New Mexico: Native Plant Society hosts noted botanist

William A. Weber, a noted botanist, world traveler and professor emeritus at the University of Colorado in Boulder, will talk about mentoring young botanists during his keynote speech at the annual meeting of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico in Taos, Aug. 6-9. The meeting also features a trip to the Aldo Leopold house, a garden walk with landscape designer Judith Phillips and other trips to explore Rio Grande riparian areas and sub-alpine sites at Wheeler Peak. Weber, who turns 91 in November, is a noted naturalist and lichen expert. He has named dozens of the little symbiotic joinings of fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. Weber, who speaks several languages, has published or edited more than 20 books and 200 scientific papers. The Native Plant Society of New Mexico works to educate people about the importance of native plants. Workshops at the annual meeting will cover such topics as seed collection and propagation, grass identification and photographing native plants. To register, contact Ann Smith at 575-737-9611. The annual meeting will be at the Best Western Kachina Lodge in Taos. Rooms are available by calling 575-758-2275.