New Mexico’s Voice for Native Plants of New Mexico newsletter Society of the Native Plant Society tive Plant of New Mexico Na january, february, march 2019 Vol. XXXXIV No. 1 And the Photo Contest Winners Are . FIRST PLACE—YOUTH Levi O’Neil (Albuquerque): Sunflower (Sadly, a print-size version of Levi’s photo was not available. Please visit www.npsnm.org/ summer-photo-contest/ to see FIRST PLACE—ADULT PLACE ADULT both first-place photos.) John Whitman (Taos): Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) And the Runners-Up . (see back page) Clockwise from top left: Dasmonda Allen (Otero): Claret cup cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) Norma Camilliere (Las Cruces): Datura (Datura wrightii) Christina M. Selby (Santa Fe): Whole-leaf paintbrush (Castilleja integra) Rose Marie Kern (Albuquerque): Prickly pear (Optunia) Richard G. McCarthy, Jr. (Gila): Nightblooming Cereus (Peniocereus greggii var. greggii) 2 January–March 2019 New Mexico’s Voice for Native Plants www.npsnm.org From the President by Tom Stewart Happy new year! I hope you will all thrive and pros- We wish her the best as she moves on to full-time work per in the months to come. Actually, I began thinking elsewhere. about what to write in this column right after Thanks- Sara has taught us something else—coloring books giving, settling on that very theme, gratitude. I am in- are not just for kids anymore! Her latest contribution is deed grateful for your gift to me of the presidency of likely to become a classic, as did our wildflower post- this organization for the last two years, and all the support ers in years past. Please read more about it in her final Out- that has come with it. reach column in this issue. I happily picture a parent and They say that the only thing you can count on is change, child coloring and reading together, and maybe starting to and your Native Plant Society is not one to buck that law of recognize and name some of the plants they find outdoors. nature. Our great contributors come and go. An example is On a sadder note, we deeply regret the passing of Pam McBride, who has served as both state recording secre- Charles Holmes, a dear and highly regarded figure in the Sil- tary and state treasurer, has a lifetime membership, and now ver City community and former Gila chapter representative gets a chance to step off the board while remaining active to the state board. Please read more about him elsewhere in in the Albuquerque chapter. We offer our heartfelt thanks this issue. We have tremendous gratitude for members like to Pam. Charles, generous of heart, whose gifts to us last a lifetime. It seems like yesterday when I welcomed Sara Digby, the And I am grateful for our creative and motivated mem- best outreach coordinator we have ever had. All right, she bers who contribute in original ways without any prompt- is also our first outreach coordinator, and for the last two ing. For instance, with growing concern over monarch but- years she has helped us develop ways of reaching and in- terflies, Las Cruces member Marcia Corley has remarkably spiring new audiences with our message. Her initiatives in pulled together a guide to New Mexico milkweed species social media, a new brochure, this year’s photo contest, and from existing, online sources. This booklet is taking its place a website makeover have all polished our public presence. alongside Bob Sivinski’s now-famous thistle guide and sev- eral native plant gardening guides developed by the mem- bership, in the Books section of our website. Thanks go to Rachel Jankowitz for her analyses and thoughtful comments on government plans and pro- nouncements, personifying our “voice for native plants” in the public sector. Meanwhile, devoted members like Patrice Mutchnik, Sue Small, Jim McGrath, and others are regularly attending public meetings, National Forest collaboratives, and roundtables, elevating the profile of NPSNM in the community and with federal land managers. A very special feeling comes from the ability to sup- port with our grants the good works of researchers, habitat rehabilitators, educators, herbaria, and others through the Carter Conservation Fund. We are grateful to those who created the fund, to Jack and Martha Carter for inspiring it, and especially to its generous donors. Many others do not have the time to do outwardly spec- tacular things, but provide the foundation for all else by re- newing their membership each year. I am referring to all of you who know you can enjoy our free programs and field trips and make use of our online resources whether you pay dues or not. With the numerous nonprofit groups begging for your loyalty, you support the single New Mexico organi- zation that explicitly stands up for our native floral heritage. Thank you! ❖ www.npsnm.org New Mexico’s Voice for Native Plants January–March 2019 3 Grant