Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Sonoran Desert: Phoenix Area

Of the four U.S. deserts the Sonoran is the hottest and most arid, but it ALSO happens to be the most botanically diverse…being home to a large number of edible, medicinal, and utilitarian plants. The fall season, after the searing heat of summer has subsided, is the IDEAL time to explore this majestic landscape of valleys, riparian canyons, and desert mountains. Join us as we learn about a wide variety of useful plants (both common and obscure) found growing in the spectacular wild lands found just outside the city limits. Topics to be covered during class include: field botany/plant I.D, plant family characteristics, legal-ethical harvesting/processing/preparation methods, edible/medicinal/utilitarian uses, regional ethnobotany, plant toxicology (plus tips on how to avoid poisonous look-alike species), natural history, plant conservation and at-risk species, sampling of a variety of wild edible & medicinal plant preparations, and more! Our study will emphasize a dynamic sensory awareness of the plants via close observation, touching, tasting, and smelling. This class should prove to be insightful and rewarding for anyone interested in learning more about the flora of this unique bioregion.

-FALL SESSION- (North Side: Mazatzal Mountains)
Date/Time: Saturday, October 24 (2020). 9am-3pm.
Location: Near Sunflower, AZ.

Detailed directions and other more specific class info (including carpool networking) will be emailed out to the registered/paid students by October 14. IMPORTANT NOTE: this message will be sent to the email associated with your PayPal transaction (and for some people this may not be their primary email).

Instructor: Tellur Fenner of the Blue Wind School of Botanical Studies.

Make sure to bring: Water, lunch, notebook, hat/sunscreen, rain gear, and a camera.