Summary: This edition of Aquilegia highlights the interconnected nature of Colorado’s native ecosystems through stories of rare species, botanical history, conservation research, and ecological studies. Featured articles examine the newly identified relationship between the rare alpine plant Saussurea weberi and the equally uncommon fly Botanophila furcula, conservation monitoring of the threatened Dudley Bluffs bladderpod, and research into how prairie dogs and western harvester ants shape plant communities as ecosystem engineers on the shortgrass steppe. Additional content celebrates the legacy of botanist Charles Christopher Parry, reviews noteworthy botanical publications, and provides Society updates that encourage participation, education, and stewardship. Collectively, the issue underscores the importance of scientific inquiry, volunteer involvement, and public appreciation in preserving Colorado’s botanical heritage.

Plant Species: Plant species and groups mentioned in this issue include Saussurea weberi, Saussurea angustifolia, Primula parryi, Lomatium parryi, Oreochrysum parryi, Pedicularis parryi, Pneumonanthe parryi, Trifolium parryi, Campanula parryi, Arnica parryi, Lesquerella congesta, Salix species, Carex species, Plagiobothrys species, Pinus species, Ptilagrostis species, Rhus species, Claytonia species, scarlet globemallow, Russian thistle, peonies, roses, native and drought-tolerant garden plants, Botrychium species, orchids, Rocky Mountain juniper, Gambel oak, and numerous native and xeric species highlighted in the reviewed gardening and natural history publications.

Keywords: rare species interactions, alpine ecology, fly–plant relationships, seed predation, pollination biology, ecosystem engineers, prairie dogs, western harvester ants, shortgrass steppe, habitat heterogeneity, conservation monitoring, threatened species, endemic plants, Dudley Bluffs bladderpod, ecological research, rare plant conservation, botanical exploration, Charles Christopher Parry, Colorado botanical history, herbarium collections, native plant education, public outreach, volunteer monitoring, grants-in-aid research, botanical literature, native gardening, xeriscaping, drought-tolerant landscapes, field botany, Society activities, native plant appreciation, and ecological stewardship.

Summary: This special issue of Aquilegia serves as a program guide for the Colorado Native Plant Society’s annual meeting, themed “Botany Goes Buggy in Boulder.” The publication explores the interconnected relationships between native plants and insects through lectures, field experiences, and educational exhibits. The meeting brings together botanists, entomologists, land managers, and native plant enthusiasts to examine topics such as plant-insect interactions, biological control, bark beetle ecology, pollination, and butterfly associations. Attendees are invited to participate in technical committee meetings, social events, herbarium tours, and field trips that translate scientific presentations into real-world observations. The issue highlights the Society’s commitment to fostering public engagement, interdisciplinary learning, and conservation awareness while providing practical details that encourage participation in Colorado’s native plant community.

Plant Species: Plant species mentioned in this issue include Monarda fistulosa. References are also made to host trees affected by bark beetles, tallgrass prairie vegetation, native garden species, and native plants associated with butterfly habitats, though these taxa are not individually identified by name in the program materials.

Keywords: annual meeting, Botany Goes Buggy in Boulder, plant-insect interactions, entomology, native plant conservation, botanical education, keynote presentations, butterflies, tortoise beetles, bark beetles, biological control, pollination ecology, host trees, Front Range plant communities, herbarium collections, campus tree tour, field trips, native gardens, rare plant technical committee, biodiversity, public outreach, interdisciplinary science, ecological relationships, conservation awareness, native flora appreciation, citizen engagement, volunteer participation, botanical exhibits, silent auction, professional networking, and Colorado native plants.

Summary: This issue of Aquilegia emphasizes botanical scholarship, conservation science, and the documentation of Colorado’s native flora. Featured articles provide an updated taxonomic key to the grass genus Bromus for the Southern Rocky Mountains, offering important revisions for regional plant identification. Readers are introduced to the remarkable life of plant explorer David Douglas and his contributions to North American botany. Conservation efforts are highlighted through long-term demographic monitoring of rare plant populations by the Denver Botanic Gardens and Bureau of Land Management. Additional features explore winter identification of woody plants, review a new Colorado wildflower field guide, introduce the Colorado Native Plant Master program, and present findings from a vascular plant inventory of the Eastern San Juan Mountains. Collectively, the issue reflects the Society’s dedication to field botany, education, research, and the stewardship of Colorado’s botanical heritage.

Plant Species: Bromus catharticus, Bromus carinatus, Bromus polyanthus, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus commutatus, Bromus racemosus, Bromus diandrus, Bromus rubens, Bromus tectorum, Bromus sterilis, Bromus pumpellianus, Bromus inermis, Bromus latiglumis, Bromus frondosus, Bromus porteri, Bromus mucroglumis, Bromus erectus, Bromus pubescens, Bromus lanatipes, Bromus ciliatus, Bromus richardsonii, Bromus briziformis, Bromus secalinus, Bromus squarrosus, Bromus japonicus, Astragalus microcymbus, Cirsium ownbeyi, Carduus nutans, Lasthenia conjugens, Chaenactis douglasii, Cicuta douglasii, Grindelia inornata, Penstemon secundiflorus, Asclepias syriaca, Muscari botryoides, Acer glabrum, Catalpa speciosa, Fraxinus anomala, Sambucus coerulea, and Shepherdia argentea.

Keywords: Bromus, Poaceae, taxonomic keys, grass identification, Southern Rocky Mountains, floristics, David Douglas, plant exploration, demographic monitoring, rare plants, conservation biology, Denver Botanic Gardens, Bureau of Land Management, skiff milkvetch, Ownbey’s thistle, orchid monitoring, volunteer stewardship, Native Plant Master program, botanical education, field identification, woody plant identification, phyllotaxy, winter botany, Eastern San Juan Mountains, vascular plant inventory, herbarium collections, Colorado native flora, book reviews, ecological research, and botanical history.