. . dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora” Volume 23 Number 1 January — February 1999 The Year in Review CoNPS Board of Directors 1998 was truly a banner year for the Colorado Native Plant Society. From the extremely successful Annu^il Meeting through the well-attended workshops and field trips to strategic planning, the Society scaled many new peaks. For much of the past year, CoNPS officers, ^^hairs, and directors have struggled to iden- tify how best to gather, direct^ and expend the Society’s resources in order to carry out its mission. In Spring, the Society hired Conservation Impact to meet with a ran- domly selected group of individuals from each chapter. Information gathered through this process coupled with the facilitated planning session held in August helped to form the foundation of the Society’s strate- gic plan that will guide our actions and efforts during the next five years. The goals we have developed thus far are: 1) double membership by the 2001 Annual Meeting, 2) maintain and enhance quality and quantity of core membership services, 3) positively influence the protection and management of at least ten sites that harbor rare species or exemplary natural communi- ties by 200 1 , and 4) undertake at least four educational opportunities that reach 500 non-members each year. We hope that this plan will help to assure that the Society's limited resources are maximized to achieve "lur goals, and address the needs and desires ^*w Carolyn Crawford 303-666-8348 Metro-Denver . . Denise Larson . . . 303-733-4338 Fort Collins .... Don Hazlett 970-834-1493 Yamparika . . . . . Reed Kelley . . . . . 970-878-4666 Plateau. . ... . . . Lori Brummer . . . 970-641-3561 and Evelyn Horn. .... 970-533-7233 Southwest ..... Sandy Friedley . . . 970-884-9245 Committees Communications . . LeoP. Bruederle303-556- and . . Jeff Dawson . . . 303-722- Conservation Bob Clarke .... 970-242- Education Rob Reinsvold . 970-351- and . . Joyce Gellhorn . 303-442- Field Trips . . . Rick Brune. . . . 303-238- Field Studies Loraine Yeatts . 303-279- Hort/Restorarion . . Lisa Tasker. . . . 303-447 Legislative Affairs . VACANT Membership. ..... Myrna Steinkamp and . . Sue Martin .... 970-226 Publications Rick Brune. . . . 303-238 and . . Velma Richards 303-794 Publicity VACANT Rare Plant ....... Eleanor Monograph Vpn Bargen . . . 303-756 Workshops Bill Jennings . . 303-666 ■3419 ■6758 ■6067 ■2716 ■8123 ■5078 ■3427 ■9431 3371 5078 5432 1400 ^ 8348 Vol 23 No. 1 Aquilegia ‘‘Review ” continued from page 2 demand. Thanks to the enthusiastic support ^s Chapter President the past five years. membership, the educational pro- ^i^velyn Horn and Lori Drummer have grams presented by our Workshop agreed to share the position as “Go- Committee continue to be one of the Chairmen” — neither likes the title “Go- Society’s most popular activities. President,” as it sounds like too much responsibility. Evelyn and Lori would like to acknowledge the contributions of all Chapter members in keeping the group going, especially those willing to arrange workshops and field trips. Without their support, this job would be overwhelming, even for two people. CoNPS committees have also been very active, advancing the mission of the Society. The following select committee reports reflect their activity. The Workshop Committee completed its 14th season in May, conducting 19 work- shop classroom sessions over the winter and spring — our third highest annual total. Only 1992-93 (21 sessions) and 1996-97 (22 sessions) had more workshop sessions. Eight separate topics were cov- ered. Our workshop leaders did a great job, md we thank them for their hard work in Wci^reparation for and teaching Of up to four The Field Trip Committee reports that the 1998 field trip season was a great success, with 19 field trips sponsored by East and West Slope members. Approximately 290 people participated, not including the field trips sponsored as part of the Annual Meeting. Field trips covered Colorado frOm the prairies in the east, through the intermountain plateaus, to the alpine areas of Yankee Boy Basin near Telluride. Several events were working field trips. For example, Yankee Boy Basin was inventoried by West Slope participants, while sites in the area of the Buffalo Creek fire in Pike National Forest were invento- ried by East Slope members. If you attend- ed a field trip, how about sharing your experience with those members who couldn’t attend, by reporting your experi- ence in Aquilegia. Reports don’t need to be highly technical, just interesting. Remember Chris Pague jumping into a pond and emerging holding a big snapping sessions: Ken Heil, San Juan College turtle by the tail! (Cactaceae of Colorado); Bill Jennings, Carolyn Crawford, Maria Mayer, Myrna Steinkamp, Sue Martin (Small Plant Families of Colorado); Dr. Steve