Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

. . dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora’’

Volume 26 Number 5 WORKSHOP EDITION September - October 2002

2002 - 2003 COLORADO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY WORKSHOP PROGRAM

CoNPS Workshop Committee, Bill Jennings Chair

The Colorado Native Plant Society is proud to present the work-
shop schedule for workshops to be held on the East Slope, from
October, 2002, through March, 2003. Gay Austin is organizing a
suite of workshops to be held on the West Slope. Be sure to check
elsewhere in Aquilegia for West Slope workshops and activities.

For 19 seasons, workshops have brought native plant lovers
ogether with a well-informed instructor who may have herbarium
specimens, live plants, photographs, keys, and other materials
available for hands-on study. The opportunity to receive one-on-
one instruction and informative lectures has made the workshop
series one of the Society’s most popular programs. Attendees need
no special skills or background; a love of plants and a desire to
learn are the only prerequisites. There are no exams, grades, or
homework; and woridng together is encouraged. The goal is to
demystify plant identification and to enhance in all of us our
enjoyment and understanding of Colorado’s native flora. All East
Slope workshops described below are one-day only, usually from
9:00 AM to 3:00 pm. If multiple sessions have been scheduled, the
same material will be presented each session for different groups
of attendees.

To register for East Slope workshops — registration b^ins
September 30, 2002 — please call (303) 665-6903 and leave a
voice message. You may also register by mail: write Bill Jennings,
RO. Box 952, Louisville, CO 80027. However you register, be
sure to provide your name, address, and telephone number
(including area code!), specifying which workshops you wish to
attend. If multiple sessions are scheduled, be sure to indicate pref-
erence. Saturday sessions usually fill first. Receipt of your regis-
tration request will be acknowledged within a few days.

About 10 days prior to the workshop, registrants will receive
notice by mail regarding location, time, lunch, references, and
applies, with a list of other registrants to encourage carpooling.
"Hie fee for each workshop is $12 for CoNPS members and $27
for non-members ($12 workshop, $15 to join the society).
Members of the native plant societies of neighboring states are

considered members of CoNPS for purposes of workshop regis-
tration. Payment is made on the day of the workshop.

Workshops have been very popular in the past, with multiple ses-
sions frequently scheduled to meet demand, or with long waiting
lists for the available seats. However, with only so many seats in
the classrooms and labs where fliese workshops are held, “no-
shows” have been a problem. If you find that you CANNOT
attend a workshop for which you are registered, please Call and
cancel your registration as soon as possible!

It takes considerable time and effort for the instructors to plan and
develop workshops or field trips. Please let us know how you like
the activities offered by CoNPS. We need your suggestions for
future workshops and field trips. We ^preciate feedback on whether
you find them informative and exdting, or dull and uninteresting.

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERS FOR IDENTIFICATION
Leader: Dr. Miriam Denham
Location: Foothills Nature Center, Boulder
First session: Saturday, October 26, 2002
Second session: Sunday, October 27, 2002

Plants are not just the flowers! Learning about the vegetative char-
acteristics of plants can help you identify plants with or witliout
flowers. While most of us are famfliar with leaf shapes, did you
know that plant hairs, called trichomes, vary greatly according to the

“Workshop Program” continues on page 2

Contents

About the Society . . 7

Announcements . .4, 5

Articles .3-4, 5

Calendar 8

Chapter News and Announcements 6

Membership in the Society 7

Society News and Announcements 1-2

Page 2

Aquilegia

“Workshop Program” continued from page 1
kind of plant? Have you ever wondered why plants have hairs at aU?
Have you ever considered that root arrangement and rhizome struc-
ture is quite varied according to the nature of the plant? Explore
these and other questions (or bring your own) to this workshop that
may change the way you look at plants. Chapters VI through X of
Harrington’s How to Identify Plants can provide a basis.

COLORADO CONIFERS
Leader: Vickey Trammell
Location: Lookout Mountain Nature Center
First session: Saturday, November 16, 2002
Second session: Sunday, November 17, 2002

Is a Douglas-fir tree a fir tree? Is Spruce Tree House at Mesa Verde
National Park named because of the spruce trees growing there?
Are there cedar trees in Colorado? Learning to recognize the
native coniferous trees of Colorado will be the focus of this work-
shop. Participants will learn the field characteristics of the leaves
(needles) and the cones that aid in tree identification. Weather per-
mitting, we will walk the grounds of the nature center and exam-
ine those trees growing in the area. Every Coloradoan should have
a working knowledge of our forest trees.

