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AMERICAN PENSTEMON SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER
Volume No. 2, Issue No. 4 apsdev.org November 2008

Basaseachic Falls, Mexico Dale Lindgren

2009 ANNUAL MEETING Dr. Wynn Anderson,University. of Texas


Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains, at El Paso. In addition, General
Mexico Chairman Dale Lindgren is arranging for
Dave Bentzin, Denver some special speakers.

Would you like the opportunity to study Our Annual Meeting begins Friday
the penstemons common in northern afternoon, September 4, with an
Mexico? Exploratory trips these past enjoyable visit to the Chihuahua Desert
two years have shown us that we can Botanic Gardens. Then we will share a
expect to see Penstemon ambiguus, P. Welcome Dinner at the Hilton Garden
stenophyllus, P. campanulatus, P. Inn, where we will stay that evening --
faciculatus, P. kunthii, all on the UTEP campus.
P. miniatus, and P. barbatus. And, then
there is certain to be the annual Saturday morning our Mexican
discussion concerning Penstemon adventure begins when we board our
gentrii. first-class charter bus. Our six-day
Basic Trip, with a night in Cuauhtémoc,
Our guides will be the most 3 nights in Creel, and then a night in
knowledgeable botanists for that area: Nuevo Casas Grandes, as we return to El
Dr. Rich Spellenberg of New Mexico Paso by a different route, affords us
State University., Las Cruces and many opportunities to “stop and smell
the flowers”. An optional extension of
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2-nights will be offered to experience the for complete information and a


famous Copper Canyon train trip: Creel registration form.
to El Fuerte, and return.
** Please register early so that we can
In addition, we will visit the 812 foot have an accurate count by the end of the
Basaseachic Falls, the Paquimé year.
archaeological site of Anasazi age, and
Mata Ortiz, a wonderful village of If you have botanical questions, contact:
talented potters. Dale Lindgren, General Chairman
dlindgren1@.unl.edu (308) 696-6706

If you have travel questions, contact:


Dave Bentzin, Facilities Chairman
dbentzin@yahoo.com (303) 794-8371

Ed.’s Note: For more information,


please see Dale Lingren’s “Penstemon
in Chihuahua, Mexico” in the 2008
BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN
PENSTEMON SOCIETY and Bob
McFarlane’s “Mexico Looks Fine for
All participants will have the package
2009” in the December 2007
beginning in El Paso on Friday,
AMERICAN PENSTEMON SOCIETY
September 4. Those returning from the
NEWSLETTER.
six-day Basic Trip will return to El Paso
on September 10. This package includes
transportation by charter bus, 6 nights
hotel (dbl. occ.), all breakfasts, most
lunches, two dinners, travel insurance,
and our fabulous guides. Your total
expenses, including the Basic Package,
meals on your own, and a last night in
El Paso, if needed, should not exceed
$1,500.

Those adding the optional Copper Penstemon kunthii, Mexico


Canyon train extension will return to El Dale Lindgren
Paso on September 12. The additional
cost will be about $400.
DUES AND EMAIL
If interested in joining us, write to
Dan Schaaf, Registration Chairman, at: ADDRESSES
dlindgren1@unl.edu or Joan & Truel West
UNL – West Central Center Santa Fe, New Mexico
402 West State Farm Road
North Platte, NE 69101 Thanks to those members who have
already paid their 2008 and 2009
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membership dues.> > Dues for 2009 are Moffat County, is where many of the
now due. Please note that there are still seventeen species can be found
77 of you who have not paid 1988 dues including all three endemics.
yet. Please check your records and
include these with your 2009 dues. Topping the list for everyone will be
Penstemon yampaensis named after the
Please send your yearly dues ($15 US Yampa river and closely related to P.
and Canada/ $20 other countries) to the acualis. Other beautiful Penstemon that
address below, using the form at the end should be in peak bloom include P.
of the newsletter. You may also go to humilis, P. pachyphylus var. mucronatus,
www.aps.org and pay through PayPal. P. fremontii, and
Be sure to include your current email P. scarious. Various other species may
address along with your payment. APS be spotted along with a well-rounded
only uses your email address to save assembly of late spring wildflowers.
costs in distributing periodic mailings. It
will not be made available beyond
APS..Thank you.
>>
American Penstemon Society (APS)
Memberhip Secretaries
c/o Joan and Truel West P. yampaensis Mike Evans
1050 Camino Rancheros
Santa Fe, NM 87505 Craig, a ranching and now energy boom
EMail: APS.Membership@yahoo.com town, will be home base for a few days.
Both short and longer trips are planned
to give everyone a chance to see at least
NORTHWESTERN a few Penstemon in the wild. We should
COLORADO all be in for several interesting and
APS 2010 ANNUAL MEETING fulfilling days, especially if moisture
Mike Kintgen, Denver, Colorado conditions cooperate for 2010. I hope to
see many of you in Colorado.
It’s a good thing that Penstemon and
Mother Nature are unaffected by the
current market conditions so mark you SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS
calendars for the first weekend in June APS 2011 ANNUAL MEETING
2010! Ginny Maffitt, Sherwood, Oregon