Q'Kane, University of Northern Iowa (Brassica- ceae: Lesquerella and Physaria)’, Dina Clark, University of Colorado (Dalea and related genera); Bill Jennings, Bob Nold, Susan Spackman (Colorado Penstemon)\ Dr. Janet Wingate, Denyer Botanic Gardens (Early Spring Wildflowers); Dr. George Beck, Colorado State University (Weeds); and Carolyn Crawford, David Anderson, Caron Rifici (Milkweeds of Colorado, emphasizing Asclepias uncialis at Pinon Canyon). Handouts for most workshops are available at a small charge The Field Studies Committee reports that (copying and mailing) by calling Bill during the past field season a dedicated Jennings at 303-666-8348. The 1998-1999 group, including some CoNPS members, season is already off to a great start with has been actively documenting the plants over 100 individual CoNPS members reg- of Golden Gate Canyon State Park (GG) istering for one or more workshops. Six hy collecting, identifying, and making gvorkshop topics are scheduled. Two sold- specimens for the GG Park herbarium and Lcput sessions of the Helleboraceae work- the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Kathryn ^ahop were held November 7-8. All addi- Kalmbach Herbarium. This is a continuing tional scheduled workshops are full, but study authorized by CoNPS and Golden we are actively negotiating with workshop Gate State Park. The most significant find leaders to teach more sessions to meet this summer was a low elevation popula- Page 3 tion of Aster alpinus var. vierhapperi, known previously in Colorado from a few sites near James Peak. Plants observed on 1998 field trips are being added to the field trip plant list database on an ongoing basis by Loraine Yeatts. An updated list of plant lists will be available for publication in Aquilegia by early spring. Thanks to the support of the many CoNPS members attending the 1998 Annual Meeting, the Publications Committee reports that book 'sales were again a resounding success. The secure setting provided for the sales in a room separate from the Meeting was greatly appreciated. Book sales at the meeting totaled, $4011.70, of which about $346 was from the sale of used books. For domparison, sales at past Annual Meetings have been: $3537.74 in 1997,/ $2356.30 plus auc- tioned items totaling $498.50 in 1996, $1993.50 in 1995, and $4237.69 in 1994. Best sellers fori 1998 ranked by number of books sold were: Lichen Primer (Weber) with 24 copies sold, Wild About Wildflowers (Warren) with 18 copies sold, and Illustrated Keys to the Grasses of Colorado (Wingate) with 15 copies sold. Best sellers ranked by dollar amount were: $360 from Lichen Primer (Weber), $288 from Wild About Wildflowers (Warren), and $276 from Intermountain Flora Volume 3 A. Co-Chairs Velma Richards and Rick Brune wish to express their apprecia- tion to all of the people who helped with book sales, especially Mary Edwards, Pat Murphy, Eleanor Von Bargen, Jan Wingate, and Dick and Loraine Yeatts. In 1998, the Communications Committee witnessed the development of a WWWeb site for the Society, as well as the return to schedule of Aquilegia publication. Members Sara Hill and Sandy Smith are to be credited for developing a web page which went online in November at http ://carbon .cudenver.edu/~shi ll/cdnps . htm 1 . Thanks, complements, and suggestions should be submitted to webmanager Sara. The editors also wish to thank Sandy Smith and Sally White, as well as the other members of this Committee for their acti ve role revitalizing A which, in 1998, was published five times. Clearly, 1998 was an exciting year for the Colorado Native Plant Society! Page 4 Acfuilegia Have you been receiving AquUegial Communications and Membership Committees It has been brought to our attention that some members have not been receiving their issues of Aquilegia. It is not uncommon to have inquiries about missed newsletters. Almost always, in such cases, the problem is related to the post office. Labels for the newsletter are generated from the master member- ship database, which is carefully maintained by the Membership Committee, The number of labels is then matched to the expected number based upon the aforementioned database. There is a sin- gle mailing of newsletters, with two or more individuals oversee- ing this process. All newsletters are subsequently hand-delivered to. the Denver Post Office by the Editor. Despite these efforts, some newsletters invariably do not meet their intended destination. If it comes to your attention or you suspect that you have not received your newsletter — and please allow two weeks for bulk mailing — ■ contact the: 1) Communications Committee (Leo Bruederle at 303-556- 3419), who will immediately replace yoUr issue. 2) Membership Committee (Myrna Steinkamp and Sue Martin at 970-226-3371), who will verify up-to-date payment of dues, as well as your correct mailing address. 