CASTILLEJA, PEDICULARIS, AND RELATED GENERA
OF COLORADO

Leaders: Dina Clark, Bill Jennings, and Bob Powell
Location: Foothills Nature Center, Boulder
First session: Saturday, December 7, 2002
Second session: Sunday, December 8, 2002

Those genera in the Scrophulariaceae that are hemiparasitic are in
the tribe Rhinantheae, or more casually referred to as the
“Rhinanthoid scrophs .” Analysis of both molecular and non-molec-
ular data, including the partial parasitism, suggests that most of this
group should be placed in the Broomrape family (Orobanchaceae).
In Colorado, we have five genera in this group; Castilleja,
Pedicularis, Orthocarpus, Cordylanthus, and Rhinanthus. The flow -
efs are interesting, unusual, and, especially in Castilleja, often
require dissection when floral diaracteristics are given in the key.
The Indian paintbrushes {Castilleja) are the largest genus with 14
representatives, while the other four genera collectively have 14
species, Dina has been actively researching the paintbrushes, while
Bill has been looking at the other genera. Bob has been collecting
and photographing them (no small task, given the drought).

GRASSES: THE TRIBE AVENEAE
Leaden Dr. David L. Buckner
Location: Foothills Nature Center, Boulder
First session: Satunlay, Januaiy^ 11, 2003
Second session: Sunday, January 12, 2003^

Third session: Saturday January 25, 2003

What would a workshop season be without a Dave Buckner grass
workshop? Dave continues his excursions into the various tribes
of the grass family, this time with the tribe Aveneae. This is a
group with a large number of geiiera and species in Colorado,
including Avetm (oats). There is a tendency to confuse this group
with the Fustucae. A review of the structure and names of the parts
of the grass plant will be presented first. Then the characteristics

Vol. 26 No. 5

of the different tribes will be discussed before focusing on the
Aveneae. Since Dave’s workshops always fill up, we have sched-
uled three sessions this year.

BOTANICAL ART FOR BEGINNERS
Leader: Carolyn Crawford
Location: Foothills Nature Center, Boulder
First session: Saturday, February 1, 2003
Second session: Sunday, February 2, 2003

This is a much requested workshop topic. Well-known botanical
artist Carolyn Crawford will present the techniques she uses for
on-the-spot field illustration of plants and plant parts. In addition,
she will reveal some of the “secrets” she has for in-the-studio
illustration. There will be ample plant and flower material with
which students may work. There is no better way to really see and
know a flower than to draw its. Even if you never intend to illus-
trate commercially, drawing for enjoyment or for your own
records is a good aid in flower identification.

COLORADO THISTLES — NATIVES AND NON-NATIVES
Leaders: Susan Spackman, BeveHly Baker, Patricia Butler
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins
Zoology/Anatomy Building, room £-206
First session: Saturday, March 1, 2003
Second session: Sunday, March 2, 2003

Susan Spackman (Colorado Natural Heritage ^ogram), Bev
Baker (US Forest Service), and Pat Butler (USFS volunteer) will
reprise their thistles workshop presented two years ago, witl;'
updates on information obtained since then. Their presentatioi*,.^
will include the native Cirsiums (including several rare species
and some plants that grow at the highest elevations in the state)
and the non-native tenacious weeds {Cirsium, Breea., CarduUs,
and Onopordium). Not only do exotic thistles threaten native
ecosystems, but native thistles are being harmi^ in the efforts to
control exotics. For obvious reasons, even common thistles are
seldom collected and our knowledge of their distribution and tax-
onomy is spotty. In this workshop, participants will learn about
the native thistles, and how to distinguish them from non-natives

BASIC BOTANY: HOW TO KNOW THE FAMILIES
Leader: Dr. Thomas Ranker
Location: University of Colorado, Boulder
Ramaley Building, room C-231
First session: Saturday, March 15, 2003
Second session: Sunday, March 16, 2003

“How to Know the Famihes” is a much requested topic, particu-
larly from new Society members. In this workshop, you will leam
to recognize the major plant famihes that occur in Colorado, such
as the daisy, mustard, and grass famihes. Topics include a discus-
sion of the basic terminology necessary for botanical identifica-
tion; how to teU the monocots from the dicots; and how to use a
key for identification. Tom Ranker is Professor of Biology and
Curator of the Herbarium at the University of Colorado - Boulder.

He teaches this material to college freshmen and sophomorei^^
every year. If you are a beginner botanist, this workshop is for you.^^s-.*^

Rernember, registration for all
workshops begins September 301

Vol. 26 No. 5

Aquilegia

Page 3

COVERING NEW GROUND WITH NATIVES
Dan Johnson, Curator of Native Plants, Denver Botanic Gardens

Just go all the way to the back of the gar-
den and look for the large patch of
bindweed;”

Tliis might have been the answer several
years ago, had you asked where native
plants could be found at Denver Botanic
Gardens. Seemingly relegated to “the
back forty,” our native grasses, trees and
wildflowers languished in relative obscuri-
ty. This was not always the case, however.
At their inception some 20 years ago, the
Laura Smith Porter Plains Garden and the
Xeriscape Demonstration Garden (now
known as the “Dryland Mesa”) were gems
on the cutting edge, featuring naturalistic
plantings of species native to Colorado and
the Southwest. They were the logical
result of a rekindled environmental aware-
ness and a focus on water conservation
after the droughts of the late seventies.

