2009-2010 Fort Collins/Boulder/Denver Area Workshops
Click to See the Plateau Chapter
West Slope Workshops
Registration Information
Registration is mail-in only and requires payment at the time of registration. The fee for attending a workshop is $25/session for members. Non-members must join CoNPS to register for a workshop. We hope you will join us and enjoy these workshops with us. Click for membership details.
The registration fee is non-refundable.
Participation is often limited and registration is processed in the order received. If the workshop has already been filled, you will be notified, your check will not be deposited, and you will be added to the waiting list if that is what you desire.
Before you mail in your registration form and check for a workshop, please call (970-663-4085) or email Linda Smith to make sure there is room available.
If you register and then need to cancel, we would appreciate your $25 contribution to CoNPS and ask that you call (970-663-4085) or email Linda so she has the opportunity to fill your spot.
Click here for the Fort Collins/Boulder/Metro-Denver Area Workshop Registration Form
To register, please mail your check payable to CoNPS for $25 per workshop along with the Registration Form which requires the following information:
Title and date of the workshop(s) you would like to attend
Your name
Address
Telephone number
Email address
May we share your contact info for carpooling? Y/N
Registration can only be processed with all of this information. Please use the registration form.
Mail completed application to: Linda Smith, 4057 Cottonwood Dr., Loveland, Colorado 80538
Future Workshop Planning
Many of our members are very knowledgeable and could provide wonderful learning experiences for other members wishing to expand their plant horizons. Please consider leading a CoNPS workshop in the 2009-2010 season. Contact Linda Smith (970-663-4085 or email) if you are interested.
Workshop Hosts Needed
When you arrive at a CONPS workshop a friendly face will greet you. This wonderful person has opened the building, brought the scopes, made sure a name tag is available, plugged in the tea pot, and brought some treats. Our host will make sure materials are secure for the night and will repeat this service for the second session. Would you like to be a host? Call Ann Henson (303-772-8962) to volunteer.
Click for the Content of Past Workshops
General Workshop and Registration Information
Colorado Native Plant Society Workshops are designed for plant enthusiasts of all levels, from novices to experts. Workshops are designed to provide you with an enjoyable learning experience. We hope you will join us for a workshop.
Workshops usually begin at 9 a.m. and end sometime between 2 and 3 p.m. Where applicable, choose between identical Sessions I or II.
Individual chapters may offer workshops. See the chapter web pages for information.
Schedule of 2009-2010
Workshops in the Fort Collins/Boulder/Denver Area
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October 24, 2009, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 1
October 25, 2009, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 2
"Chenopodiaceae, The Common Species"
Leader: Craig Freeman
Location: CSU Extension Service, Community Room of the Natural Resources Building, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, Colorado
Nondescript plants may be difficult to key but can become favorites once you know them. The tiny green flowers, hairs, leaf characteristics, and fruits make the Goosefoots a challenge. The workshop will begin with a quick overview of Amaranthaceae (including Chenopodiaceae). Then, Craig will give us an in-depth look at the genus, Chenopodium and the glandular Goosefoots now placed in the genus Dysphania. He will help us appreciate the “Chenopods”.
Craig Freeman is the Curator of the McGregor Herbarium at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. His primary interest is floristic studies of vascular plants in the grassland biome. He frequently does field work in Colorado and other places in the West.
New Dates
December 5, 2009, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 1
December 6, 2009, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 2
"80 + Ferns and Fern Allies of Colorado"
Leader: Scott F. Smith
Location: CSU Extension Service, Community Room of the Natural Resources Building, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, Colorado
Scott will use his photographs in a Power Point Program to illustrate the different ferns and fern allies of Colorado plains and mountains. Pressed specimens of most taxa will be available for show and tell. He will describe how to tell the taxa apart and keys will be available.
Bring your hand lens with pen and paper and questions.
