The California Native Plant Society and the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge are pleased to present the Discover the Vernal Pool Grassland in Your Own Backyard wildflower tours at the Warm Springs Unit in Fremont. A spring and an early summer tour highlight the many unique plants of the South Bay's largest vernal pool grassland.

These tours are for CNPS members only. If you are interested in joining a tour, please contact Aidona Kakouros at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.  Please indicate in your email:

1) which of the tours you are interested in, 2) how many guests you are bringing, 3) your CNPS Chapter, and 4) preferred email to send directions and any other notifications related to the event you are interested in.  Directions to the meeting site will be provided nearer to the event date. Space is limited.

“Kaleidoscopic” Vernal pool blooms tour, Saturday, April 19, 2025, 12:00pm to 3:30pm 

View rings of colorful blooms and pools fi lled with a tapestry of fl oral textures. We'll see species endemic to vernal pools such as the federally-endangered Contra Costa goldfi elds (Lasthenia conjugens) and its Downingia partner at Warm Springs, fl atface calicofl ower (D. pulchella). Other botanical beauties include stalked popcornfl ower (Plagiobothrys stipitatus), the rare vernal pincushion plant (Navarretia prostrata), California eryngo (Eryngium aristulatum var. hooveri), and many more.

“Power to the Pollinators” Summer Native Plant Community Tour, Saturday, June 21, 9:00am to 12:30pm

At this time of year, the dry pools are dotted with saline tolerant, warm-season perennials such as alkali heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum), alkali mallow (Malvella leprosa) and alkali weed (Cressa truxillensis). Super bloomers like common spikeweed (Centromadia pungens) and alkali heath (Frankenia salina) display masses of fl owers, providing important sources of nectar to pollinators. We’ll also seek out rare or unusual plants including Congdon's tarplant (Centromadia parryi ssp. congdonii), San Joaquin spearscale (Extriplex joaquinana) and Atriplex species.