Knows Native Plants Track- Session Descriptions

Breakout #1: Conserving Bumble Bees in Colorado’s Front Range with Laura Lukens

Urbanization and agricultural intensification have driven significant changes in land use globally, impacting numerous species including insect pollinators. Bumble bees, which play important ecological and economic roles, have suffered notable population declines during recent decades. Although urbanization poses significant threats such as habitat fragmentation and exposure to pollutants, the inclusion of native flowering plants in urban landscapes has been shown to benefit pollinator populations. In this study, we examine how landscape context influences bumble bee community composition, abundance, floral resource availability, and colony density among native species in Fort Collins, Colorado. We also collected genetic samples to assess levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding. I will present preliminary findings aimed at informing conservation strategies for bumble bees in both urban and rural environments along Colorado’s Front Range, including a summary of flowering plant species most commonly visited by bumble bees.

Breakout #2: Native Trees and Shrubs of Colorado with Dr. Jennifer Bousselot

Jack Carter was a well-known Colorado botanist and author of three titles including two editions of Trees and Shrubs of Colorado. Jack spent his career celebrating Colorado native plants and aiming to address the epidemic of 'plant blindness' that plagues our society.  It was Jack's dream to turn this dichotomous key into an approachable field guide. Before his death, he transferred his materials to his mentee, Jen, who has made this dream come true with the upcoming release of the third edition of Trees and Shrubs of Colorado published by the Colorado Native Plant Society. Learn about the depth and breadth of native woody plant species that exist in Colorado. Jen will discuss the scope of the third edition updates including nomenclature and authority changes, new line drawings, images that accompany the plant descriptions, and species distribution maps. 

Breakout #3: Cultivating Native Seed Availability with Lyss Goldpenny

The rising frequency and intensity of disturbances such as wildfire and invasive species introduction has led to a paralleled need not just for more individual restoration efforts, but for a higher level of overall effectiveness of those efforts. One very promising step toward driving this effectiveness upward lies in working with native seeds. Over the last two decades, this work has consisted of collecting seeds from wild-growing plant species in healthy and stable communities to create seed stock that can be utilized when a restoration need arises. To help support the native seed supply chain, Denver Botanic Gardens has partnered with the Bureau of Land Management to grow out native plant species of interest for initial seed increase for large-scale seed production. Native seed production in this manner would conserve time and funding that would otherwise be spent on increasing wild collection efforts and would likewise reduce pressure on our natural communities. In our first season, we have received locally collected seed from four species native to our prairie and foothill communities: Heterotheca villosa (hairy false goldenaster), Phacelia crenulata (scorpion notchweed), Sphaeralcea coccinea (scarlet globemallow), and Stanleya pinnata (desert prince’s plume). Our goal with this Native Seed Increase Project is not only to produce seed stock to contribute to restoration projects post-wildfire, but also to create a detailed growing protocol that can be given to large-scale growers of these same species. We are trialing different cultivation techniques, from germination and stratification methods to eventual seed harvesting strategies. This protocol will give growers a direct route to quick and successful production of native seed on a larger scale and will contribute to seed availability. We will share successes and challenges of the first year of our native plant materials production program.