Vernal Pool Botany Field Trip with Allison Titus

Vernal pools, or temporary pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals, are a unique feature of the Santa Rosa Plain. Every year is different for vernal pool flora, which depends on many factors such as timing of rainfall, total amount of rainfall and daytime temperatures, to name a few. This botanical field trip will begin in Heron Hall with a brief overview of Santa Rosa Plain vernal pool ecology and the Laguna Foundation vernal pool conservation program, followed by a tour of one to two vernal pool sites where we will identify plants and talk about vernal pool conservation goals and challenges. We aim to find many different native vernal pool flowers and grasses, and possibly the rare Burke’s goldfields. The site(s) will be identified just prior to the field trip, but may include both natural and created vernal pools.

COST: $30, sliding scale (Pre-registration required)

NOTE: Vernal pools may be dry or holding water in late April, depending on rainfall for the season, hiking boots or waterproof boots will be required, depending on the amount of spring rainfall. Walking will be over short distances but on uneven and possible very wet ground. Because parking is often limited, we will carpool from Heron Hall to the field sites.

Allison Titus joined the Laguna Foundation in February 2019. After growing up in Mount Shasta, California, she moved to Santa Cruz to complete her degree in Environmental Studies, and became completely fascinated by both natural history and outdoor leadership. She most recently worked in vegetation management on Mount Tamalpais, surveying the vast coastal flora for invasive, rare, and grassland plants. An active volunteer for the California Native Plant Society, she is thrilled to share one of the best kept local secrets of the Santa Rosa Plain with other botany enthusiasts.