El Malpais a'a lavaMoss at mouth of lava tube at El MalpaisCarlsbad Caverns - Yucca MesaOn Friday, October 21, 2016, the meeting of the Gila Native Plant Society will feature an exciting presentation by Russ Kleinman, "Ancient Sea Ledges, Deep Rocky Canyons, Lava Flows, Ice Caves and Other Challenging Places Mosses Hide". Russ will share the difficulties and excitement experienced while looking for mosses and liverworts in some of the toughest landscapes in New Mexico. Come find out why Carlsbad Caverns National Park and El Malpais National Monument are two of New Mexico's most spectacular outdoor destinations.

Retiring early from a career in surgery to devote his energies to plant exploration, Russ Kleinman was instrumental in creating the website www.gilaflora.com, an invaluable archive of photographs and information on the vascular plants of the Gila Wilderness. He has been studying mosses for seven years and has ongoing research projects in some of the hardest-to-access places in the state.

Meetings of the Gila Native Plant Society are held the third Friday of the month at 7.00 p.m. in Harlan Hall, second floor, on the Western New Mexico University campus. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the program.

The Gila Native Plant Society is committed to promoting education, research and appreciation of the native flora of the Southwest, encouraging the preservation of rare and endangered plant species and supporting the use of suitable native plants in landscaping. For information on programs, publications and membership, please visit www.gilanps.org.