorge as it meanders along the Arkansas River. You can check it out at www.royalgorgeroute.com. For more information on other activities in and around Canon City, see www.canoncitycolorado.com. A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE SOUTHEAST CHAPTER The Southeast Chapter of CoNPS was essentially "re- founded" about five years ago as a new chapter with a new direction. From that beginning, our chapter has been about native plant education: in the field and in workshops that support the learning process. Our schedule is so active that almost every weekend during the growing season offers a Southeast Chapter field trip or other educational opportunity. Excluding the six field trips that we've planned in con- junction with the September 29 and 30 CoNPS Annual Meeting, our schedule listed twelve trips ranging from Hoosier Pass (in the Mosquito Range) to Holt Canyon in the SE corner of the state. Most trips, however, are within an easy drive of Pueblo, Canon City or Colorado Springs, where most of our participants are based. Our standard workshops are: "Essential Botany," a day devoted to covering the essential morphology used in floras such as Weber / Wittmann, followed by a men- tored hands-on i.d. session; and, our annual "Grass I.D. Workshop," which is jointly sponsored by the SE Chap- ter, NRCS and CSU Extension-Pueblo County. This year, we examined and identified grasses at Aiken Canyon, an exceptional Nature Conservancy preserve. What makes the SE Chapter tick? We believe we have two significant advantages. First, we have an extremely diverse range of habitats within relatively easy access: short-grass prairie and canyons to the East, a couple of extremely different (in geology, and thus species) mountain ranges to the West, and more and bigger canyons along with their riparian habitats in the "Canyons of the Arkansas" country around Canon City. Second, we have a pool of field trip and workshop leaders that are on the top end of the scale in a combi- nation of expertise, experience, and teaching ability. Most are academics and / or in-the-field professionals, but we also have some advanced amateurs who know the botany in their respective areas extremely well. Another major focus of our chapter has been on the conservation front. We've contributed expertise for bio-blitzes and species surveys, as well as seed collec- tion and the "grunt work" for a road obliteration pro- ject in the Garden Park BLM area near Canon City. As a chapter, and with the support of the CoNPS Board, we've taken an active role in opposing the habitat de- struction that would result from the "Over the River Project." (For more information on the "Over the River Project," see www.overtherlverinfo.com, and the "Rags Over the River," or ROAR, website at www.ROARColorado.org.) We're also in the incipient stage of rare plant popula- tion monitoring in various locations, including having had several of our members trained by the Colorado Natural Areas Program. Our objective is to have an impact on the preservation of native plant habitat the SE Chapter area, with a spe- cial focus on the G-1 to G-3 species. As this is written, we're looking for the right individual to step forward and provide "take charge" leadership in fulfilling this mission. So, as we look to the future, education and conserva- tion will be our continuing focus as a chapter of the Colorado Native Plant Society. Please check our field trip schedule under "Southeast Chapter" on the conps.org website, and join us for a fun day of botanizing! And, thank you for asking us to host the 2012 CoNPS Rare Plant Symposium and "Canyons of the Arkansas" Annual Meeting. The 2012 '^Canyons of the Arkansas" Annual Meeting Committee: Steve OlsoOf Ed Roland, Agnes Ann Zielinski, Mary Richardson, Doris Drisgill, and Linda McMulkin MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND RENEWAL FORM Name(s) Address City State Zip Phone - - E-mail CHAPTER You are free to affiliate with any chapter you choose and to attend the meetings of any chapter. Chapters do not have drawn map boundaries; the locations below indicate the usual meeting place of chapter meetings. □ Boulder □ Gore Range □ Metro-Denver □ Northern □ Plateau □ Southeast □ Southwest □ Unaffiliated OPTIONAL E-MAIL DELIVERY OF Aquilegia Many members prefer to receive the newsletter electronically via e-mail, and this saves the Society considerable printing and post- age expense. If