Aquilegia Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society . . dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora” Volume 28 Number 1 January - February 2004 THE YEAR IN REVIEW Society Business Through the work of member volunteers, the Colorado Native Plant Society had a busy year. We continued to support native plant conservation by joining a petition with the Center for Native Ecosystems and the Utah Native Plant Society to list Penstemon grahamii, a regional endemic of the southern margin of the Uinta Basin in Utah and adjacent Rio Blanco County, Colorado. P. gra- hamii is a small plant, found infrequently in small, isolated colonies. All known occurrences are on oil-rich substrates and are potentially threatened by energy exploration and development. One site in Colorado is protected on Bureau of Land Management land, but none in Utah. The Board approved a new logo, seen on Society brochures, stationary and hats. Dick Fisher, Sue Ann Kamal, Ivo Lindauer, Pat Ploegsma and John Proctor were elect- ed to the Board of Directors until Fall of 2005. Annual Meeting Where the Mountains Meet the Plains CONPS members from around the state met in Denver to greet old friends, buy books and learn more about the Front Range foothills ecotone. Dr. David Armstrong began the meeting with an overview of the Front Range foothills and their unique charac- teristics. Other speakers discussed the unusual plant and animal species and communities found along the Front Range, including the xeric tallgrass prairie (Dr. Dave Buckner), Roxborough State Park (Vickey Trammel) and Preble's meadow jumping mouse habitat (Ron Beane). At lunchtime, Dave Weber hilariously illus- trated the serious topic of people illegally transporting invasive weeds. Additional topics covered were how fire affects the Front Range forests (Dr. Tom Veblen), noxious weed issues (Dr. George Beck) and restoration efforts along the South Platte (Ray Sperger). Jim Borland ended the day with a talk on native plants in urban landscaping. Three field visits were offered - the native plant displays at the Denver Botanic Gardens, a hike at Roxborough State Park and the xeric tallgrass prairie in Boulder. Sales of books and merchandise were profitable and the silent auction raised $389. Thanks to the planning committee (Rita Berberian, Dr. Leo Bruederle, Juanita Ladyman, Denise Larson, Pat Ploegsma) and other members of the Denver-Metro Chapter for their hard work. Society Awards Two awards were presented at the annual meeting. Bill Jennings received a recognition gift of the CONPS field vest for his lead- ership of the Workshop Committee. Dave Weber, retired wildlife biologist, Colorado Divison of Wildlife, received a Special Merit Award for leading the fight against purple loosestrife. Society Committees Conservation: Members researched and recommended that the Board support the National Public Lands Grazing Campaign aimed at voluntary grazing reductions on public lands. They par- ticipated in the Plant Conservation Alliance and provided com- ments to the EPA and U.S. Forest Service on national topics. Education and Outreach: Volunteers staffed a booth the ProGreen Expo in Denver for the fourth year, in addition to sev- eral other events throughout the state. We also had an exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in conjunction with the Jane Goodall exhibit, which drew over 135,000 visitors, many of whom stopped at the Society's booth. Membership: At the close of 2003, CONPS had 628 members spread over eight membership categories: 335 Individuals, 100 “Year in Review” continues on page 2 Contents About the Society 7 Announcements 5 Articles 3-4 Calendar 8 Chapter News 6 Membership in the Society 7 Year in Review 1-2,4 Vol. 28 No. 1 Page 2 Aquilegia “Year in Review” continued from page 1 Families, 77 Seniors, 43 Life members, 27 Students, 19 Exchanges with other organizations, 15 Corporations and 12 Supporting members. Many of these members are affiliated with the Society's six chapters: Denver 182, Boulder 158, Plateau 89, Fort Collins 87, Southeast 45, and Southwest 28. Newsletter: Leo Bruederle handed over the job of editor to Alice Guthrie, starting with Vol. 27, Issue 1. In 2003, five issues of Aquilegia were published and approximately 640 copies of each issue were mailed. By November, electronic copies of Aquilegia were e-mailed