A further benefit of these gardens was a bit
more subtle, and indeed was lost on some
of our guests. These gardens provided a
“sense of place,” standing in sharp contrast
3 our traditionally lush perennial borders
"and bedding plant extravaganzas. Still, it
was common to overhear the wry com-
ments of visitors proclaiming “I guess
they haven’t done anything with this area
yet.” The Western landscape, like similar
steppe chmates the world over, is all about
simplicity and texture, drama and light,
grass and wind and space. For those unfa-
miliar with its subtleties, it is often an
acquired taste.

In recent years, great effort has been
expended to restore integrity and diversity
to our original native gardens. These are
now acclaimed as a showcase for many of
our native plants. These gardens persist
and even thrive with no supplemental
water, even in the drought of this season.
As interest again rebounds, they provide
new opportunities for education and are an
indispensable asset for school groups and
newcomers.

Still, in some respects their untamed style
has not always addressed the needs of the
gardening public who is looking for envi-
oiunentally sound ideas that they can use
Tn their home landscapes. This is especial-
ly the case for the many new residents who
come from vastly different cliinates.

Recent immigrants have only limited
knowledge about what it means to live and
garden in Colorado. They are easily dis-
couraged or led astray.

The booming economy of recent years,
combined with a quarter century of above-
average rainfall has made us complacent
about our use of resources and our impact
on the environment. Too often, the first
step in creating a garden is to ehminate
whatever Nature may have placed there.
Landscapes more appropriate to the
Midwest or the Coasts are “installed” and
connected to hfe-support via costly irriga-
tion systems. Now, in a time of severe
drought, there is even more incentive to
provide viable examples of drought-resis-
tant garden options.

In the year 2000, three distinct gardens
were created surrounding the highly visi-
ble heart of the Botanic Gardens — the
Amphitheater. More than 20,000 square
feet of annual beds were redesigned into
naturalistic borders using only plants
native to Colpiado and adjacent states.
The “Western Panoramas,” offer sweeping
vistas across the Amphitheater and spa-
cious views not available in other parts of
the Gardens, even fraiping distant Mt
Evans and the foothills of the Front Range.
Rather than repeating old patterns, here we
have taken the opportunity and the chal-
lenge to use our native plants with true gar-
den artistry on a scale and in ways that we
have not attempted before. Now well
established, these are intended to mature
with time into magnificent, permanent fea-
tures of the Botanic Gardens’ landscape.
Due to their centrality and the openness of
the site, these new gardens palpably affect
the entire feeling of Denver Botanic
Gardens. Throughout the year, this spot is
the hub of dozens of community and
Garden activities, family events, and con-
certs. We want people to know, as they
enter this most prominent part of the
Gardens, that they are indeed in Colorado.

To the west, a stylized prairie garden uses
the best of oiu native prairie grasses and
wildflowers. Rather than planting in a ran-
dom mix, plants are arranged in sweeping
drifts of texture and color. The grasses lend
a sense of motion in this breezy open space,
accented with flashes of color as wildflow-

ers bloom and fade with the seasons. All are
planted m such a way as to show visitors
how they can leave or create prairie gardens
(needing little or no supplemental water or
care for that matter) in spaces where they
might otherwise put water intensive peren-
nial borders or unnecessary turf. Drifts of
Prairie Coneflowers, Evening Primrose, and
Gayfeathers weave among the Blue Grama
grass. Silver Beardgrass and Little
Bluestem shift and sway in the breeze. This
space is anchored by a grove of our native
Cottonwoods. These stately trees meant sur-
vival for early settlers and still impart a
sense of “oasis” to the broad landscape of
the Great Plains. Over time their massive
trunks and crowns will spread in silhouette
against the distant mountain backdrop.

To the east, an open, gently rolling park-
land of Ponderosa Pines recalling our
foothills landscape is set among boulders
and native grasses. The Ponderosa is one
of our most drought-tolerant native
conifers and a forest of them is at once
majestic and, alluring. Meandering paths
invite exploration and provide a chance to
relax among the sweet-scented pines. The
best of our mountain wildflowers combine
in drifts along the paths and under the
trees, demonstrating again the best ways to
use our rich montane flora in a garden set-
ting. Indian Paintbrush, Blanket Flower,
and Scarlet Gilia smolder among swaths of
Mountain Muhly grass. Delicate, airy
plumes of Pine Dropseed glitter against
blue Lupines. This vantage point also pro-
vides views of the distant peaks of the
Front Range, framed by the whispering
evergreen boughs.