Opportunity for Charles Holmes Taos County Educators March 21, 1932–September 22, 2018 by Jan Martenson, Taos Chapter by Betty Spence, Gila Chapter The Taos chapter of NPSNM is offering two $250 grants Those of you who knew him in 2019 for education relating to native plants in the fields will be saddened to learn that of botany, biology, or ecology. We are committed to help- Charles Holmes has died. ing local educators ignite students’ love and appreciation of Charles was a very active botany and native plants. The focus of proposed projects member of the Gila Native can cover, but is not limited to, the following: effects of inva- Plant Society and was instru- sive or non-native plants on native plant communities; en- mental in starting the Silva vironmental factors affecting native plants, such as drought Creek Botanical Garden. or native pollinators; restoration ecology; and conservation For many years he edited biology. the GNPS Bulletin, led field School teachers or educators in non-profit organiza- trips, and represented the tions in Taos County are invited to apply by submitting a Gila chapter on the NPSNM proposal for a teacher/student project, keeping in mind the board. Charles botanizing in the Those who would mission of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico (see page Gila country he adored. 4 of this newsletter). like to may make a do- The deadline for receipt of applications is March 31, nation in his name to the Jack & Martha Carter Con- 2019. The Taos chapter executive board will review all sub- servation Fund. You may do this through the NPSNM missions; successful applicants will be notified by April 15. website; visit https://www.npsnm.org/conservation/carter To apply, see www.npsnm.org/about/chapters/taos/. ❖ -conservation-fund/. ❖ Native Plant Photo Contest: The Envelopes, Please! First Place—Adult Category ference; tutorial lesson in nature photography with a master photographer. John Whitman (Taos): Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata) The two first-place photos can be seen online: www.npsnm. John writes: “Two Gnophaela latipenni (white-spotted black org/summer-photo-contest/ diurnal moths) not yet dry enough to take flight from a dew-laden bloom of cut-leaf coneflower. Finley and Nieland Runners-Up write that ‘the Cherokee ate the leaves as spring greens, but note that the plant may be toxic if consumed in large quanti- Rose Marie Kern (Albuquerque): Prickly pear (Optunia) ties. The Navajo used it to treat indigestion and colds.’ ” Rose Marie writes: “This hardy prickly pear cactus resides Prize: Featured photo and recognition in Native Plant against an adobe wall by my front gate. It bloomed profusely Society publications; photo featured and recognition on this spring, attracting hundreds of bees, who flitted from website and social media; $150 cash prize; 1 year waived for flower to flower like tiny fairy children. If you look hard membership dues; subscription to New Mexico Magazine. enough you can envision Titania, Shakespeare’s queen of the fairy kingdom, enthroned upon this prickly pear blossom First Place—Youth Category with her Indian Changeling by her side.” Levi O’Neil (Albuquerque): Sunflower Richard G. McCarthy, Jr. (Gila): Nightblooming Cereus Levi writes that this photo was taken in a field of sunflowers. (Peniocereus greggii var. greggii) Prize: Featured photo and recognition in Native Plant Richard writes: “I moved to Hidalgo County from the East Society publications; photo featured and recognition on Coast in 2015. One of my hobbies is photographing unusual website and social media; $50 cash prize; 1 year waived for plants in habitat and one of my target species was Penioce- membership dues; scholarship to the next annual NPS con- Continued page 7 4 January–March 2019 New Mexico’s Voice for Native Plants www.npsnm.org The Newsletter of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico January–March 2019. Vol. 44 No. 1. This newsletter is published quarterly by the Native Plant Society of New Mexico (PO Box 35388, Albuquerque, NM 87176) and is free to members. The NPSNM, a nonprofit organization, is composed of professional and amateur botanists and others with an interest in the flora of New Mexico. Original articles from the newsletter may be reprinted if attributed to the author and to this newsletter. Views expressed are the opinions of the individual authors and not necessarily those of NPSNM. Next deadline is March 1, 2019. Articles and high-resolution artwork supporting the NPSNM’s mission are wel- comed and can be sent to the editor, Sarah Johnson, sarita [at] gilanet.com, or PO Box 53, Cliff, NM 88028. Native Plant Society of New Mexico If you received this newsletter as a hard copy Board of Directors but would prefer it via email, please notify OFFICERS President Tom Stewart Deb Farson at [email protected].