June 13, 2009 through June 20, 2009 Botanical Walks in the Lagunitas Watershed begin this Friday, June 19 at 10AM

WHEN: This first tour will focus on native plant communities along creekside locations (aka the riparian) from 10am-1pm on June 19th.

WHERE: Please meet at Roy's Pools in San Geronimo at 9:45am sharp as we will depart from there at 10am to our location. RSVP if you need more specific directions. Robert Katz robcats@wildmail.com

A series of free botanical walks in the Lagunitas Watershed will be available this summer and fall beginning on Friday June 19, 2009. The walk will start at 10:00am in the San Geronimo Valley and will continue until 1pm. Additional tours will be offered once a month. Each tour will cover a different plant community in the Valley. The walks are free to members and open to the public and are led by SPAWN Watershed Botanist, Rob Katz. A $5 donation is encouraged to support Valley native plant conservation efforts.

Our popular tours featuring local ecologists are for both the interested beginner and the more advanced botanist and plant lover. They are based on various aspects of plant ecology and include some history, ethnobotany, plant identification, propagation and ecosystem function. Through the lectures you'll gain both a broader understanding of native plant communities, restoration ecology and watershed issues.

We will explore historical knowledge and cultural interactions with plants such as those used in traditional and modern medicine as well as those plants that contribute to watershed function such as the Alder (Alnus sp. ) tree. Guides will also explore the many plants blooming at the time of the tour. PLEASE NOTE: There will not be a Native Plant Nursery work day on June 19th, the day of this event, but nursery workdays will resume on June 26th.

For further information please contact Rob Katz, SPAWN Watershed Botanist at Robert Katz robcats@wildmail.com

or, Paola Bouley, SPAWN's Conservation Program Director, PH. 415 663-8590 ext.111, Paola@SpawnUSA.org


"The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land." -- Luna Leopold