Florilegium • Desert Tortoise • Grow Native • Challenger MS
The Conservation Committee works on resource protection issues related to native plants. Our recent efforts have been focused mostly in southern Arizona, but we're always open to helping folks get started with local projects elsewhere in the state. Contact the Conservation Committee for more information.
We meet on the fourth Monday of each month at various locations in central Tucson. If you'd like to attend a meeting or get on our mailing list, contact us. We've always got a long list of ways to get involved.
AZNPS Conservation Committee to Conduct Statewide Plant Status Assessment
From Andy Laurenzi of Tucson, the new state Conservation Committee chair: “After a long hiatus from involvement with AZNPS (I was on the Board in the early 1990s), I recently accepted the chair of the statewide Conservation Committee. I look forward to continuing the excellent work of AZNPS members in promoting the conservation of Arizona native flora. We hope to assist in a statewide plant status assessment to update information on Arizona’s rare and endangered plants this year. With ever improving digital technology I hope to see more digital applications to assist land managers, researchers and interested members of the public in rare plant conservation. Please email me to let me know of your interest and ideas for the Conservation Committee.
Sonoran Desert Florilegium Program is designed to create, collect, exhibit and store botanical images for research, education, documentation and aesthetic appreciation. Both the ASDM Art Institute and the Tucson Botanical Gardens will offer classes in botanical art. The Florilegium Program, sponsored by the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society, envisions the creation of a collection of botanical art of the Sonoran Desert region. For more details, click here for the Florilegium_brochure. For a Contribution form, click here.
AZNPS at Beat Back Buffelgrass Day-2010
Members of the Conservation Committee set up a display of native plants to replace the fountain grass that had infested the Campbell Ave./Skyline neighborhood. A local landscape architect was available for questions. Weedwackers removed 360 bags of fountain grass and buffelgrass from the area, so there is lots of room for native plants.
Native Plants for Sonoran Desert Tortoise
The Conservation Committee completed a new brochure and demonstration garden of native plants for the Sonoran Desert Tortoise. Because native plants are the best food for this native creature, and because many people adopt tortoises to keep as pets, we worked with numerous experts to develop a list of recommended plants. The Committee raised funds and planted a demonstration garden at the Tucson office of Arizona Department of Game and Fish.
Stop by some time and check it out! Download the brochure here. Please feel free to distribute!
Grow Native, Don't Plant a Pest!
Grow Native: Don’t Plant a Pest , a public education campaign, has been a huge success. Since August of 2006 we have distributed over 50,000 brochures in English and Spanish to local governments, home owner’s associations, schools, nurseries, and conservation organizations throughout southern Arizona.
The conservation committee is very interested in finding ways (in addition to the brochure and presentations) to bring about a native plant paradigm shift to your neighborhood. Please share your ideas and experiences with us – we would like to hear about what is happening from across the state!
Butterfly Garden at Challenger Middle School
On Make a Difference Day, Oct 26, 2007, the teachers and students at Challenger Middle School in the Sunnyside School District, Tucson, prepared the garden, planted and labeled plants and painted donated benches to create a garden space in the courtyard of their school. The Conservation Committee donated native plants from Desert Survivors to use to attract butterflies. A year later the garden is growing and attracting butterflies.
