Brochures on plant life of the Carpenter Natural Area are now available at both trailheads. And beginning May 10, monthly walking tours will be given by botanists Al Schneider and April Baisan.
The tours are free and begin at 10 a.m. at the west trailhead, off of Lebanon Road. No reservations are needed. The one- to two-hour tours are also scheduled for June 26 and July 23.
The Carpenter Natural Area lies between Southwest Memorial Hospital and the Montezuma County jail. Access to the 1.5-mile paved trail is from the hospital, and from Lebanon Road just south of Body by Design.
The 72-acre area has a wide variety of native plants, and many are visible from the paved path. Along the network of dirt paths on a mesa to the north of the main trail, native plants are more abundant, and some have a long blooming season.
“Many native plants in the upper areas bloom into the fall,” Schneider said. “There are a beautiful mixture of plants, some with huge flowers.”
Guides encourage people to bring a hand lens to appreciate the intricacies and beauty of the plants. There will have a few on hand to share as well.
Schneider encourages people to learn the scientific names of plants, trees, shrubs and flowers by using the informative brochure. The language is more universally understood, and scientific names are specific to each species.
“It is a lot of fun,” he said. “It exercises your brain and is like learning another language.”
There are many native plants in the Carpenter Natural Area including some rare and uncommon varieties, explained Schneider.
A type of purple penstemon (penstemon breviculus) grows there, and can be found no where else in the world except in the Four Corners. An uncommon plant nicknamed Golden Smoke (Corydalis aurea) features bright yellow tubular flowers that grow on the upper slopes.
Ecology and outdoor ethics are also taught during the tours. For example, do not pick the wildflowers. Stay on paths to avoid trampling them.
“We thought people should know about the plants in this excellent nature preserve so we created the brochure, and are starting the tours. Learning about them gives people a sense of belonging and encourages protection of native plants,” Schneider said.
Schneider is the president of the San Juan/Four Corners Native Plant Society.
For more information on upcoming regional tours and descriptions of native plants, check out their very thorough and user-friendly website at http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com