While often bypassed for the The Siskiyou Mountains are the oldest
snowcapped peaks of the central part of part of Oregon, thus growing many
the state, Northwestern Colorado has unusual and beautiful penstemons and
much to offer Penstemaniacs. The many other genera. Since the mountains
American Penstemon Society lists have been folded and reshuffled over the
seventeen species of Penstemon being eons, many different rock types can be
present in Moffat County, three of which found, but the most unusual are the
are endemic to the area. Brown’s Park, serpentine or manganese areas. Since it
an area in the northwestern part of is mildly toxic, it has the effect of
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stunting growth of trees and shrubs, so The second day’s trip would be about 30
many appear to be ‘bonsai-ed’ by a miles north, going west from Grant’s
master hand. The blooms will be best Pass into the serpentine areas of Rough
between 5000 and 6000’ in early July. and Ready, Eight Dollar Mountain, the
Illinois river, Fiddler and Onion Peaks
With the Annual Meeting being planned and through the edges of the burned over
three years in advance (second week of forest (of 2004), now recovering well.
July, 2011), exact tours and speakers are Penstemons along this route are P.
still under advisement. We are hoping rupicola, P. newberryi and their hybrids,
some co-chairmen will soon step up to P. davidsonii and others.
share the logistics jobs and the fun of There are other drives that will be
telling everybody “where to go”! suggested for pre- or post-tours on
Friday or Monday. These include Pilot
Rock, Wimer Road, and Babyfoot Lake.
I already have plant lists and mileage
marker lists from all these places
courtesy of Dave Dobak of Portland,
who led an AGS trip of English folks
here several years ago. Experienced
local botanist Viva Stansell is sending
me her maps and plants as well.

Please reserve the second weekend of


July, 2011 in your future vacation
schedule for this outstanding opportunity
to see one of America’s greatest
treasures of wildflowers!

Penstemon speciosus Ginny Maffitt


A CALL FOR PENSTEMON
Tentatively, one day’s trip would be a SEED DONATIONS
loop drive south of Ashland beginning at Louise Parson, Corvallis, Oregon
Mt. Ashland ski area, continuing past
Dutchman Peak and on to the Applegate Seed season is here. Time to put on some
area and Lily Pad Lake, then looping up nice music and clean, package, and label
to Medford. This is an area of lush your penstemon seeds for APS. We are
forests, vistas miles into California, and returning the donation deadline to the
hopes for seeing Penstemon speciosus, later due date, December 1, 2008. I
P. deustus, P. parvulus, P. azureus, and (Louise) will handle both intake and
P. anguineus, plus rare lilies, distribution this year. Ginny Maffitt will
endangered, carniverous cobra lilies, be compiling the list and will, as always,
habenaria orchids, fleabane daisies, provide enthusiastic energy and
checkermallows and delphineums, to expertise. APS has already received an
name just a few. impressive donation of twenty different
taxa from Bob and Phoebe McFarlane.
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Donations may be penstemon or closely-


related species or hybrids from your For containing the cleaned seeds, check
garden, and/or those collected in the office supply stores which carry small
wild. If you are planning a fall hike to paper envelopes for coin collectors, or
enjoy gentians or other late bloom, it order a small amount of glassine
might not be too late to try for some envelopes from the NARGS book store
more penstemon seed. Penstemon seeds online (NARGS.org). Be sure to inspect
hold in the capsule well, though seasonal envelopes for possible leaks.

