Four photos of the WNMU greenhouse by Dennis Switzer:

Did you know that we have a botanical paradise here in Silver City? Come to the meeting of the Gila Native Plant Society this Friday evening, January 20, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. in Harlan Hall and hear Dr. William Norris and students Nathan Martin and Chala Werber present "Botany at Western New Mexico University: Greenhouse, Herbarium and Landscape Projects in the 21st Century." The program will conclude with a visit to the greenhouse and herbarium. This is how Bill Norris describes the work going on in botany at WNMU:

"Botanical projects galore are moving forward at Western New Mexico University! These include campus landscaping projects that utilize native trees and shrubs while incorporating basic water harvesting principles and other sustainable practices. On to the WNMU greenhouse, which is undergoing a major structural renovation and plant collection overhaul to support university biology courses while providing a green showcase for visiting public school children. Finally, 'traditional botany' is alive and well in the WNMU herbarium where university students gather each fall to learn the principles of plant identification. The herbarium is also the base camp for botanical researchers studying the floras of local natural areas, New Mexico mosses and sedges, and the potential use of native grasses as crop plants in the 21st century. Don't miss it!"

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.