To the south, this forest transitions into a
rocky outcrop dedicated to the most cele-
brated of our sub-alpine trees, the
Bristlecone Pine. Long-hved and durable,
these trees can survive for thousands of
years under the harshest of mountain con-
ditions. Bristlecone pines are classic
Colorado. To many, they are the quintes-
sential symbol of our wild and beautiful
Rocky Mountains. Fortunately for us all,
they can also thrive in our gardens, becom-
ing small trees of great character with time.
Their gnarled branches stand out in sharp
relief against the garden wall to their south.

“Natives” continues on page 4

Page 4

Aquilegia

“Natives’* continued from page 3

Among the boulders, native Columbine, AVTupple’s Penstemon,
and Showy Fleabane bloom in the company of Idaho Fescue.
Bluebells and Pussy toes creep through rock crevices. It is hoped
tliat this enticing alpine vignette will inspire our guests with a
renewed respect for fragile alpine environments.

To extend the grassy natural feel of this space, the adjacent pyramid
known as Anna’s Overview has been changed as well. Gone is the
tliirsty Bluegrass lawn. In its place a tapestry of Buffalo and Blue
Grama grass now softens the steep slopes, with just a sprinkling of
wildflowers. This area now thrives with no supplemental irrigation.

Near our Dryland Mesa, still another garden has taken shape.
Wildflower Treasures hosts several himdred of the West’s wildflower
species, from those most cherished tohttle known gems. Trough gar-
dens cluster in large groups on the stone terrace, each portraying a
specific habitat or plant community found in Colorado. These minia-
ture landscapes are truly a treasure all year, but are in their prime in
Spring as diminutive cushion plants and cacti burst into bloom.

For the urban dweller, Denver Botanic Gardens is often the first or
only exposure many people have to our rich pallet of native
plants. A large proportion of the Botanic Gardens’ cultivated space
is now devoted to native plants — a significant achievement for a
large urban garden. We believe it is imperative to demonstrate, in
as many ways as we can, how to combine native plants effective-
ly and how to capture something of the native essence of tlie West.
These gardens prove that not only sophisticated, botanically ori-
ented visitors respond to our nati ve plants and landscapes, but that
casual visitors find these gardens compelling: full of relevant
information and beauty. It is hoped that usmg native plants in a
relaxed garden style will inspire visitors to value our natural land-
scapes as a viable and essential inspiration for regional gardens.

BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATIONS ON
EXHIBIT AT CU MUSEUM

The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History will be
exhibiting Coloradoan Carolyn Crawford’s Botanical
Illustrations from October 1, 2002 - March 31, 2003.

Inspired by the beautifully intricate Plant Portraits of the late Ida
Hmbesky Pemberton, Carolyn Crawford decided to begin a
career as a botanical artist. Intrigued by the elegant detail of plant
forms she focused on capturing the complexity of milkweed pol-
lination in her work as well as illustrating the technical details of
new plant species. She is also well-known for her numerous illus-
trations of Colorado’s rare plant species, such as the Ute Ladies’
tresses orchid, and her many images of popular garden plants for
a Colorado-based seed company. Her work has been shown wide-
ly including selected exhibitions at the Denver Botanical
Gardens, The Smithsonian Institution, in Washington D.C., and
Royal Horticultural Society Westminster, in London, England.

The CU Museum of Natural History will be hosting a variety of
pubhc programs to accompany this exhibition. Please call the
Public Programs office at (303) 492-3396 for more information,
or check out their website at www.colorado.edu/cumuseum/.
The Museum is located at 15th and Broadway, in the Henderson
building, on the CU-Boulder campus.

Vol. 26 No. 5

BEAUTIFYING YOUR LANDSCAPE
WITH NATIVE SHRUBS AND TREES
John Giordanengo

As I Strolled along my favorite creek this summer and gazed upon
the thicket of shrubs, I felt a great sense of peace. After soaking up
the beautiful tapestry of rich green colors created by the chokecher-
ry, currant, sumac, willow, and plum in the evening sunlight, I
began to ponder their many societal and ecological benefits.
Throughout American history, (pre- and post-Columbian) the
berries from many of our native shrubs were used for food, dyes,
medicines, and more. Our furry, feathery, and fluttery friends (bears,
birds, butterflies, etc.) find food and shelter in theSe shrubs, as well.
From the time Golden Currants display their biilhant yellow flow-
ers in Spring to the moment sumacs set the lulls ablaze with their
fiery fall foliage, shrubs make our landscape a magical place.

