Since the completion of my academic research work, I’ve become interested in the study and protection of Colorado’s rare plants. My work with the research team at the Gardens includes demographic monitoring, seed collection and genetic analyses of rare plant populations, focused on Colorado’s native (many endemic) species. Our goal is to learn more about the genetics of rare plant populations in order to determine which populations are most genetically pre-disposed to adaptation to potential habitat changes, as well as to bank seed for these rare plants in order to best conserve and/or re-establish endangered plant populations.