El Paso Chapter
Officers, Activities and Events
Last update: 29 June 2009
El Paso Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico
2009 Officers and Committee Members
President: Cheryl Garing, 915-49-3674, cherylgaring@yahoo.com
Vice president: Jack Makepeace, 915-585-2149, jmakepeace @elp.rr.com
Treasurer: Virginia Morris, 915-833-7637, elpasovlm@sbcglobal.net
Secretary: Jane Riger, 915-533-2839, pjriger@sbcglobal.net
Parliamentarian: Jim Hastings, 915-240-7414, jimhastings@elp.rr.com
Programs: Virginia Morris, 915-833-7637, elpasovlm@sbcglobal.net
Field Experiences: Jim Tolbert, 425-577-9808, jimhtolbert@elp.rr.com
Workshops: Cheryl Garing, 915-549-3674, cherylgaring@yahoo.com
Publicity: Jim Hastings, 015-240-7414, jimhastings@elp.rr.com
Member Services: Nancy Schuller, 351-6064, njoybob@yahoo.com
Newsletter Editor: Virginia Morris, 915-833-7637, elpasovlm @sbcglobal.net
Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition Representative: Jamie Ackerman, 755-7371, benjaminackerman@sbcglobal.net
Native Plant Rescues: Peter Beste, 755-3558, prbeste@att.net
Scheduled Events
All programs are second Thursdays at 7 p.m. at El Paso Garden
Center, 3105 Grant St. All society events are free unless
otherwise noted. Nonmembers are always welcome. Info:
240-7414, 833-7637, 383-3006.
Thursday, July 9, 2009, 7:00 pm Backyard Wildlife Habitats. The Wildscape program is a habitat restoration and conservation plan for rural and urban areas. It enables homeowners to contribute to wildlife conservation by developing wildlife habitats where they live, work and play. Wildscapes provide the essential ingredients for a variety of wildlife food, water, shelter, and space. Scott Cutler, Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the University of Texas-El Paso's Centennial Museum, will present ideas on creating your own Wildscape, including certification by Texas Parks and Wildlife. El Paso Garden Center, 3105 Grant St., Call 833-7637 or 383-3006 for more information.
Thursday, August 13, 2009, 7:00 pm Native Tree Identification? Have you ever driven around your local area and saw a beautiful tree and wondered what it was? Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, a widely-published author and professor in the Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University, will discuss the basics of identification of trees, focusing on our Native Trees. He will discuss how to use the tree type, leaf shape, bark, fruit, twig and form to identify the tree and some resources available on the internet or in published form that will aid you in your quest. El Paso Garden Center, 3105 Grant St., Call 833-7637 or 383-3006 for more information.
Thursday, September 10, 2009, 7:00 pm Risks and Benefits of Medicinal Plant Use. Medicinal and herbal plants, both native and imported, are used frequently to cure common ailments. It is part of the culture and, sometimes, the religion of border communities. Dr. Armando Gonzalez S., Herbal Research Coordinator for the University of Texas at El Paso and University of Texas Austin Cooperative Pharmacy Program, as well as instructor in Complementary and Alternative Medicines at the College of Health Sciences, will speak on the use and risks of these plant materials. He is also founder of the Herbal Safety website the first non-commercial website dedicated to the dissemination of factual information regarding safe herbal product use on the United States-Mexico border. El Paso Garden Center, 3105 Grant St., Call 833-7637 or 383-3006 for more information.
September 25, 26 & 27 Native Plant Fall Garden Tour and Plant Sale. Fall gardens will be splendidly in bloom! Come join us as we tour local gardens that feature native plants and see how colorful they are in the fall. Native plants used in these gardens will be sold concurrently with the tour. If you see something you like, you can purchase the plant on the spot. Gardens located on both the east and west side of El Paso will be included on the tour. Call 833-7637 or 383-3006 for more information.
October 8, 2009, 7:00 pm Plant/Seed Exchange and Sampling of Native Plant Cuisine. Bring your volunteer or excess plants/seeds and exchange them with others to increase your garden diversity and share your beauties with other gardeners. Introducing for the first time by our Chapter, dishes prepared using native plants will be offered for sale. Have you ever tried Yucca flower quiche, mesquite flour cookies or a wide variety of dishes using prickly pears? Recipes will be made available. Come join us for an exciting adventure in sampling native cuisine and sharing of plants and seeds. El Paso Garden Center, 3105 Grant St., Call 833-7637 or 383-3006 for more information.
