Colorado State University Extension-Pueblo County

701 Court Street · Suite C · Pueblo, CO 81003 · 719-583-6566 · coopext_pueblo@mail.colostate.edu

2014 Fall

From the Ground Up A Gardening and Native Plants Quarterly

Volume 5, Issue 3

INDEX

Know Your Natives …...1-2

Perennial People ........... .2-3

For the Love of Mugos ..... 3

CMG Program………….. 3

Digging Deeper………….4

Moment in the Garden…..5

Interesting Insects……….6

Dividing Perennials ……..7

Paleobotany ………….. 7-9

Fabulous Families………10

FCS Classes…………….11

Wicked Weeds………… 11

Garden Walks…………..12

Y&G Classes………..….12

KNOW YOUR NATIVES

LEAVES OF THREE, LET IT BE by Mary Jean Porter, Native Plant Master, 2009

Toxicodendron rydbergii or Poison ivy is one of the prettiest plants on the fall landscape, and one of

the most troublesome. Like some other members of the Anacardiaceae or sumac family, the leaves of poison

ivy turn brilliant red as the growing season nears its end. Along roadsides,

hiking trails and in other disturbed areas, poison ivy seems to get more and

more colorful as the yellow and purple Asteraceae species fade. And the

plant's greenish-white berries/fruit often cling to the stems long after the

leaves drop, adding interest to otherwise rather barren areas.

Poison ivy is a perennial sub-shrub, often less than 3 feet tall, though

it can grow to shrubs reaching 9 feet tall under the right conditions. The

stems are simple or sparsely branched and arise from branched underground

stolons. The plants don't climb, one of the characteristics that distinguishes it

from poison oak. The leaves are alternate and compound, usually with three

leaflets; hence the warning, "Leaves of three, let it be." Flowers grow in

axillary panicles or racemes, with five sepals and five greenish petals. The

fruit is wrinkled at maturity and resembles little pumpkins.

Poison ivy is found throughout the United States except

in Alaska, Hawaii and parts of the West Coast. Its relative,

poison oak, grows as a low shrub in the eastern and southern

U.S. and on the Pacific Coast, while another relative, poison

sumac, grows as tall shrubs or trees in boggy or swampy areas

of the Northeast, Midwest and parts of the Southeast. Poison

ivy is no stranger to Colorado, growing as high as 8,500 feet in

some places.

The poison in these plants is the sticky, milky oil, urushiol, which is released when leaves and stems

are crushed, bruised or burned. If the oil gets on the skin, an allergic reaction occurs in 80 to 90 percent of

people. Even 50 micrograms of the oil, an amount that is less than one grain of table salt, can cause an itchy,

red and sometimes weepy rash. Burning poison ivy, oak or sumac causes greater harm because the allergens

can be inhaled and can irritate the lungs. Continued on page 2

Above: Mid-

September fall color

in Pueblo County.

Photo courtesy of L.

McMulkin. Left:

Fruit on winter stem.

Photo courtesy of

http://wnmu.edu.

2

Continued on page 3

Know Your Natives continued from page 1

Garden Tip: Plant Labels

Do you still know the name of every plant in your landscape? Labeling your plants, sketching a garden

diagram, or taking photos and writing names on the print can help next spring when you want to divide plants or if

something doesn’t come up.

PERENNIAL PEOPLE

WHERE THE WILD THINGS START by Sarah A. Parks, Botany Technician with the US Forest Service

The rash caused by poison ivy can't be spread from person to person but may be gotten from

urushiol on clothing, pets or garden tools. This oil lingers on almost any surface until it's washed off with

water or rubbing alcohol. The Food and Drug Administration suggests washing garden tools and gloves

regularly, and wearing long sleeves, long pants and impermeable gloves if working around poison ivy.

Washing pets that might have come in contact with poison ivy is a good idea, too. They usually aren't

bothered by it but their people often are. If exposed to poison ivy, wash your skin in cool water with soap as

soon as possible to remove the oil and prevent spreading it.

Poison ivy takes its name from the Greek toxicos (poisonous) and dendron (tree) and from Axel

Rydberg, a botanist who wrote about Rocky Mountain and Colorado plants in the early 1900s.

Masterful teller of jokes and stories, free-thinker, nonconformist, and soulless dancer: these are all

attributes of Jeff Ottersberg, proprietor of Wild Things wholesale nursery in Pueblo, Colorado. Jeff uses his

horticultural mojo to grow native, drought-tolerant plants of the prairie and desert. When first meeting Jeff

you might say to yourself, as I did, “this man did too many mind-altering drugs in the sixties.” However, upon

further acquaintance you will find that he is an intelligent and insightful human

who is very knowledgeable and passionate about plants. Not just any plants, mind

you; prickly, hostile plants. Plants that will hurt you if they get the chance. Plants

with amazing defense mechanisms and the ability to thrive on very little water. In

other words, plants perfectly adapted to the arid West.