to members who requested it. Between 60-70 members are receiving the electronic version only. In 2004, past issues will be posted on the CONPS website. Research Grants: $1625 was distributed for the Marr and Steinkamp awards. Recipients were Linda Courter, CSU; Ken Keefover-Ring, CU; .leffrey Brasher, UNC; and Dr. William A. Weber, CU, Professor Emeritus. Sales: Sales of books and merchandise totaled $13,951.13 with 47% from direct sales at chapter meetings and workshops, 31% from the annual meeting and 22% from mail orders. Books accounted for 88% of total sales and merchandise (shirts, hats, etc.) accounted for 12%. The five top sellers for 2003 were Wetland and Riparian Plant Associations of Colorado, CONPS hats. Simplified Key to the Grasses of Colorado, CONPS patches and Illustrated Keys to the Grasses of Colorado. New titles for 2004 include Butterfly Gardening: a Guide for Colorado Gardeners by Sarada Krishnan; What's that Flower? by Mary Ellen Harte, a plant identification CD; The Valley of the Second Sons: Letters of Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell by Dr. William A. Weber; The Peterson Field Guide to the North American Prairie by Steve Jones and Ruth Carol Cushman. April Wasson is replac- ing Ann Ar mstrong on the Sales Committee in January. Her con- tact infoirnation is 303-763-7679 or apriladw(2)earthlink.net. Chapter News The Boulder Chapter began 2003 by reviewing results of the Walker Ranch Fire recovery and revegetation efforts with Claire DeLeo and Pat Murphy. Botanical illustrator Carolyn Crawford described tire inspiration she received from the late Ida Pemberton to pursue art. Colorado Natural Areas Program Manager Ron West summarized CNAP's 25-year history of plant and plant communi- ty work across the state. Restoration ecologist Dr. David Buckner compared southern Peru with areas of the U.S. and discussed the practical biology, ecology and plant husbandry aspects of native plants in restoration. Lynn Riedel led a May hike to shale out- croppings in north Boulder where the rare Bell's twinpod (Physaria hellii) was blooming and compared the burned and unbumed areas of the Wonderland Lake burn. Randy Mandel, Rocky Mountain Native Plant Company, gave an update on ongo- ing reclamation projects in our region. Professor Diana Tomback talked on five-needle pines and blister rust. The Denver-Metro Chapter was busy in 2003. Our monthly meetings found a regular (we hope) home in the beautiful Waring House at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Jim and Vickey Trammell took over chapter book sales. We presented programs dealing with weeds (Eric Lane, Jody Nelson, Ann Armstrong), botanizing in the South Pacific (Dr. Mark Simmons), wildland fires (Justin Dombrowski), microbiotic crusts (Dr. Juanita Ladyman) and envi- ronmental clean-up using plants (Dr. Elizabeth Pilon-Smits). The chapter hosted the annual meeting in September. Many chapter members volunteered at public events including the ProGreen Expo, Echters Expo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Jane Goodall Exhibit, and Denver Botanic Gardens Water Smart Gardening Expo. Thanks to everyone who helped out in 2003! The Fort Collins Chapter held six meetings in 2003. Rick Shory, field botanist. Natural Resources Ecology Lab at CSU, described buffalo grass growth habits and explained his unique method for lawn conversion. Plant physiologist Dr. Sue Martin gave an intro- duction to the role of selenium in plant metabolism with a follow up by Dr. Elizabeth Pilon-Smits on her cuirent research in this area. Denise Culver primed us for gardening season with a lec- ture about her favorite natives for landscaping. Matt Parker briefed us on the City of Fort Collins' innovative efforts to control weeds in open space areas with prescribed bums and other inte- grated weed management efforts. In December, we went under- ground with Dr, Mary Stromberger for a look at microbe/soil/root interactions. The Plateau Chapter started the 2003 field season with a trip to Escalante Access in April where an unusual cactus, Sclerocactus glaucus, and blazing star {Niittallia pterosperma) were in full bloom. Tamara Naumann and Rusty Roberts organized the May CONPS Board meeting and field trip at Raven Ridge neai‘ Dinosaur National Monument to see six endemics and other unusual wildflowers in bloom. Highlights of the