As the weather cools
this fall and you feel
motivated to work
outside again, consid-
er adding some native
shrubs to your land-
scape. Fall, when
shrubs begin to go
dormant, is a great time to plant them. Here are a few tips on shrub
planting and initial care to get you started. A general rule of thumb
is to dig a hole that is about two times the diameter and two times
the depth of the root ball. If your soil is high in clay, mix th^ /
removed fill wifli an equal amount of aged compost. Place enougli'*^
soil in tlie bottom of the hole so that the surface of the potted
shrub is at the ground surface. Firm the fill soil down around the
sides of the root ball by pressing down with your hand or foot.
This helps to create good soil to root contact.

Populus trermloides
Artist: Carolyn Crawford

Adequate watering is critical for recently planted shrubs. Watering
these shrubs periodically over die winter, as necessary, can help to
increase their survival in the first year. Shrubs should be watered as
needed during the growing season for the first two to three years to
help them become well established. To help cut down on watermg
needs, apply a two inch layer of mulch (e.g., wood chips) from the
trunk of the shrub out to the drip line. Mulch also helps to maintain
the soil surface in a condition that allows water to infiltrate easily.
Creating a slight depression around the shrub will help to concen-
trate water below the drip line of the shrub. Once estabhshed (2-4
years), many of our native shrubs require very litde care to main-
tain optimal health.

The Colorado State Forest Service provides helpful advice for
installing shrubs and sells native shrubs in the spring through their
Conservation Tree Planting Program. Visit them at
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CSFS/csfsnur.html for more
information. For a useful fist of native shrubs, their characteristics
and preferred environment refer to the CoNPS Native Plants for
Horticultural Use in Northern Colorado guide at

http://www.conps.org. At the same link, you can refer to th
Colorado Plant Vendor List to locate a nursery near you that car-"^
ries native plants. Enjoy the structure, color, and diversity of
wildfife that native shrubs attract for many years to come.

Vol. 26 No. 5

Aquilegia

Page 5

MARR FUND: Report from Recipients

INSECT PREDATION ON LUPINUS CRASSUS, A MONTROSE COUNTY ENDEMIC

Thomas Grant, University of Colorado at Denver

One day while wandering out of the Tattered Cover I saw some-
thing unexpected, an illustration of Oxyphabus rotundifolius on
the cover of the Rare Plants of Colorado', I purchased the book
immediately. In the reading that followed, I become interested in
several species and began to think about projects for my Masters
at the University of Colorado at Denver. Soon I was visiting the
‘nearby’ locations of Lupinus crassus in the Paradox Valley of
western A4ontrose County and designing ah experiment to deter-
mine the effects of insect predation on reproduction in this rare
species. The taxon had caught my attention and, fortunately, I
received funding from the Marr fund of the Colorado Native Plant
Society for travel and other expenses related to my research.
Several years and about 9,000 miles later, the project is nearing
completion, graduation is approaching, and data pertaining to the
reproduction and population dynamics of Lupinus crassus have
been gathered and analyzed.

The idea of studying plant-insect interactions arose from the fol-
lowing brief statement in the aforementioned book — “field
observations suggest that the seed crop of Lupinus crassus suffers
heavy predation by insect larvae. ’’Therefore, I designed an exper-
iment to test the effect of excluding insects from the inflores-
cences using mesh exclosures and differential timing of the treat-
CW ment applications. The exclosures were applied to individual
inflorescences after the plants had begun to flower, therefore per-
mitting potential pollinator interaction. My hypothesis was simple
— exclude seed predators and the rare species will produce more
fruits and mature seeds. If the species is declining, a method to
increase seed production could be an essential element in pre-
venting the extinction of this rare species. Additionally, I wanted
to monitor the species and, to date, have gathered three years of
demographic data for two geographically diverse populations.

In the spring of 2000, 1 initiated this project involving 100 plants
at sites near the towns of Natuiita and Bedrock. The lupine grows
ill pinyon-juniper woodlands and sparsely vegetated washes and
draws, which receive between 25-50 cm of precipitation per year
and have a history of relatively frequent fires. Fortunately, favor-
able conditions existed in 2000 to facilitate the production of
inflorescences, fruits, and some mature seeds. During the 2001
and 2002 growing seasons, the populations produced no seeds,
few inflorescences, and little aboveground biomass. I believe the
trend in production is related to the lack of sufficient moisture and
I hope that the perennial plants are capable of maintaining dor-
mancy during these dry years. This possible survival strategy will
be documented as population monitoring continues.

The primary predatory insect is a long-nosed weevil in the
Curcuhonidae. Insects oviposit on developing flowers and fruits,
with larvae boring into the fruit and feeding upon the maturing
ovules. Up to 23% of the fruits had insect damage in the form of
boring holes from the weevils Or from seed deprecation, although
this did not preclude formation of some mature §eeds in damaged

fruits. The weevils are not believed to effect or assist in pollina-
tion, with the primary pollinators thought to be bees.