Jeff remembers being interested in plants as early as six years old, when he

used to grow vegetables and tropical fruit trees in pots around his home. He would

eat an orange or a grapefruit, wash the seeds, and then plant them. He began

growing native cacti in grade school and expanded to growing native herbaceous

perennials in an outdoor garden in high school.

Jeff continued to pursue his interest in green

things at Colorado State University in Fort

Collins, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree

in Floriculture and Botany. After working for

various other nurseries, Jeff became his own boss

when he started Wild Things in 1988. Both the

obvious need for a supplier of native plants and

his desire to roam outdoors are what inspired him

to begin his own business.

Jeff propagates the majority of his plants

from seeds, a pretty remarkable feat, and also

establishes some plants from cuttings. Today Jeff grows an assortment of native cacti which includes several

species of Echinocereus, Escobaria, and Opuntia. He also cultivates several Yucca and Agave species. Not

all of Jeff’s plants cause bodily injury when handled, however. Wild Things also offers some welcoming

succulents and a diverse collection of drought-tolerant herbaceous perennials, including an impressive

Above, Jeff Ottersberg tends

young plants in preparation

for spring next year.

Left, a selection of cacti and

succulents in the greenhouse

at Wild Things.

Photos courtesy of S. Parks.

Perennial People continued from page 2

3

22 species of Penstemon. If you’ve been eyeing those pretty flowers blooming in the prairie, wishing you

could have them in your own front yard, you probably can. Or perhaps you need to add some woody shrubs to

your landscape. Maybe Four-Winged Saltbush, Dwarf Rabbitbrush, or Mountain Mahogany will work for

you. These plants are just a sampling of what Wild Things offers.

Interested in getting your hands on some of Jeff’s plants? Well, unfortunately, he is only licensed for

wholesale, so that means you can’t show up at his door demanding plants (no matter how hefty the bribe).

What you can do is request that his plants be purchased by local retail outlets, such as your favorite nurseries

and garden centers. Also, Jeff offers a variety of his spectacular plants at the Zootastic Plant Sale, the first

Saturday in May each year at the Pueblo Zoo. When buying a plant with the Wild Things label, you can feel

good about reducing your water usage, promoting habitat for native insects and wildlife, and supporting a

local artisan.

The Colorado Master Gardener Program by Bret Capritta, Colorado Master Gardener, 2014

The Colorado Master Gardener Program is designed to get you familiar

with Colorado plant life as well as many aspects of home gardening. The

classes are taught locally, and there are many great volunteer opportunities. The

program also gives you an opportunity to use many of the resources your local

extension office has to offer. The course is very comprehensive, and you have

opportunities to network with other Colorado Master Gardeners.

The classes are taught in your local extension office. This is for your

convenience. Some classes are taught with a live instructor and some classes are

taught by a remote instructor via remote classroom computer applications. These applications allow you to

interact with the remote teachers as well as other county extension students.

This program allows you to volunteer for events that would otherwise not be available to you. You

have the opportunity to create gardens, volunteer at local booths at special events, and help the general public

by answering questions relating to gardening and landscaping issues. These are just some of the volunteer

opportunities because new opportunities are always arising.

When you become a Colorado Master Gardener you really are becoming part of a close team. You can

network with other master gardeners that share similar interests, and there are many opportunities throughout

the year that will bring you in contact with one another. If you like to share similar interests with other people

about horticulture and nature, you will be a perfect match for the Colorado Master Gardener Program.

For the Love of Mugos by Linda McMulkin, CSU Extension-Pueblo County, Horticulture Coordinator

Mugo pines have been a staple in Colorado landscapes for years. But in the past decade, new cultivars

have been introduced that expand the potential for this water-wise shrub.

You’ve seen them planted in front of restaurants, at the mall, and in

numerous yards. The old cultivars could get pretty big, reaching more than 45 feet

tall. I’ve watched mugos overgrow the space where they were planted and I’ve

grieved when a shrub was removed, just because it started overhanging the

driveway or blocking the bedroom window.

Now, even homeowners with postage stamp yards can enjoy the shape and

year-round color of a mugo pine. Just pick one of the dwarf introductions, with

names like Mops, Slow Mound, and Donna’s Mini.

But be cautious. Seed grown mugos can be quite variable in size and form.

Plants grown from branch cuttings assure that you will get the same characteristics

as the parent plant. Read the tag carefully to ensure that you buy a plant that will

still fit long years in the future. http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/

4

DIGGING DEEPER

AN EASY TO USE APP FOR NATIVE PLANT GEEKS by Linda McMulkin, Plant Geek

Last spring, I purchased my very first app for my tablet. Of course, it is not the only app on my

devices, just the first one I wanted badly enough to pay for.