3) Post Office, Who will investigate delivery problems, as well as handle address changes. If all else fails, you may want to consider paying first class postage, which is optional and not included in regular Society dues. Eleocharis paliistris Artist; Kris Micring Vol. 23 No. 1 A Forb is a Forb is a Fbrb... Rick Brune The word “forb” is sometimes reported to be derived from a contrac- tion of the words “forest” and “herb.” However, the Glossary of Botanical Terms Commonly Used in Range Research (USDA Misc. Publ. 110, rev. 1950, issued 1 93 1) reported that “forb” is derived from the Greek “phorbe,” meaning “forage” and “a non-grasslike herb.” Webster's New World Dictionary (3rd Ed.y 1988) also reported forb as derived from the Greek “phorbe,” meaning fodder, and fodder derived from the Greek “pherbein,” Forb is defined as “a broad-leaved herbaceous plants, as distinguished from the grass- es, sedges, shrubs, and trees.” Coiotado Botanists: Joseph Daiton Hooker Hilary Davis Joseph Hooker (1817-1911) served as director of the Royal Botani<>^^ Gardens at Kew from 1865-1885 and was President of the Royal Society of London. His publications included Flora Tasmaniae, published in 1 860, after his visit to Tasmania where Hooker worked as surgeon and botanist with the expedition of James Ross. From 1862 to 1883, Hooker wrote Genera Plantariim (3 vols.) with George Bentham. These volumes were a landmark for understand- ing genera and classification systems. Hooker and Bentham made thorough descriptions of plant families and genera based on origi- nal observations. They treated 97,000 species and 200 families, and adopted a classification similar to that of de Candolle. Hooker came to America in 1877 to explore the flora of the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. He traveled to Pueblo, Colorado with a group of col- leagues including Asa Gray, Later, Hooker traveled to La Veta Pass, camping with a gtoup of naturalists and explorers. The group later traveled to the Sangre de Cristo range, where Hooker and Gray conducted a plant survey and wrote a manuscript describ- ing their experience. The Vegetation of the Rocky Mountain Region and a comparison with that of other parts of the World (1880). Hooker was highly respected by his colleagues and extolled the work of his American contemporaries, such as Charles Parry, whom he dubbed the king of Colorado botany. Hooker Was also a close friend and supporter of Charles Darwin. When Hooker real ized that Wallace was about to present publicly his findings or>^ evolution, which were similar to Darwin’s, he helped an'ange for the shared presentation of Darwin’s and Wallace’s papers to the Linnaean Society of London in 1858. Vol, 23 No. 1 Aquilegia Page 5 From the CoNPS Board of Directors. October 31, 1998. The Board met at the Meadows Branch Library in Boulder. Sara Hill (Communication) gave an update on the CoNPS web site, which will be on-line involving a server at CU- Denver. The newsletter will be added later, with a delay in posting so that members receive their hard copy first. The Board decided to add summary reports from the Chapters and Board to the next newsletter, and possibly book reviews as an on-going feature. The topic of selling advertising in Aquilegia was also discussed, but more information on rates is needed before a decision is made. The 1999 Annual Meeting, for which Carolyn Crawford is form- ing an ad hoc planning committee, will be held September 25-26 , in the Boulder area. The general topic of "Ethnobotany" and relat- ed subcategories were discussed. Considerable local interest is anticipated, so it will be a good opportunity to advance education and increase membership. The year 2000 Meeting may be held on the Western Slope, possibly in Grand Junction, Montrose or Glenwood Springs. Peggy Lyon will contact Western Slope chap- ters to start planning. Ideas for topics include wetlands, the Roan Plateau or Mancos Shale ecosystems, barren land ecology, or the broader topic of sandstone or Colorado Plateau plants. The Fort Collins Chapter volunteered to host the Meeting tq be held in 200 1 , since it will be the 25th anniversary of the Society. ^jTreasurer Denise Culver distributed a Profit & toss Statement for Jan-Oct, 1998. To date, expenses total $24,540 and income $30,857. The General Fund has about $10,000, while the Rare Plant Book fund has $9,229. Currently there is $22,408 in the Marr Fund, and approximately $1000 in interest available to sup- port research. Culver explained that the John Marr fund started with a principle of $20,000, and that donations are added to the principle, as is any interest that is not distributed in a year. December 12, 1998. The Board of the Colorado Native Plant ^^Society met at the Foothills Nature Center in Boulder. Following a