you would like to receive the newsletter by e-mail, please check this box and provide your e-mail address above. □ Please deliver Aquilegia electronically to the above e-mail address. DONATION $ General Fund Endowments in support of small grants-in-aid of research: $ John Marr Fund: research on the biology and natural history of Colorado native plants. $ Myrna P. Steinkamp Memorial Fund: research and other activities to benefit the rare plants of Colorado Mail to: CoNPS Office, P.O. Box 200, Fort Collins, CO 80522. Please make checks payable to ''Colorado Native Plant Society". Dues and contributions are tax-deductible. MEMBERSHIP CLASS Dues cover a 12-month period. Individual ($20.00) Family / dual ($30.00) Senior (65+) ($12.00) Student ($12.00) Organization ($30.00) Supporting ($50.00) Lifetime ($300.00) SILENT AUCTION REQUEST FOR ITEMS This year’s Annual Meeting will once again feature a silent auction. We would like items in good condition, such as live plants, posters, note cards, ecological / biological / botanical books, jewelry - whatever you think would bring in a good bid ! For more information or to make a donation, please contact Linda Smith, 970-663-4085, conpsoffice(a)aol.com . Colorado Native Plant Society The Colorado Native Plant Society is dedicated to furthering the knowledge, ap- preciation and conservation of native plants and habitats of Colorado through ed- ucation, stewardship and advocacy. Membership is open to all with an interest in our native plants and is composed of plant enthusiasts, both professional and non-professional. Please join us in learning about, enjoying and protecting Colorado’s native plants. OFFICERS President Crystal Strouse csnativeplants@gmail.com Vice President Bernadette Kuhn bernadettekunhconps@gmail.com Treasurer Mo Ewing moewing@q.com Secretary Nan Daniels nahada@msn.com Admin. Asst. Linda Smith conpsoffice@aol.com CHAPTER PRESIDENTS Boulder Danielle Levine (VP) boulderCoNPS@gmail.com Gore Range Nanette Kuich kix@vail.net Northern Pam Smith psmith4824@gmail.com Metro-Denver Jannette Wesley metrodenverconps@gmail.com Plateau Stephen Stern stern.r.stephen@gmail.com Southeast Ann Zielinksi zielinkski.agnesann7@gmail.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS Director Brian Kurzel (’13) brian.kurzel@state.co.us Jenny Neale (‘13) nealejr@gmail.com Robert Powell (‘11) robertlpowell@durango.net Jan Turner (‘12) jlturner@regis.edu Charlie Turner (‘11) turner@rabbitbrushpublishing. com Steve Yarbrough (‘11) steveandkenna@msn.com STANDING COMMITTEES Conservation Mo Ewing moewing@q.com Education & Megan Bowes bowesm@bouldercolorado.gov Outreach Field Studies Steve Popovich stevepopovich@hotmail.com Horticulture and Megan Bowes bowesm@bouldercolorado.gov Restoration Media Vacant Membership Linda Smith conpsoffice@aol.com Research Grants Catherine Kleier ckleier@regis.edu Sales Linda Smith conpsoffice@aol.com Workshops Linda Mellow conpsworkshops@gmail.com Editor, Aquilegia Bob Henry bh.prairieink@gmail.com Webmaster Yongli Zhou shallopcq@yahoo.com Website Editor Linda Smith conpsoffice@aol.com AQUILECIA Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society Aquilegia is the newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society, and is available to members of the Soci- ety and to others with an interest in native plants. Four regular issues are published each year, plus a special issue for the annual Society meeting held in September Announcements, news, articles, book reviews, poems, botanical illustrations, and other contributions should be sent to the editor at bh.prairieink@gmail.com. All contributions are subject to editing for brevity and consistency, with final approval of material changes by the author. Articles from Aquilegia may be used by other native plant societies or non-profit groups, if fully cited to author and attributed to Aquilegia. Deadlines Submissions to Aquilegia are accepted throughout the year, although the usual deadlines for publication are: February 15 (Spring issue, published March 1) April 15 (Summer issue, published May 15) June 15 (Annual Meeting issue, published July 15) July IS (Fall issue, published Aug. 15) October 15 (Winter issue, published November 15) Colorado Native Plant Society P.O. Box 200 Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 http://www.conps.org Colorado Native Plant Society and 2012 Rare Plant Symposium SEPTEMBER 28 - 30, 2012, CANON CITY, COLORADO