The Southeast Chapter is newly revitalized and your participation, no matter where you are in Southeast Colorado, is welcomed. Activities will be scheduled throughout the year with most meetings in Pueblo and field trips to a variety of sites throughout the area.
Southeast Chapter meetings are held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All meetings, unless otherwise noted, will be held at the Colorado State University Extension Office Meeting Room, 212 W. 12th. Street in Pueblo.
For more meeting information, please call Warren Nolan: (719) 543-6196.
Chapter officers are:
President Ed Roland (email)
Secretary Elizabeth Catt (email)
Treasurer Marcia Weaber (email)
Media/Publicity Warren Nolan (email)
Meetings and Field Trips Committee members are Linda McMulkin (email), Christina MacLeod (email), Warren Nolan (email), and Steve Olson (email).
Oenothera harringtonii, Comanche National Grasslands. Photo by Steve Olson.
Programs and Field Trips
Programs
Programs for 2010 will be posted soon. For more information about programs, call Warren Nolan [719-543-6196] or email him.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010
Taking the Confusion out of Woody Shrub I.D.
Presenter: Dr. Neal Osborn
Location: Cheyenne Mountain Branch of the Pikes Peak Library District, Cheyenne Meeting Room. 1785 S. 8th Street, Colorado Springs
If you're not current on your currants, or you're trying to identify Oreobatus deliciosus by taste-testing the berries (won't work, they're X @# awful!), PLEASE, PLEASE, avoid consternation and confusion on the trail and attend this meeting.
Dr. Neal Osborn, Professor Emeritus of plant taxonomy and morphology at Colorado State University, Pueblo, will show you how to avoid getting stumped by woody shrubs. Even Snowberries in their various iterations will become so easy to identify that you'll be looking for them on the trail instead of avoiding their known habitats. And, if you consider yourself a woody shrub expert, chances are you'll learn something you didn't already know (but mistakenly thought you did).
For additional information contact Warren Nolan at (719) 543-6196 or warrenn@aculink.net
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
Taking the Confusion out of Woody Shrub I.D.
Presenter: Dr. Neal Osborn
Location: CSU Extension Pueblo County (New Location) 701 Court Street, Suite C, Pueblo
See above description.
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010
The Weed Invasion
Presenters: Emily Lockard and John Powell
Location: Pueblo
THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010
The Weed Invasion
Presenters: Emily Lockard and John Powell
Location: Colorado Springs
THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2010
Protecting Rare Plants in the Arkansas Valley Barrens
Presenters: Colorado Rare Plant Initiative Management Team Location: Colorado Springs
THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010
Native Plant Digital Photography Workshop
Presenter: Pat McCraken
Location: Pueblo
Field Trips
General Information: Most trips start in the morning and go into the afternoon, total time depending on distance and species covered. Participants should bring a lunch, plenty of water, their favorite flora(s), 10X magnifying glass, and packable rain gear.
The Southeast Chapter welcomes everyone from professional botanists to beginners on these trips. Beginners may experience plant terminology shock. However, with increased field trip participation, the terminology becomes a familiar and even enjoyable part of the learning process.
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.
Every Tuesday throughout the summer of 2009
Join Jeff Jones for his weekly Hewlett-Packard Bird/Plant/Nature Walks in Colorado Springs. Jeff leads the walks every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m., late March through September.
Meet at the extreme southeast corner of the CX01 building (which is 301 Rockrimmon Blvd) on the HP property. The hour is spent walking the various undeveloped habitats on the 300 acre property identifying all matter of life (birds, plants, mammals, reptiles, etc). Jeff keeps a formal database of all things seen and identified. Questions? Email Jeff or call him at 719-205-5650.
May 17, 2009
Comanche National Grassland, Picket Wire Canyon
Leader: Steve Olson, Botanist for United States Forest Service Location: Comanche Grasslands
If carpooling, meet in Pueblo at 7:00 a.m. to drive the 90 miles to Picket Wire Canyon where we will hike 3 to 4 strenuous miles round trip. We will hike across both prairie and steep sandstone outcroppings as we descend into the canyon of the Purgatoire River. This is an opportunity to view numerous plant species of the Juniper woodlands, open prairie, and riparian canyon.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For information and to register, call Steve Olson at 719-647-9453 (p.m.). Or, put your name, this trip date, and your phone number in the subject line of an email to SEtrips@gmail.com.
