Another Successful Botany Society Fall Festival

/
Phacelia crenulata

Phacelia crenulata

We had another very successful Fall Festival this past weekend. In case you weren't able to be there, here's the overview. You will get the official financial report from the Treasurer (Arie) later. We sold plants that we bought from Green Desert Nursery and plants donated by Living Desert Museum. I was disappointed that some of the plants we wanted were not available from either source. On the other hand, Living Desert gave us some really special items such as Bursera microphylla and yellow-flowered chuparosa. Thirteen people ordered their plants in advance, which really helped me know how many to order. Even so, I should have ordered more! On Friday, Nov. 24 we were set up and ready to go by 8:45 am and there were customers waiting for us to start selling, so we started early. By 10 am we were half sold out, and everything was gone by noon. Our total income from sales was around $1,750. After deducting the cost of plants, sales tax and the honorarium for our speaker, our bottom line net should be around $1,000.

Our speaker, Gordon Pratt, was very informative and entertaining. He discussed numerous butterfly species and the plants that they utilize for both nectar and larval host. It was enlightening to learn that desert butterfly species are doing better than those found on the coastal side of the mountains, because the desert habitat is more intact and less fragmented. It doesn't mean that desert species are free of threats, but overall our invertebrate fauna is in pretty good shape. It turns out that Dr. Pratt may be another source for native plants. He propagates many of them at his home in Anza and has his own small plant sale every year. Thanks Dr. Pratt!

THANKS - my appreciation goes out to everyone who helped with this year's festival, namely: 

Members - Joann and Dick Ingwall, MIke Strandberg, Karin Vickers, Mary Olson, Martha Ellul, Mary Jo Churchwell, Holly Barnes, Arie Korporaal, and Toni Alexander (it's great to have her back). Special thanks to Laura Webb for handling all the publicity for the event.

Park Staff - Regina Reiter, Abby Barker, Larry Hendrickson and Norb Rumke (for waiving the day use fee for our event)

ABF Staff- - Sara Husby, Briana Puzo and Nicki Moore, all of whom were simply great to work with.

If you have comments about this year's Fall Festival or suggestions for next year, please let me know.

Don Rideout

Larry Hendrickson to Speak to Botany Society

/
Photo: Press-Enterprise

Photo: Press-Enterprise

Larry Hendrickson, Colorado Desert District Botanist, will speak to the huddled masses at the first of the Botany Speaker Series events for the 2017-18 season. Larry Hendrickson divides his time between Anza-Borrego Desert, Cuyamaca Rancho, and Palomar Mountain State Parks, along with the Salton Sea and Picacho State Recreation Areas.

Many in the Botany Society know Larry through his work with Botany Society volunteers in leading efforts to control or remove invasive plant species. He has trained volunteers on how to identify and remove Sahara Mustard and Volutaria. 

His topic, Conservation of Rare Plants in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, a topic he is eminently qualified to discuss. Larry has been mapping the rare plants of the Park for a number of years as part of his duties as Park botanist. 

His talk begins at 10 am at the Steele-Burnand UCI Desert Research Center, 401 Tilting T Drive.. Admission is free.

Who: Larry Hendrickson, Colorado Desert District Botanist
What: Conservation of Rare Plants in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
When: Monday, December 11, 2017; 10 AM
Where: Steele-Burnand UCI Desert Research Center, 401 Tilting T Drive
Cost: Free to the public