Calendar of Events
Official
CNPS Events
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About Events
January 2012
- January 10-14, 2012: CNPS Conservation Conference: "Conserving and restoring the roots of California's richness," San Diego, California
The January 2012 CNPS Conservation Conference offers something for every plant lover. The venue is a resort in San Diego. The conference offers opportunities to hear distinguished speakers, attend workshops, field trips, and social events, view posters and nature photography, read nature poetry, and even join a sing-along. CNPS members received a brochure in the mail two months ago. Two members of the Bristlecone Chapter, Vice President Holly Alpert, and Conservation Chair Daniel Pritchett, are tentatively planning to speak at the Transmontane session, which includes discussions of plant issues from our region and deserts to the south. Other topics include vegetation, restoration, rare plants, CEQA and laws that protect plants, and traditional use of native plants. The conference website is: http://www.cnps.org/cnps/conservation/conference/2012/
- January 11, Wednesday, 8am: A Morning of Birding With Jon Dunn, Eastern Sierra Audubon
Jon will lead us to where the birds might be, perhaps as far as Tinemaha Reservoir. Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot just west of Bishop's Joseph's Market. We'll spend the morning "in the field." Bring liquids, warm clothes, binoculars, spotting scopes, snacks. For more information contact field trip coordinator Larry Nahm at 872-4125.
- January 25, Wednesday, 6pm: CNPS Field Trip Planning Meeting. White Mountain Research Station (3000 E. Line St. Bishop)
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The annual field trip planning/brainstorming meeting will take place January 25 at 6:00 pm, before the general meeting (see description below). Please bring your ideas for interesting trips and be ready to sign up for dates. If you are interested in leading a Rare Plant Treasure Hunt (visit historic rare plant occurrences that haven't been re-visited for a while), Send Sue Weis a message (or call at 760-873-3485) if you want some ideas for that. Also, Michele Slaton is setting up a database with plant lists from previous years' trips for use by trip leaders. Willing to co-lead? There's probably someone who would be willing to lead a trip with you. Let's have more awesome trips this year!
There will be pizza and other refreshments for those who participate.
- January 25, Wednesday, 7pm: CNPS Program: "A Summer of Rare Plant Treasure Hunts (or How the LaShures Spent the Summer of 2011)," Kathy LaShure. White Mountain Research Station
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Kathy LaShure, coordinator for the Creosote Ring subchapter, will present "A Summer of Rare Plant Treasure Hunts (or How the LaShures Spent the Summer of 2011). She will share information on how CNPS determines the rarity of a plant and what the several categories of rarity mean. Then she will introduce you to the 15 rare plant species that she & her husband Rich found and submitted 2011 occurrence records for, 35 in all. Some were casual discoveries, while others were located on planned Rare Plant Treasure Hunts. The spring finds were desert species, while all the summer finds were located on the Kern Plateau in the Southern Sierras. Finally you'll learn how their team, the Red Jeepsters, did in the state-wide Rare Plant Treasure Hunt competition.
- January 28, Saturday, 9am: Birding Sand Canyon with Kerncrest Audubon, Eastern Sierra Audubon, Leaders: Bob and Susan Steele
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Join us for a moderate hike (4-6 miles round trip with 400’ elevation gain) up Sand Canyon. We will start our walk in Kern County and walk up into the burn area that is in Inyo County. We will be targeting some of the ten species of woodpeckers and sapsuckers that have been seen in the canyon. We will also look for Brown Towhee, California Thrasher, and Wrentit.
Meet at 9AM on January 28 at Sand Canyon Road. This is south of Pearsonville, and just south of Brown Road. Look for an unmarked dirt road to the west (you’ll be able to see the sand quarry). This will be an all day hike, so bring lunch, and water. Expect 2 hours and 15 minutes travel time from Bishop. Carpoolers can meet behind Bishop's Joseph's Market at 6:30 a.m.
February 2012
- February 1, Wednesday, 7pm: CNPS Program: An Introduction to Breckenridge Mountain, with Jane McEwen & Pat Sorenson, Maturango Museum, Ridgecrest. This is a Creosote Ring Sub-Chapter event.
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Breckenridge Mountain,
photo by Kathy LaShurePlease join us for the first Creosote Ring event of 2012. Our next evening program will be on Wednesday, February 1 at 7 PM when we'll gather at the Maturango Museum. First we will talk briefly about possible spring & summer field trips for 2012.
Then Creosote Ring members Jane McEwen and Pat Sorenson will present an introduction to Breckenridge Mountain. Breckenridge Road, or County Route 218, goes from the heart of East Bakersfield at Morning Drive at an elevation of 500 ft. and climbs up a serpentine ridge line in the Sierra foothills to connect with the Caliente-Bodfish Road at an elevation of 7,000 ft. It's about 37 miles long and takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to drive according to Google. The road leaves the city and makes it's way through farm and ranch land, winds through grass covered rolling hills, passes majestic oaks and high chaparral, then into the tall pines. The Bakersfield CNPS has recorded 100 different plants along the Breckenridge Road. Certainly, this is one of the most diverse, as well as beautiful areas in California with everything from grand views to gorgeous belly flowers. Come join us for a photographic trip through this botanical wonderland.
- February 1, Wednesday, 7pm: Little-known Ethiopia: a birder's dream, Eastern Sierra Audubon
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Tall mountains, lush forests, fertile land and unique birds and animals: could this possibly be Ethiopia? Well, yes. Due to its diverse habitats, Ethiopia is one of the most species-rich countries in all of Africa. Matthew Matthiessen will describe this northeastern African country with its unique bird life as well as its ancient Christian history at 7pm on Wednesday, February 1st at the White Mountain Research Station. Matthew is known for his engaging manner, stunning photos, and impressive command of his subject. Read more on the ESAS website!
- February 11, Saturday, 8:30am: Round Valley Birding, Eastern Sierra Audubon
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Beautiful Round Valley attracts hawks and owls which patrol its many fields. We'll amble along a couple of its roads, seeking raptors and their prey species. Will the Turkey Vultures have returned? Meet at 8:30 a.m. just west of the junction of U.S. 395 and Pine Creek Road, about twelve miles north of Bishop. For more information call Larry Nahm at 872-4125. Bring warm clothes, binoculars, snacks, water. The outing will end by noon.
- February 25th, 2012, Saturday, 8am: Big Pine Winter Wildlife Tour, Eastern Sierra Audubon
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Tom and Jo Heindel annually lead a popular auto excursion between Klondike Lake and Tinemaha Reservoir. Mountain Bluebirds, Bald Eagles, bobcat, elk, owls, creepers, mergansers, sparrows and swans – these are examples of species which have turned up on past tours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Glacier View Campground off U.S. 395 just north of Big Pine. Bring water, snacks, binoculars, scopes. The outing should end mid-day. For more information please call the leaders at 938-2764.
March
(TBA)
April
- April 4-6: 2012 California Garden Club Wildflower Conference, Palmdale, California, California Garden Clubs
All are invited to attend the 2012 CGCI Wildflower Conference which will take place in Palmdale, California on April 4-6, 2012. Highlights include the following presentations, entertainment and tour:
- “Creating a Butterfly Garden Habitat” by Julie A. West, President, California Garden Clubs, Inc.
- "Preserving Antelope Valley Habitats" by Antelope Valley Conservancy
- “Highway Landscaping” by California Department of Transportation, Los Angeles County
- “California "Conservation Issues” by Steve Hartman, California Native Plant Society, Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains Chapter
- “Saving the Ancients” by Robin Kobaly, Executive Director, SummerTree Institute
- “Antelope Valley Wildflowers" by Milt Stark, well-known writer and photographer (author of A Flower-Watcher's Guide to Spring-Blooming Wildflowers of the Antelope Valley)
- "Natives in the Garden” by Lily Singer, Theodore Payne Foundation
- Entertainment by the Antelope Valley Showcase Chorus
- Carpool to Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
Registration fee is $115.00 per person. This includes the registration, all lectures/speakers, reception, entertainment, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, tour, and a box lunch for the tour.
Being Planned:
The Bristlecone Chapter normally hosts two events on alternate years – a Spring or Summer Sojourn and the Bristlecone Chapter Banquet. The 2010 Banquet was held in July at the Crowley Lake Community Center. 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. We held a banquet in 2010. In 2011 we did not hold a special event. In 2012, the chapter will hold either a Sojourn in either the Spring or Summer or a banquet, depending on availability of volunteers to help plan it.
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!
Field Trip Policies
See photos of previous field trips and events in our scrapbook
Annual Bristlecone Chapter Events:
The Bristlecone Chapter hosts two events on alternate years – a Sierra Spring or Summer Sojourn, and the Bristlecone Chapter Banquet. 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 the chapter will hold a Sojourn in either the Spring or Summer. Plans for the 2011 Sojourn will be announced this winter. Our 2010 Banquet will be held at the Crowley Lake Community Center on July 26 (see the July events above for more details). Our chapter members are encouraged to attend both events. The public is also welcome.
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).