What, you ask, made this cheapskate fork over $10? Obviously, it had to be plant related and relevant

to this region, produced by known botanists, and available for Android devices. Colorado Rocky Mountain

Wildflowers fulfilled those requirements and was billed as easy to use. I downloaded the trial version

(available on Google Play), discovered that Al Schneider, a well known Colorado plantsman, was part of the

development team, found the app easy to navigate, and pulled out my credit card.

Colorado Rocky Mountain Wildflowers includes 530 wildflowers, ferns, and woody plants from the

southern Rockies, spanning an area from I-25 west to eastern Utah and the Four Corners region, plus the

southern counties of Wyoming and the northern counties of New Mexico. The focus is primarily on plants

found in the foothills and montane ecosystems, with very few plains plants. So this app won’t be particularly

useful at Lake Pueblo State Park, but a great tool at Pueblo Mountain Park or Lake Isabel.

There are several ways to search for plants. If the plant

is new to you, you can search by characteristics. A series of

drawings, words, and colors allows you to narrow the plant list

by plant type; flower shape and color; shape of the fruit or seed;

leaf arrangement, shape, and texture; plant size; and when and

where you found the plant. You don’t have to click on every

line, but each choice you make narrows the number of possible

species. By the time you hit the “Show” button, you will be

down to a short list or even to one specific plant. If you have

more than one option, click on the photo that best matches what

you see.

A page will open with photos that you can compare with

what you see. At the bottom of the page is a tab for details of

physical characteristics, flowering time, and common habitat, plus links to similar-

looking species in the database. The tidbits tab provides a list of the search

characteristics that got you to this species, and ecological details about the plant.

If you know what family or genus the plant belongs to, you can type in a

name or sort the entire database by scientific or common names. For example,

members of the Apiaceae or parsley family are fairly easy to recognize, but I have trouble remembering the

names and details of different species. I can sort the database for Apiaceae and look at the photos of the 15

listed species to find the one I’m looking at. Much easier than keying in Weber!

What if the plant you are sitting beside does not match the options in the app? It could be that you

need to reset and try again using different characteristics (the size choices never worked well for me). But,

more likely, the plant just isn’t in the app’s database. The relatively small number of plants is my biggest

complaint about the app, plus the fact that no grasses are included.

Colorado Rocky Mountain Wildflowers is one app in a group developed for western US plant lovers

by High Country Apps (http://www.highcountryapps.com/) and are available for IPhone/IPads and Android

devices. Other apps have been released for Glacier, Yellowstone, and Yosemite National Parks, for Oregon

and Washington, and the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. There is even a grass ID app for Montana.

Uh oh, I’m about to get out the credit card again. Anything to help with grass ID is tempting.

Subscribe to this quarterly horticulture newsletter by contacting Carolyn at 583-6574. Available in paper and electronic formats.

Left: The app’s home

screen offers options for

finding plants, including

vocabulary. Below:

The icons on the Search by

Characteristics page.

An Ah-Ha Moment in the Flower Garden by Pat Myers, CMG 2001

A year ago in August, I was checking for bugs and weeds in my front yard garden. I noticed a spot

close to our street about 4 feet square that appeared to be very dry with plants looking as if they were burned.

This spot included heirloom peonies, day lilies, and several other favorite species of flowers. My first

suspicion was someone threw gasoline or some type of chemical on my garden. I started monitoring every

week or so through the fall and winter and things didn’t look good.

This spring, with spade in hand, I was going to dig up some of my plants and transplant them in the

front garden. Keep in mind I had not turned any of the soil in the damaged area before. When I dug down

about two inches, the ground was hard and smelled like sewer. Needless to say I didn’t plant any flowers that

day. What to do? I thought maybe I’d get a soil test done so I went to the CSU Extension/Pueblo County

office for a soil test kit.

At the beginning of the summer I dug up some of that soil and sent it to the Soil Test Lab in Fort

Collins. I didn’t know exactly what to have them test for so I selected a few tests, explained the problems I

encountered last year, and mailed it off with hopes of getting answers to my soil issues. In early July, I

received the results from the soil test and everything appeared normal except for high phosphorus and

potassium and it was suggested I add nitrates to the soil and water deeply. However, that did not address my

problem.

I talked with a couple neighbors who suggested I contact the Pueblo City County Health Department

because it smelled like sewer. Not wanting to create any unnecessary problems, I decided to call Linda

McMulkin from CSU Extension/Pueblo County. Linda was my ‘Garden Problem Buster’ who came out the

first part of August. After digging up some of the mucky looking stuff, Linda took a whiff and said, ‘smells

like gasoline’. She asked me if there was a gas station close by and I said, ‘no’. She once again knelt and

smelled the soil and said, “Pat, this is natural gas; where is your gas meter?”

This, my friends, is when we experienced our ‘ah-ha’ moment! Directly in front of us, about 40 feet

away at the side of our house, was the gas meter. The main line was located about 10 feet from my flower

garden. Consequently, I called the gas company and they sent someone out that afternoon. They told me that

they knew a leak was somewhere close in the line as it had been detected in the spring. My response was-

thanks a lot! I was worried that our property could be condemned, and I had dead flowers!

