Arboretum at Flagstaff

The Arboretum at Flagstaff will enhance the management, care, and use of its Penstemon collection as part of its mission to increase understanding, appreciation, and conservation of plants and plant communities native to the Colorado Plateau. The project will implement strategies to improve soil and microclimate conditions to optimize growth of Penstemon in the garden, create a five year inventory schedule to examine each portion of the Penstemon collection and voucher 50 percent of the collection. The project includes the development and installation of interpretive signage about conservation issues that impact Penstemon such as pollinator decline, grazing and climate change, creation of K-12 STEM educational resources for regional schools, and visits to other Penstemon collections to enhance staff skills on Penstemon management and care. The project supports the Arboretum's national certification from the North American Plant Collections Consortium, which demonstrates commitment to curating a collection at the highest professional level, and to making the collection available for increased distribution and research while promoting public awareness of conservation issues.