The experimental component of this study documented statistical-
ly significant differences in the number of fruits produced within
each treatment and revealed dramatic differences between sites.
The Naturita site was much more productive than the Bedrock site
for both the number of inflorescences and fruits produced per
plant. Early season insect exclosures and wire-supported exclo-
sures produced the highest number of fruits per inflorescence for
both sites. Therefore, the insect exclusion treatments can be used
to reduce predation by weevils and consequently increase seed
production and potential recruitment. Exclosures apphed later in
the season were ineffective at preventing seed predation and may
actually have increased the amount of predation due to the con-
finement of some adult weevils within the exclosure. Inspection of
the fruits revealed that less than 10% of ovules become mature
seeds, primarily due to lack of fertilization, then ovule abortion
and predation. In general, the plant produces many flowers, few
fruits, and a very small number of mature seeds. Reproductive
output is reduced by insect predation and limited by resources,
most likely water. The episodic production of fruits and possible
dormancy are mechanisms that may facilitate survival in the vari-
able and competitive environments of Paradox Valley. Overall, the
project documented the population dynamics and plant-insect
interactions in this rare species and augmented the knowledge
necessary to actively manage these populations. I gratefully thank
the Colorado Native Plant Society for supporting this project and
welcome any questions or requests for additional information at
(720) 865-3562 or grantt@botanicgardens.org.

PLANT ECOLOGIST SOUGHT FOR
FULL-TIME POSITION

ESCO Associates, a small enviromnental consulting firm located
in Boulder, Colorado is seeking to fill a full-time plant ecologist
position. The qualifying candidate should be familiar with the
Colorado flora, experienced with computer database/ spreadsheet
data manipulation, have a knowledge of parametric statistics, be
physically compatible with outdoor work, have wetland experi-
ence, T & E surveys, and tolerant of frequent summer out-of-town
field work. Minimum of two years consulting experience and
Master’s degree required. Please send Cover letter, resume and ref-
erences to:

Artist: Carolyn Crawford

Page 6 Acjuilegia Vol. 26 No. 5

CHAPTER NEWS '

^ :

Boulder Chapter

The Boulder Chapter invites you to join us
for a guest speaker, refreshments, book
sales, and socializing at 7:00 pm on the sec-
ond Thursday of the month from October
through April. We now meet at the City' of
Boulder Open Space and Moimtain Parks
offices, 66 South Cherryvale Road. From
South Boulder Road, go south on
Cherryvale one-tenth of a mile and turn
west onto a lane that leads back to the
offices. We’ll meet in the north building
conference room. For more information,
contact Chapter President Kathy Damas at
(303)543-1492.

Fort Collins Chapter

Monthly meetings are scheduled October
through April at 7:00 pm in room El 12 of
the Anatomy/Zoology building on the CSU
campus. Before each meeting, members are
invited to join the speaker at 5:15 PM for
dinner at Toy’s Thai Cafe on Laurel Street
between Mason St. and College Ave. in
Fort Collins. For more information, contact
Chapter President Annette Miller at (970)
482-3063 or almiller@lamar colostate.edu.

October 8, 2002 Tuesday at 7:00 pm
Botanizing in the South Pacific: Field
work in New Caledonia
Dr. Mark Simmons, (Biology, CSU), will
discuss his fieldwork in New Caledonia
and the South Pacific. Dr. Simmons is
curator of the CSU herbarium and will also
provide an update on the activities at the
herbarium. ^

November 5, 2002 Tuesday at 7:00 pm
Locoweeds

Dr. Shana Carney (CSU) has interests in
evolutiofi, ecology and population genet-
ics, which converge with respect to her
studies of Colorado locoweed, sunflowers,
and, more recently, phlox. She has been
using her research to address conservation
issues, especially in a project smdying the
genetics and possible hybridization of the
Colorado endemic, Bell’s twinpod. Her
talk will focus on how pollinator move-
ments among plants affect the frequency of
hybridization between two species of
locoweed (Oxytropis).

December 3, 2002 Thesday at 7:00 pm
Physaria bellU

Linda Courter, graduate student at CSU,
will report on her research addressing
hybridization between Physaria bellii and
P. vitulifera, both whether and where
hybridization occurs. Linda will also char-
acterize genetic variation in Physaria bel -
la, which is a front range endemic.

February 4, 2003 Tiiesday at 7:00 pm
NREL update: projects and findings
Rick Shory, field botanist for the Natural
Resources Ecology Lab at CSLI, will give
an NREL overview of current projects and
findings. Rick has also experimented with
several methods of buffalograss lawn
estabfishment and will share practical tips
for lawn conversion.

Metro-Denver Chapter

Monthly meetings are held from
September through April at the Denver
Botanic Garden. For exact location, which
may vary, or for more information, please
contact President Rita Berber! an at (303)
513-0591 and rberberian@hotmail.com.