The gas leak was located exactly where the flowers started dying and expanded over time as the gas

saturated the ground. They explained that the gas takes all the oxygen out of the soil. The stinky muck was

the roots of the plants, which had no air to survive, decaying anaerobically.

The gas line was repaired the day after it was confirmed there was a leak. The repairman’s parting

words were, “Next year your garden will be really green.” Little did he know that he was telling a 14-year

veteran of the Colorado Master Gardener program a fairytale. It will take another year to bring the soil back

to normal…IF I’m lucky! I plan to turn the soil several times while adding good topsoil and compost each

time. So, a lesson learned. If plants start looking sick, burned, the soil becomes hard as a rock with

stinky muck underneath, and the area keeps expanding, you may have a natural gas leak.

Sadly, the peonies from my husband’s grandfather’s garden – started in 1903 – are gone forever

but it looks like I will be incorporating water-wise plants in that area next spring.

Garden Tip: Save the Browns for Future Composting

Stockpile undiseased garden waste (leaves, stems, dry flowers without

seeds) for future use in your compost bin. Store the brown material in a water

tight trash can and keep available to add to the compost bin as you add kitchen

scraps this winter. Remember that adding green and brown material in equal

parts and keeping the pile moist can maintain decomposing microorganisms even

during the coldest days in Colorado. The heat generated by the decomposers can

even melt snow around the bin! Photo by

K. Schmidt

5

INTERESTING INSECTS

HUMMINGBIRD MOTH by Warren Nolan, Colorado Master Gardener, 2008

6

The delightful and beautiful hummingbird moth (Hyles lineata) seems two things in one--an insect

that mimics a bird. Like a hummingbird it has remarkable hovering capability. It can "swing-hover" or "slide

-slip", maneuvers which enable it to move around a flower, avoid predators, and stay steady in a wind. This

"mimic" is also an example of convergent evolution. It is advantageous to the hummingbird moth because

birds are one of the main predators of moths, but birds don't eat hummingbirds, so looking like a bird

protects this moth from predation.

Also known as the White-lined sphinx moth, the hummingbird moth is a member of the Sphingidae

family, under the order of Lepidoptera--the order which includes moths and butterflies. Like all Lepidoptera

their wings are covered in scales and their long tongues, when not in

use, are neatly rolled under their chins like a hose. This long

proboscis (tongue), of course, enables them to reach the nectar in

long-necked flowers. While lacking the glamour, but not the allure of

butterflies, moths perform critical pollination tasks and serve as food

for bats, birds, and even small mammals.

While they start flying in early

spring they are most active from mid-

summer into fall. They feed on

perennial flowers. And unlike most

moths which are nocturnal — the

hummingbird moth will feed during

daylight hours just like a

hummingbird. This could be because

there are more flowers present and

open during the day.

Chilly weather can ground these moths because they are ectotherms which means they rely on external

heat sources for warmth. They need warmth to maintain the high metabolic rate demanded by flight. They

will even shiver to elevate their body temperatures. Once, in flight, their plump bodies retain heat, helping

their body temperatures rise above the temperature of the air, and as their body temperature rises from 59° to

109° F, their wing beat frequency increases from 15 to 55 beats per second.

The female moths entice the males with a pheromone (aroma) they emit from glands at the tip of their

abdomen. After mating, these females lay their tiny green eggs on the underside of leaves which eventually

hatch into larvae or caterpillars (hornworms). The larvae of Hyles lineata is the most common hornworm, of

about two dozen different hornworms, found in Colorado. Hornworms, so named for the prominent horn that

rises from the dorsal side of the hind end, are also the largest caterpillars found in Colorado. They are usually

bright green with spiraling, thin, bright yellow bands and white spots, but some are predominantly black.

When they are threatened, they rear their heads and pause, reminding some people of the Great Sphinx of

Giza. And, if this posture does not deter the predator, the hornworm vomits a disgusting green mass.

While these larvae feed on a variety of plant leaves, they actually cause little injury to either garden

plants or other plants considered economically important. However, the tomato hornworm (Manduca

quiquemaculata), which feeds on tomatoes and a few related plants, is an exception. They are truly garden

pests. It is unfortunate that tomato hornworms give all hornworms a bad name because most hornworms

become the much-beloved hummingbird moth.

Once the larvae are done feeding and fully grown they drop to the ground, spin a cocoon and pupate,

partially hidden and protected by plant litter. Before you remove leaf letter consider that it provides shelter to

this pollinator. The brown pupa spends the whole winter hidden and will emerge the next spring. In warmer

climates, like the south, there may be multiple generations of hummingbird moths each summer.

For more information please refer to CSU Extension Fact Sheet 5.517 Hornworms and

Hummingbird" Moths: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05517.html.

Above: Adult moth feeding on gentian

flowers. Left: Dark form of caterpillar with

a round, green egg on the leaf below.