brief discussion of programs, chapter presidents and committee chairs were asked to submit 1999 budget proposals for considera- tion at the January 30 meeting. This will be an opportunity for the Board, chapters, and committees to discuss projects for the upcoming year, the resources needed to accomplish our goals, and a means by which to increase the John Marr Fund. Leo Bruederle (Communication) requested that the Board approve the purchase of desktop publishing software for newslet- ter production. A related discussion ensued regarding advertising in Aquilegia. An ad hoc sub-committee consisting of Jeff Dawson, Denise Larsen and Leo Bruederle will meet to discuss rate struc- ture, advertising guidelines, and sales, from which a cost analysis will be presented to the Board. The Board approved Sara Hill as co-editor for the newly constructed website. The Board also authorized Rick Brune to pursue a proposal from CRC Press regarding a link to their website and commission on resultant book sales. The Board approved revising the conservation goal agreed upon as part of strategic planning to read “By Jan 1, 2001, undertake 10 site specific projects that promote the protection and management of Colorado’s native flora, with an emphasis on exemplary plant communities.” The Committee will be contacting chapter presi- dents to begin identifying conservation sites for each chapter. Other work items include 1) developing standard language foi commenting on EIS’s or reviewing projects that identify issues oi importance to CoNPS; and 2) contacting GOCO to see how the Society can be more involved with GOCO projects. It was reported that the Education Committee is updating the Rocky Horticultural slide show and working with Susan Spackman (Colorado Natural Heritage Program) to develop a rare plant slide show. Bill Jennings, Chair of the Workshop Committee, reported an increased interest in workshops in 1998-99 when compared to previous years. About 125 people, or one-fifth of the membership, registered for at least one workshop. Extra sessions have been scheduled for several of the workshops. The Board reviewed guidelines presented by Eric Lane for proce- dures regarding funding from the John W. Marr Fund. A format for proposal requests was reviewed, updated, and distributed for the cur- rent year. Proposals will be reviewed at the January 30, 1999 Board Meeting. The ad hoc committee chaired by Lane will develop crite- ria for reviewing proposals, although the Board must still decide upon amounts available to fund proposals on an annual basis. The revised guidelines will be presented at the January meeting. The CoNPS Board will meet on the following dates: January 30 Meadows Branch Library, Boulder March 13 Meadows Branch Library, Boulder April 10 location TBA May 22 Grand Junction Call Jeff Dawson at (303) 722-6758 for information, or if you have any business or announcements to present to the Board at the aforementioned meetings. The Board appointed an ad hoc group comprising Eric Lane, Rob Reinsvold, Kathy Carsey, and Denise Culver to recommend fund- ing levels, selection criteria, and procedures for soliciting Man- Fund proposals. The Board decided that, for this year, proposals will be solicited via the webpage and Aquilegia, and are due January 15, 1999. They will be reviewed at the subsequent January 30 meeting. The Workshop Committee reported that all workshops are full. The Conservation Committee reporied from several GOCO pub- lic meetings and will report back on ideas for working with GQCO. The Education Committee is soliciting volunteers for a Speakers Bureau. The Membership Committee has added an option for "gift membership" to the renewal form to be mailed in early December. The Horticulture/Restoration Committee is working on a policy concerning sale of plant materials. Aquilegia Page 6 Vol. 23 No. 1 Lakewood’s Prairie Dog Problems on City Open Space Lands Sally White When complaints from neighbors alerted wildlife with any leghold trap, ... or by poi- thc City of Lakewood to a possible prairie son or snare in the state of Colorado" (CRS dog problem, a consultant was called to Section 33-6-203) does apply to, and pro- evaluate it. The consultant assured them tects, such species, that they did indeed have a problem, esti- mating 84 acres of prairie dogs in the Bear On November 25, District Court Judge Creek Greenbelt. The solution: poisoning Leland P. Anderson issued a temporary the prairie dogs at a cost of $7,000. Of injunction against Lakewood’s proposed seven existing prairie dog colonies, elimi- eradication, pending a trial on the merits, nation of five was originally proposed. The court said plaintiffs. Prairie Dog After local citizens objected, the project Advocates, can probably succeed on the was scaled back to the two largest merits of their claim. The court