winds will empty them quickly. The McFarlanes packaged their


Although garden seed may be hybridized seeds in glassines, then placed each
by open pollination, it adds diversity and offering in a coin envelope. This is an
interest. For instance, "Sally's Surprise" excellent "backup" to prevent loss or
has produced some gorgeous flowers, mixing. All was then placed in a large
even as young seedlings. If garden padded envelope and arrived in fine
species bloom a week or so apart, they fettle. Note that the postal service now
are more likely to come true. charges parcel rates for padded
envelopes, but they are still the best way
When gathering seed, look for brown, to mail your collection of seeds. Again,
hard capsules with hardened seeds, don't forget to label your seed!
either brown or black. Penstemon seeds
are irregularly shaped, so don't be Please include a list of your donations
dismayed if they look "dead". Texture is including full name, variety, subspecies
more telling than appearance. Infertile or cultivar name, color and height if
seed is brittle --it turns to dust when known, wild or garden collected, and
rubbed. Though seed keeps well, it is county and state if wild. The seed lists
less likely to be spoiled by mold or pests should be sent out by
if it is promptly removed from capsules January 1, 2009.
and cleaned.
Mail your donations ASAP to:
If you are uncertain about ID, share
"UFO" (Unidentified Flowering Object) Louise Parsons
penstemon seeds anyway. Please 1915 SE Stone Street
include as much information as you can Corvallis, OR US 97333
and we will attempt an ID. If available,
you may include a bloom or other 541-752-7515
diagnostic plant parts.
Feel free to e-mail me at
Please clean the seeds as thoroughly as parsont@peak.org with any questions or
possible. A collection of sieves and concerns.
spatter screens (for frying foods) from (note that the e-mail does not spell my
"dollar" or second-hand stores is handy name correctly, so copy it carefully)
for fast cleaning. Run seeds through Alternatively, feel free to contact me at
until clean of detritus. "Winnowing" on a my address above. I am happy to help
large paper plate also removes loads of out in any way that I can.
debris.
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several) , campions, lomatiums, lupines,


PHOTO CONTEST native phlox, polemoniums and
balsamroots as well as native grasses and
Be one of the first winners of our annual sedges.
APS photo contest! December 1 is the
deadline for getting your entries to You will find “Penstemons East of the
Dr.Stephen Love, University of Idaho, Cascade Mountains” on our website at
Aberdeen R &E Center, 1693 S 2700 W, http://www.apsdev.org/cultivation/Refer
Aberdeen, ID 83210. Email: ences_wmIX.html
slove@uidaho.edu.

See your last newsletter at home or on


line for rules and regulations. CONSERVATION CORNER
Steve Caicco, Reno, Nevada
Endangered Species Chair
WEBSITE NEWS
As this is my first article for the
newsletter, I would like to thank Bob
APS Website Recent Addition McFarlane for inviting me to become the
Articles by well-known biology first APS endangered species
teacher Paul Slichter coordinator. I’m genuinely honored to
Barbara Lewis, Denver serve in this position. As Bob
mentioned, I thought it best if I begin my
Paul Slichter has generously permitted tenure by writing some broadly focused
us to print his web series about 23 articles on plant conservation and the
species of penstemons entitled various ways that individual members of
“Penstemons East of the Cascade APS and the organization as a whole can
Mountains.” Mr. Slichter has run a contribute to penstemon conservation.
Pacific Northwest nature website for
over 12 years, plus sites for the You’ll note that last sentence makes no
Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Adams in mention of endangered species. This is
the south Washington Cascades and for intentional. In a strict sense, endangered
Denali Park. As Mr. Slichter explains, denotes a determined legal status usually
these sites evolved from his “… interest at the federal level but, in some cases, a
in identifying plants, discovering where state designation. Only two penstemon
they can be found, and determining the species, Penstemon penlandii, from
interactions they have with wildlife, Colorado, and P. haydenii from
especially pollinators. I use photography Nebraska and Wyoming, have a federal
to learn about individual species …. and status, although two additional species,
keep detailed lists of what I find at P. debilis from Colorado and
various locations throughout the west P. scariosus var. albifluvis from
that I can share with others.” Colorado and Utah are candidates for
federal listing. Recovery of endangered
Paul Slichter is also a rock gardener and species is an critical task and we’ll come
has a nature garden. He is especially back to these species at some future date
interested in penstemons (he grows And while I believe that this regulatory
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step should be taken whenever past summer, we are all enthusiastic


warranted, I also believe the primary about the wealth of wild plants we see
goal of conservation should be to ensure on field trips, even though penstemon
that this step never becomes necessary. hold a special place in our hearts.