Photos courtesy of Whitney Cranshaw,

CSU, http://www.bugwood.org/

7

The Exceptional Paleobotany of Southern Colorado by Ed Roland, Native Plant Master, 2009, and Southern Chapter President, Colorado Native Plant Society

Most of us are aware of the famous quarries near Canon City that have populated natural history

museums around the world with the structural skeletons of fossilized dinosaurs. But how many of us know

that a region directly south of Pueblo in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico is one of the world's

most scientifically important "hotspots" for fossilized plant life?

Paleobotanists specialize in studying plants of the distant geologic

past. And, they've had plenty to study within a couple hundred miles or

so (by road) from Pueblo. Plant fossils have provided a picture of our

region on the shore of a gigantic Cretaceous Inland Seaway where

brackish, calm and relatively shallow warm water slowly ingressed over

the mid-section of our content starting about 100 million years ago

(mya).

These geologic time periods are, admittedly, incomprehensible to

short-lived mortals like us. But the evidence for the plant life that

flourished here in our "neighborhood" so long ago is captured in an extensive

fossil record. Like the dinosaur bones, many of these plant fossils have been

removed and supplied to museums.

Virtually any paleontology text includes a discussion of how fossils are, in reality, exceptionally rare.

Just the right conditions must exist for the preservation of even hard, calcified elements like bones, shells and

other persistent anatomical structures. Soft tissues -- like leaves and flowers -- tend to easily dissipate, so the

fossil record is strongly skewed toward the "durable". That's why there are very few fossilized plant locales in

the world with

enough diversity of fossilized species

fossils preserved during a significant geological timeline that something like a real ecological

history can be reconstructed.

The area just south of us more than satisfies that criteria for a number of reasons, but first and foremost

is that the botanical fossil record spans the "extinction event" that wiped out the dinosaurs and a large

Continued on page 8

Dividing Perennials in the Fall by Edith Brideau, Colorado Master Gardener, 2007

When dividing perennials, timing is important. The traditional rule of thumb is to

divide spring-blooming perennials in the fall, and to divide fall-blooming perennials in the

spring. In spring or fall, divisions have a better chance of survival because daytime

temperatures are not too intense and nights are cool. Just give the plants a month to

develop roots before the ground freezes.

The following plants are just a few of those that are best divided only in the fall:

Iris (Iris spp.), Siberian Iris (Iris siberica), Moss Pink (Phlox subulata), Poppies (Papaver

spp.), Foxtail Lilies (Eremurus spp.), Peonies (Paeonia cvs.), Sweet Woodruff (Galium

odoratum), and Arum (Arum italicum).

Fortunately, some of our favorites can be divided in either spring or fall: Blanket

Flower (Gaillardia spp.), Columbine (Aquilegia spp.), Speedwell (Veronica spicata),

Stonecrop (Sedum spectabile), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium and Achillea filipendulina), Bee

Balm (Monarda didyma), Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.), Daylilies (hemerocallis spp.), Penstemons

(Penstemon spp.), and Red Hot Pokers (Knifophia spp.).

For detailed articles on how to tell when a plant should be divided, how to divide it successfully, and a

complete list of plants that must be divided only in the fall, and those that can be divided either in spring or

fall, please visit the following website: http://www.finegardening.com/10-tips-dividing-perennial-plants.

Artist rendering of plant life south of Pueblo before the Berkeley meteor

impact. Courtesy of Ash and Tidwell,

p. 201, drawing by Paul H. Smith

Drawing courtesy of Clemson Cooperative

Extension.

Continued on page 9

8

percentage (about 75%) of other life on earth. Many theories have been proposed, but the 1980 Berkeley

Hypothesis of an approximately 10 km diameter meteor slamming into the Yucatan peninsula has

predominated to the point of general acceptance, and the botanical fossil record south of Pueblo is a

scientifically critical part of the reason why.

An analysis by paleobotanists, Jack A. Wolfe and Gary Upchurch of this area, shows a dramatic

change in the "before and after" plant-life.[1] The evidence of the impact in the geological record, known as

the "K-T Boundary," is an approximately half-inch line in the strata with debris from a space object and tiny

melted beads of quartz constituting fall-out from the massive explosion. By comparing fossils before the

impact (mostly highly diverse angiosperms) with after the impact (a major decrease in diversity and a spike in

spores from fern populations), Wolfe and Upchurch presented critical evidence to the Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences in 1987 in support of the Berkeley scenario.[2]

Botanical fossils are evidence of the climatic and environmental conditions in which they grew and, as

a result, can serve to identify and define specific geological formations and strata. Thus, they are considered to

be important "index" fossils.

For the area south of Pueblo, the fossil record shows a pre-impact climate, and plant life, that was

decidedly sub-tropical. Near the water's edge palms with fronds often greater than eight foot across rose over

100 ft. into the sky, with many smaller understory plants growing up to the shoreline and

often right into the water. Most paleoecologists seem to believe the water was saline, but

to a much lesser extent than today's sea water.