Grizzly Creek field trip in Glenwood Canyon were the large white and yellow columbine {Aquilegia elegantula X Aquilegia coerulea) and the native mock-orange {Philadelphus microphyllus). In July, Betty Hall organized Grand Mesa field trips for the North American Rock Garden Society, which were dominated by fi tweed {Coiydalis caseana) and Gunnison sego lily (Calochortus gun- nisonii). In July four people surveyed the Willow Mesa Research Natural Area above timberUne, found two new locations for alpine poppy {Papaver kliianense) and documented the extensive alpine planeleaf willow {Salix planifolia) plant community and wide diversity of alpine soil lichens. Dr, Keith Longpre led a Beginner's Wildflower Identification Workshop and Field Trip up the Ohio Creek Road in the Gunnison Basin and Peggy Lyon led a trip to the Ice Lakes Basin and South Mineral Creek in August. The Southeast Chapter has new co-presidents Doris Drisgill and George Cameron. Tass Kelso, Colorado College, led a field trip to shale barrens west of Pueblo to see the rare Oxybaplms rotundifo- lia, Frankenia jamesii, Mirabilis multiflora and Oonopsis puebloensis. In June, chapter members, U.S. Forest Service and the Broadmoor Garden Club inventoried Cypripedium calceolus in Emerald Valley southwest of Colorado Springs. This will be an annual project, whose results will help the USES manage the area. We did Pikes Peak in July and found the endemics Mertensia alpina and Oreoxis humilis near the summit. Indoor programs cov- ered peak to plains with authors Joyce Gellhorn, Mary Taylor Young and Steve Jones, and ended with a session identifying pho- tos that members brought in. “Year in Review” continues on page 4 Vol. 28 No. 1 Aquilegia Page 3 Botanical Articles Buffalo grass appears to share generic boundaries with Blue grama (Bouteloua) Neil Snow, Ph.D. University of Northern Colorado Recent studies of the genus Bouteloua by Dr. J. Travis Columbus at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden indicate that Buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) should be transferred into Bouteloua under the name Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J. T. Columbus (Aliso 17: 99-130 [1998]; Aliso 18: 61-65 [1999]). Columbus and colleagues studied morpho- logical and genetic aspects of all genera considered closely related to Bouteloua. Although the details are numerous, two sources of molecular data suggest that Bouteloua is highly polyphyletic (=com- prised of two or more separate lineages) in its traditional generic circumscription (e.g. Flora of the Great Plains). This means that its generic boundaries do not reflect its evo- lutionary history. The phrase "un-natural classification" (i.e., one that does not close- ly reflect the evolutionary history) includes (in part) the concept of polyphyly. Chondrosum, which also is sometimes seg- regated from Bouteloua (e.g., Colorado Flora: East Slope), was found to be poly- phyletic in their studies. In short, the easi- est and most stable option nomenclaturally was to expand the generic boundaries of Bouteloua and include Buchloe therein. In my recent treatment for Flora of North America Vol. 25 (270-271 [2003]) Buffalo grass was maintained as a distinct genus, Buchloe, following traditional classifica- tions and the preferences of the lead editor. Dr. Mary Barkworth of Utah State University. In contrast, the Southern Rocky Mountain Interactive Flora (http://asstudents.unco.edu/students/lucid/) will treat Buffalo grass in the genus Bouteloua because the most modern data suggest that such a treatment most accu- rately reflects its evolutionary history. The idea that Buffalo grass is a type of grama grass may seem awkward since it does not conform to what we were taught and what we thought we knew. However, when all aspects of the biology of Buffalo grass are considered and one takes a broad- ened view, recognizing this species as a member of Bouteloua is not difficult. Buffalo grass dominates vast areas of the High Plains from portions of southern Canada to northern Mexico, as does blue grama {Bouteloua [=Chondrosum] gracilis). In contrast, big bluestem {Andropogon gerardii) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) dominate much of the eastern Great Plains. Thus, whereas the two dominant grass species in the eastern Great Plains were once thought to be members of Andropogon, in the west- ern Great Plains we have the opposite situ- ation, in which the two dominant grass species are now thought to belong to the same genus. Do you suppose that one of our former Presidents, who used to ride across the prairies of western North Dakota, would have grinned widely upon knowing this newer information and declared "Bully for Buffalo grass!"