D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
March 2010
Plant People
Native-plant experts and advocates Jack and Martha Carter are role models for those who prefer to plant the species that belong here.
"Leave the land alone and plant the species that belong here," advises Jack Carter, the 81-year-old botanist who with his wife, Martha, stands among the region's most ardent and active native plant conservationists.
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Martha and Jack Carter as photographed for |
My interview with them begins at the Carter homestead in a grove of pinyons (Pinus edulis). Suddenly, a flurry of juncos and jays wings boldly through the trees — a visual assertion that they do "belong here" among vital pinyon habitat. For my sake, Jack clarifies that he and Martha are not gardeners. "We're just plant people."
Plant people indeed.
The Carters' property, spanning 12 acres outside Silver City, features an arboretum of 175 plant species, 90-plus attendant bird species and other fauna. An on-site herbarium contains almost 1,300 plant specimens — an educational tool for botany students, Native Plant Society members and for research related to the Carters' own publications, including guides to both New Mexico and Colorado native trees and shrubs.
Beyond all this, two endowments exist in the Carters' name that fund scholarship in the sciences and research directed toward native plant conservation and education. The newer one is administered by the Native Plant Society of New Mexico (NPSNM).
Dr. William Norris, professor of botany and biology at Western New Mexico University, credits the Carters with re-energizing NPSNM (which will hold its statewide conference this August in Silver City). Norris recalls how meeting attendance soared under their contagious enthusiasm.
The Gila Native Plant Society will hold its eighth annual Native Plant Sale from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, March 13, on the third floor of the WNMU Student Memorial Building. The public is invited to place orders for plants at that time, and will have an opportunity to view an ongoing slide show featuring the native plants offered for sale. Local landscape designers will offer advice and answer questions about landscaping with natives. Reference books will be available for use in placing plant orders and will also be for sale. Plants ordered on March 13 may be picked up on Saturday, April 24, at Penny Park, in conjunction with Earth Day activities at the park. |
Norris takes students to the Carter property, where signs identify about 60 plant species. He uses The Trees and Shrubs of New Mexico by Jack Carter as a course textbook, guarding the copies that his students have reused year after year while awaiting publication of the revised edition. In the interim, he informs me that used paperback copies of the 1998 edition sell for "$60 and up on Amazon."
The Carters' enthusiasm goes hand-in-hand with their admitted obsessiveness. As gray panthers on-a-mission ("gray santolinas" on-a-mission just doesn't resound!), the couple seek to underscore the crucial interconnectedness between plants and people. Jack calls it a "missing link in our society — that more laymen aren't aware of the significance of plants in their lives or own back yards." He wants people to understand that "the green plant holds the future of all life on earth."
It strikes me that age has dulled neither the Carters' edge nor convictions. Their amiable demeanor and lively banter seems to reflect a fulfilling, well-lived life, encompassing a 59-year-old marriage and three children.
Both appear to be fiddle-fit and wear sturdy, sensible shoes. Later in the day, Jack plans to workout at the Wellness Center; Martha may get in some quilting time.
The statuesque and comfortably attired Martha projects the steadfast mien of an elementary-school teacher with 20 years under her belt. Described by several local botanists as "a fine photographer and naturalist," Martha maintains indoors responsibilities that include sales representative for the Carters' business, Mimbres Publishing. She also helps to compile and revise the next edition of Trees and Shrubs of New Mexico.
In retirement, Jack pursues projects that he refers to as "things you do when you're old." Among them is maintaining a database of l,365 vascular plants for the Gila National Forest. The data include new and introduced species, as well as rare and endangered ones.
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Wild Plum (Prunus americana) in flower. |
Jack's academic career included 23 years at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, where he retired as a professor emeritus.
"C.C. was an elitist, wonderful place with great research facilities," he says. "All courses were set up on a three-and-a-half-weeks plan that enabled my students to study field botany, morphology and taxonomy throughout the country." Jack recalls leading field trips to the Southwestern Research Station in Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains, the Gila Wilderness, Texas' Big Bend region and to "the best botanical library in North America" at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Over the years he has taught scores of botanists — urging them to work independently because "if you get out of this course and still need me, I've failed."
Buying land here in 1988 was a direct result of Jack's love for the region explored on those field trips — a region where a number of life zones assemble and offer thrilling examination of the natural world.
In a display of wise eccentricity, Jack instructed a local Realtor to find property "where nine species from my favorite plants list had to exist." Undaunted, the agent found a parcel containing seven species off the aforementioned list. The deal went through, and two years later the Carters built their home.
A household focal point now is the library, where Jack is selectively selling a lifetime collection of natural-science books to help support grants made by the Carters' Conservation Fund. Its endowment provides funding for research and education. Grantees include herbaria in New Mexico, graduate students, environmental organizations and city gardens.
As library sales occur, it is Martha who packages up the books because "for Jack," she laments, "parting with them is like a burial."
A happier occasion, however, looms with the approaching growing season when the Carters make their annual botanizing trek. Martha and Jack, creatures and plants, will all ultimately benefit from their field work. And the rest of us may find inspiration in two role models who are just plant people.
Information on supporting the Conservation Fund endowment is available from Native Plant Society of New Mexico website at npsnm.unm.edu or send your contribution to Sandra D. Lynn, Administrative Coordinator, NPSNM, PO Box 35388, Albuquerque, NM 87176.
Southwest Gardener columnist Vivian Savitt gardens at Ditch Cottage in Silver City.