MEETINGS & FIELD TRIPS

Talk: Tuesday, September 19 Changing plant distributions in Northern Arizona , the last 20,000 years versus the next 100. Plant macrofossils from packrat middens demonstrate major migrations of plant species in Northern Arizona over the last 20,000 years. These can be combined with other fossil records, such as fossil pollen and glacial moraines, to reconstruct the history of vegetation zonation from the top of the San Francisco Peaks to the bottom of the Grand Canyon . But how do these past changes compare to those expected over the next 100 years as climates warm? Dr. Kenneth Cole of the USGS, Colorado Plateau Research Station, will summarize these past changes, and show the initial results of modeling efforts to look into the future. The relationship between these future projections and ongoing changes, such as pinyon mortality, will be discussed. Input from the audience on any observations of changing species distributions they have observed will be solicited.

Walk: Sunday, September 24 Three Blind Mice Middens Long Canyon , Sedona. We will travel to the base of three tall rock spires, where some ice age middens were studied, and compare plants from the middens to the current vegetation. We will also learn about Pinus edulis (two-needle pinyon) versus Pinus edulis var. fallax (single-needle pinyon) on the way. Note- this location is subject to change; plan on a full day field trip.

Talk: Tuesday, October 17 Navajo Nation Rare Plants. Daniela Roth has been the Navajo Natural Heritage Program Botanist since 1997. Daniela's primary responsibilities with the Heritage Program are the rare and endangered plants of the Navajo Nation and the upkeep of the Navajo Endangered Species List. She is also the curator of the Navajo Nation Herbarium. Daniela's talk will introduce the purpose and history of the Navajo Natural Heritage Program and will highlight many of the rare plants listed on the Navajo Endangered Species List. Discussed will be the status and distribution of each plant, including habitat requirements and threats to known populations.

Workshop: Sunday, October 22 Learn how to Mount Plant Specimens Come and help to clean out the backlog of the Navajo Nation Herbarium. Along the way learn how to properly collect and press a plant specimen and learn how to mount them for inclusion into a herbarium. We'll be learning about the principles of collecting and preserving museum grade plant specimens and then spend a couple of hours mounting plants for the Navajo Nation Herbarium.

OTHER FLAGSTAFF HAPPENINGS

OPPORTUNITY --Enter the competition for best native plant garden! The Flagstaff Chapter will be awarding a plaque honoring the native plant garden judged to be best in areas of design, seasonal splendor, water usage, etc. by chapter committee members. Judging will take place during the summer of 2007. There will be design guidance at the August 15 chapter program meeting. Enter your garden by requesting an application form, beginning at the March 2007 program meeting or check the AZNPS website.

HAPPENINGS

Download the state quarterly publication, Happenings, in pdf format.