Join CNPS members as we celebrate a Chapter tradition of welcoming the New Year with a walk to and BYO picnic at Franklin Point, which is part of the Año Nuevo State Preserve on the San Mateo County coast.

We will be exploring our surroundings as we casually walk towards Franklin Point, which is the most botanically interesting area of the park. We will be star ting from the North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead, which is l ocated south of Pescadero on Highway 1, just north of the Santa Cruz County line. We’ll enjoy ocean views, California native plants and raptors, songb irds and maybe marine mammals.

Coastal prairie flora we expect to see includes silver bur ragweed (Ambrosia chamissonis), California go ldenbush (Ericameria ericoides), coastal sagewort (Artemisia p ycnocephala) and Argentina anserina (Potentilla anserina).&nb sp;

Expected dune flora includes yellow sand verbena (Abronia l atifolia), pink sand verbena (Abronia umbellata), sea side he liotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) and American dunegrass (E leymus mollis). We also expect to see sea cliff bluff lettuce (Dud leya farinosa) and fleshy jaumea (Jaumea carnosa). As this is a day to have fun sharing nature at the beach with fellow Chapter members, the end time and depth of botanical or fauna discussion may depend on part icipants’ preferences.

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 weather cancels.

Space is limited so please reserve your spot by goi ng to our Chapter’s Meetup page to sign up. Driving directions and parking tips are provided on the Meetup page.

Before signing up, please read the Año Nuevo State Park restrictions at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523.

Note that there are no bathrooms at Franklin Point. Flush toilets are located at the main entr ance of Año Nuevo State Park, which may require payment to enter. For more information, contact Nabeel Al-Shamma at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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