So how can we, as individuals and as an Advocacy is another way that members
organization, further this goal? In a can contribute their time to conserve
somewhat arbitrary fashion, our penstemons. Advocacy takes many
potential contribution can be broken forms from just sharing your joy over
down into skills, knowledge, time, and penstemon and other native plants with
money. I say arbitrary because sharing friends, to supporting land-use policies
knowledge and skills invariably requires that benefit native plants and pollinators,
a time commitment and, as we have all or even writing letters to land managers
been taught, time is money. So just send about your concerns over specific threats
money. to penstemon species and their habitats.
As a society, we might consider
Just kidding! Let’s look at these more developing position statements on topics
closely, beginning with skills and relevant to plant conservation.
knowledge. We have all come to
gardening along our individual paths. In future issues of the newsletter, I will
No doubt like many of you, I inherited have more to say on all of these topics as
my love of gardening, in my case from well as on some of the particular
my father who inherited it from his challenges of plant conservation. In the
father. Plant conservation, however, meantime, if you have ideas about how
when well-practiced is a science, and members of APS can contribute to
like gardening, botanists come to it penstemon and native plant
along many paths. Many, perhaps most, conservation, know of particular
of these paths have not passed through a conservation efforts that may be
garden. So our knowledge of how to interested in our assistance, or have any
propagate and grow plants is one of our topics or questions that you would like
most valuable assets that we can share to me to address, please send them to me at
further our conservation goal. slcaicco@sbcglobal.net. You can also
post them to Penstemon-L where
Time, of course, is always in short subscribing members to this list can join
supply and our spare time is of equal in an open discussion.
value to our skills and knowledge. There
are many ways we can directly
contribute our time, whether it be NEW ADDRESSES
helping to conserve a rare penstemon or
assisting in more broadly-focused efforts We have a new Yahoo e-mail address for
to conserve the habitats of other plants, the APS Treasurer's office:
or even animals, that associate with APS.Treasurer@yahoo.com
penstemons, rare or not so rare. Perhaps
our closest allies in such efforts are the And, we now have a new PayPal account
various native plant societies. Based on related to the new e-mail address. It is
my observations at the annual APS this APS.Treasurer@yahoo.com
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Our Membership Secretaries, Joan and


Truel West, also have a new e-mail
address: APS.Membership@yahoo.com

POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

President: Bob McFarlane, denverbob@aol.com


Vice President: Ginny Maffitt, maffitt@verizon.net
Treasure: Dave Bentzin, APS.Treasurer@yahoo.com
Finance –Auditor: Ed Godleski, e.godleski@csuohio.edu
Membership Sec. Joan and Truel West,
APS.Membership@yahoo.com
(1-505) 988-9621
1050 Camino Rancheros
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Membership
Marketing Dwayne Dickerson, dwaynedickerson@gmail.com
Past President Louise Parsons, parsont@peak.org
Robins Coordinator Ginny Maffit, maffitt@verizon.net
Executive Board Jill Pitman, penstemon@waitrose.com
Julie McIntosh Shapiro, j.mci.shapiro@gmail.com
Val Myrick, vkmyrick@pacbell.net
Director, Seed Ex. Ginny Maffit, maffitt@verizon.net
Registrar of Cultivars
and Hybrids Dr. Dale Lindgren,dlindgren1@uni.edu
Nominating Comm.
Chair: Libby Wheeler, glwheel@prodigy.net
Librarian: Dr. Stephen Love, slove@uidaho.edu
Custodian of Slide
Collection: Dr. Dale Lindgren, dlindgren1@uni.edu
Website Admin.: Hugh MacMillan, humanator@yahoo.com
Bulletin Editor: Dr. Stephen Love, slove@uidaho.edu
Newsletter Ed.: Val Myrick, vkmyrick@pacbell.net
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MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWALS

Sign me up –
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We do not sell, share, or distribute member data in any manner.

US and Canadian dues $15 US; Elsewhere $20 US, no cash please.
Make checks payable to American Penstemon Society. Mail to:

Joan and Truel West, Membership Secretaries


1050 Camino Rancheros
Santa Fe, NM 87505
APS.Membership@yahoo.com

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