Come and experience the last piece of lowland vernal pool grassland in the South Bay. The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is inviting CNPS members to guided tours in the Warm Springs Unit, a site with limited public access. These tours are being offered at different times to capture the temporal and spatial diversity of this unique site, home to many listed, rare and unusual species.
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 flowers, 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.
If you are interested 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, and 3) 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.
Wed Jul 30 @ 8:30AM - Alum Rock Park Restoration |
Fri Aug 01 @ 9:00AM - Edgewood Restoration |
Sat Aug 02 @ 8:00AM - 10:00AM Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sat Aug 02 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Cataldi Park Native Garden |
Sat Aug 02 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Kirk Park Pollinator Garden |
Mon Aug 04 Online Plant Sale |
Mon Aug 04 @ 8:30AM - Alum Rock Park Restoration |
Mon Aug 04 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Conservation Committee |
Wed Aug 06 @ 8:30AM - Alum Rock Park Restoration |
Thu Aug 07 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Transgenerational Justice for Native Plants, Animals and People, A Talk by Christopher Telomen |