? Buffalo grass USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200. Washington, DC. State Noxious Weed Advisory Committee Terri Schulz, Ecologist The Nature Conservancy The Colorado Weed Law was revised in August 2003, and included the formation of the State Noxious Weed Advisory Committee. The committee is comprised of agricultural producers, weed management professionals, a public weed scientist, a public land manager, and representatives from the green industry, local governing bodies, the chemical industry and the envi- ronmental community. The chair of the committee is Tom Long, Summit County Commissioner. The list of committee mem- bers and the complete Colorado Noxious Weed Act can be found online at www.ag.state.co. us/DPI/home.html. The new law requires designation of the state's noxious weeds into a minimum of three categories (Lists A, B, and C) based on the known distribution of the species within Colorado; the feasibility of current control technologies to achieve specified management objectives of eradication, con- tainment or suppression; and the costs of carrying out the state weed management plan for each species. List A - rare noxious weed species that are subject to eradication wherever detected statewide in order to protect neighboring lands and the state as a whole. List B - noxious weed species with discrete statewide distribution that are subject to eradication, containment, or suppression in portions of the state designated by the com- missioner in order to stop the spread of these species. List C - widespread and well-established noxious weed species for which control is recommended but not required by the state, although local governing bodies may require management. The first quarterly meeting of the Weed Advisory Committee was in October. Our first objective is to determine recommenda- tions for "List A" weeds. They will be weeds that are very rare in Colorado, such as Yellow Starthistle, or are in nearby states but not yet found in Colorado, such as Squarrose Knapweed (now in Utah). Weeds on "List A" will require eradication on public and private property whenever found. Preliminary List A: Cypress spurge {Euphorbia cyparissias) Dyer's woad {Isatis tinctoria) Meadow knapweed {Centaurea pratensis) Mediterranean sage {Salvia aethiopsis) “Articles” continues on page 4 Page 4 “Articles” continued from page 3 Myrtle spurge {Euphorbia myrsinites) Purple loosestrife {Lythrum salicaria) Yellow starthistle {Centaurea solstitialis) and possibly Absinth wormwood {Artemisia absinthium) Potential List A (may not be in Colorado): African rue {Peganum harmala) - New Mexico Camelthom {Alhagi pseudalhagi) - New Mexico Common crupina {Crupina vulgaris) - Pacific Northwest Giant salvinia {Salvinia molesta) - southern U.S. states Hydrilla {Hydrilla hydrilla) - southern U.S. states Medusahead rye {Taeniatherum caput-medusae) - Utah Rush skeletonweed {Chondrilla juncea) - Utah Tansy ragwort {Senecio jacobaea) - ^ Pacific Northwest xW [ Sericea lespedeza {Lespedeza cunea- ta) - Kansas Squarrose knapweed {Centaurea vir- gata) - Utah Terri Schulz is a member of the Colorado Noxious Weed Advisory Committee and will write updates for . A Aquilegia. If you would like to be TV I kept informed more frequently or ^1/ have information or opinions on ^ Y; which species should be on "List A", W please contact Terri Schulz, tschulz(a)tnc.org. Terri will be creat- ^ |] mg an email distribution network so she can more fully represent CONPS and other environmental organiza- tions on this committee. African Rue {Peganum harmala) Caring for the Land Series, Vol. IV, March 2000 Request for Proposals - Research Projects The Colorado Native Plant Society sponsors research projects in plant biology from the John W. Marr and Myrna P. Steinkamp funds, which support research on the biology and natural history of Colorado native plants by means of small grants. The Steinkamp Fund is targeted to rare species and those of conservation concern. Both field and