The Highlands Center for Natural History is conducting two new classes coming up in August and September. The first program on August 16th, is “Sex in the Wild: Co-evolution of Plants and their Pollinators” from 9 a.m. to noon.  Botanist, Faith Roelofs will talk about the origin and function of flowers and then you will have a chance to dissect some flowers to learn their basic structures related to reproduction. Investigate the many adaptations that plants have to collect pollen and produce seeds as well as attract pollinators.  Insects and birds play interesting roles in plant reproduction and have unique adaptations for pollination of many flowering plants.  You will have an opportunity to see pollen grains, insect and flower structures under a microscope.  Then, through photos, zoom through a season as our different local plants “bloom” and transfer pollen from one to another. Starting with Juniper and other conifers that decorate the air with billions of pollen grains blown on the wind in the early spring, to early spring perennials that attract flies, bees and hummingbirds. There will be a walk around the Highlands Center campus to see annual flowering plants that pop up after the monsoon rains and bloom rapidly before cool and dry conditions set in and investigate their pollination strategies.  Tuition for this three hour class is $25 for Highlands Center members or $30 for non-members.

In September the Center is also offering, The Surprise of Grasses with botanist, Cheryl Casey, on Saturday, September 20th from 9:00 am to noon. Ever wondered about grasses — which is which, which are native, which are exotic and invasive?  This is the day you can at least begin to delve into the identification of this complex plant.  Never easy but always fascinating and challenging, grasses and their flowers grace our landscape providing beauty for our eyes as well as habitat for pronghorn and many other native species.  Cheryl is a botanist with a special love for these lovely plants, and the ability to share that love and knowledge with others.  Tuition for this three hour class is $25 for Highlands Center members or $30 for non-members. 

All classes take place at the Highlands Center for Natural History at 1375 S. Walker Rd in Prescott.

Pre-Registration is required, please call 776-9550 for more information or visit the Center’s website at http://www.highlandscenter.org/ .