further said colonies, sparing half the calony area. On plaintiffs can demonstrate "that the inspection by concerned citizens, the total city’s issuance of its [extermination] per- area affected by prairi e dogs turned out to ^as based upon a record so devoid of be only 15 acres. significant and meaningful data that the issuance of the permit can only be deemed The Bear Creek Greenbelt includes 560 arbitrary and capricious." Indeed, the acres of undeveloped open space along the plaintiffs showed, apparently to the court’s Creek. It was purchased with about one- satisfaction, that the permit was issued third county open space funds, the rest "based on a record replete with spebula- with Lakewood attributable shares and tion, inconsistency, supposition, and sur- other sources. As condos and other human mise." On balance, Judge Anderson report- homes have burgeoned on the lower-lying ed that the "City has a recognizable inter- areas along the corridor, parts of the green- est in seeking ecological balance in the belt have become the last refuge of prairie green-belt areas... when such interest is dogs that once had a wider, less crowded pursued in accordance with established distribution. Now they are being blamed law and is based upon the rational exercise for spreading the weeds that settlers brought of its duties/' from Europe. Bill Jewell, Manager of Regional Parks and Golf in Lakewood’s Lakewood has requested an emergency Departfnent of Community Resources, claims hopes that the Colorado Supreme that prairie dogs cause weeds. He hasn’t Court will review the case. Until that deci- cited any scientific support for his position, ^ion is made, "everything is in limbo," reported Jennifer Melton, attorney for the A new citizens’ organization. Prairie Dog prairie dogs and their advocates. If the Advocates, sprang up to suggest alterna- Supreme Court refuses, the trial on the five solutions to the problem. They pro- merits can be scheduled. Stay tuned... posed putting up more raptor perches to help keep the prairie dog populations in check. They suggested other less lethal alternatives. Some residents in nearby neighborhoods spoke in favor of sharing their habitat with prairie dogs, of leaving the prairie dogs alone. A court case was filed claiming a violation of State law because of the incidental kill of non-target species. Although the prairie dog is technically a rodent, and therefore exempt from some of the protections accorded other "wildlife," the species that share its burrows are not. Therefore, the provision that it is "unlawful to take Artist: Carolyn Crawford CoNPS Donors A In 1998, many members made donations, either to the John Marr Fund or to the Society's General Fund to be used where most needed in support of our many other activities. These contributions are very important to the success of our special projects. Thanks to the following donors, as well as to 14 others who wished to remain anonymous: Laura Backus, Caroline M. Ball, Ted N. Beeglo,- Linda and Richard Beidleman, Doris Bennett, Dr. Sara G. Bishop, Rochelle Blumenstein, Bruce and Cathy Bosley, Linda Bourgeois, Charlotte Briber, Cheryl and Joseph Brooks, Leo P. Bruederle, Joe and Lori Bfummer, Duncan and Elinor Burcharfi, Carol and Dave Butler, Judy Capra, Cindy Carlson, Ann and John Cooper, Bonnie L. Dehart, Robert Dellapina, Stanley Dempsey, Dr. Miriam Denham, Hobart N. Dixon, Adele Douglas, Anne Ophelia Dowden, Bob Enever, Dich Fisher, Sandra Starr Friedley, Barbara Jean Gard, Mark and Nancy Gershm^, Solange G. Gignac, Martha Grewal, Betty Hall, Susan K. Harris, Peter and Jan Henson, Dr. Dexter Hess, Elaine Hill, Tim Hogan, Richard and Elizabeth Hoops, Janis Y, Huggins, Corey Sue Hutchinson, Allison Jpnes, Sue Ann Kamal, Gabrielle Katz, Anita and Charles King, Tim and Gwen Kittel, Gary Klearman, Naomi Kuhlman, Jeff Lakey, Denise E. Larson, Paula J. Lehr, Deanne and Alan Lembitz, PeggyXyon, Mark E. Meremonte, Annette and Paul Miller, Merle M. Moore, Bruce Moorman, Anna M. Naeser, Tamara S. Naumann, Betsy Neely, Katharine Noll, Larry A. Nygaard, Neal Osborn, Christopher and Katie Pague, Randal Pair, Donald Parker, Barbara Perin, Vicki L. Ray, Marion S. Reid, Marjorie Rhoades, Angela Lynn Riedel, Janet and David Robertson, Andrea Robinsong, Peter Root, Mary Lou Rottman, Joan L. Sapp, Steven W. Schouten, Patrick B. Shafroth, Mrjras and Erne Shubert, J. Michael Spooii, Dale and Grace Sutherland, Lydia Toll, James R. Trammell Jr., Robert and Mary Udall, Jeffrey Uhlich, Chuck and Nancy Warner, Olin L. Webb, Gayle Weinstein, Jun Wen,s,^ Jeanne and Steve Wengen Starla L. White, Sharon ^cott Wieser, Dr. Beatrice E. Willard, and Lori and Roland Wostl Vol. 23 No. 1 Aqidlegia Page 7 I .. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS Summer Seasonal Employmertt OppoMunides Elizabeth Anderson, Regional Fire Effects Specialist United States Department of the interior The Intermountain Region of the National Park Service is looking for students who are interested in seasonal summer employment' on tire effects monitoring crews. These crews are involved in long-term vegetation monitoring to determine the effects of pre- scribed fire. Monitoring results are used to evaluate the outcome of prescribed burns and make necessary adjustments to future fire prescriptions. The jobs require comprehension of plant taxonomy, a working knowledge of plant keys, and an understanding of sta- tistics and natural resource sampling techniques. Each park issues the vacancy announcements and time frames will vary. Please contact the park of interest for further information. Vacancy Announcements are also posted atWWW.USAJOBS.OPM.GOV/ under the Biological Technician series 404. Following is a list of National Parks having vacancies, along with contacts: Bandelier National Monument (NM), Laura Trader, (505) 672-3861 ext. 559; Big Bend National Park (TX), John Morlock, (915) 477-2397; Big Thicket National Preserve (TX), Dave McHugh, (409) 283-5824; Dinosaur National Monument (CO), Steve Petersburg, (970) 374-3009; Glacier National Pai'k y^^MT), Caroline Lansing; (406) 888-7811; Grand Canyon National Park (AZ), Tonja Opperman, (520) 638-7921; Grand Teton National Park (WY), Mack McFarland, (307) 739-3313; Rocky Mountain National Park (CO), MaryKay Watry, (970) 586-1285; Saguaro National Park (AZ), Kathy Schon, (520) 296-7071; Yellowstone National Park (WY), Lhil Perkins, (307) 344-2180; and Zion National Park (UT), Henry Bastian, (435) 772-0193. Great Plains Grasslands at the Millennium The 1999 Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, entitled “Great Plains Grasslands at the Millennium,” will be held February 24-25, 1999 in Omaha, Nebraska. Symposium topics include: Grassland Biodiversity, Invasive Species, Current Landscape of Biodiversity, Conservation Strategies, and Fragmentation, among others. This meeting is sponsored by: U.S. Forest Service, Ecological Society of America, Society for Range Management, Center for Grassland Studies, University of Nebraska, and the Center for Great Plains Studies at the University. For more information, please contact: Lori Hidinger, Program Manager, Ecological Society of America at (202) 833-8748, lori@esa.org, or http;//esa.sdsc.€du/grasiands.htm; or Society for Range Management at (303) 355-7070, srmden@ix.netcom.com, or http://srm.org/meetings. De ^ Colorado Floras Out-of-print Colorado Flora: Eastern Slope and Colorado Flora: Western Slope, both by Wm.A. Weber, are out of print. The publisher apparently has no plans to reprint these in the immediate future. However, you may occasionally locate a copy in a bookstore, if you don’t already have one. The Publications Committee has a very limited number of new and used previous editions, mostly Colorado Flora: Western Slope. If anyone has unused copies of Weber’s floras, past or current, consider donating them to the Society. All book contributions are tax deductible. Contact Rick Brune at (303) 238-5078 or Velma Richards at (303) 794-5432 for information. 1999 Dues Reminder Please check your mailing label. If it does not say “Paid Thru 1999” (or later), your dues are now due. Remember, CoNPS dues cover a calendar year. If you are not paid through 1999, please send your renewal to: Colorado Native Plant Society, P.O. Box 200, Fort Collins, CO 80522. This could be your last newsletter, renew today! 4QC//i.EG/y4 Deadline Approaches Please submit all contributions for Vol. 23 No. 2 of Aquilegia on or prior to February 12, 1999. Short items, sucJi as unusual infor- mation about a plant or a little known botanical term, are espe- cially welcome. Please note that previously published articles sub- mitted for reprinting in Aquilegia require permission from the edi- tor of original publication. Camera-ready line art or other illustra- tions are also solicited. Please include author's name and address, although anonymity may be requested. Articles submitted via e-mail or on disks (MAC preferably, or IBM) are very much appreciated. Please indicate word processing software and version. Page 8 Aquilegia Vol. 23 No. 1 Boulder Chapter Monthly meetings are held through May on the second Thursday of each month at the Foothills Nature Center located in Boulder on North Broadway opposite its intersection with Sumac. For more infor- rnation, contact Carolyn Crawford or Bill Jennings at (303) 665-6903 or (303) 666-8348. February 11, 7:30 PM Military Impacts and Mitigation at Pihon Canyon David Anderson (U.S. Army Land Condition Trend Analy sis ^ Fort Carson) will talk about the military impacts and mitigation of those impacts at the Army’s Pinon Canyon Tank Maneuver site in Las Animas County. Significant populations of dwarf milkweed {Asclepias uncialis), and other rare and interesting plants occur at both Pinon Canyon and Fort Carson; March 11, 7:30 PM New Trends and Topics in Rocky Mountain Gardening Jane Shellenberger, editor and publisher of Colorado Gardener, will talk about new plants for landscaping in Colorado, with emphasis on low-water-usage plants and recently developed gardening techniques. Artist: Nicola Ripley Fort Collins Chapter I Monthly meetings convene in the confer- ence room at the USDA National Seed Storage Laboratory. For additional infor- mation call Don Hazlett at (970) 834-1493. February 2, 7:00 PM Surprise Guest Speaker! March 2, 7:00 pm Rare Plants of Australia Dr.