laboratory studies are eligible for funding. Most awards will not exceed $500. Recipients of the awards must agree to summarize their studies for publication in Aquilegia. The Board of Directors is soliciting proposals for a March 31, 2004 (postmarked) deadline. Contact Research Grant Committee Chair Dr. Neil Snow at 970-330-4823 for more information. Completed applications should be submitted to the following address: Dr. Neil Snow Attn: Marr & Steinkamp Awards Department of Biology University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO 80639 Aquilegia Vol. 28 No. 1 “Year in Review” continued from page 2 The Southwest Chapter had four field trips starting in May when Arnold Clifford led a trip through the Abajo Mountains and Chippean Rock area, extending from alpine to manzanilla commu- nity. Species found included handsome beardtongue {Penstemon lentus var. albiflorus) and featherleaf springparsley {Cymopterus beckii). Dick Moseley and Sandy Friedley led a field trip that explored the pinon/juniper woodlands adjacent to the Florida River drainage, finding dwarf milkweed {Asclepias macrosperma) and cutleaf blazing star {Nuttallia lanciniata). The flora of the Haviland Lake area included wood lily {Lilium philadelphicum) and common blue violet {Viola sororia). Dick Moseley and Charlie King led us through the valley at the Rio Chama headwaters to see orchids including hooded ladies'-tresses {Spiranthes romanzoffi- ana), western rattlesnake plantain {Goodyera oblongifolia) and northern green orchid {Limnorchis hyperborean). CONPS Donors Donations were made to the General Fund ($1,717), Marr Fund ($1,660), Steinkamp Fund ($8,075) and in memory of Mary Edwards and Nancy Pate. The Board thanks the following donors and 12 others who wish to remain anonymous: Sue Ellen Alishouse & Les Golden, Pamela Allison, Craig Alseike, Dave Anderson & Jen Krafchick, Ann Armstrong, Larry Arp, Bev Baker & Paul Mintier, Larry & Caroline Ball, Holly Barnard, Rita Berberian, Ronald Bice, Robert Blackwell, Bruce & Catherine Bosley, Marian Brandenburg, John Brink, Cheryl & Joseph Brooks, Leo Bruederle, David & Sandy Buckner, Dennis & Lisa Buechler, Patricia Butler, J. L. Capra, Stanley & Cindy Carlson, Rebecca Carrico, Dina Clark, Robert Clemans, Janet Coles & Kathy Carsey, Mary Colgan, Theresa Corless & Chris Lea, Ken Curtis, Jean Dietemann, Virginia Dionigi, Barbara Dolder, Adele Douglas, Elizabeth Duvall, John Duwaldt, Brian Elliott, Mo Ewing, Carol Lairbanks, Dick & Marty Lisher, Mark & Nancy Gershman, John & Cherly Giordanengo, Thomas Grant, Michael Green, Naomi Griffith, Betty Hall, Richard Hall, Jill Handwerk, Susan Harris, Emily Hartman, Ronald Hartman, Barbara Hawke, Dexter Hess, Elaine Hill, Tim Hogan, John Hoofnagle, Mark & Monica Hughes, Bill Jennings & Carolyn Crawford, Gail Jennings, Sue Ann Kamal, R. M. Keegan, Jennifer Kesler, Charles & Anita King, Andrew Kratz, Sarada Krishnan, Ered V. Kroeger, Julie Laufmann, Paula Lehr & Arthur Mears, Barry Levene, Ivo & Betty Lindauer, Sharon Lund, Margaret March, Sue Martin, Ellanore McKenna, Amy Melling, Vicki Mellott, Annette & Paul Miller, John Moore, Pat Murphy, Heather Nanstiel, Tamara Naumann & Peter Williams, Betsy Neely & Alan Carpenter, Katharine Noll, Larry Nygaard & Connie Merz, Neal Osborn, Elizabeth Otto, Donald Parker, Pat Ploegsma, Janet Potter, Laurel Potts, Mike Renth, Lynn Riedel & Grant Swift, Andrea Robinsong, Patricia Saito, Joan Sapp, Matt Schweich & Becci Siegle, Billy Schweiger, Diana Shannon & Tim Dolan, Moras & Erne Shubert, Todd Sliker, Erica Smith, Virginia Smith Laisant, Susan Spackman Panjabi & Arvind Panjabi, Dale & Grace Sutherland, Jim & Vickey Trammell, Rod Turner, Adele Ellis Arrowsmith Ttee, Gretchen VanReyper, J. T. Verbeck, Eleanor VonBargen, Olin Webb, David Weber, Gayle Weinstein, Jeanne & Steve Wenger, Jannette Wesley, Lorraine & Richard Yeatts. Vol. 28 No. 1 Aquilegia Page 5 Announcements North American Native Orchid Expert at Denver Botanic Gardens Growing Wild Orchids in Your Own Backyard Thursday, March 18, 7-9 p.m. Denver Botanic Gardens Join nationally recognized native orchid expert Charles Sheviak in a special appearance at Denver Botanic Gardens. You will see photographs of many indigenous North American orchids like the rare Colorado Yellow Lady's Slipper. During the presentation, Sheviak will discuss his success in cultivating indigenous cypri- pediums in his own backyard in Chicago and upstate New York for periods ranging from 15-30 years. While he will detail soil requirements, reputable plant sources and other growing require- ments, he does warn that the cloud and snow cover of those areas provides significantly different growing conditions than the Rocky Mountain environment. For information and registration, please call 720-865-3580 or online at www.botanicgardens.org. I 1 I Orchid Workshop Location Update | I Native Orchids of Colorado & Vicinity i I Leader: Dr. Charles Sheviak i j Denver Water Board - Kassler Center j I 11250 Waterton Road, Littleton j j Maps and workshop letters will be sent to registrants, j I I CONFERENCES Sixteenth Biennial High Altitude Revegetation Workshop March 3-5, 2004 University Park Holiday Inn, Fort Collins, Colorado http://www.highaltitudereveg.eom/har/2004_tour.htm 4th Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plant Conference March 22-25, 2004 Las Cruces, New Mexico http://nmrareplants.unm.edu Denver Botanic Gardens Water-Smart Gardening^ Exposition February 21, 2004 720-865-3580 2004 Bonfils-Stanton Lecture Series Forever Growing Gardens April 2-3, 2004 720-865-3685 registrar@botanicgardens.org CONPS members receive DBG member price. Denver-Metro Chapter Election 2004-2005 President and Vice-President Elections will be held for president and vice-president of the Denver-Metro Chapter. Nominations for either position (yes, you can nominate yourself) should be submitted to Rita Berberian no later than Tuesday, March 9. Ballots will be mailed, and members can bring them to the March 23 meeting or mail them back. Results will be announced at the April meeting. The new presi- dent and vice-president will have one-year terms beginning with the September 2004 meeting. The primary responsibility of the chapter officers is to organize and host chapter meetings. If you haven't volunteered for the Society but have enjoyed its activities, please consider giving something back. Contact Rita Berberian, rberberian(a)hotmail.com, 303-513- 0591, for more information. Buffalo grass USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200. Washington, DC. BCNA Classes The Boulder County Nature Association (BCNA) sponsors field classes that cover the plants, birds and mammals of Boulder County. Two plant identification classes are listed here. For a complete listing, go to the BCNA website, www.bcna.org. Identification of Spring Wildflowers Joyce Gellhorn Learn to identify flowering plants on the East Slope of the Front Range in Boulder County. Part I: Wednesday, April 28 and May 5, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (indoor classes) and Saturday, May 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (field class) Part II: Wednesday, May 12 and 19, 6:30-9:30 pm (indoor class- es) and Saturday, May 22, 9 am-3 pm (field class) Tuition: $65 for Session I or II; $120 for both Sessions I and II (BCNA members-$55 and $105). To register contact Joyce Gellhorn, 303-442-8123, jgellhorn(a)sprynet.com. Lichen Escapade Barbara Hawke Explore the magical world of lichens in forests and foothills. Thursday, June 10, 6:30 - 9:00 pm (indoor class) and Saturday, June 12, 8 am- 2 pm (field class) Tuition: $50 (BCNA members-$40). To register call Barbara, 303-527-1819 or email sandhilldreamer(a)yahoo.com. AQUILEGIA DEADLINE - MARCH 15 Submit contributions for Vol. 28, No. 2 by March 15, 2004. Articles less than 1000 words are especially welcome. Previously published articles submitted for reprinting require permission. Submit via e-mail or on disks as an MS Word or rtf document. See page 7 for additional information. Page 6 Aquilegia Vol. 28 No. 1 CHAPTER NEWS Boulder Chapter Monthly chapter meetings are the on the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm at the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks offices in the north build- ing conference room, 66 South Cherryvale Road. From South Boulder Road, go south on Chen 7 vale 1/10 mile and turn west onto a lane to the offices. Contact To mini Scanes, scanesclan@comcast.net or 303- 682-1208. February 12 Rare Plant Journey through Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. John Proctor, Forest Botanist, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest & Thunder Basin National Grassland, will give us a photographic tour of the rare plants and unique habitats in the Medicine Bow-Routt forest and Thunder Basin. March 11 Growing Natives in the Garden. Mikl Brawner, owner of Harlequin’s Gardens, a Boulder nurseiy specializing in natives and Colorado- adapted perennials and shrubs, will discuss uses of some of his favorite natives in the dry garden. April 8 Rediscovering and Restoring the North American Prairie. Stephen Jones and Carol Cushman, author's of The Peterson Field Guide to the North American Prairie, will present an overview of the status of the prairie, including profiles of outstanding prairie preserves from Colorado to Illinois and Manitoba to Texas. Copies of the book will be available. May 8 Mediterranean Sage Weed Dig. Hold this date in your calen- dar! Organizers hope to recruit 500 volun- teers to dig Mediterranean sage, a "List A" noxious weed. Breakfast before, a party after, instructions/guidance and tools will all be provided. June 10 Annual Picnic and Hike. Location TBA. Fort Collins Chapter Monthly meetings are scheduled October through April at 7:00 pm. The March and April meetings will be in the new facilities at the Gardens at Spring Creek on Centre Avenue in Fort Collins. Join us for dinner with the speaker prior to meetings. Check montlily calendai* for location. Contact Chapter President Annette Miller, 970-495- 3240 or almiller@lamar.colostate.edu. February 12 Alpine Plants and Animals. Author Dr. Joyce Gellhorn will speak at this joint meeting with the Audubon Society. SPECIAL LOCA- TION: THE FORT COLLINS LIN- COLN CENTER. Dinner with the speak- er at 5:30 pm. Rainbow Restaurant, across from CSU on Laurel Avenue. March 2 Rare Plants of Boulder County and Overlap into Larimer County. Ann Armstrong. Dinner with the speaker at 5:15 pm, Coopersmiths, Mountain Ave.,01d Town, Fort Collins. April 6 Landscaping with Native Plants. Jim Borland. Dinner with the speaker at 5:30 pm, Rainbow Restaurant, across from CSU on Laurel Avenue. Metro-Denver Chapter Monthly meetings are held September thr ough April at 7 pm in the Waring House at the Denver Botanic Garden. The Waring House is the mansion just south of the main entrance on York Street. To enter, head south on York past the Gardens main entrance. Make an immediate right into parking lot that says "Staff Parking." For more information, contact Chapter President Rita Berberian at rberberian@hotmail.com or 303 5 1 3-0591. Prior to the meeting at 5:30 PM, members are invited to join speakers for pizza at Angelo's, 620 East 6th Ave (between Pearl and Washington) in Denver. February 24 The Return of the Native: A Paleobotaiiist's View of Colorado Native Plants. Kiik Johnson, Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The fossil plant record of Colorado stretch- es back over 300 million years and spans a diversity of ecosystems and biomes. Many plants that are now considered exotic to Colorado once lived here when the climate and landscape was different. Some of these plants have been reintroduced as ornamen- tals. Paleobotanist Kirk Johnson will unravel this curious history of changing climates and migrating trees. March 23 26 Years of Plant Conservation at the Colorado Natural Areas Program. Ron West, CNAP Program Manager. April 27 Song of the Alpine. Joyce Gellhorn, author. May Picnic and Hike. Date and Location TBA July Garden Tour. Details TBA Plateau Chapter Chapter activities are scheduled through- out the year. For more information, contact Chapter President Jeanne Wenger at 970- 256-9227, stweandjaw@acsol.net or Program Chair Lori Brummer at 970- 641- 3561, lbrummer@gunnison.com. West Slope workshops and field trips will be posted on the CONPS website (www.conps.org). Southeast Chapter Activities are scheduled throughout the year. Meeting and field trip information is available from Doris Drisgill, Ddrisgill@cs.com, 719-578-1091, or George Cameron, gpcameron@juno.com, 719-634-4431. Southwest Chapter For news and activities, contact Chapter President Sandy Friedley at 970-884-9245 or by e-mail at friedley@frontier.net. Aquilegia via Email Aquilegia is available via email. Send your email address to Eric Lane, eric.lane@ag.state.co.us, or Alice Guthrie, molly82@earthlink.net. Vol. 28 No. 1 Aquilegia 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 Family 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, PO. Box 200, Fort Collins, CO 80522. Please direct all other inquiries regarding the Society to the Secretary at the same address. Aquilegia 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 for Aquilegia may be used by other native plant societies or non-profit 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 (IBM preferably) are appreci- ated. 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: Alice Guthrie 509 Collyer Longmont, CO 80501 E-Mail: molly82 (2) earthlink.net guthriea(a>ci.boulder.co.us Officers President Jill Handwerk. . . 970-491-5857 Vice-President . . . David Anderson . 970-484-0774 Secretary Kim Regier 303-556-8309 Treasurer Georgia Doyle . . 970-491-6477 Board of Directors David Anderson (04). Port Collins . . 970-484-0774 Gwen Kittel (04) . . . . Boulder . . . . . 303-258-0908 Laurel Potts (04) . . . . Glenwood Springs . . . . . 970-625-4769 Mark Simmons (04) . Port Collins . . 970-491-2154 Neil Snow (04) Greeley . . . . . 970-330-4823 Dick Lisher (05) . . . . Steamboat Springs . . . . . 970-276-4448 Sue Kamal (05) Greeley . . . . . 970-353-9240 Ivo Lindauer (05) . . . Palisade . . . . .970-285-1112 Pat Ploegsma (05) . . . Strasburg . . . . 303-622-9439 John Proctor (05) . . . Walden . 970-723-8204 Chapter Presidents Boulder Tommi Scanes . . . 303-682-1208 Fort Collins .... Annette Miller . . . 970-495-3240 Metro-Denver. . . Rita Berberian . . . 303-513-0591 Plateau Jeanne Wenger . . . 970-256-9227 Southeast Doris Drisgill. . . . 719-578-1091 and George Cameron . 719-634-4431 Southwest Sandy Friedley. . . 970-884-9245 Standing Committees and Chairs Conservation . . . Vacant Education and Outreach Sue Kamal 970-353-9240 Field Studies . . . Neil Snow 970-330-4823 Field Trips Vacant Finance Georgia Doyle . . . 970-491-6477 Horticulture and. Laurel Potts 970-625-4769 Restoration. . . . and Lisa Tasker . . 970-544-3633 Membership. . . . Eric Lane 303-239-4182 Newsletter Alice Guthrie .... 303-651-3127 Rare Plant Eleanor Monograph . . . Von Bargen 303-756-1400 Research Grants. Neil Snow 970-330-4823 Sales April Wasson .... 303-763-7679 Sue Kamal 970-353-9240 Laurel Potts 970-625-4769 Website Bob Clarke 970-242-6067 Workshop: East . Jill Handwerk &. . 970-491-5857 Mignon Macias. . . . 303-377-066 West Gay Austin 970-641-6264 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND RENEWAL FORM Name(s) MEMBERSHIP CLASS: Dues cover a 12-month period. Address Individual, $15.00 Eamily/dual, $20.00 (Address) Senior, $8.00 Student, $8.00 City State Zip Corporate, $30.00 Supporting, $50.00 Phone E-mail Lifetime, $250.00 Chapter: Boulder Eort Collins Metro Denver Plateau Southeast Southwest In addition to my membership, I have included $ as a contribution to the John Marr Eund (endowment in support of small grants-in-aid of research), $ as a contribution to the Myrna P. Steinkamp Memorial Eund (endowment in support of small grants-in-aid of research), or $ as a general contribution to the Society. CONPS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION — DUES AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CALENDAR - 2004 CHAPTER EVENTS Boulder Chapter February 12 Rare Plant Journey through Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest March 11 Growing Natives in the Garden April 8 Rediscovering and Restoring the North American Prairie March 23 April 27 May July 26 Years of Plant Conservation at the Colorado Natural Areas Program Song of the Alpine Picnic and Hike Garden Tour SOCIETY EVENTS WORKSHOPS May 8 June 10 February 12 March 2 Mediterranean Sage Weed Dig Annual Picnic and Hike Fort Collins Chapter Alpine Plants and Animals Rare Plants of Boulder County and Over lap into Larimer County Dec. 6, 7 Jan. 10, 11 Feb. 7, 8 March 20, 21 April 17, 18 May 22, 23 Beginner Archaeobotany Asteraceae Tribes Sedges of Colorado Native Orchids of Colorado Ferns of Colorado Gardening in Colorado BOARD MEETINGS April 6 Landscaping with Native Plants Metro-Denver Chapter February 24 Return of the Native: A Paleobotanist’s View of Colorado Native Plants November 15 January 24 February 28 April 3 May Longmont Public Library Longmont Public Safety Building Longmont Public Library Front Range West Slope Colorado Native Plant Society RO. Box 200 Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 http : //w w w. c onp s . org Place Stamp Here TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL