Biology 514/814 Field Trips

The fifth unit that you acquire for Plant Taxonomy involves 5 days spent in the field. I encourage you to attend all of the trips, but to obtain credit for the course you must be present for a minimum of 5 days covering at least two trips. Biology 514 is not the course for students who don't wish to go into the field.

Each year we're at the mercy of the weather and the response of the flora. We go where the plants are, when they are there. We usually have a schedule planned by the beginning of the spring semester. For the time being this year's tentative schedule of trips is as follows:

 

Trip 1. 3 March — San Pedro Valley County Park

This is a half-day walk along the Hazelnut Trail in the aforementioned park in Pacifica. We’ll see what’s up this early in the season, get out and learn a few plants. Lilies abound here, along with good examples of coastal scrub communities.

Click HERE to see a list of plants we generally see.

 

 

Trip 2. 10 March — Mendocino County/Jughandle Preserve

This serves as an introduction to some of the plant communities of north-coastal California. It's early in the season to see the peak bloom, but there will be enough to keep us occupied. We'll spend our time in the Jughandle Nature Reserve. This is a long trail that extends from the ocean east along a series of old terraces, each of which has a different (= older) group of plant associations. The pivot point of the hike will be a pygmy forest, then a turnaround back to the parking lot.

Click HERE to see a list of plants we generally see.

 

Trip 3. 18–22 March — Spring Break —- Low Desert

A long, ambitious trip over part of Spring Break. We'll drive to Anza-Borrego State Park in San DiegoCounty, then north through Joshua Tree NP and the Mojave National Preserve. Because the low desert bloom is dependent on the weather and timing of rainfall, this trip may be cancelled at late notice. Note the Sunday departure.

Click HERE to see a list of plants we generally see.

Click HERE for a map for once you get to SoCal, and click HERE for a detailed map of the park, including Culp Valley Campground and Palm Canyon Trail.

 

 

Trip 4. 7 April — Red Hills

A day-long trip to the Red Hills ACEC near Chinese Camp on the road to Yosemite. This Sierra Foothill region has a nice array of plants that we don't see elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

Trip 5. 26–29 April (4 days) — Alabama Hills/Eastern Mojave Desert

The renegade trip, so called because you must cut Thursday and Friday classes to attend — make early arrangements with your professors. We leave very early on Thursday and drive across the southernmost pass across the Sierra Nevada, and back up the east side to the Alabama Hills just east of Mt. Whitney. Friday and Saturday involve less driving, more botanizing. Sunday is a marathon drive home. Spectacular views, plants, good collecting. Everything is primitive. Weather can be hot, cold, wet, dry. Bring your tent. Not a trip for the undedicated.

Click here for directions and a map.

Click here for a plant list.

Trip 6. 4 May — Carson Ridge

By this last weekend of the semester the hills of Marin County are usually in good bloom, and this nearby locality is a fitting final trek for the class. Lot's of local native annuals and perennials. Comfortable walking gear needed. Bring your lunch.

Click here for directions and a map.