Saturday, August 16

2025 Native Grass ID Workshop - Saturday, August 16, from 10:00am - 1:00pm

Join Raylene Owen and Heather Koch for an informative presentation and workshop to learn about identifying Colorado native grasses.

By Native Plant Master Program - Foothills to Plains

Date and time

Saturday, August 16 · 10am - 1pm MDT

Location

Arapahoe County CSU Extension

6934 South Lima Street Suite B Englewood, CO 80112 United States

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

Event lasts 3 hours

Join us for this indoor workshop designed as a starter class in building grass knowledge and we hope to leave everyone with the feeling of "I can do this!"

This workshop will be a mix of classroom presentation along with a hands-on look at several grass species using a hand lens. This will include specimens that will help you understand grasses as they grow from seed to flowering plants and how each growth stage effects the ease of plant ID. You will learn sight identification and characteristics of 10 common Colorado grasses, along with some anatomical dissection. Details of grass structure will be presented and finally we will see how these details are utilized in organizing a standard grass key. A quick review of the differences between sedges, rushes, dicots and grasses will also be included.

This course does not count toward the Native Plant Master certification.

TRAINERS:

Heather Koch has a Master of Science in Cell Biology and is a Certified Public Accountant. Since retirement she has focused her learning on the macro rather than the cellular side of biology, plants! Her volunteer work included the CSU Master Gardener Program, the Jefferson County Diagnostic Clinic, the Douglas Land Conservancy, Douglas County Open Space, and teaching in the Native Plant Master Program.

Raylene Owen is an Elbert County Master Gardener and has served in the CSU Master Gardener program for 33 years. She is a CSU Native Plant Master Trainer. She earned a Bachelor of Science from CSU with a double major in General Agriculture and Bio Science and a Master of Science from CSU in Botany and Plant Taxonomy, and is a CSU certified Riding and Horsemanship Instructor and Judge. Raylene taught secondary biology for 36 years. She has published numerous papers in professional journals and for the Elbert County Master Gardener news letter. She is also a working member of the Cherry Creek Watershed Stewardship Partners and is a CSU Wildlife Master.

NATIVE PLANT MASTER:

This native grass identification workshop does not count towards a Native Plant Master certificate. Please see our other 3-day NPM certification courses if you would like to become a certified Native Plant Master. Learn more about Foothills to Plains Native Plant Master program here.

WHEN & WHERE TO MEET:

This class will be held at the Arapahoe County CSU Extension office which is located in an Arapahoe County complex. When you pull into the complex, pass the DMV on your right and go straight until you get to the stop sign. Turn left and the CSU Extension office will be on your left, next to the Arpaphoe County Open Spaces. There is plenty of parking around this building. Class will start promptly at 10:00am, please give yourself plenty of time to arrive and get settled before class starts. There are bathrooms at this facility.

Arapahoe County CSU Extension

6934 Soth Lima Street, Suite B

Englewood, CO 80112

WHAT TO BRING:

Pen or pencil, notepad, and camera to take notes, hand lens (10x), water, snack.

Organized by

Native Plant Master Program - Foothills to Plains

The Foothills to Plains Native Plant Master Program offers classes in Arapahoe, Douglas and Elbert counties. We offer different ways to engage and learn about native plants, local ecosystems, and natural resources with courses geared for novice to advanced learners.

If you are new to learning about native plants, consider signing up for a one-day class. Topics may include: introduction to native plants, botany and common plant families, keying practicums, soil chemistry and watershed health, weed walks, and build your own native plant and pollinator garden.

To develop a deeper understanding of native plants, we offer full 12-hour Native Plant Master (NPM) courses that may be counted toward a Native Plant Master Certificate.

Training

Native Plant Master (NPM) courses are offered at various open spaces, state parks, and other public natural areas. Each NPM course is a 12-hour commitment made up of three, four-hour sessions that meet weekly. NPM courses are taught in the field using living examples of the native flora in Colorado. Each course offers a perspective on the local ecosystem and plant life. Topics for each course include:

Session 1: Plant identification with an emphasis on scientific names, families and use of a botanical key.
Session 2: Ecological relationships, including non-native plants.
Session 3: Landscape, food and other human uses.

Native Plant Master Certificate

To become certified as a Native Plant Master, complete 36 hours of field training in three NPM courses. Classes may be taken in any county. Upon successfully completing the training, participants are awarded the Native Plant Master certification.

For more information, visit the Foothills to Plains Native Plant Master Program website.

You can also sign up to receive notifications about future class offering here. For questions on specific classes, please email Dawn Fradkin at dfradkin@arapahoegov.com.

Colorado State University Extension provides information and education and encourages the application of research-based knowledge in response to local, state and national issues affecting individuals, youth, families, agricultural enterprises and communities of Colorado. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. Colorado State University Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. If you have a disability for which you seek accommodation, please notify dfradkin@arapahoegov.com at least 30 days before the event.