^Darren Touchell CHAPTER NEWS Metro-Denver Chapter Excepting the February 23 meeting, monthly meetings are held in the Morrison Center at the Denver Botanic Garden, For additional information, contact Denise Larson at (303) 733-4338. January 26, 7:30 pm Highlands of Southeastern Colorado Bob Powell will discuss the ecology and plants of the Greenhorn Mountain range including the alpine areas of Pueblo and Huerfano Counties, and Fisher Peak Mesa soqtheast. of Trinidad in Las Animas County. Bob will briefly discuss the plants and ecology of the northeast side of the Sangres de Cristos in Fremont County. February 23, 7:30 pm Denver Natural Areas Program The City of Denver has recently started a Natural Areas Program to preserve and restore natural areas "in Metro Denver including the South Platte river corridor, CheiTy Creek corridor, and isolated pock- ets of sandhills and shortgrass prairie. Gayle Weinstein (Naturalist) will talk about the Program and discuss some of the planned natural areas. NOTE: The loca- tion for this meeting is DBG Classroom C. March 23, 7:30 pm Colorado Natural Areas Program Kathy Carsey, a research scientist with the Colorado Natural Areas Program for Colorado State Parks, will discuss this Program, in general, and describe some of the Natural areas around Colorado. Plateau Chapter For more information, contact Co- Presidents Lori Brummer at (970) 641- 3561 or Evelyn Horn at (970) 835-8391. January 24, 1:00 pm The Uncompahgre Basin Survey This meeting will begin with a business discussion, after which Peggy Lyon will present a slide show summarizing the results of the Uncompahgre Basin survey (2:00 pm). This meeting will be held in the conference room at the USFS in Delta. For information, contact Peg^y Lyon at (970) 626-3195. February 5, 1:00 - 4:00 pm Herbarium Session Last winter, Evelyn Horn and a group of volunteers met to mount Peggy Lyon’s col- lection. While accomplishing a good deal, Jim Ferguson has informed us that the BLM has acquired another equally large collection that is awaiting mounting. All interested individuals are welcome to meet at the BLM in Montrose. For information, contact Evelyn Horn at (970) 835-8391. February 19, 4:00 pm Fen Wetlands on the Western Slope Dr. David Cooper will explain the differ- ence between bogs and fens, why there are no bogs in Colorado, threats to fens, agency policies concerning fens, and what constitutes unique fens on the Western Slope. Join WSC faculty and students for this bvent, to be preceded by a social ?' 3:30 PM. The workshop will be held at 22>^ Hurst Hall at Western State College in Gunison. Contact Dr. Robin Bingham at (970) 943-3355 if you plan to attend. February 20, 10:30 am Fen Wetlands on the Western Slope Dr. David Cooper will repeat and expand upon his presentation of February 19 at the Forest Service in Delta. For information, contact Gay Austin at (970) 641-6264. March 27, 9:30 am Rabbit Valley Field IVip Robert Clarke will lead this field trip to Rabbit Valley, which will eommence at McDonald’s in Fruita (1-70 Exit 19); For information, contact Bob Clarke at (970) 242-6067 or Betty Hall at (970) 241-5677. Southwest Chapter Please contact Sandy Friedley at (970) 884-9245 for Chapter news and activities. Yamparika Chapter Please contact Reed Kelley at (970) 878- 4666 for Chapter news and activities. Vol. 23 No. 1 Aquilegia Page 9 1999 CoNPS WORKSHOPS Demand for workshops has been very high this season. Extra ses- sions have been scheduled, but all are currently full. If demand continues to be high, we will approach our workshop leaders about even more sessions. Persons' wishing to get on the wait list for any workshop or potential extra sessions are encouraged to call Bill Jennings at 303-665-6903 or 303-666-8348, or write P.O. Box 952, Louisville, CO 80027. In addition, the Poaceae work- shop originally scheduled for December 5-6, 1998, has been rescheduled for January 23-24, with an additional session on February 20. Refer to the following schedule for all currently scheduled workshop sessions. All workshops are one-day classes, 9 AM to 3 PM, at the location given. (Note: Persons wishing a copy