Paleobotanists have also determined little evidence of growth rings in woody

plants, indicating year-round growth without true seasonality. This makes sense since the

equator was significantly closer to where Pueblo is today. Subtropical and tropical species

like many figs and magnolias, and even representatives of breadfruit (Artocarpus) and an

early banana (Canna) have left behind exceptional fossils.

On higher, dryer ground, grapes (Vitaceae), olives (Oleaceae) and the ancestors of

hardwoods (like oaks, walnuts and maples) thrived, with little evidence of conifers. An

important exception is a fossilized sequoia that many paleobotanists consider to be an

early ancestor of the California Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). If the physiology

of sequoias is consistent with today's modern species, the conclusion is that these

uplands were often the recipients of early morning fogs or mists from the Cretaceous

Seaway.[4]

This fossil record begins about 68 mya -- a period known as the "late Cretaceous," when -- as noted

above, angiosperms predominated. The record also shows that after the impact, estimated at 65 mya, much of

the existing plant life could not survive the cataclysmic conditions. Ferns, which require less light for

photosynthesis, thrived and predominated until angiosperms once again developed and evolved well into the

following Tertiary Period and, of course, up to today.

Why should we concern ourselves with the fossilized evidence of these plants which lived so long

ago? Besides their critical role as index fossils, here are just a few other reasons:

The geological record is based on the widely accepted concept of "uniformatarianism." This implies that

our current period is just the latest phase in a consistent process of change. So, understanding the climatic

and geological past is essential for predicting the climatic and geological future.

These plants are essential components of the phylogeny and evolutionary record of modern day plants.

Sequoia obovata Knowlton- a probable ancestor of the modern day California Redwood,

Sequoia sempervirens.

Paleobotany continued from page 7

The K-T Boundary itself was first discovered on terra firma in northern New Mexico

by a group of scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratories in 1981. That discovery

proved so significant that the Smithsonian Institute removed a multi-ton chunk of rock strata

with the K-T Boundary intact for display at the national museum. Since that time, the

boundary has been found in non-marine rock strata around the world.[3]

Paleobotany continued from page 8

9

If you need any special accommodation(s) to participate in any Colorado State University Extension event, please contact CSU Extension-Pueblo

County at 719-583-6566. Your request must be submitted at least five (5) business days in advance of the event. Colorado State University,

U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.

Some, like the equisetums and gingkos, are little changed compared to their

fossilized ancestors. Many have a strong family resemblance -- such as acers

(maples), magnolias and junglans (walnuts) -- to modern species.

These plants were the basis of the food chain when they lived and

photosynthesized, just as plants are today. Without them, modern organisms

could not have evolved.

As these plants thrived and died, they sequestered

megatons of CO2 in the form of dead and compressed

vegetation. Thanks to plants from this specific

geologic period, along with the foraminifera, corals,

bivalves and the like which used carbonates to build

their structures, CO2 declined and the percent of

oxygen in the atmosphere rose to allow for the

evolution of mammals -- us humans for example.

Since carbon reacts with oxygen to produce energy,

these plants -- compressed over time into coal -- have

had a significant economic impact on southern

Colorado and northern New Mexico. For example,

the steel mill in Pueblo was dependent on the coal mines west of Trinidad, CO.

A note about flowering plants: Based on my research, there are no flowers in the fossil

record of this area. As might be expected, flowers are even more rare than botanical

elements such as leaves, stems, woody parts, etc. However, evidence abounds in the form

of fossilized pollens. Paleobotanists have become quite expert in comparative palynology,

i.e., the study of pollen.

How and why flowers evolved as a necessary adaptation is another story, but it appears

to have happened in a relative "burst" of evolutionary change -- in a process the

paleontologist Steven Jay Gould has called "Punctuated Equilibrium." This was probably due to the need for

plants to become more efficient reproducers through pollination as their CO2 advantage gradually decreased.

Editor’s Note: If you are interested in learning more about paleobotany, Ed Roland can recommend a wide

range of references. You can reach him at edwardrroland@gmail.com.

Bibliography

[1] Wolfe, J.A., and G. R. Upchurch, Jr. 1987. "Leaf Assemblages Across the Cretaceous-Tertiary

Boundary . . .," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 84:5096-5100 [22]

[2] Ibid

[3] Ash, Sidney R., and Tidwell, William D. 1976. "Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene Floras of the Raton

Basin, Colorado and New Mexico," 27th Conference Field Guide Book of the New Mexico Geological

Society, pp. 197-203

[4] Ibid, p. 200

Above Quercus rockvalensis Knowlton - a very minimally lobed early oak. Right: Sabal inquirenda Knowlton - many of these large palm fossils were left in situ because they were simply too large to remove from the strata without destroying the sample. Below: Ficus leei Knowlton - an early ancestor of the modern fig.

