Aquilegia Editions 1977
Summary: The January–February 1977 issue of the Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter (Volume I, Number 1) captures the Society’s evolution from a newly formed organization into an active conservation and educational force. The newsletter reports on Board initiatives to define threatened and endangered species and critical habitat, establish committee leadership, expand membership, and organize local chapters, including the newly formed Fort Collins chapter. Members are introduced to the significance of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and its implications for Colorado’s native flora. Financial reports, meeting announcements, and recognition of volunteers underscore the Society’s reliance on citizen participation, scientific expertise, and public outreach to advance the conservation of Colorado’s native plants and ecosystems.
Plant species: Plant species specifically mentioned in this issue include Aquilegia coerulea (Colorado blue columbine), featured prominently as the Society’s emblem; Senecio porteri (Porter’s senecio), the subject of a detailed conservation profile describing its morphology and limited distribution near Gothic and Pitkin County; and references to native edible plants presented during a Fort Collins chapter program. The newsletter also discusses Colorado’s proposed lists of threatened and endangered plant species under the Endangered Species Act, emphasizing the need for continued research and documentation of rare native flora.
Keywords: native plant conservation, endangered species, threatened plants, critical habitat, Endangered Species Act of 1973, Colorado flora, environmental education, Fort Collins chapter, society committees, membership growth, public outreach, legislative advocacy, conservation funding, Federal Register, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, endangered plant lists, habitat protection, CSU Herbarium, RAPIC (Rapid Access Plant Information Center), botanical research, citizen science, volunteer leadership, Aquilegia coerulea, Senecio porteri, Asteraceae, native edible plants, and Colorado botanical stewardship.
READ ONLINE
DOWNLOAD
'Read Online' will open the document in a new tab for viewing. 'Download' will save the file to your local download folder.
Summary: The March–April 1977 issue of the Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter highlights the Society’s growing role in conservation advocacy, education, and ethical stewardship of Colorado’s native flora. The issue reports on Board actions, the establishment of policies supporting Colorado’s proposed Natural Areas Program, and resolutions promoting a statewide botanical survey and habitat protection legislation. Articles encourage responsible field practices, thoughtful plant collecting, and the use of native species in horticulture and rehabilitation projects. The newsletter also emphasizes public involvement, environmental review, legislative action, and member education as essential tools for preserving Colorado’s botanical heritage in the face of development pressures and habitat loss.
Plant Species: Plant species specifically mentioned in this issue include Aquilegia coerulea (Colorado blue columbine), the Society’s emblem; Penstemon retrorsus, the rare Colorado beard-tongue profiled as a federally proposed endangered species; several species of Townsendia, including Townsendia hookeri (Easter Daisy), Townsendia exscapa, and the rare Townsendia rothrockii; Cypripedium fasciculatum (Cluster Orchid), a threatened slipper orchid of Colorado’s northern mountains; and references to bluegrass. Exotic species identified as threats to native vegetation include gorse (Ulex europaeus), broom (Cytisus spp.), and pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata). Broader references are also made to cacti, orchids, ferns, lilies, annuals, grasses, native seeds, and native plants used in horticulture and revegetation efforts.
Keywords: native plant conservation, Natural Areas Program, endangered species, threatened plants, habitat protection, botanical survey, environmental legislation, environmental impact statements, public education, legislative advocacy, native horticulture, revegetation, seed collection, field trip ethics, plant collecting guidelines, conservation policy, citizen stewardship, RAPIC, Colorado State University Herbarium, habitat destruction, transmountain water diversion, off-road vehicle impacts, Mancos shale, Hoosier Pass, Colorado Open Space Council, environmental review, botanical research, rare plant protection, native landscaping, exotic species control, and preservation of Colorado’s native flora.
READ ONLINE
DOWNLOAD
'Read Online' will open the document in a new tab for viewing. 'Download' will save the file to your local download folder.
Summary: The May–June 1977 issue of the Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter reflects the Society’s increasing emphasis on practical conservation, native horticulture, and public engagement. Members are encouraged to incorporate native species into everyday landscapes through detailed guidance on establishing water-wise buffalo grass lawns and sourcing native plants from reputable nurseries. The issue also highlights the importance of protecting Colorado’s unique alpine flora through articles on rare endemic penstemons and celebrates the beauty and adaptability of native wildflowers such as chiming bells (Mertensia spp.). Reports on chapter activities, educational programs, and statewide field excursions demonstrate the Society’s commitment to connecting Coloradans with their native landscapes while fostering responsible stewardship and appreciation of the state’s botanical heritage.
