Colorado Native Plant Master: Garden of the Gods

Schedule: June 4th, 11th, and 18th from 7:30AM-11:30PM. Participants must attend all three classes for course completion.

Park Description: This is a field class. There are no bathrooms open at the visitor center at the time of the class, or on the trails, so please plan accordingly. Garden of the Gods is a popular destination, known for its rock formations and picturesque views of Pikes Peak. Once a basecamp of the Ute due to it's abundant plant life and water, the park is still home to an array of native plant species.

We will introduce you to 40-50 plants, using family features and a botanical key to help identify species. Ecological relationships, human connections and the potential to use some of these plants in your landscaping will be discussed. In addition, we will emphasize understanding noxious alien plants and the challenge they present to our native environment.

Trainers:

Michele Ritchie became a Colorado Native Plant Master in 2022 and is the Food Systems and Natural Resource Specialist for CSU Extension El Paso County.

Barb has a B.S. in Biology (1978 from San Diego State University). She became a Colorado Master Gardener in 2021 and a Native Plant Master in 2022. She loves to identify native plants and is currently attempting to create a native plant area in her backyard (in a space of 10’ x 40’) using seeds and plants.

Native Plant Master Certificate: Participants who pass three NPM courses will receive a Native Plant Master Certificate. This 12 hour class fulfills 1/3 of the 36-hour coursework requirement towards certification as a Native Plant Master. Courses should be taken in different months and/or vegetation zones. Learn more here.

Required Textbook: Flora of Colorado by Jennifer Ackerfield. The 2nd edition is preferred if you need to buy this book, but the 1st edition (2015) is OK because students will be given a list of changes between the 1st and 2nd editions for plants studied during the course. Available through the Colorado Native Plant Society bookstore (https://conps.org/conps-store), local and online retail outlets, and the publisher (800-621-2736).

When/Where to Meet: Meet at the Rock Ledge Parking Lot. Class will begin at 7:30am sharp. On the first day, please arrive 15 minutes early. Google Maps pin: https://goo.gl/maps/qrvN2w4y9KuKduxg9

What to Bring: Flora of Colorado by Jennifer Ackerfield; hand lens (10X or greater) available through https://conps.org/conps-store; daypack; bug spray; water; sack lunch; rain, sun, wind protection; personal restroom items.

Special Instructions: Please come prepared for moderate to strenuous walking on hot, cold, windy, snowy or rainy days. Class will meet regardless of weather conditions.

Location Address: 3105 Gateway Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, 80904

Contact [email protected] with questions.

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NEW for 2025 Native Plant Master™ Field Courses! 

As part of your enrollment in a Native Plant Master™ Field Course, you will receive a link to two online preparatory courses. These prep courses will prepare you for your in-person field course. They are optional but strongly encouraged. 

Course Descriptions: 

Basic Field Botany & Native Plants Class: 
The class primarily focuses on developing a basic understanding of botanical terms and features that will help you identify plants in the field. The course also provides a high-level overview of how plants are scientifically classified, fostering a deeper understanding of how you will communicate about and identify them effectively.    

Native Plant Identification and Keying Class: 
This class is all about identifying native plants!  You will begin by focusing on the key characteristics of some of Colorado’s plant families - a starting point for learning native plant genera and species – which is the identity and name of the plant you are studying; and you will learn how to use a dichotomous key—a series of “either-or” questions designed to guide you to the correct identity of a plant. The dichotomous key is the heart of the Native Plant Master™ courses and developing this skill will enhance your experience with your course. To offer practical experiences, this course includes an interactive dichotomous key for hands-on practice in identifying plants.   

Special Note: 
You will need to navigate to the online registration using the link provided by your county coordinator after you’re registered for the in-person Native Plant Master™ field course. These online courses open in March, so the link will be sent in March. After registering for the online classes, please allow at least 30 minutes to receive email confirmation and login credentials. Be sure to check your SPAM folder for the login information. 

Please note that there are no refunds for open entry courses. 

Host or Publisher Colorado State University Extension: El Paso County