Fossil drawings courtesy of Lee, Willis T.

and F. H. Knowlton, 1917, U.S.G.S.

Professional Paper 101

Garden Tip: Winter Irrigation

Mark your 2015 calendar with reminders to winter water your landscape monthly. For more information on fall

and winter irrigation, go to http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.pdf.

FABULOUS FAMILIES

ULMACEAE: A FAMILY WITH A BAD REPUTATION by Linda McMulkin, CSU Extension-Pueblo County

10

Garden Tip: Winter Houseplant Care

Tropical houseplants often suffer in the fall and winter from too little light and humidity. You can supplement

both artificially. Increase light with fluorescent bulbs or “grow” lights. You can add a portable humidifier or one

attached to your heating system. Or humidify small areas by placing plants on oversized trays of moist (not wet)

gravel. Just make sure that the base of the pot is not sitting in extra water and check periodically to make sure mold

does not form in the tray.

The elm family, Ulmaceae, is often bad mouthed in southern Colorado. But, did you know that the

landscape favorite, common hackberry, is a close cousin of the reviled elm trees planted so abundantly by our

ancestors?

Ulmaceae family members are deciduous trees and shrubs that share the common traits of simple

leaves with oblique (uneven) bases, inconspicuous flowers that shed wind-blown pollen, and have watery to

slightly mucilaginous sap. The family has been divided into 2 subfamilies,

based on chemicals produced (organic chemists can look these up) and

morphological differences. The Ulmoideae (the elms) produce flowers on

previous year’s wood, dry, winged fruit called samara, and have leaves with

pinnately veined leaves whose veins branch into secondary veins that reach

the teeth on the margin. Celtoideae (the hackberries) produce flowers on

current year’s growth with seeds contained in a fleshy drupe and have leaves

whose 3 main veins diverge from the base and secondary veins that form

arches. Elm seeds contain very little endosperm, the food stored to support

the seedling as it germinates, while hackberry seeds have some endosperm.

And, the range of the subfamilies are different, with elms found mainly in the

northern temperate zone and hackberries found in more tropical and subtropical zones.

According to William Weber, author of Colorado Flora: Eastern Slope, there are no native elms in our

area, but one hackberry species, Celtis reticulata, can be found in canyons and arroyos at the base of the

mountains. Check out a blog post from Perennial Favorites about finding this species near the nursery at

http://www.pfplants.com/?p=1649.

The bad reputation the elm family suffers from is based on prolific pollen shedding, huge seed

production, the fact that the seedlings grow rapidly in a wide range of conditions (yes, hackberries too), and

the fact that elms, at least, are weak wooded. The loss of the American elm to Dutch elm disease (DED) is

often cited as another reason to hate elms.

But, there are new cultivars of American elm (Ulmus americana) on the market that are more resistant

to DED and hybrids of various Asian species that show promise for future landscapes. You can learn more

about elm cultivars at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/treereclist.pdf. Since the listed cultivars are

fairly new, the team that evaluated trees for this publication didn’t have enough data to fairly determine a

rating, so they used the Potential/Unproven option. In that same publication, you will find that common

hackberry, Celtis occidentalis, gets an A rating.

Note the oblique leaf bases in this American elm drawing from https://www.msu.edu/

course/for/101/images/amelm.gif.

Garden Tip: Protecting Tree Bark

Winter sunscald is a common problem on newly transplanted trees and thin barked species such as honeylocust,

aspen and maples. The energy from the sun warms and activates the cells of the bark. These cells then freeze when the

temperature drops. The damage appears as discolored bark, followed by cracks or patches of

bark that fall off, revealing the dead tissue beneath. Commercial tree wrap can help prevent

sunscald. Wrap the trunk from the base to the bottom branches, overlapping the wrap in a

spiral so that it will shed water. Secure the wrap with tape, but do not attach the tape to the

tree bark. Wrap trees before Thanksgiving and remove the wrap in April. Trees should

be newly wrapped each year until the bark is thick enough to resist sunscald.

11

WICKED WEEDS

HALOGETON GLOMERATUS – A LIST C NOXIOUS WEED by Marge Vorndam, Native Plant Master, 2007, and Colorado Master Gardener, 1997

As with many of the noxious weeds, Halogeton glomeratus was introduced to the Western U.S. from

Asia in the early 20th C. Another common name for this species is “Saltlover”. Halo, from the Greek

translation, means “salt” and gives a clue to why it is considered noxious.

Halogeton colonizes disturbed areas across the West, and causes poisoning of sheep and cattle due to

the high concentration of oxalate salts by this plant. In

humans, for instance, overconsumption of oxalates,

commonly found in black pepper, spinach, beet

greens, rhubarb and other foods can cause kidney

stones and gout. The plant grows in dry saline/alkaline

soils, and has an inhibiting growth effect (is

allelopathic) on nearby plants, blocking their

encroachment. A related species, H. sativus, was

grown in Spain during the 18th C. to produce soda ash

which was used in the production of glass.

Halogeton, depending on the source consulted, is either in

the Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot) Family or the Amaranthaceae

(Pigweed) Family. It is an annual that easily propagates via seed

in disturbed areas. It prolifically produces two types of seed:

black seeds which can grow within the same year after

the input of precipitation

brown seed form that can be viable for ten years.

The plant can grow as tall as 18”, with the root extending

20” into the ground. Leaves are small up to ¾ inch, cylindrical and

fleshy with terminal spike, and flowers are borne in the leaf axils (leaves resemble those of Portulaca or Ice

Plant, except much shorter). Inconspicuous green flowers are borne in leaf axils in the fall. Plants appear blue

-green in spring and summer, becoming red or yellow by fall. To see this plant up-close, follow the prairie

trail from the north end of the main Nature Center parking area. It appears on the right hand side of the

beginning of the trail.

Control is mainly cultural. Most effectively, overplanting disturbed areas with native grasses and other

floral species can out-compete this weed. There are no biological controls currently available for use, but

mechanical controls such as hand pulling and hoeing work well. The List C designation indicates that

emphasis on control is left to local agencies.

Left: Flowers are small and inconspicuous. Note the red main

stem. Below: The plant is upright

and a pretty blue-green.

Upcoming Family & Consumer Sciences Classes All classes held at CSU Extension, 701 Court St., Suite C. Contact CSU Extension-Pueblo County for more information or to

register. Payment for classes can be in cash or check, made payable to Extension Program Fund.

Guide to Living Gluten-Free

Learn how to spot hidden sources of gluten and try out new recipes on Wednesday, October 22, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

$10 registration fee due by October 15

Rock Around the “Crock”

Learn to prepare safe, nutritious meals in your crock-pot on Tuesday, November 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

$10 registration due by October 28.

Bake with an “Altitude”

Learn to adjust your favorite recipes for high altitude on Wednesday, December 10, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

$10 registration fee due by December 3.

12

GARDEN WALKS

A SANCTUARY CENTER by Cheryl DeLong, Colorado Master Gardener, 2008

A Sanctuary Center is not a typical garden. The garden/park was originally developed in 2004 and is

currently maintained with the help of the Douglas County Master Gardeners. The land is privately owned but

openly shared with the public and encourages everyone to slow down, enjoy, and contemplate the solitude

offered by this environment.

The sanctuary is made up of several gardens on about 4 acres, all linked by paths and walkways. The

design might be considered random by some visitors, with narrow walking trails wandering between the

garden areas. I felt this aligned with the original intent of the gardens; to experience solitude and quiet. The

entry areas to each garden are served by cement stairs, stepping stones, and a wooden bridge. There are many

secluded spots to just sit alone or with others and quietly soak up the environment of native plants, listen to

the birds, and smell the pines.

The Sacred Geometry Garden includes a Pa-Kua (yin and

yang), a 24-hour Sundial, a Native American Medicine Wheel, and

Platonic Solids, which celebrate the geometry of nature. Another

offering is a large labyrinth (about 1/3 mile) that allows for a slow

walk with large sitting rocks inviting you to settle and meditate.

This garden area is surrounded by large pines and provides a perfect

opportunity for reflection. As you walk the labyrinth, you pass

Wishing Trees and Prayer Ribbons.

Throughout the gardens you will

see statues, symbols from various faiths,

and small collection areas for tokens of

remembrance. The gardens are

surrounded by scrub oak, pines,

sunflowers, native grasses and flowers.

At the time I visited I saw many

gayfeather, blue flax, prickly poppies,

columbine and scarlet mallow. There is

no labeling of these plants, again encouraging one to simply relax and enjoy the

offerings of the physical structure, fragrances, and sounds of the environment.

Another treat of this garden is the Bluebird Project which is supported by the

Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Audubon Society of Greater Denver.

Throughout the gardens you will see bluebird boxes, which provide nesting sites for mountain bluebirds

visiting the open fields, meadows, trees, and shrubs. The goal of the project is to sustain and increase bluebird

populations in Colorado.

After touring the garden you come upon a building which houses a resource library focusing on self-

help, spiritual needs, art and philosophy. Surrounding this building is a wonderful Plant Select® Xeriscape

Demonstration Garden. All of the plants are labeled and add to the overall beauty of this special place. A

small gazebo with table and chairs is nearby and a variety of memorials add to the peaceful joy this garden

gives to each visitor.

The labyrinth, above, and part of the Plant Select garden, left. Photos

courtesy of C. DeLong.

Below, a mountain bluebird. Photo courtesy of Terry Spivey, USDA

Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Fall Yard and Garden Class

Composting Basics: Tuesday, October 7, 6-9 p.m., Cost, $15

To register, submit your payment (cash or check only) to our office at least

one week prior to class. Full details available at 719-583-6566 or

http://pueblo.colostate.edu/hor/hort.shtml.