Join other CNPS members as we celebrate a Chapter tradition of welcoming the New Year with a walk to and picnic at Franklin Point, which is part of the Año Nuevo State Preserve on the San Mateo County coast. We will be exploring as we casually walk towards Franklin Point, which is the most botanically interesting area of the park.

We will be starting from the North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead which is located south of Pescadero on Highway 1, just north of the Santa Cruz County line.

We’ll enjoy ocean views, coastal prairie including silver bur ragweed (Ambrosia chamissonis), California goldenbush (Ericameria ericoides), coastal sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala) and Argentina anserina (Potentilla anserina); dune including yellow sand verbena (Abronia latifolia), pink sand verbena (Abronia umbellata), seaside heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) and American dunegrass (Eleymus mollis); sea cliff bluff lettuce (Dudleya farinosa), fleshy jaumea (Jaumea carnosa), raptors, songbirds and maybe marine mammals.

As this is a day to have fun at the beach with fellow Chapter members, the ending time and depth of botanical discussion may be extended depending on participants.

Bring binoculars and layers of clothing for variable coastal conditions including wind, sun, precipitation and fog. We will be walking on sand dunes. Bring a lunch or snacks and fluids. Extreme bad weather cancels.