Plant Species: This issue contains one of the most extensive plant inventories to date. Featured species include Viola selkirkii (great-spurred violet), Buchloe dactyloides (buffalo grass), Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass), Penstemon harbourii (Harbour’s penstemon), Penstemon hallii (Hall’s penstemon), Rhododendron albiflorum (Cascade azalea), and numerous Mertensia species including M. lanceolata, M. ciliata, M. fusiformis, M. viridis, M. alpina, and M. virginica. The native plant availability lists include dozens of additional species such as Aquilegia caerulea, Acer glabrum, Amorpha canescens, Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Calochortus nuttallii, Castilleja spp., Cercocarpus montanus, Fallugia paradoxa, Gaillardia spp., Iris missouriensis, Linum lewisii, Mahonia repens, Purshia tridentata, Quercus gambelii, Rhus trilobata, Rubus deliciosus, Shepherdia argentea, and many others promoted for cultivation and conservation.
Keywords: native landscaping, buffalo grass, water conservation, native lawns, horticulture, rehabilitation, native plant nurseries, commercial availability, endemic species, alpine flora, rare plants, Harbour’s penstemon, Hall’s penstemon, chiming bells, Mertensia, Cascade azalea, field trips, Boulder Chapter, Fort Collins Chapter, environmental education, plant propagation, native gardening, botanical stewardship, endangered plants, alpine ecology, public outreach, plant identification, conservation ethics, and Colorado native flora.
READ ONLINE
DOWNLOAD
'Read Online' will open the document in a new tab for viewing. 'Download' will save the file to your local download folder.
Summary: The July–August 1977 issue of the *Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter* reflects the Society’s expanding commitment to conservation, education, and practical applications of botanical knowledge. A featured article calls attention to the vulnerability of Colorado’s rare cacti, particularly *Sclerocactus glaucus*, and advocates for stronger legal protections against overcollection. The issue introduces the Plant Information Network (PIN), an innovative computerized database designed to provide rapid access to ecological and biological information on Rocky Mountain flora for research, environmental assessment, and reclamation. Additional articles report on educational initiatives, field trips, habitat rehabilitation efforts, natural dye techniques using native plants, and preparations for the Society’s annual meeting, illustrating CoNPS’s mission to unite scientific understanding, public engagement, and stewardship of Colorado’s native flora.
Plant Species: Plant species mentioned in this issue include *Sclerocactus glaucus*; *Rhododendron albiflorum* (Cascade azalea); *Salix amygdaloides* (peachleaf willow); and related members of the Salicaceae including cottonwoods, poplars, and aspens. Species documented during the Enchanted Mesa field trip include *Agoseris glauca*, *Aletes acaulis*, *Amelanchier pumila*, *Arabis fendleri*, *Carex geyeri*, *Cerastium arvense*, *Claytonia lanceolata*, *Comandra umbellata*, *Conium maculatum*, *Coryphantha missouriensis*, *Erodium cicutarium*, *Erysimum asperum*, *Galium aparine*, *Gutierrezia sarothrae*, *Harbouria trachypleura*, *Heuchera bracteata*, *Hydrophyllum fendleri*, *Iris missouriensis*, *Leucocrinum montanum*, *Lithospermum incisum*, *Lomatium orientale*, *Mahonia repens*, *Mertensia lanceolata*, *Nepeta cataria*, *Opuntia compressa*, *Physaria bellii*, *Physocarpus monogynus*, *Prunus americana*, *Pseudocymopterus montanus*, *Pulsatilla patens*, *Ribes cereum*, *Taraxacum officinale*, *Thlaspi montanum*, *Townsendia exscapa*, *Verbascum thapsus*, *Vicia americana*, *Viola canadensis*, *Viola nuttallii*, and *Yucca glauca*.
Keywords: native plant conservation, rare cacti, endangered species, *Sclerocactus glaucus*, overcollection, threatened species protection, Plant Information Network, PIN, RAPIC, Colorado State University, botanical databases, environmental assessment, reclamation ecology, habitat rehabilitation, Fort Carson restoration, natural dyes, peachleaf willow, native horticulture, seed exchange, cultivation techniques, education committee, field trips, Enchanted Mesa, Colorado Mountain Trails, native plant photography, Colorado Natural Areas Bill, legislative advocacy, public outreach, ecological stewardship, and Colorado native flora.
READ ONLINE
DOWNLOAD
'Read Online' will open the document in a new tab for viewing. 'Download' will save the file to your local download folder.
Summary: The September–October 1977 issue of the *Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter* emphasizes the Society’s dual commitment to education and conservation through practical applications, field experiences, and member engagement. Articles explore traditional and contemporary uses of native plants, including the use of sagebrush as a natural dye and insect repellent. Detailed field trip reports document the remarkable botanical diversity of Colorado’s mountain and desert landscapes while highlighting several rare and endangered species in their native habitats. The issue also promotes the annual meeting’s focus on native horticulture and revegetation techniques, encourages member participation and article submissions, and reflects CoNPS’s growing role as a forum for scientific exchange, stewardship, and appreciation of Colorado’s native flora.
Plant Species: Plant species mentioned in this issue include *Aquilegia caerulea* (Colorado blue columbine), *Artemisia tridentata* (big sagebrush), and numerous other *Artemisia* species used traditionally for medicinal purposes and dyeing. Featured plants include *Gentiana barbellata* (fragrant fringed gentian) and the closely related *Gentiana thermalis*. Rare species highlighted during field trips include *Astragalus lutosus* and *Aquilegia barnebyi*. Other species documented include *Gilia aggregata*, *Linum lewisii*, *Rosa woodsii*, *Penstemon caespitosus*, *Amelanchier utahensis*, *Symphoricarpos oreophilus*, *Comandra umbellata*, *Senecio multilobatus*, *Cryptantha sericea*, *Eriogonum umbellatum*, *Zigadenus venenosus*, *Sarcobatus vermiculatus*, *Oxytropis lambertii*, *Smilacina stellata*, *Stellaria jamesiana*, *Geranium richardsonii*, and *Antennaria pulcherrima*. The North Park Rhododendron field trip recorded an extensive flora that included *Rhododendron albiflorum*, *Achillea lanulosa*, *Aconitum columbianum*, *Arnica* species, *Castilleja sulphurea*, *Delphinium barbeyi*, *Erythronium grandiflorum*, *Ligusticum porteri*, *Mertensia viridis*, *Penstemon whippleanus*, *Polemonium delicatum*, *Vaccinium* species, and many additional alpine and subalpine taxa representative of Colorado’s high-elevation ecosystems.
Keywords: native plant conservation, native plant uses, sagebrush dyeing, *Artemisia tridentata*, ethnobotany, natural dyes, medicinal plants, annual meeting, native horticulture, revegetation, seed collection, native propagation, endangered species, rare plants, field trip reports, North Park Rhododendron field trip, Cathedral Bluffs, alpine flora, subalpine ecosystems, fragrant fringed gentian, *Gentiana barbellata*, member engagement, botanical education, Colorado native plant diversity, ecological stewardship, Intermountain Flora, scientific communication, public outreach, and conservation of Colorado’s native flora.
READ ONLINE
DOWNLOAD
'Read Online' will open the document in a new tab for viewing. 'Download' will save the file to your local download folder.
Summary: This issue reflects a period of maturation and expanding purpose within the organization, balancing internal development with broader conservation goals. Coverage includes reports from annual meetings, strategic discussions regarding endangered plant protection, and efforts to strengthen educational outreach. A major emphasis is placed on responsible native plant horticulture, urging gardeners to cultivate native species from seed rather than collecting wild specimens. The newsletter introduces practical tools for documenting propagation techniques and shares detailed seed-starting guidance to build collective knowledge. Recognition is given to pioneering botanist Ruth Ashton Nelson for her contributions to botanical education and field guides. The issue also highlights the discovery of Eastwood Monkey Flower in secluded canyon habitats, underscoring both the richness of western flora and the importance of safeguarding rare species through research, public awareness, and informed stewardship.
Plant Species: Plant species mentioned include Eastwood Monkey Flower (Mimulus eastwoodiae), Star Solomonplume (Smilacina stellata), Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis gigantea), Small-flowered Columbine (Aquilegia micrantha), Lewisia (Lewisia spp.), sand verbena (Abronia fragrans), winecups (Callirhoe involucrata), native four o’clock (Mirabilis multiflora), pinyon-juniper vegetation communities, wormwood (Artemisia spp.), and references to poisonous plants, native woody species, and native plains wildflowers. Publications honoring Ruth Ashton Nelson also referenced the floras and wildflowers of Zion National Park and the Rocky Mountains.
Keywords: endangered species, threatened plants, rare plant discovery, Eastwood Monkey Flower, native plant propagation, seed collection, seed germination, horticulture, revegetation, native gardening, public education, environmental stewardship, plant conservation, botanical outreach, endangered plant legislation, propagation techniques, native landscaping, Rocky Mountain flora, Ruth Ashton Nelson, native plant photography, slide collections, greenhouse cultivation, diary observations, wormwood, Artemisia, plant identification, botanical literature, revegetation policy, habitat protection, and botanical exploration.
READ ONLINE
DOWNLOAD
'Read Online' will open the document in a new tab for viewing. 'Download' will save the file to your local download folder.