Calendar of Events
For our Google Calendar of Events, click here
Official
CNPS Events and those of special interest to plant-lovers!
Upcoming Events:
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About Events
All events are subject to change - please check back here often for updates, additions, cancellations, etc. For trips involving traveling any distance to meet, it's also a good idea to check with the trip leader the day before to make sure nothing has changed.
March
- March 13, Monday, 5-6:30 pm: Tri-Valley Advisory Board Meeting, Chalfant Community Center
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Nick Buckmaster of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be giving us some information about the effects of Tri-Valley water overdraft on Fish Slough and some strategies happening that we might support going forward. Fish Slough is a Area of Critical Environmental Concern and supports rare plants as well as the Endangered Endemic Owens Valley Pupfish, so pumping from this watershed is of interest to CNPS as well - please consider attending.
- March 15, Wednesday, 6 pm: Bristlecone Chapter Board Meeting, (Online via Zoom), Bristlecone Chapter Event
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All members are welcome to join. Contact our Secretary, Kathleen Nelson, at secretary@bristleconecnps.org for the Zoom link
- March 18, Saturday, 9 am: Bristlecone Chapter Native Plant Garden, Bristlecone Chapter Event
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Join Sue Weis every third Saturday, 9:00 am, to help work in our plot of native plants at the CNPS Bristlecone Chapter Plot, Bishop Community Demonstration Garden in Bishop City Park, 688 N. Main St. Workdays will be canceled if raining or snowing. Questions? Contact sue.weis98@gmail.com
- March 23, Thursday, 1-4 pm, ONLINE: Rare Plant Treasure Hunt and Vegetation Sampling Training, CNPS
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This is an introductory webinar for participants to build skills in vegetation sampling while conducting Rare Plant Treasure Hunts. Amy Patten and Jennifer Buck-Diaz will discuss applications of Rare Plant Treasure Hunt surveys and of fine-scale vegetation sampling, classification, and mapping. Registration for the free webinar at https://www.cnps.org/education/workshops
- March 23, Thursday, 6-7:30 pm, ONLINE: Black Holes, White Gold: A Floristic Inventory of the Silver Peak Range, Esmeralda County, NV, with Peri Lee Pipkin, Masters student, Claremont University, 2022 WMRC Mini Grant and Bristlecone Chapter DeDecker Grant Recpient.
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Peri Lee is conducting a floristic inventory of the Silver Peak mountains in Esmeralda County, Nevada. These desert mountains are arid yet full of incredible biodiversity, and range from valleys of alkali wetlands, cactus flats to red rock canyons, and peaks bearing lupines and bristlecone pines. There are several species of interest in the area, including the endemic and endangered Tiehm’s buckwheat, and the rare plant Tecopa Bird’s Beak. In addition to this floristic inventory, Peri Lee is also writing a conservation plan in order to preserve the threatened population of Tecopa’s Bird’s Beak that occurs in the alkali wetlands. Registration required via Zoom. This talk will be recorded. FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
- March 25, Saturday: Deadline for public input on Salt Creek Boardwalk, Death Valley National Park
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Salt Creek Boardwalk Civic Engagement The National Park Service (NPS) is conducting civic engagement on the proposed replacement of Salt Creek Boardwalk Trail in Death Valley National Park. The NPS is planning this project in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration. A historic flash flood on August 5, 2022, destroyed the boardwalk and carried pieces of it over a mile into designated Wilderness. The NPS proposes to replace the accessible boardwalk, access road, parking lot, toilet and interpretive signs to maintain opportunities to view the endemic Salt Creek pupfish while simultaneously protecting the fish and its fragile habitat and more. The NPS is asking for public input on the proposed action and potential alternatives, environmental issues that should be addressed, and considerations regarding visitor experience. The NPS will use this feedback when starting the design process in late March. More information here. Public comments should be entered here by March 25, 2023. Comments can also be mailed to: Death Valley National Park, ATTN: Salt Creek Boardwalk Replacement, P.O. Box 579, Death Valley, CA 92328 (postmarked by March 25).
