Plateau Chapter
2010 Programs, Workshops, and Field Trips

 

 

2010 Workshops

 

February 20th, 2010, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Mistletoe and other Parasitic Plants

Presenter: Dr. Kristy Duran, Professor of Botany, Mesa State College

Location: Grand Junction, Mesa State College, Wubben Hall, Room 196

 

This will be a presentation on Mistletoe and other parasitic plants, for example, Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja).

 

This program is free and open to everyone.  Refreshments will be provided.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for details.

 

 

 

March 6th, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Ferns of Colorado Workshop

Presenter: Scott F Smith (Scotty), amateur fern specialist

Location: Palisade, Colorado

 

Scotty will speak about ferns and use his photos in a Power Point Program to help you identify ferns. Come learn about the almost 90 different ferns of Colorado that can be found growing on the Eastern and Western Slopes. Learn how to tell the differences between Cliff Fern (Woodsia), Bladderfern (Cystopteris) and others. This all day work shop will help you identify the ferns that you are seeing in wet areas and on hills. The slide show will have color photos of the ferns of Colorado along with pressed herbarium specimens to browse. Some ferns are extremely rare in Colorado.

 

Refreshments will be provided and there is no cost for the workshop.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for details.

 

 

 

April 10th, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Buds to Flowers to Fruit Workshop

Presenter: Eric Rechel, Professor of Biology, Mesa State College

Location: Grand Junction, Mesa State College

 

Many changes are occurring in the plant as the bud develops into a flower, the flower is pollinated, ovules develop into seeds, and the fruit matures. Come learn about the hormones controlling this process, anatomical changes that are occurring, and how the fruit develops. You will learn how day length, gibberellins, and the elusive florigen, are involved in flower initiation. You will peer through a microscope and examine the unique role double fertilization plays in the success of flowering plants. We will examine the anatomy of fruit and then ponder their flavor. Come join us for a day with flowers.

 

Cost: $15. Contact: Eric Rechel at 242-4863 or email Eric rechel@mesastate.edu for additional information.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for details.

 

 

2010 Field Trips

 

Please see CoNPS policies for field trips.  Following are some of the basic policies.

 

1) Refrain from plant collecting except for scientific study.

2) Share rides and pay the driver.

3) No pets on trips.

4) Trips are typically aimed at adult audiences unless otherwise specified.

5) Participants must sign a waiver and release of liability form.  The written policies and waiver form can be found at the bottom of the Field Trips page.

6) Please be sure to notify the trip leader if you need to cancel, otherwise everyone will be waiting for you at the meeting place.

7) Trips are free and open to everyone.

 

 

 

May 8, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Rattlesnake Arches in Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area

Leader: Judy Ronzio, amateur naturalist Location: Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area near Grand Junction

 

This will be an 8 mile roundtrip into a secluded area of the Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area. We will see the greatest concentration of arches outside Arches National Park and 5 – 6 member of the Carrot Family (Apiaceae) including the rare, Canyonlands Biscuitroot (Lomatium latilobum).

 

The hike will be moderately strenuous and is limited to 10 people due to scarce parking on private land at the trailhead.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for trip details.

 

 

June 4 – 5, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Lone Mesa Field Trip

Leader: Peggy Lyon, Botanist with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Location: Lone Mesa State Park, between Norwood and Dolores

 

Lone Mesa State Park is a hotspot of biodiversity and narrowly endemic plants. It is home to two recently discovered species, Cushion Bladderpod (Physaria pulvinata) and Lone Mesa Snakeweed (Gutierrezia elegans), with a couple of others that are awaiting publication.

 

In 2007 and 2008, CNHP, with the help of Al Schneider and the Southwest Chapter of CoNPS, a complete species list for the park was prepared, and in the process the Snakeweed, a species new to science, was found by Peggy and Al.

 

We will be on a moderately strenuous hike (3 – 4 miles) to view the different plant species of the park. Avid botanists and novice plant enthusiasts are welcomed.

 

We plan to camp Friday night nearby, then explore the park and surrounding areas on Saturday. This park field trip is limited to 11 people.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for trip details.

 

 

June 12, 2010, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Montrose-Ouray Weed Pull

Leader: Amanda Clements, BLM Ecologist

Location: Montrose and Ouray areas.

 

This will be a Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and Absinthe Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) weed pull and dig! Come learn what these highly invasive Colorado noxious weeds look like and how to help control them. Afterwards we will have lunch and visit the Ouray Hot Springs. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for trip details.

 

 

June 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Tamarisk Seminar & Field Trip

Leader: Mike Drake, Executive Director of Painted Sky Resource Conservation and Development Council

Location: Delta, Colorado

 

This will be a seminar and field trip on the Tamarisk beetle introductions for control of Tamarisk in the Delta area. Come learn about the history of the beetle and the results of the release.

 

This will be an easy walk along the Confluence Park trail looking at control sites. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a lunch. Limited to 15 people.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for trip details.

 

 

 

July 10 – 11th, 2010, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sheep Mountain Research Trip

Leaders: Vinnie Rossignol and Gay Austin

Location: southwest of Lake City on Sheep Mountain

 

This is a research field studies trip into the alpine tundra on Sheep Mountain. We will be relocating a known population of Stonecrop Gilia (Gilia sedifolia) (using geology maps to look for additional populations of the Gilia), counting tiny plants, and documenting human and wildlife activities in the area.

 

The hike will be strenuous and is limited to 8 people (avid Botanists and novice plant enthusiasts welcome). We will camp out at the trailhead Friday evening in order to get an early start Saturday and minimize lightning exposure.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for trip details.

 

 

August 13 – 15th, 2010, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

High Elevation Fens Research

Trip Leader: Gay Austin, CoNPS and USDA Forest Service

Location: Cinnamon Pass north of Silverton

 

This is a research field studies trip into fascinating alpine fens with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. We will be exploring and documenting plant species and mosses (bryophytes) in several fens above 11,000 feet in elevation. Altai Cottongrass (Eriophorum altaicum), a rare sedge, should be easily seen.

 

We will camp Friday evening near Silverton and carpool in 4 wheel drive vehicles up to the pass Saturday morning. The trip will be easy to moderate and is limited to 8 people (avid Botanists and novice plant enthusiasts welcome). Rubber boots are required.

 

Email Gay Austin or call her at 970-641-6264 for trip details.