September 24, 2002 Tuesday at 6:00 pm
Native Gardens at Denver Botanic Garden

The 2002-03 Metro-Denver Chapter
Program will “kick off” with a 6:00 pm
tour of the native gardens at the Denver
Botanic Garden. Dan Johnson (DBG) will
lead this tour emphasizing Colorado native
gardens, with a few other Western and
Southwestern species thrown in for good
measure. Specifically, we will be visiting
the Plains garden, as well as the Gates
Montane, Dryland Mesa, and new Western
Panoramas A light meal and an opportuni-
ty to renew acquaintances will follow in
the Waring House.

October 29, 2002 liiesday at 7:00 pm
Using plants for Environmental Cleanup
Dr. Elizabeth Pilon-Smits (Colorado
State University) will discuss her research
on phytoremediation, which involves the
use of plants and their associated root
microbes to clean up environmental pollu-
tion. Elizabeth, her colleagues, and sm-
dents are trying to understand the mecha-
nisms by which plants take up, metabolize,
and accumulate pollutants (heavy metals.

selenium, and organic pollutants), with the
goal of improving their capacity to remove
these compounds from the environment.
They study all aspects of phytoremedia-
tion, from the molecular level through the
whole plant to the field. Additionally, they
use genetic engineering to manipulate
plant metabohsm and a plant’s capacity to
remediate pollutants. It is hoped that
knowledge gained from these studies will
help improve the efficiency of phytoreme-
diation. Prior to convening at the Waring
House, members are invited to join the
speaker at 5:30 pm for pizza at Angelo’s
located at 620 East 6th Avenue in Denver.

December 10, 2002 Tuesday at 7:00 pm
Insect Exclusion and Seed Predation on
the Paradox Valley Lupine

Lupinus crassus (Fabaceae), the Paradox
Valley Lupine, is an endemic restricted in
distribution to Montrose County, Colorado.
Since 2000, CoNPS Marr Fund recipient
Tom Grant (CU-Denver, Denver Botanic

Garden) has been conducting popidatior^ ^

smdies and an insect exclusion experiment
determine the effects of insect predation on
this rare plant. Low fruit production and fluc-
tuating population sizes illustmte the need for
additional study and proper management of
the species. Prior to convening at the Waring
House, thembers are invited to join the
speaker at 5:30 pm for pizza at Angelo’s.

Plateau Chapter

Chapter activities are scheduled through-
out the year. For more information, contact
Chapter President Jeanne Wenger at (970)
256-9227 and BIuecrow2u@aol.com or
Program Chair Lori Brummer at (970)
641-3561 andlbrummer@gunnison.com.

Southeast Chapter

Activities for the Southeast Chapter are
scheduled throughout the year. For more
information, contact President Dan Fosha
at (719) 572-6972 or danfosha@aol.com.

Southwest Chapter

For more information regarding news an(^^/
activities, please contact Chapter Presidenf
Sandy Friedley at (970) 884-9245 or by e-
maii at friedley@frontier.net.

Vol. 26 No. 5

Acjuilegia

Page 7

Colorado Native
Plant Society

The Colorado Native Plant Society is a non-
profit organization dedicated to the apprecia-
tion and conservation of the Colorado native
flora. Membership is open to all with an inter-
est in our native plants, and is composed of
plant enthusiasts both professional and non-
professional.

Please join us in helping to encourage interest
in enjoying and protecting Colorado's native
plants. The Society sponsors field trips, work-
shops, and other activities through local chap-
ters and statewide. Contact the Society, a chap-
ter representative, or committee chair for more
information.

Schedule of Membership Fees

Life $250

Supporting $50

Organization or Corporate $30

^SYt^amily or Dual $20

Individual . . .$15

Student or Senior .$8

Membership Renewal/Information

Please direct all membership applications,
renewals, and address changes to the Eric Lane
(Chair of Membership), Colorado Native Plant
Society, EO. Box 200, Fort Collins, CO 80522.
Please direct all other inquiries regarding the
Society to the Secretary at the same address.

Aquilegia is published four or more times per
year by the Colorado Native Plant Society.
This newsletter is available to members of the
Society and to others with an interest in native
plants. Articles fof Aquilegia may be used by
other native plant societies or non-projf‘it
groups, if fully cited to author and attributed to
Aquilegia.

Articles not exceeding 2000 words in length
and shorter items fewer than 500 words in
length, such as unusual information about a
plant, are especially welcome. Previously pub-
lished articles submitted for reprinting require
permission. Camera-ready line art or other
illustrations are also solicited. Please include
author’s name and address, although anonymi-
ty may be requested. Articles submitted via e-
mail or on disks (MAC preferably, or IBM) are
appreciated. Please indicate word processing
software and version; if possible, submit as an
RTF (rich text format) file.

