Photos courtesy of the Dale A. Zimmerman Herbarium, WNMU
On Sunday, May 15, 2016, the Gila Native Plant Society will conduct a field trip, led by Kevin Keith, along the Continental Divide Trail from Forest Road 506 in the direction of Eighty Mountain in the Pinos Altos Range. The walk will be moderate, with a couple of hundred feet elevation gain over two miles. The trail passes through Ponderosa forest, eventually contouring the north slope of Eighty Mountain. Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), alumroot (Heuchera) and lip ferns (Cheilanthes) occupy the shadiest sites on the slope. 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 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.