- March 31-April 1: Maturango Museum’s Annual Wildflower Exhibit, 100 E. Las Flores Ave., Ridgecrest
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Maturango Museum’s Annual Wildflower Exhibit 100 E. Las Flores Ave., Ridgecrest The exhibit showcases the wildflowers that grow in the watershed area of the Indian Wells Valley. This watershed area includes canyons as far north as Fossil Falls and as far south as Horse Canyon. Volunteers spend a day in late March combing a specific area for the plants that are growing and blooming. We will also feature presentations by students connected to the California Botanic Garden. The students will give presentations on their areas of study.
Nina House is the guest speaker for 2023 Maturango Museum Wildflower Exhibit. Nina will give a presentation of her study area, “A Vascular Flora of the Manter and Salmon Creek Watersheds in the Southern Sierra Nevada, Tulare County, CA,”on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 3 pm at the Maturango Museum. More information about the Wildflower Exhibit and presentations will be in the March/April newsletter. The Maturango Museum hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. Website is www.maturango.org and phone number is (760) 375-6900.
April
- April 1: GLORIA Great Basin Peak Opportunity Fellowships 2023 APPLICATION DEADLINE
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GLORIA Great Basin (www.gloriagreatbasin.org) surveys have long been an amazing opportunity for students and recent graduates to gain invaluable field experience in botany and field ecology while making connections with their peers and professionals in non-profits, academia, and in state and federal agencies. However, GLORIA Great Basin also recognizes that there are marginalized groups that face barriers which exclude them from research opportunities, especially for opportunities in remote mountains that pose unique challenges with required transportation, field gear, and time. Through our new Peak Opportunity Fellowships, GLORIA Great Basin will fully support two students (upper-division undergraduate or graduate students) to join us on White Mountains or Sweetwater Mountains surveys this summer. We will provide the successful applicants with transportation, field gear, room and board, and wages (totaling $2,500 per student), and mentorship (e.g., facilitating networking, providing guidance on job applications, etc.) both leading up to and following the field campaign. Fieldwork will be either July 16-23 in the White Mountains and/or July 25-31 in the Sweetwater Mountains.
Fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis and we encourage students that self-identify along one or more of the following axes of diversity to apply:
- First-generation college student (neither parent/guardian having completed a baccalaureate degree);
- Member of an ethnic or racial group that has been historically excluded from graduate education and STEM, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous (American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Native Pacific Islander) and/or Latinx;
- Other groups that have been historically excluded from graduate education and STEM, including but not limited to those who manage a disability, identify as LGBTQ+, military veterans, holders of DACA, TPS, refugee, or asylee status, and single parents.
The awardee will be selected by GLORIA Great Basin Board with the following selection criteria:
- Extent to which the candidate enhances the diversity of the GLORIA Great Basin community
- Interest of the student in global change and conservation in mountains
- Overall experiential strength of the applications
To apply, please submit a 1) a CV including 1-2 references, and 2) a 1-page statement that describes your current research interests, self-identification of axes of diversity, and how this fellowship will contribute to your future goals to brian@gloriagreatbasin.org. The application deadline is April 1, 2023.
- April 6, Thursday, 6 pm: Guess who is coming to stay? Impacts from an extended visit by a family of atmospheric rivers, December 27, 2022 to January 16, 2023, with Sue Burak, ONLINE (White Mountain Research Center public lecture)
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Sue Burak has been fascinated by snow, weather and avalanches in the eastern Sierra for many winters. Past project include study of snow properties in the Sierra Nevada during NASA’s recent SnoEx field campaign, collecting snow properties in the boreal forests of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, to on-going research into the mysteries of glide avalanche formation and release on Olmsted Point in Yosemite National Park. This talk presents on-going efforts to unravel the relationship between specific weather, climate and snowpack factors that contributed to numerous large magnitude avalanches during December 2022 and January. This talk will be recorded. FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Register Here
- April 15: May-June Bristlecone Chapter Newsletter Deadline
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Today is the deadline for submissions for the May-June Bristlecone Chapter Newsletter to our Newsletter Editor, Elaine Chow, at newsletter@bristleconecnps.org. Contact Elaine with any questions.
- April 21-23, Friday-Sunday: Owens Lake Bird Festival
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Since 2015, Friends of the Inyo’s Owens Lake Bird Festival in Lone Pine, CA has been celebrating the migration of thousands of birds as they alight at Owens Lake to replenish their strength before continuing their transcontinental journey along the Pacific Flyway, which extends from Alaska to Patagonia. Owens Lake has been designated a Nationally Significant Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy. This Festival is more than just about birding, and outings are designed to cover topics that include botany, photography, geology, local history and culture, and more to complement the experience. To find out the scheduled activities and register, go to: https://friendsoftheinyo.org/birdfestival/
- May 7, Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm: Rising from the Ashes, Hogback Fire Area near Lone Pine, with leaders: Richard Potashin & Nancy Hadlock; Bristlecone Chapter Field Trip
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Fires have been demonized for centuries. However, fires can produce a positive effect. Following wildland fires, some plant seeds are stimulated by the flames and fertilized by the ashes. What comes up the following years can be a profusion of plant species that have not been viewed for years. Join the BLM volunteer leaders in search of what has appeared this season following 2021's fire season. Meet at Moffitt Ranch turn-off from Hwy 395 (about 3 miles south of Manzanar). High clearance vehicles recommended. Bring water, hats, snacks/ lunch, boots. Any questions, contact 760-258-6574 or aspenluv1@gmail.com
- May 27, Saturday, 7 am: Black Canyon and Marble Canyon, White Mountains, Bristlecone Chapter Event, Leader: Jerry
Zatorski
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Black Canyon begins at about 4500 ft at its opening on the alluvial fan. From there we will head up-canyon making stops along the way as the flowers dictate. At about 5500 ft Marble Canyon forks off to the east, and we’ll hike up to the Montenegro Spring area at about 7000 ft. We will also hike a bit up Black Canyon to at least Lower Black Canyon Spring. At these elevations many botanical treats can be found, and with some determination and little luck, species such as Broom Milkvetch, Buckwheat, Desert Crab Apple, Dwarf Ninebark and Mono Penstemon are all possible and may only scratch the surface here. Don’t forget binoculars! This is not only a great location for plants, but is also an excellent place to see and hear hummingbirds flying about defending breeding territories along with other passerines all in full breeding plumage and song. There will be about 5 miles of hiking, at least half of it up hill. Participants should bring lunch, snacks and plenty of fluids, field guides, hand lens. Dress for the weather conditions, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes... 4WD vehicles with clearance are strongly recommended as the road up Black Canyon is always unpredictable. We will meet at 7:00 AM at the junction of Warm Springs Rd. and East Side Rd. For more information contact Jerry at jerryzat@gmail.com.
- June 15: July-August Bristlecone Chapter Newsletter Deadline
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Today is the deadline for submissions for the March-April Bristlecone Chapter Newsletter to our Newsletter Editor, Elaine Chow, at newsletter@bristleconecnps.org. Contact Elaine with any questions.
- July 15, Saturday, 10am-4pm: Upslope and into the sky: alpine plant communities and climate change in the
White Mountains, CA, Bristlecone Chapter Event, Leader: Kaleb Goff
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Meet at the Sheep Pass Parking Lot, White Mountains, CA: (37.531658, - 118.205511), Join PhD student and enthusiastic field botanist Kaleb Goff on a field trip to explore the alpine plant communities of the austere yet stunning White Mountains. Learn about the delicate balance of life in these environments, and how these communities are being impacted by climate change. From the delicate blooms of Townsendia to the robust culms of Calamagrostis, see firsthand the adaptations that allow these plants to exist in extreme conditions. Explore the multitude of microhabitats that characterize alpine landscapes, and leave with a renewed sense of wonder. I imagine a relaxed walk and exploration from ~ 10am to 4pm, with time for lunch included. The total walking distance would be about 2 miles, though some of this is steep, rocky and off-trail.
- August 15: September-October Bristlecone Chapter Newsletter Deadline
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Today is the deadline for submissions for the September-October Bristlecone Chapter Newsletter to our Newsletter Editor, Elaine Chow, at newsletter@bristleconecnps.org. Contact Elaine with any questions.
- Saturday, August 26, 8 am: Saddlebag Lake and Hummingbird Lake, Bristlecone Chapter Event, Leader Jerry
Zatorski
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This will be a backcountry hike from the parking lot at Saddlebag Lake. The trail around Saddlebag Lake is well maintained and the views of the back side of Yosemite are spectacular. The hike around Saddlebag Lake is relatively flat, and once on the northern end of the lake we’ll head north making our way up to Hummingbird Lake, and maybe a little further on trails and some cross country. Most of this area is in the alpine zone, above tree line, and the snows should have receded enough for us to be greeted by many alpine species. Depending on your level of fitness, this is a moderate to strenuous hike at high elevation (all above 10,000 ft), and is only recommended for those in good hiking condition. This trip will take most of the day and participants should bring plenty of fluids and food, field guide, camera, a hand lens, and dress for weather. We will meet at the Saddlebag Lake parking lot at 8:00 AM. From Lee Vining, go west 9.8 miles up SR 120 (Tioga Pass Rd), just after the first lake on the left (Ellery Lake) take the right turn to Saddlebag Lake and go 2.5 miles to the trail head. For more information contact Jerry at jerryzat@gmail.com.
May
June
July
August
Being Planned:
Check the CNPS state website at https://www.cnps.org/education/workshops for 2023 workshops or to sign up to get their announcements.
In the past, the Bristlecone Chapter has hosted two events on alternate years – a Spring or Summer Sojourn and the Bristlecone Chapter Banquet. We haven't held these in a number of years, but they could be revived if there are more volunteers and interest! In 2013 we held a Spring Sojourn in Big Pine. The Sojourn is a weekend of field trips, evening programs and visiting. In 2009 it was held in July at the Crooked Creek Facility in the White Mountains. In 2011 and 2012 we did not hold a special event due to lack of available volunteers. The 2010 Banquet was held in July at the Crowley Lake Community Center. In order to continue hosting these events, we need volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering to help organize events or to lead a trip, contact any board member!
About Bristlecone Chapter Events
Bristlecone Chapter Field Trips:
Every year the Bristlecone Chapter plans a variety of excursions to interesting and floriferous places. Our trips usually begin in late March to points in the low desert of our region, such as Death Valley or the Mojave Desert, where the flower display begins in early spring. We generally follow the flowers up in elevation as spring and summer progress, ending our quest for blooms in the highest regions of our awesome surrounding mountains in mid-summer. Our explorations usually finish with an appreciation of fall colors displayed in the extensive aspen groves found in the Eastern Sierra. We also schedule seed collecting or cleaning trips and work parties at the Mary DeDecker Native Plant Garden in Independence.
Everyone is welcome on our field trips, whether or not you are a member of CNPS, and whether or not you know a turnip from a scarlet monkeyflower!
Please keep in mind that all events, especially field trips which rely on outdoor conditions, are subject to change. Check back here often for updates, additions, cancellations, etc. Also, especially for events requiring travel, consider contacting the trip leader the day before the trip to confirm.
Field Trip Policies
Event Photos
Annual Bristlecone Chapter Events:
The Bristlecone Chapter hosts two events on alternate years – a Sierra Spring or Summer Sojourn, and the Bristlecone Chapter Banquet. Whether we hold these special events or not in a given year depends on how many dedicated volunteers step up to organize and help make them happen. If you are interested in volunteering to help us put on one of these events, or for any other reason, contact any board member!Our chapter members are encouraged to attend both events. The public is also welcome.
The Sojourn is a weekend of field trips, evening programs and visiting. In 2013 it was held at the end of May at the Sierra Adventure Center at Bernasconi Ranch located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains west of Big Pine at an elevation of about 5000 feet. In 2009 it was held in July at the Crooked Creek Facility in the White Mountains. Watch the newsletters and events page for when the next event is planned!
Also don't miss our Annual Native Plant Sales!
General Bristlecone Chapter Meetings and Presentations:
Membership meetings include brief discussion of chapter business, followed by a presentation by a guest speaker. Presentations are geared to appeal to persons of a wide range of knowledge of native plants, from beginners to professional botanists. The November meeting each year is a pot luck, often with a members’ slide show in lieu of a speaker.
Unless otherwise announced, General Chapter Meetings will be at the White Mountain Research Station (3000 E. Line St. Bishop).