June 7, 2009
Native Plant Walk
Leader: Christina MacCleod, Naturalist & Native Plants Master Trainer
Location: Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Rainbow Trail near Gibson Creek Trailhead
Due to limited parking at the trailhead we will meet in Westcliffe to carpool to the Rainbow Trail where we will hike 2 to 3 moderate miles round trip. We will trek through a variety of forest, riparian, and mountain meadow habitats on two sections of the Rainbow Trail with an opportunity to see a number of native orchids plus numerous other species.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For information and to register, call Christina at 719-783-0465. Or, put your name, this trip date, and your phone number in the subject line of an email to SEtrips@gmail.com.
June 20, 2009
Wildflower Walk
Leader: Steve Olson, Botanist for United States Forest Service
Location: Greenhorn Mountains, Apache Creek and Falls
We will meet in Pueblo at 7:30 a.m. to carpool 30 miles to our trailhead where we will hike 5 strenuous miles round trip. This is an exceptional opportunity to hike an easy way across private land to the falls. We will hike through Douglas Fir, White Fir, and Cottonwoods and we will see many herbaceous species including Marsh Marigold, Virgin’s Bower, Twinflower, and Osha, as well as woodland grasses and sedges.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For information and reservations call Steve Olson at 719-647-9453 (p.m.). Or, put your name, this trip date, and your phone number in the subject line of an email to SEtrips@gmail.com.
June 21, 2009
Wildflower Walk
Leader: Doris Drisgill, Botanist
Location: Pikes Peak, Elk Park
We will meet at 8 a.m. at the Pike's Peak toll gate for a special entry toll and to carpool to our trail head at approximately 12,000 ft. elevation for a 1 to 2 round trip mile hike. We will look for alpine plants such as Dwarf Alpine Columbine, Alpine Bluebells, Mountain Dryad, and many others.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For information and to register, contact Doris at 719-578-1091 or ddrisgill@cs.com.
June 23, 2009
Wildflower Walk
Leader: Doris Drisgill, Botanist
Location: Cheyenne Canyon, Emerald Valley
We will meet at 8 a.m. at the Starsmore Discovery Center in Cheyenne Canyon for a moderate round trip hike of 3 to 4 miles at 9,000 ft. elevation. We expect to see Yellow Ladyslippers and other woodland species in this exceptional area.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For information and to register, contact Doris at 719-578-1091 or ddrisgill@cs.com.
June 27, 2009
Wildflower Walk
Leader: Dr. Neal Osborn, Biology Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University
Location: Wet Mountains, San Isabel Lake
If carpooling, meet in Pueblo at 7:45 a.m. to drive to the Cisneros Trailhead near San Isabel Lake for the 9:00 a.m. start of our moderate 4 mile round trip hike. We will hike through Aspen and Conifer forest to the Montane meadow at the Marion Mines. Probable species we expect to observe include Delphinium, Monk’s Hood, Columbine, and many other species typical of the Montane meadow.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For information and to register enter your name, this trip date, and your phone number in the subject line of an email to SEtrips@gmail.com.
July 11, 2009
Wildflower Walk
Leader: Rich Rhoades, District Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Location: Pueblo Mountain Park
We will meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Mountain Park Environmental Center in Pueblo Mountain Park for an easy round trip hike of less than 2 miles. We will start off in the environmental center for an ecosystem orientation followed by an introduction to grass identification and discussion of Poaceae taxonomy. This classroom session will be followed by a field trip in the park to identify grasses of the foothills and Montane zones.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For additional information and to register, email this trip date, your name and phone number in the subject line to SEtrips@gmail.com.
July 18, 2009
Wildflower Walk
Leader: Dr. Neal Osborn, Biology Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University
Location: Spanish Peaks, Cordova Pass
If carpooling, meet in Pueblo at 7:30 a.m. to drive to Cordova Pass near the towns of Cuchara and La Veta for a moderate hike of 2 to 3 miles unless you want to climb the strenuous West Peak. Our hike will start at about. 11,000 feet elevation so we expect to see many alpine species, such as Sky Pilot, King’s Crown, and Yellow Paintbrush.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For additional information and to register, email this trip date, your name and phone number in the subject line to SEtrips@gmail.com.
August 6-9
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.
August 9, 2009
Wildflower Walk
Leader: Jeff Thompson, Biologist, Educator
Location: Pueblo Mountain Park, South Creek Trail/Basin
We will meet at the Horseshoe Lodge in Pueblo Mountain Park at 8:45 a.m. for the start of our moderate 2 to 3 mile round trip hike to South Creek basin. We will hike through diverse ecosystems -- Ponderosa Pine to Douglas -- to the persistent riparian area along South Creek. Typical species in this area include Calypso Lady Slippers, Mountain Clematis, Columbines, False Solomon Seal, Star Solomon Plume, Heartleaf Arnica, and a variety of violets.
This trip is for both avid botanists and novice hobbyists.
For additional information and to register, email this trip date, your name and phone number in the subject line to SEtrips@gmail.com.
