Explore human/agave co-evolution across the desert southwest on an exciting adventure at the crossroads of archaeology and botany. Century plants developed by indigenous pre-Columbian Native Americans are still found where they were planted hundreds of years ago. Funded by the Friends of the Sun City Libraries. Watch for other Science Spark events every other month on a Monday!

 

Ron Parker is the author of Chasing Centuries: The Search for Ancient Agave Cultivars Across the Desert Southwest, a one-of-a-kind travel-history book that takes the reader along on an exciting and little known adventure at the crossroads of archaeology and botany. He is an outdoorsman, xeric plant enthusiast, and amateur botanist who spends half his time gardening and the other half exploring natural habitat across Arizona and neighboring states, primarily chasing agaves and archaeological sites. He has been studying agave populations in Arizona for many years, and has been out in the field with renowned botanists and regional archaeologists. When not under the open sky, Ron maintains the well-known xeric plant discussion forum, Agaveville.org, an impressive online repository for information on agaves and other succulent plants.

Become a citizen scientist by checking out a Citizen Science kit and sharing your observations with working scientists! For more information, and to check availability, see:

Citizen Science at the library