of the handouts for the Helleboraceae Workshop, held November 7-8, 1998, should contact Bill Jennings. Leader: Dr. David Buckner First session: Saturday, January 23, 1999 Second session: Sunday, January 24, 1999 Location: National Inst, for Standards & Technology, Boulder Third session: Saturday, February 20, 1999 Boulder Location: Foothills Nature Center, Boulder In this workshop, Dave will discuss the structure of various nat- ural groups within the grass family and how they can be identi- fied. The grass family is so large that, without some understand- injg of the tribes within the family, identification of an individual grass becomes a formidable challenge. Keys to the tribes and gen- era will be available as handouts. Specimens of many grasses will be available for study. Every Colorado botanist should have a working knowledge of the grass family. Come and refine your grass identification skills. COLORADO'S MISSING FLORA Leader: Susan Spackman First session: Saturday, February 13, 1999 Second session: Sunday, February 14, T999 Third session: Sunday, February 21, 1999 Location: Foothills Nature Center, Boulder The title refers to those species that are thought to be extinct or extirpated from Colorado, or have been collected once or twice and never seen again within the State. This workshop will focus on making these species better known to botanists in hope that these plants may someday be relocated within Colorado. Susan and her associates at the Colorado Natural Heritage Program will make available for us an abstract of each of these species, along with herbarium specimens of the species, if available. Information on many of these species is presented in ihQ Colorado Rare Plant Field Guide, published by the Heritage Program or is presented in Rare Plants of Colorado, published by the Native Plant Society. POLEMONIACEAE OF COLORADO Leader: Dr. J. Mark Porter First session: Saturday March 6, 1999 Second session: Sunday March 7, 1999 Location: University of Colorado, Boulder Our second out-of-state workshop workshop leader is Dr. J. Mark Porter (Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens. He has.been actively involved in the development of the new San Juan Basin Flora, as well as study of the Polemoniaceae of the Four Cornets area. Participants on the field trip to the Four Corners area may remem- ber Mark as one of the co-leaders. He has some exciting new ideas about this family and will bring us up to date on recent research into this complex and confusing family. When is a Gilia not a Gilial When it's an Alicella, a new genus proposed by Dr. Porter. BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION: FIELD SKETCHING Leader: Carolyn Crawford First session: Saturday, April 17, 1999 Second session: Sunday, April 18, 1999 Third session: Saturday, May 1, 1999 Fourth session: Sunday, May 2, 1999 Location: Foothills Nature Center, Boulder Well-known botanical artist Carolyn Crawford will present the techniques she uses for on-the-spot botanical illustration. Topics to be covered include the use of colored pencils, a good dry medi- um for use in the field. There will be ample plant and flower mate- rial available for participants to work with. There is no better way to really see and know a flower than to draw its parts. Even if you never intend to illustrate commercially, drawing for enjoyment or for your own records is a good aid in flower identification. CALENDAR CHAPTER MEETINGS AND EVENTS Feb 11 Boulder Chapter Military Impacts and Mitigation at Pihon Canyon March 11 Trends and Topics in Rocky Mountain Feb 2 Gardening Fort Collins Chapter Surprise Guest Speaker! March 2 Rare Plants of Australia Jan 24 Plateau Chapter The Uncompahgre Basin Survey Feb 5 Herbariunr Session Feb 19, 20 Fen Wetlands on the Western Slope March 27 Rabbit Valley Field Trip SOCIETY EVENTS Jan 16, 17 Chenopodiace^e: The Goosefoot Family First Session: Saturday, January 16 Second Session: Sunday, January 17 Jan 23, 24 The Poaceae: How to know the Tribes First Session; Saturday, January 23 Second Session; Sunday, January 24 Jan 30 CoNPS Board Meeting Feb 13, 14 Colorado’s Missing Flora First Session: Saturday, February 13 Second Session: Sunday, February 14 Feb 20 The Poaceae: How to know the Tribes Third Session: Saturday, February 20 Metro-Denver Chapter Jan 26 Highlands of Southeastern Colorado Feb 23 Denver Natural Areas Program March 23 Colorado Natural Areas Program NOTE: Mailed on or about 20 January 1999 Colorado Native Plant Society P.O.Box 200 Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 Feb 21 Colorado’s Missing Flora Third Session; Sunday, February 21 March 6, 7 Polemoniaceae of Colorado First Session: Saturday, March 6 Second Session: Suiiday, March 7 March 13 CoNPS Board Meeting ^ Place Stamp Here TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL