Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society Aquilegia September 11, 12, and 13, 2015 Golden, Colorado Volume 39 Issue 2 Annual Conference Special Issue 2015 SchecCuCe 12 th ANNUAL COLORADO RARE PLANT SYMPOSIUM & CoNPS FRIDAY EVENING SOCIAL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th 8:30 a.m. -4 p.m. 12 th Annual Colorado Rare Plant Symposium - Lunch on your own Location: American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St„ Golden, CO, Conference Rooms. C,D (lower level) 6:00-8:00 p.m. CoNPS Friday Night Pizza and Beer Social FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th Location: American Mountaineering Center, Conference Room A (Must register by August 15th to attend) COLORADO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY 2015 ANNUAL MEETING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th Time Location: American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St., Golden, CO, Foss Auditorium (2nd Floor) 8:00-8:50 a.m. Registration - Entrance at back (N. side) of building, lower level across from climbing wall Book sale. Vendors, Silent Auction , Photo Contest, Snacks/Drinks in Conference Rooms A-C on lower level. 8:50- 9:00 a.m. Welcome/Programs Foss Auditorium, 2nd floor of AMC 9:00-9:30 a.m. Native Plant & Pollinator Conservation Carol Kearns, Faculty, University of Colorado, Boulder; Author: A Natural History of Bumblebees 9:30-10:00 a.m. Gardening for Pollinators Amy Yarger, Horticulturist, Butterfly Pavilion 10:00-10:20 a.m. How to Make a Flower Color: Do Red Flowers Use Red Pigments? Julienne Ng, Postdoctoral Researcher, UC Boulder; Red Flower Evolution in Solanaceae 10:20-10:40 a.m. BREAK (20 minutes) Bookstore , Silent Auction, Vendors' Tables, Photo Contest (Conf. Rms A, B, C, lower level) 10:40 -11:10 a.m. Evidence of Climate Change from a Century's Worth of Herbarium Specimens Anna Sher, Associate Professor, Biology, University of Denver 11:10 -11:40 a.m. Butterfly Use and Pollination of Colorado Eriogonum (Buckwheat) Species Paul Opler, Professor of Entomology, Colorado State University; Author: and Evi Buckner-Opler 11:40 -1:00 p.m. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (1 hour 8i 20 minutes) See page 14 for a list of restaurants near the AMC Book Sales, Silent Auction, Photo Contest, Vendors (Conference Rooms A, B, C, lower level) 1:00-1:30 p.m. Year in Review 8i Awards Charlie & Jan Turner, Presidents of the Colorado Native Plant Society 1:30-1:45 p.m. Accessing CoNPS Field Trip Records on SEINet: A Demonstration Melissa Islam, Associate Head of Research & Head Curator of Herbaria, Denver Botanic Gardens 1:45-2:15 p.m. Wild for Monarchs Susan Crick Smith, President, Front Range Wild Ones 2:15-2:40 p.m. Rare Plants and Pollinators Dave Anderson, Director & Chief Scientist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program 2:40 - 3:00 p.m. BREAK (20 minutes) Book Sales, Silent Auction, Vendor's Tables, Photo Contest (Conference Rooms A, B, C, lower level) 3:00-3:20 p.m. Choosy Plants: Do More Chromosomes Mean More Bees? Rob LaPort, Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Boulder and UN Lincoln; Evolutionary Ecologist 3:20-3:50 p.m. Sex in the Garden and the Field Irene Shonle, Director, CSU Extension Gilpin County 3:50-4:15 p.m. National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators Tyler Johnson, Regional Botanist (Region 2), U.S. Forest Service 4:15-4:40 p.m. Southern Rockies Seed Network John Giordanengo, Executive Director, Synergy Ecological Restoration 4:40-5:00 p.m. National Wildlife Federation's Gardening for Wildlife Program Brian Kurzel, Executive Director, National Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Regional Center 5:00 -5:10 p.m. Closing Remarks & Instructions for Tomorrow 5:10-5:20 p.m. Pay for and pick up Silent Auction Items FIELD TRIPS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th For Field Trips & carpools, meet at the American Mountaineering Center parking lot to the East (right) of the building at 8:00 a.m. Field Trips Options Bee-Watching, Grasses, Lichens, Lookout Mtn. Wildflowers, Plants of Red Rocks, Aquatic Plants, DBG Chatfield American Mountaineering Center 710 10th St., Golden, Colorado 80401 1 2th Annual Rare Plant Symposium, Friday, Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CoNPS Pizza & Beer Social, Friday, Sept. 1 1, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. CoNPS 201 5 Annual Conference, Saturday, Sept. 1 2, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Field Trips, Sunday, Sept. 1 3, 8 a.m. - noon Whether you are a serious botanist, nature lover, gardener, or simply want to learn more about plants and pollinators, the Colorado Native Plant Society (CoNPS) 2015 Conference has something for everyone. It is being held at the American Moun- taineering Center in Golden. On Friday, September 1 1 , from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the seri- ous botanists will meet for the Colorado Rare Plant Symposium in Conference Rooms C & D. Of course, you don't have to be a professional botanist to enjoy the slide show that will be pre- sented showing rare plants. The pizza and beer (or soft drink) social will take place on Friday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the American Mountaineering Center in Conference Room A. Pizza will be available, including meat, vegetarian (no meat), and gluten-free. For only $19 you can enjoy pizza and beverages. On Saturday, September 1 2th, we hope you join us for an exciting and informative annual conference at the American Mountaineering Center in Foss Auditorium. For only $45 (or $35 special early bird discount - August 1 5 deadline) you get Saturday's programs AND a Sunday field trip! The topic this year is native plants and pollinators. We have been hearing a lot about the plight of pollinators and climate change in the news lately. Here is a chance to learn the latest from local experts. Are you interested in helping pollinators? Speakers will provide information about gardening with native plants to help pollinators and how you can provide milkweeds for monarchs. You will learn what scientists and citizen scientists from a number of organizations are learning about the state of Colorado's pollinators. On Saturday, in Conference Rooms A-C, there will be a book sale, silent auction, and vendors with information about their organizations. There will also be the CoNPS Photo Contest. You get to vote for your favorite photos in 4 categories! Sunday you will be able to choose from a variety of field trips. Some are for beginners and others are for the more serious botanists. Some cover moderate to difficult terrain and others are easy ambles. To get an early bird discount, sign up by August 1 5th! You will save $1 0 on the conference! Please take time to vote in the CoNPS Board of Directors election. The ballot is on page 1 7. The American Mountaineering Center is located on the corner of Washington (the main street in Golden) and 10th St. Registration Form on page 13 Restaurants on page 14 Map on page 15 Lodging on page 16 Do you need a ride to the Annual Meeting? Motels a bit pricey so you would like to stay in the guest bedroom of a CoNPS member in the Golden area? Call Linda Smith at 970-663-4085 or email her at conpsoffice@aol.com to let her know if you wish to carpool or would like to find a member with a guest bedroom. Cover photos Gaillardia aristata and sweat bee © Dave El in Broadtailed Hummingbird and Cleome serrulata © Charlie Turner Butterfly and Cleome serrulata © Jan Turner Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 3 12th Annual Colorado Rare Plant Symposium Conservation Efforts and Status Review G2 & G3 Plants of Southwest Colorado f For Serious Botanists Friday, Sept. 11, 201 5 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St, Golden, CO 80401, Conf. Rooms C & D, Lower Level Fee: $10 for Friday Join fellow botanists and members of the Colorado Rare Plant Technical Committee (RPTC) for the 12th Annual Colorado Rare Plant Symposium. The RPTC is an ad-hoc group of agency, academic, and NGO botanists that has been working for years to advance rare plant conservation efforts in the state. The symposium will provide a photo presentation of the imperiled and vulnerable (G2 & G3) plant species known from southwest Colorado. This presentation features a diverse group of rare species including Astragalus, Eriogonum, Physaria and Townsendia from alpine, cliff and canyon, and shale barren habitats. Discussion of their relationship to Colorado's important plant biodiversity areas, current conservation status, and potential threats will be emphasized. Come prepared to exchange your knowledge of some of our rarest plant species with other amateur and professional botanists from throughout the state! This one-day symposium will be held Friday Sept. 11th, in collaboration with the Colorado Native Plant Society's Annual Conference (Sept. 12-13, 201 5). The symposium is open to anyone with an interest in the rare plants of Colorado. Contact Jill Handwerkfor more information at 970-491-5857 orjill.handwerk@colostate.edu. Registration is $10. To register , visit the CoNPS website www.conps.org or register at the door. To get to the conference rooms, enter from the back (North side) of the building. 8:30 Registration 9:00 Introduction and ground rules - Jennifer Neale, DBG 9:1 5 Review of Colorado T & E, and G1 plant species: Status review, current conservation efforts and priority conservation action needs - Jill Handwerk, CNHP 10:30 Break 1 0:45 Continue review of G2 & G3 plant species of Southwest Colorado 11:30 Lunch (on your own) 1:00 Announcements -Jennifer Neale 1:15 Review of G2 & G3 plant species of Colorado: Status review, current conservation efforts and priority conservation action needs -CNHP 2:15 Field Season Highlights: New locations of Salix arizonica - Gwen Kittel 2:30 Rare Plants: what they are, why they are important, and what you (and your government) can do about them. -Tyler Johnson, USFS Region 2 botanist 2:45 Break 3:00 Update on the Rare Plant Conservation Initiative and priority conservation actions for coming year - Group discussion led by Susan Panjabi, CNHP 4:30 Adjourn 6:00 CoNPS social hour - Pizza & Beer - see next page 4 Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 201 5 Colorado Native Plant Society ANNUAL CONFERENCE Native Plants and Pollinators Friday, Sept. 1 1 , 201 5 6-8 p.m. For Every one! Pizza & Beer (or soft drinks) Social American Mountaineering Center, 7101 0th St, Golden, CO 80401 Conference Room A Visit with your old friends and make new friends at the CoNPS Beer & Pizza social in Conference Room D. Mountain Options in- clude vegetarian and gluten-free pizza. There will be beer, soft drinks, and water. $19 includes pizza and drinks. Saturday, September 1 2, 201 5 e > o*° r< ^ Registration 8:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. Presentations 8:50 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St, Golden, CO 80401, Foss Auditorium, 2nd Floor For Everyone! We hope you join us for an exciting and informative annual conference at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado. For only $45 (or $35 special early bird discount - August 1 5 deadline) you get Saturday's programs AND a Sunday field trip! We are delighted to have such an interesting selection of talks from experts in the fields of botany, entomology, and horticulture. Concern about pollinators is well- publicized in the news and the speakers at this conference will help inform and update you on the issues and current research. Bumblebee researcher, Carol Ann Kearns, will begin the conference with an overview of native plant and pollinator conservation. Botanists Julienne Ng and Rob LaPort will tell us the latest on flower color and pollinators and the relationship between plant genetics and bee visitation. These researchers are from University of Colorado, Boulder. Bumblebee on Thermopsis divaricarpa Photo ©Jan Turner Anna Sher, Associate Professor, University of Denver, has been able to document climate change during the past century from herbarium specimens and its affect on pollination and conservation of the rare plants of Colorado. Also speaking on the topic of rare plants and pollinators is Dave Anderson, Director and Chief Scientist of the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. Another rare plant expert and the new US Forest Service Botanist for our region, Tyler Johnson, will speak about the US government's national policy to promote the health of honey bees and other pollinators. Noted Colorado State University Entomology Professor and butterfly and moth expert, Paul Opler, and his wife, Evi Buckner-Opler, will present fascinating information about butterfly use and pollination of Colorado buckwheats ( Eriogonum ). Also speaking about butterflies will be the President of the Front Range Wild Ones and gardening expert, Susan Crick Smith, who will report on the Wild for Monarchs campaign to plant milkweed for monarchs. Amy Yarger, Horticulture Director at the Butterfly Pavilion, will give us tips on gardening for pollinators. Dr. Irene Shonle, plant sex therapist (and also Director of CSU Extension, Gilpin County) will keep us laughing with her talk on sex in the garden and the field. We are also delighted that Melissa Islam, Associate Research Director at the Denver Botanic Gardens, will give us a demonstration of the SEINet database and show us how to find plants and their photos from CoNPS field trips! Popular speaker and writer, John Giordanengo, Executive Director, Synergy Ecological Restoration, will talk about the Southern Rockies Seed Network and challenges in meeting the production needs of FORBS (Friends of Ravenous Bees) followed by Brian Kurzel of the National Wildlife Federation, who will tell us about the NWF's gardening for wildlife programs. Sunday, there will be a number of choices of field trips. They will be offered concurrently so only choose one. For garden lovers, Larry Vickerman, Director of Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield,. will offer a tour of the native plant gardens at DBG at Chatfield. Don"t miss the book sale, silent auction, photo contest, and vendors: Conference Rooms A-C, lower level! Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 5 SPEAKERS & ABSTRACTS Native Plant and Pollinator Conservation 9:00-9:30 a.m. Carol Ann Kearns People are increasingly aware of the decline of pollinators and the potential impacts on agriculture, but over 90% of our native flowering plants also require pollinators to produce seeds and fruit. When most people think of pollinators they think of bees, and specifically honeybees. However, there are about 4000 bee species in North America and 996 of them occur in Colorado. They come in all shapes and sizes (with a 3000 fold difference in body mass). Different sizes fit different flowers and pollinate different species. Bees are among the most important pollinators because they provision a nest and must constantly return to flowers for pollen and nectar, however, flies are critical pollinators in the alpine. Butterflies, moths and birds are also important to different native plant species. Pollination is essential for producing the next generation of wild plants that provide food and shelter for the entire community. Planting and protecting native plant species helps conserve pollinators. Carol Ann Kearns Photo © Heidi Davis Carol Ann Kearns, PhD, is a conservation biologist and pollination biologist with a faculty appointment at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is co-author (with James Thomson) of The Natural History of Bumblebees, and (with David Inouye) Techniques for Pollination Biologists. Her current research with Dr. Diana Oliveras involves comparing pollinators on organic and conventional farms. She recently completed a 5-year monitoring project on Front Range Bumblebees, and before that, a comparison of urban and natural area pollinators. Gardening for Pollinators 9:30-1 0:00 a.m. Amy Yarger Most gardens, if they have flowers, attract pollinators of one sort or another. If the gardener takes shelter, water and other needs into consideration, however, she can transform a garden into a rich habitat for a wide array of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Amy will share her experience designing and maintaining the four acres of pollinator habitat at Butterfly Pavilion, along with some of the current science about conserving pollinators. Amy Yarger, Horticulture Director, Butterfly Pavilion, has worked in the public horticulture field since 1 996. She received a bachelor's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Irvine and then went on to study plant-animal interactions at the University of Michigan. Her master's thesis concerned the effects of noxious weeds on pollinator-plant relationships. Her work at the Butterfly Pavilion, where she has been a horticulturist since 2000, touches on many of her passions: plants, insects, habitat conservation and science education. Amy Yarger Photo courtesy Amy Yarger How to Make a Flower Color: Do Red Flowers Use Red Pigments? 10:00-1 0:20 a.m. Julienne Ng Flowering plants exhibit a stunning diversity of flower color. Red flowers, in particular, can be found in many plant groups, but whether they all use the same strategy to make red-colored flowers is not well known. Julienne will talk about how plants color their flowers and discuss her research on red flower color evolution. Julienne Ng, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on why there is such a diversity of colorful signals that plants and animals use to communicate to one another, and is currently studying flower color evolution in the tomato family (Solanaceae). Julienne has been in Colorado for two years after earning her PhD at the University of Rochester, NY. Having grown up in Australia, she has enjoyed hiking the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and getting to know the local flora. Julienne Ng Photo © Rob LaPort 6 Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 Evidence of Climate Change from a Century's Worth of Herbarium Specimens and its Implications for Pollination and Conservation of Rare Colorado plants 1 0:40-1 1:10 a.m. Anna A. Sher The timing of flowering is of critical importance for the survival of many species, given that it must correspond to availability of pollinators. Recently published research from my lab using label data from over 600 flowering herbarium specimens of Colorado plants collected from 1 870 to 2009 from herbaria across the country found that common ephemeral species significantly bloomed earlier with a change of nearly three weeks. In contrast, specimens at this herbarium taken as a whole showed no change over time, suggesting that these changes were not due to collector behavior. We then used data from herbaria across the country to determine if a set of 1 2 Federally Listed Colorado species showed any pattern over time; these showed a similar, significant slope of earlier collection in recent years. Flowering cues for these rare species had not yet been documented, but our analyses using climate data suggested strongly that most of these were affected by temperature and/or precipitation, which have both changed dramatically over the last century. These findings suggest that both spring blooming and rare species are highly sensitive to the major climate changes observed in the center of the country, with changes likely more than twice as dramatic as those observed on the East Coast. Shifts as large as this could have major conservation implications depending on how pollinators respond the same climatic cues. Anna Sher Photo © Scott Dressel-Martin to Dr. Anna Sher, PhD, is the author of more than 40 scientific publications on plants and plant management, including four books. Her most recent book is an edited volume on the genus Tamarix in its invasive range, published by Oxford University Press in 2013. Dr. Sher earned her doctorate in Biology from the University of New Mexico studying tamarisk and plant competition. Today, Dr. Sher is a tenured associate professor at DU. One current focus of her lab has been the investigation of plant phenological shifts, as documented by herbarium specimens. She has just published her first paper on this topic in the American Journal of Botany. Butterfly Use & Pollination of Colorado Eriogonum (Buckwheat) Species 1 1 :1 0-1 1 :40 a.m. Dr. Paul Opler and Evi Buckner-Opler Renowned Lepidoptera expert, Paul Opler, PhD, along with his adventure partner and wife, Evi Buckner-Opler, will share knowledge of butterfly use and pollination of Colorado Eriogonum species. The focus of Dr. Opler's research for much of his life has been the members of the insect order Lepidoptera. His work involves a number of separate projects that relate to the systematics, biological diversity, distribution, and ecology of several groups of Lepidoptera. This includes surveys of the diversity of public lands, notably national parks and military lands. Dr. Opler is involved with the systematics ofLycaenid butterflies and many moth families, including Notodontidae, Arctiidae, Geometridae, and Tortricidae. He is also quite passionate about conservation efforts that benefit butterflies and moths. Learn more at http://bspm.agsci.colostate.edu/people-button/faculty-new/paul-opler Eriogonum flaven var. pi peri and Butterfly Photo © Loraine Yeatts CoNPS Field Trip Records on SEINet: Demonstration 1 :30-1 :45 p.m. Melissa Islam CoNPS sponsors field trips every year throughout the state. During the trips, leaders write checklists of the species that are encountered. These lists have been held by CoNPS but were not easily accessible. Over the last few years, CoNPS volunteers have strived to make these publicly available and also useful to the larger community by connecting descriptions, distributions and images to the species. By making all the checklists public, CoNPS hopes to encourage an interest in re-visiting these areas and updating the lists, and possibly, generating targeted floristic studies. Using the tools already available within SEINet, CoNPS volunteers have and will continue to upload checklists. I will demonstrate how to access the checklists, key features, and how one can create their own checklists. Melissa Islam Photo by Jan Turner Melissa Islam, PhD, is the Associate Director of Research & Head Curator for the Herbaria at Denver Botanic Gardens. Her work focuses on documenting and researching plant biodiversity in Colorado. Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 7 Wild for Monarchs 1 :45-2:1 5 p.m. Susan Crick Smith Our wildflower gardens can be vital to the survival of butterflies. News of the dramatic decline of Monarchs makes it all the more urgent that we plant with purpose. We will learn more about the life cycle of this amazing butterfly, including when to look for their arrival in Colorado and learn what you can do to help monitor their population. We will explore how to design your yard to attract a plethora of butterflies and highlight native host plants for Monarchs and other species. Susan has worked at nature centers and parks for over 20 years, helping connect people of all ages to nature. She has been trained as a Master Gardener, Native Plant Master and is President of the Front Range chapter of Susan Crick Smith Wild Ones, a non-profit that promotes native plants and natural landscaping for wildlife. Rare Plants and Pollinators 2:1 5-2:40 p.m. Dave Anderson David G. Anderson, Director and Chief Scientist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) Colorado is home to over 500 species of plants of conservation concern that are tracked by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. Most of these species rely on the services of pollinators to reproduce. We have some fascinating examples of co-evolution among our rare plants and pollinators, and also quite a few species of rare plants that are generalists. We'll look at some examples, and discuss these in the context of pollinators and their conservation. Dave grew up in Aurora, where his parents made him passionate about biology, and went to CU, where his wonderful professors turned him into a botanist. He went to graduate school at the University of Washington back when it had a Botany Department, and studied the influence of frost heave on plant community ecology in the Arctic. After then going to the equator for two years as a science teacher in the Peace Corps, Dave found his happy place in Fort Collins at CNHP, where he has been since 1 999. Dave served as a CoNPS board member and Vice President in the 2000's. Choosy Plants: Do More Chromosomes Mean More Bees? 3:00-3:20 p.m. Rob La Port Flowering plants are incredibly diverse, and much of this diversity is the result of evolutionary pressures to ensure pollination. One way plants alter their physical appearance is to acquire multiple copies of genes responsible for flower color, size, shape, and rewards. Until recently it has been unclear how this phenomenon influences pollinator visitation. Robert will talk about his research on how chromosome duplication may influence bee pollination in the SW desert creosote bush. Robert Laport is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and the University of Colorado, Boulder. Moving west after earning his PhD at the University of Rochester, he has enjoyed exploring the flora of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. He conducts research on creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) in the desert southwest to better understand the ecological and evolutionary consequences of genome duplication (polyploidy) on plant-pollinator interactions and plant biodiversity. Sex in the Garden and the Field 3:20-3:50 p.m. Irene Shonle Flowers have an agenda that goes beyond looking beautiful. In this session, plant psychologist, Dr. Irene Shonle, will host a lively therapy session designed to help curious or concerned plants cope with their botanical sexuality. This session is rated PG-13 due to the steamy, alluring, and gluttonous nature of the world of pollination biology. Irene Shonle is the Director ofCSU Extension in Gilpin County, and the Vice President for CoNPS. She is passionate about native plants, and has taught all over the state, including for the Native Plant Master® Program, for the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Colorado Weed Management Association, and for various landscaping conferences. Rob LaPort Photo ©Julienne Ng Irene Shonle Photo ©Yinyan Huang Dave Anderson Photo © Michael Menefee 8 Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators 3:50-4:15 p.m. Tyler Johnson In May of 201 5 President Obama issued the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators in response to severe declines in high profile pollinators and pollinators in general. The National Strategy outlines how federal agencies, including land management agencies such as the Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management, will take actions to promote pollinator health. This talk will bean overview of the National Strategy, with emphasis on pollinator-friendly best management practices for federal lands and a discussion on how citizens can be involved. Tyler is the new Regional Botanist for the U.S. Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Region. He was previously a NEPA Specialist and Botanist on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Jackson, Wyoming and the Forest Botanist on the Lincoln National Forest in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He holds a MS in Forestry and a BS in Botany both from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. His Master's work focused on tamarisk on the Verde River in central Arizona. Tyler is a third generation Forest Service employee and is looking forward to meeting the people and plants in the Rocky Mountain Region. Southern Rockies Seed Network: Challenges in Meeting the Production Needs of FORBS (Friends of Ravenous Bees) 4:1 5-4:40 p.m. John Giordanengo, Executive Director, Synergy Ecological Restoration Thanks to the dedication of over 50 agency, industry, and non-profit collaborators in Colorado and Wyoming, the Southern Rockies Seed Network formed in 201 4 to develop ecotypic native plant materials for the restoration industry. Our pooled demand process for plant materials development resulted in a priority list of species for increase, including several Friends of Ravenous Bees (FORBs). While there is an important overlap between the function of forbs in a restoration project, and the importance of forbs for pollinators, challenges in the collection, production, distribution cycle will need to be overcome in order to bring our friends of ravenous bees to the marketplace in a quantity and quality that meets partner needs. The business model and key activities of this seed network will be described, as well as the organizational structure, accomplishments to date, technical and logistical constraints, and the collaborative nature of this budding seed network as it relates to pollinators. Few finer days exist beyond those spent keying out plants. Much of John's time doing so has been in association with his work restoring Colorado habitats — from alpine to plains. After 18 years of experience in Ecological Restoration, John still marvels over the secrets our native flora share (when we are patient enough to observe) that help us gain insights into the underpinnings of ecological restoration. Enjoying membership in CoNPS for 16 years, and serving as a board member for two years, John enjoys steering budding restoration ecologists to the society for a lesson or two. Today, somewhere between the botanizing and the restoration work, he is pleasantly busy growing the Southern Rockies Seed Network, a seminal program of Synergy Ecological Restoration. John is the Program Director, Southern Rockies Seed Network. John received an MS in Range Ecology (Ecological Restoration Emphasis) from Colorado State University in 2000. John Giordanengo Photo courtesy J. Giordanengo Tyler Johnson Photo courtesy T. Johnson. National Wildlife Federation's Gardening for Wildlife Programs 4:40 - 5:00 p.m. Brian Kurzel, Regional Executive Director, Rocky Mtn. Regional Center, NWF Whether you have an apartment balcony or a 20-acre farm, you can create a garden that attracts beautiful wildlife and helps restore habitat in commercial and residential areas. NWF's programs can help develop habitat for wildlife where people live, work and play through Schoolyard Habitats, Community Wildlife Habitats and other programs. Brian Kurzel is the Regional Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Regional Center of the National Wildlife Federation. He has also been the Supervisor for Policy and Planning for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Natural Areas Program Manager for the state of Colorado. Brian has a Masters in Biogeography from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has spent several years as a professional environmental educator and enjoys interpreting the natural world to get people excited about science and conservation. Brian served on the CoNPS Board for a number of year. Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 Brian Kurzel 9 ANNUAL MEETING FIELD TRIPS^ Sunday, September 13 Signing Up for a Sunday Field Trip 8:00 a.m. - noon For all field trips, meet at the parking lot to the East of the AMC at 8 a.m. FIELD TRIPS: All of the field trips take place at the same time so field trip participants will only be able to choose to go on one field trip. On the Registration Form on page 1 1 you can indicate your first, second, etc. choice of field trips. On Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m., we will meet at the parking lot to the East of the American Mountaineering Center to receive instructions, and carpool to your hike. You may drive your own car but you will need instructions. Be sure to bring water and snacks or lunch. You may also want sunscreen and a hat, a hand lens, and a copy of Weber & Wittmann and/or Ackerfield. Bee-Watching at DBG at Chatfield 8:30 -1 1 :00 a.m. Carol Kearns For Everyone! Join us for an easy walk in a local park to watch bees and to learn to identify some common bee species. No equipment needed, although a hand lens can be useful. Meet at American Mountaineering Center (East parking lot) at 8 a.m. and carpool. or drive separately. This will be an easy hike. Bring a hand lens, hat, water and walking shoes. Limit: 15 people maximum. Carol Ann Kearns is a conservation biologist and pollination biologist with a faculty appointment at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is co-author (with James Thomson) of The Natural History of Bumblebees, and (with David Inouye) Techniques for Pollination Biologists. Grasses of William F. Hayden Park at Green Mountain 8:30 -1 1 :30 a.m. Jessica Smith For lntermedi ate Botanists Identify and learn about grasses at Green Mountain Park. We will observe 10-15 species of grasses, as well as identify wildflowers and shrubs. The hike will cover about one mile along a moderate trail at the base of Green Mountain. This hike is geared toward intermediate botanists. Please bring Colorado Flora and a hand lens (if you have one), snacks, water, rain and sun gear. There will only be a restroom at the beginning of the hike. A species list and grass identification material will be provided. Jessica Smith holds a master's degree in Environmental Science, Ecology concentration from the University of Maryland. She has been in the field of plant ecology for 15 years, and has assessed plant communities and populations in a variety of ecosystems across the country. Currently, she is a field technician with the Colorado Natural Areas Program and serves on the CoNPS Board of Directors. Above: Purple Three- Awn Aristata purpurea Photo by Jan L. Turner Right: Jessica Smith Photo courtesy JPS Meet at American Mountaineering Center (East parking lot) at 8 a.m. and carpool. or drive separately. This will be an easy hike. Bring a hand lens, hat, water and walking shoes. Limit:15 attendees 10 Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 Lichens of Beaver Creek Trail 8:30 am- 12:30 p.m. Erin Tripp For Ever y° ne w ^° Loves Lichens! Why limit your natural history experience to flowering plants? Plants are great but lichens are too! ....and represent important constituents of ecosystems worldwide, especially in western North America. Come learn some of the common and rarer species of lichens in the Front Range Mountains. Beaver CreekTrail in Stapleton Park hosts a diversity of habitats, including rich, mesic, and steep north-facing slopes as well as unusual hardwoods communities that host unique assemblages of lichens. In addition to identification, we will learn basic terminology in lichenology. Depending on our collective dispositions on this fine Sunday morning, we can do as much or as little of the hike as desired. LIMIT: capped at 1 0 people; suitable for beginners as well as experts. Lecanora argopholis (with Candelariella rosulans, Verrucaria beltraminiana, and Caloplaca atroflava ) from Boulder County, Colorado. Photo by E. Tripp TO BRING: Lichenizing absolutely requires a hand lens. Put this thing on the night before to get into the mood! Don't forget ample water and whatever else you need to be happy. DIRECTIONS: Meet at American Mountaineering Center (East parking lot) at 8 a.m. and carpool. or drive separately. Questions? Erin can be reached at erin.tripp@colorado.edu or 909-532-6075 Erin Tripp Erin Tripp is a botanist, specializing in tropical plant biology but also experienced in the North American plant and lichen biota. She holds a PhD from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Duke University, and currently serves as Assistant Professor ofEBIO as well as Curator of Botany of the Museum of Natural History at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Native Plant Master® Discover Wildflowers at Lookout Mountain Nature Center 8:30-1 1 :30 a.m, For Everyone - Especially beginners! Irene Shonle Get a taste of the Native Plant Master® program in this class especially targeted towards the beginner. In this non-intimidating class, we will get to know some blooming flowers, demystify botanical terms and scientific names, and learn how to recognize some plant families so you can go on to learn more! No experience necessary - newcomers to Colorado and beginners welcomed and encouraged! Lookout Mountain is in Golden. Limit: 15 attendees For beginners and newcomers Meet at American Mountaineering Center (East parking lot) at 8 a.m. and carpool. or drive separately. Lookout Mountain Nature Center Photo by Jan L. Turner Irene Shonle is the CSU Extension Director for Gilpin County. She has a passion for native plants, and has been teaching about native plants in classes around the state since 2003. She maintains a native plant demonstration garden at the Gilpin Extension Office, and uses them extensively in her own garden. Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 11 Plants of Red Rocks Park's Trading Post Trail 8:30 a.m. - noon For Everyone! Jennifer Ackerfield Join Jennifer Ackerfield, author of Flora of Colorado, for a wildflower hike at Red Rocks Park, a Denver Mountain Park. The Trading Post Trail is a loop 1 .4 miles in length, and goes through spectacular rock formations, valleys and a natural meadow. Some of the terrain is rough, so hiking boots/ shoes are recommended. There are some steep stairs along the trail. Also, hikers should be prepared for adverse weather conditions as the weather can change very Rabbitbrush at Red Rocks Park quickly. Photo © Charlie Turner (above) Bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and a snack or lunch. If you have Ackerfield's Flora of Colorado, bring that along, too! This hike is for both beginning and advanced botanists. To right: Jen Ackerfield Courtesy Jen Ackerfield Limit: 15 participants Aquatic Plants of Colorado 8:30 a.m. - noon Mari Majack For Serious Botanists Come learn tips and tricks for collecting and identifying aquatic plants! We will conduct a mini bioblitz of a pond or lake where Mari will demonstrate her tools and techniques for collecting and creating herbarium specimens of aquatic plants. We will discuss best practices for pressing and documenting aquatics and walkthrough the keys discussing pitfalls and additional resources for identification. Due to the inherent difficulty of aquatic plant identification, this field trip is geared toward experienced botanists, but attendees of all backgrounds will have fun, learn about the most common families of aquatic plants in Colorado, and develop an eye for finding them in the field. Mari in the water, Photo courtesy Mari Majack Location TBD by September 1 st (in the Boulder- Golden area). Depending on which site has the best species diversity come September, we will be collecting from the shore or boat using Mari's homemade tools, and/or by wading into the water and collecting by hand. We will park very close to the site (no hiking necessary), but participants should bring waterproof boots or waders if they would like to explore in or around the lake. Details will be emailed to attendees on September 1 st. Please bring a Colorado flora, hand lens, binoculars, bug spray, extra layers, and a lawn chair (if you like). If you would like to help collect or see the plants in situ, bring waders and extra clothing (especially socks). Email Mari with any questions at marika.majack@icloud.com (cell 720-454-8922). Limit: 10 participants Mari Majack is a recent graduate ofCU Denver, where she studied the distribution of the pondweed family (Potamogetonaceae). During two years of fieldwork for her master's thesis and a Forest Service rare aquatic plant survey, Mari documented over 1 00 new populations of aquatic plants in 12 Colorado counties. She is currently working for the Colorado Natural Areas Program. Tour of the Native Plant Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield 8:30-1 1 :30 a.m. Larry Vickerman For Everyone! Join Director Larry Vickerman for a tour of Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield. The site features numerous native plant gardens, a 6 acre vegetable farm that supports a CSA and three farm stands, a historic ranch, and a large corn maze and pumpkin field. Late spring through fall, the native plant gardens at Chatfield are a constant unfolding drama of butterflies, bees, beetles, hummingbirds, finches, swallows, sparrows and other creatures interacting with the amazing array of native plants. The garden was named a Habitat Hero Garden by the Rocky Mountain Audubon Society in the fall of 201 4 and it really illustrates how a planting can be so much more than just a somewhat random collection of plants. Limit:: 20 participants Photo courtesy Larry Vickerman 1 2 Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 REGISTRATION FORM Please fill out a new registration form for each person attending. Registration is also available online at http://conps.org. Discounted Early Registration must be received by August 15, 201 5. The membership application is also available online at http://conps.org. Name (first, last): Phone: E-mail: Address (street, city, state or province, zip): You must be a member to attend. To become a member see the bottom of the page or go online. MEETINGS REGISTRATION : • The 1 2th Annual Colorado Rare Plant Symposium, Friday, September 1 1 $10. Discounted Early Registration for 201 5 CoNPS Annual Conference received on or before August 1 5th • The 201 5 CoNPS Annual Conference, Saturday, Sept. 1 2th & Field Trips, Sunday, Sept. 1 3th $35 Registration for 201 5 CoNPS Annual Conference after August 1 5th • The 201 5 CoNPS Annual Conference, Saturday, Sept. 1 2th & Field Trips, Sunday, Sept. 1 3th $45 MEETING REGISTRATION TOTAL $ PIZZA & BEER BASH : Friday, Sept. 11,6 pm to 8 pm. Price includes Beer, Soft Drinks, and Pizza (Meat, Vegetarian, Gluten-free). If you have special dietary needs please contact Jan at JLturner@regis.edu ••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••* $19 DONATION : To help defray CoNPS Annual Conference expenses (Optional) $_ TOTAL PRICE $ FIELD TRIP OPTIONS Sunday, September 13th See complete descriptions in Aquilegia and website. Trips operate concurrently. Rank your preference of field trip by number (1 through 7) with "1 " being your first choice. Bee-Watching at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield - Carol Kearns Grasses at William F. Hayden Park at Green Mountain - Jessica Smith Plants of Red Rocks Park, Morrison - Jennifer Ackerfield Lichens at Beaver BrookTrail - Erin Tripp Native Plant Master® Discover Wildflowers at Lookout Mountain Nature Center - especially for beginners - Irene Shonle Aquatic Plants - (Location TBD) - Mari Majack Tour of the Native Plants Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield - Larry Vickerman MEMBERSHIP: JOIN THE COLORADO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY (CoNPS) Dues cover a 1 2 month period. (If your membership has lapsed, you may renew by emailing Linda Smith at conpsoffice@aol.com) Senior $17 (65+) Student $17 Individual $25 Family $35 Indicate your preferred chapter affiliation. CoNPS members are invited to participate in any function, event or field trip offered by any CoNPS chapter, regardless of affiliation. □ Boulder □ Gore Range □ Metro-Denver □ Plateau D Southeast □ Northern □ Unaffiliated Membership enclosed: Total of membership, registration, bash and/or donation PLEASE mail this form and your check made out to "CoNPS" to: Linda Smith, 4057 Cottonwood Drive, Loveland, CO 80538. THANK YOU! If you have questions, please call (970) 663-4085, or e-mail conpsoffice@aol.com. Restaurants in Golden Restaurants in Downtown Golden South Golden - within short drive (walking distance from AMC) Anthony's Pizza & Pasta 600 1 2th St. (Pizza/Pasta) Blue Canyon Grill & BC Underground 1 224 Washington Ave. (Sports Bar/Grill) Bob's Atomic Burgers 1310 Ford St. (Burgers) Buffalo Rose 1 1 19 Washington Ave. (Bar/Burgers) Cafe 1 3 1 301 Arapahoe St. (Coffee, Sandwiches) Dagotto's Panini Bistro 700 12th St. (Italian) D'Deli 1207 Washington Ave. (Sandwiches) El Dorado Mexican Restaurant 720 Arapahoe St. (Mexican) Golden Diner 700 1 2th St. (Breakfast) Golden Hotel/Bridgewater Grill 800 1 1th St.(Fine Dining) Golden Skillet 807 1 3th St. (Breakfast) Goozell Yogurt & Coffee 1 200 Washington Ave. (Yogurt) Grappa Mediterranean Bistro & Cafe 1027 Washington Ave. (Fine Dining) Higher Grounds Cafe 804 14th St. (coffee, bakery items, burritos, sandwiches) Indulge Bistro & Wine Bar 1 299 Washington Ave. (Fine Dining) Jimmy John's 1299 Washington Ave. (Sandwiches) New Peach Garden (Chinese) 1111 Washington Ave. Old Capital Grill 1 122 Washington Ave. (American) Sherpa House Restaurant & Cultural Center 1518 Washington Ave. (Himalayan; lunch buffet) Snarf's 1301 Washington Ave. (Sandwiches) Starbuck's Coffee Company 1 301 Washington Ave. Table Mountain Inn 1310 Washington Ave. (Tex-Mex) Thai Gold Restaurant 714 14th St. (Thai) Windy Saddle Cafe 1110 Washington Ave.(Coffee) Woody's Wood Fired Pizza 1395 Washington Ave.(Pizza) Blue Sky Cafe & Juice Bar 1 4403 W. Colfax Ave. (Breakfast & Lunch) Chipotle 1 4255 W. Colfax Ave. (Mexican) Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill 14740 W. Colfax Ave. (Mediterranean) Halu Sushi Asian Bistro 1 7525 S. Golden Rd. (Asian) Lil' Ricci's 1 6950 W. Colfax Ave. (Italian) Subway 1 7708 S. Golden Road (Sandwiches) Whole Foods 1 4357 W. Colfax Ave. (Deli) North Golden- within short drive Ali Baba Grill 109 Rubey Dr. (Lebanese & Persian) Briarwood Inn 1630 8th St. (Fine Dining) Grocery Stores - short drive Safeway 1701 Jackson St. King Soopers 17171 S. Golden Rd. Natural Grocers Vitamin Cottage 2401 Ford St. Whole Foods 1 4357 W. Colfax Ave. Annual Photo Contest! Enter Now! One photo per category! First prize in each category is $50. Winning photos will be featured in Aquilegia and on the CoNPS webpage. Members will vote for their favorite photos at the Annual Conference. Categories: • Colorado Native Plant Landscapes • Colorado Native Plants • Artistic (Native Plants or Landscapes) • Colorado Native Plants & Wildlife (including insects/pollinators) Send in 8 x 1 0" photo. You can submit one for each category. For full details see http://conps.org/wp- content/uploads/201 5/04/photo-contest-rules-201 5-2. pdf 14 Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 Downtown Golden American Mountaineering Center 71 0 W. 1 0th St. (corner of Washingon Ave. & 1 0th St.) % \ k DltW 03 fv \ Cas School of Museum Colorado ^ School of Mines ' ^ Kafedar Commons 4 % . \ \ w; ^ % <4 V % ^ Note: Please Google the restaurant locations for accuracy.. Map from Google. <3i \ Aquilegia Volume 39, No. 2 Annual Conference 2015 15 LODGING IN GOLDEN DEADLINE FOR DISCOUNT IS AUGUST 10! MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY! We have arranged special discounted rates at two motels near our meeting site. DEADLINE — AUGUST 10! Each motel is less than a 1 0 minute drive from the American Mountaineering Center. From: www.mapquest.com W44«VAre Wheal Ridge r . w 3Sth Ave La Quinta •W. SSniJ Aye' Crown Hid h fflegron at Park Applcwo&d 20Eh Ave W Colfax Ave' W 10lb Ave :W:6TH’AVENUE:FWY. Lakewood Hay