March 19, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds

The Colorado Native Plant Society has crafted a user-friendly, pictorial guide to hundreds of the Southwest’s most common native plants, most of which are ideal for use in gardens. Utilizing a combination of color photographs, botanical illustrations and written descriptions, their book, Common Southwestern Native Plants: An Identification Guide, provides the user with everything needed to identify those elusive plants lining the byways and trails of the region. The authors have even included valuable information on distribution and habitat, medicinal and wildlife uses and big-tree records for many species. Signed copies of the book will be available for sale, and thanks to Maria’s Bookshop, a portion of the proceeds will go to the La Plata County Master Gardener Program.

Lunch and learn session will be Tuesday, March 19, 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds in Durango. There is no charge.