Please direct all contributions to the newsletter to:

Leo P. Bruederle
Biology, Campus Box 171
Univereity of Colorado at Denver
P.O. Box 173364
Denver, GO 80217-3364
E-Mail: lbruederle@earthlink.net

Officers

President . Jill Handwerk . . 970-491-5857

Vice-President . . . David Anderson . 970-484-0774
Secretaiy ....... Alice Guthrie. . . 303-651-3127

Treasurer Georgia Doyle . . 970-491-6477

Board of Directors

Jill Handwerk (03) . . Fort Collins. . 970-491-5857

Sue Kamal (03) Greeley . .... 970-353-9240

Andy Kratz (03) . . . . Lakewood . . . 303-914-8291
Denise Culver (03) . . Fort Collins. . 970-491-2998
Pat Ploegsma (03). : . Strasburg. . . . 303-622-9439
David Anderson (02) Fort Collins . . 970-484-()774
Gay Austin (02) .... Gunnison. . . . 970-641-6264
Gwen Kittel (02). . . . Boulder. . . . . 3Q3-258-0908
Laurel Potts (02). . , . Fort Collins. . 970-625-4769
Neil Snow (02) . . . . . Greeley 970-330-4823

Chapter Presidents

Boulder ...... . Kathy Damas. . . . 3(B-543-1492

Fort Collins .... Annette Miller . . . 970-495-3240

Metro-Denver. . . Rita Berberian ... 3(B-5 13-0591

Plateau Je^ne Wenger. . . 970-256-9227

Southeast ..... . Dan Fosha 719-572-6972

Southwest ..... Sandy Friedley. . . 970-884-9245

Standing

Conservation . . .
Education and . .

Outreach . . . . .
Field Studies . . .

Field Trips

Finance

Horticulture and.

Restoration ...
Membership. . . .

Newsletter

Sales

Rare Plant ....

Monograph . .
Research Grants

Website

Workshop: East
West

Committees and

Joe Rocchio

Jill Handwerk. . . .
and Alice Guthrie .

Neil Snow

Gwen Kittel .....
Denise Culver . .
and Georgia Doyle
Kathy Damas . . . .
and Lisa Tasker . .

Eric Lane

Leo P. Bruederle. .
Ann Armstrong . .
Sue Kamal ......

and Laurel Potts . .
Eleanor

Von Bargen ....
Neil Snow . . . . . .
Bob Clarke ......

Bill Jennings

Gay Austin

Chairs

720-494-0876,

970-491-5857

303-651-3127

970-330-4823

303-258-0908

970-225-1930

970-491-6477

303-543-1492

970-544-3633

303-239-4182

303-556-3419

720-564-2052

970-353-9240

970-625^769

303-756-1400

970-330-4823

970-242-6067

303-666-8348

970-641-6264

Naine(s)

Address

(Address)

City

Phone

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND RENEWAL FORM

MEMBERSHIP CLASS;

. State .

Zip

_i L

E-mail

Chapter: Boulder

. Fort Collins

Metro Denver

. Plateau

Southeast

Dues cover one calendar year.
Individual. $15.00
. Family/duai, $20.00

Senior, $8.00

- Student, $8.00

Corporate, $30.00

Supporting, $50.00

Lifetime, $250.00

Southwest

In addition to my membership, I have included $ as a contribution to the John Marr

"^und (endowment in support of small grants-in-aid of research), $ as a contribution to

Myma P. Steinkamp Memorial Fund (endowment in support of small grants-in-aid of
research), or $j as a general contribution to the Society.

CoNPS ISA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION - DUES AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE

CALENDAR

CHAPTER EVENTS

Fort Collins Chapter

October 8 Botanizing in the South Pacific

November 5 Locoweeds

December 3 Physaria bellii

February 4 NREL Update

March 4 Plants and Selenium

April 1 New Computerized Plant Keys

Metro-Denver Chapter

September 24 Native Gardens at Denver Botanic
Garden (6:00 pm)

October 29 Using Plants for Environmental Clean-up

December 10 Insect Exclusion and Seed Predation on
the Paradox Valley Lupine

January 28 So Many Weeds, So Little Time

February 25 Smooth Brome - An Overlooked
Invasive Species?

March 25 Botanizing in the South Pacific:

Fieldwork in New Caledonia

SOCIETY EVENTS

Annual Meeting

Sept 20 - 22 Glenwood Springs, CO

WORKSHOPS

October 26, 27 Vegetative Characters for Identification
November 16, 17 Colorado Conifers

December 7, 8 Castilleja^ Pedicularis^ and Related
Genera of Colorado

January 11, 12, Grasses: The TVibe Aveneae
or 25

February 1, 2 Botanical Art for Beginners
March 1, 2 Colorado Thistles

March 15, 16 Basic Botany

Colorado Native Plant Society

‘.O. Box 200

brt Collins, Colorado 80522
ttp;// www.conps.org

. , ^

TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL