Photo of fendlerbush
(photo credit Kevin Keith)Photo of Dutchman's pipe
(photo courtesy of the Dale A. Zimmerman Herbarium, WNMU)The Gila Native Plant Society will kick off its summer program of field exploration on Sunday, April 16, 2017, with a field trip led by Kevin Keith to Ira Canyon in the Big Burro Mountains. This field trip involves a moderate hike up the canyon. There is no trail and there are some minor uneven surfaces, but the terrain is flat and open. The elevation is 4400 feet. The one-way travel time is one hour. The habitat is pi+¦on/juniper/live oak woodland, with canyon-bottom terraces supporting deciduous trees: walnut, ash, hackberry, soapberry. Expect to see composites, mustards, and mints in bloom. Indian root or Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia watsonii) is flowering'the preferred host for the caterpillar of Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly'and, if we're really lucky, fendlerbush (Fendlera rupicola) will have blossoms.

All those interested in participating should meet a little before 8 a.m. in the south parking lot of the Fine Arts Center Theatre on the WNMU campus for carpooling. For further information contact Kevin Keith at 575-535-4064.

The Gila Native Plant Society conducts field trips on the third Sunday of each month from April through September. Each field trip will be to a different location, in order to explore the diversity of our native plants. All field trips are free and open to the public.

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.