Colorado Native Plant Society, San Luis Valley Chapter

Welcome to the web page for the
San Luis Valley Chapter,
the newest chapter in the
Colorado Native Plant Society.

The San Luis Valley has approximately 8,000 square miles, six counties, and several towns. It is considered the world's largest alpine valley and contains everything from expansive wetlands to spacious deserts to high secluded mountains.

Those of us who formed the San Luis Valley Chapter are very excited to have a Colorado Native Plant Society chapter here and we look forward to having many field trips, educational programs, and other activities.

The San Luis Valley Chapter will have regular meetings and we welcome your input regarding the best day and time for these meetings and programs for these meetings. We will change the city we meet in from time to time so we can make meetings convenient for as many people as possible.

Please contact Hobey Dixon at 719-589-3813, or
click to email him for more information.

Photograph of San Luis Valley, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the Sangre de Christos
by Cindy Beaver.

2009 Meetings,
Programs, and Field Trips

May 16, 2009, 1:00 p.m.

Plant Morphology Workshop

Leader: Jin Yao

Location: Cole Park

Many amateur botanists become frustrated when they try to identify a plant in a botanical book, because they don't understand the botanical terms used in the descriptions of plants. Dr. Jin Yao, Botany Professor from Adams State College, will introduce basic plant morphology terms at the workshop.

Dr. Yao will provide handouts and plant specimens to illustrate the botanical terms. If time permits, workshop attendees can look at actual plants to apply the knowledge they have just learned.

The Workshop will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the picnic shelter of Cole Park (East of State Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Street) in Alamosa.

Please email Hobey Dixon or call him, 719-589-3813, for more information.

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.

June 27, 2009, 9:00 a.m.

Great Sand Dunes Wildflower Hike

Leaders: Phyllis Pineda-Bovin and Hobey Dixon

Location: Great Sand Dunes National Park

Join the San Luis Valley Chapter for a delightful look at what Great Sand Dunes has to offer. With the recent spring rains the flower show should be spectacular. We will walk up Mosca Pass through several life zones where there will be a variety of plants in flower. There should also be a variety of birds so do bring your field glasses and a bird book.

Be prepared for insects and bring warm clothing, a lunch, and at least two litters of water. The trail is rough in spots so good walking shoes are a must. The trip up and back, with many stops, should take about six hours.

Meeting place: Visitor Center, Great Sand Dunes National Park

For more information and reservations email or phone trip leaders

Phyllis Pineda-Bovin (Biologist Great Sand Dunes) phyllis_bovin@nps.gov (719) 378-6363 or

Hobey Dixon (Botanist and Plant Ecologist) pixies@amigo.net (719) 589-3813

August 6-9, 2009

The New Mexico Native Plant Society Annual Meeting

Location: Taos, New Mexico

Native plant society annual meetings always have great lectures and many fine field trips. The Native Plant Society of New Mexico always puts on an informative meeting with excellent speakers and field trips. This year's meeting has the added attraction of Taos mountains, culture, and civic pride. Click for details.