Scott F. Smith is a plumber by trade and a botanist at heart. Scott drives around Colorado during the spring, summer, and fall looking for the ferns of Colorado to photograph and catalog. In addition, he looks for the Botrychium, Cacti, and Orchids of Colorado.
January 23, 2010, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 1
January 24, 2010, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 2
"Early Old Men- Erigerons of the Foothills"
Leader: Carla Vik and David Buckner
Location: CSU Extension Service, Community Room of the Natural Resources Building, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, Colorado
The Colorado Flora Eastern Slope, introduces Erigeron as Greek for early old man: eri, early + geron, old man. The Foothills early blooming hairy Fleabanes (also called Daisies) are small and beautiful but hard to identify. Carla, with David’s assistance, will guide us through many of the species.
Carla Vik has 7 years experience with ESCO Associates as a plant ecologist and geographic information system specialist. She studied Erigeron strigosus, Prairie Erigeron, for her master’s thesis. She also studied it in Texas and the Southeast United States. David Buckner, president of ESCO Associates for 32 years, is well experienced in the Asteraceae and has presented many workshops on this family.
February 6, 2010, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 1
February 7, 2010, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 2
"The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful: The Solanaceae in Colorado"
Leader: Rich Scully
Location: CSU Extension Service, Community Room of the Natural Resources Building, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, Colorado
Click to see Rich Skully's key to Solanaceae.
Nine genera of the notorious Nightshade Family grow wild in Colorado. Cultivated petunia, potato, tomato, and peppers, are also nightshades. Rich will use photos and pressed plants to show us the identifying characteristics of the genera and its members.
Richard Scully is a serious amateur botanist, who loves a road trip in Colorado to search out uncommon species, admiring the geology along the way. He says the best way to learn more about a group of plants is to give a workshop!
March 6, 2010, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 1
Cancelled: March 7, 2010, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 2
"The Invaders: Noxious Weeds Present and Not Yet In Colorado"
Leader: Tim D’Amato
Location: CSU Extension Service, Community Room of the Natural Resources Building, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, Colorado
Noxious weeds classified by law as List A plants must be eradicated on all County, State, Federal, and Private lands. Of the 18 plants on the list, nine are not known to exist in Colorado - yet. Tim will show us these plants so we can recognize any early threat to our State. He will share the likely routes of invasion. Other species of concern will be discussed. Stories of weed control successes and failures will also be told.
Tim D’Amato has been involved with weeds since 1986 conducting research, integrated weed management. He is currently Weed Coordinator for Larimer County. Wilderness camping and fishing are serious hobbies. He has a personal interest in protecting the State from the invading hordes!
Sorry, the following workshop dates must be changed to:
April 24 and 25. All other information remains the same.
March 27, 2010, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 1
March 28, 2010, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 2
"Nyctaginaceae of Colorado"
Leader: Jennifer Ackerfield
Location: Colorado State University, 301 Yates Building, Fort Collins, Colorado
The small family of plants called Four-O’clock is most attractive when in flower. But the flowers wilt quickly making identification puzzling when you get home with a disintegrated plant! Recently, Jennifer has studied the five genera of Four-O'clocks found in Colorado. She will share her secret that critical characters for “Ncytags” identification are on the fruits.
Jennifer Ackerfield is the Collections Manager at the CSU Herbarium. Last year she presented a workshop on Astragalus.
April 10, 2010, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 1
April 11, 2010, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 2
"Fossil Plants and Insects from Cenozoic Colorado"
Leader: Dena Smith
Location: University of Colorado, Museum Collections Building (aka Bruce Curtis Building), Room E280, Boulder, Colorado
Colorado has had many climates over geologic history. Which plants and insects have been present during the Cenozoic Era? This Era is from the end of the Cretaceous and the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs to the present. The diversity of angiosperms in this Era exploded and it could have been called the "Age of Flowering Plants". Dena will have many specimens for us to see. Fossil plants help us understand climate change with her explanations. She will talk a bit about change during the Eocene through the Oligocene periods. (Don’t’ worry she will keep us on geologic time.)
Dena Smith is the Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology at the University of Colorado. Her research focuses on the interaction between fossil plants and insects; she has on-going field studies in Colorado, Nevada, and Costa Rica.
The following workshop was originally scheduled for March 27 & 28.
April 24, 2010, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 1
April 25, 2010, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Session 2
"Nyctaginaceae of Colorado"
Leader: Jennifer Ackerfield
Location: Colorado State University, 301 Yates Building, Fort Collins, Colorado
The small family of plants called Four-O’clock is most attractive when in flower. But the flowers wilt quickly making identification puzzling when you get home with a disintegrated plant! Recently, Jennifer has studied the five genera of Four-O'clocks found in Colorado. She will share her secret that critical characters for “Ncytags” identification are on the fruits.
Jennifer Ackerfield is the Collections Manager at the CSU Herbarium. Last year she presented a workshop on Astragalus.
Please Note the Change in Saturday Location
June 19 & 20, 2010:
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. & Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"Photography of Botanical Subjects"
Leader: Jacobe Rogers, ND
Location (Saturday): Foothills Nature Center, 4201 N. Broadway (at Wonderland Lake), Boulder CO 80306.
THIS IS A TWO-DAY WORKSHOP, therefore, the cost is $35. A minimum of 6 participants and maximum of 12 will take this course.
Shooting pictures of plants is easy. They don’t move. But, are you getting the details that illustrate characteristics of that plant? Improve your camera skills with an indoor session of “how and why” and an outdoor session of hands-on shooting.
Class will be structured primarily for digital single lens reflex cameras. However, if you bring a point and shoot or a film camera, you will learn some tricks for your camera type.
Saturday will be spent on the pros and cons of lenses, lighting methods (natural and flash) and whatever else needs covering. There will be time for demonstrations of some or all of the various lighting techniques dependent upon weather. Lots of handouts will help explain techniques.
Sunday is your chance to photograph plants using various techniques that you learned on Saturday. This is a very important day. Without the practice, Saturday becomes just verbiage. The day will end with a look at what techniques work best for varying situations.
Jacobe Rogers taught a one-day class last year to great reviews. He feels using two day format will give you more of his hints and experience. His professional training in photography will ensure your photos improve.
What to Bring:
Water. (There is no shade.)
Lunch and snacks.
Camera and your camera manual.
Macro lens or close focusing lens.
A wide angle lens.
Flash or flashes.
Tripod and/or mono pod.
Laptop computer.
Other items, if you have them: Diffusers, reflectors, etc. Note paper. Weber’s Colorado Flora: Eastern Slope. Hand lens.
Following are the Contents of Several
Workshops Generously Made Available by Their Authors for On-line Viewing
All content is copyright by the Colorado Native Plant Society. No photographs may be reproduced for any purpose without the expressed consent of the photographer. Email the Webmaster of the Colorado Native Plant Society for permission to use material from this web site.
Unless otherwise indicated, photographs on this CoNPS web site are by Al Schneider and may not be used for any purpose without his expressed permission. Email him.
1) Al Schneider and John Bregar's Workshop,
"An Introduction to Wildflower Identification"
2) Priscilla Spears' Workshop on "A Tour of the Flowering Plants"
Click for Priscilla's "Notes for the Workshop"
Click for Priscilla's "Tree Diagram of Flowering Plant Orders"
3) Carol English's Workshop on Pentstemons
Click for the Workshop
4) Rich Scully's Workshop on Solanaceae
Click for the Solanaceae Workshop Photographs Part 1 (3.5 meg)
Click for the Solanaceae Workshop Photographs Part 2 (3.5 meg)
Click for the Solanaceae Key
Unless otherwise indicated, photographs on this CoNPS web site are by Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com, and may not be used for any purpose without his expressed permission. Email him.