Field Trip Reports – June, 2026

20260603 Abbotts Lagoon

What an amazing spot Abbotts Lagoon is. It is worth visiting any time of year. Carolyn Longstreth, Stacey Pogorzelski, and Ann Elliott led this hike, all contributing tidbits of information. In late spring, the cobweb thistles were blooming in their brilliant reddish-purple color close to the trailhead. The bunnies and birds beckoned us past the ponds and over the wetland boardwalk offering a wide variety of habitats along the way. Delights were the slimy texture of the musk monkey flower, delicate candy flowers, abundant small-fruited bulrushes, and the showy hedge nettle. After we crossed the bridge over the mouth of the upper lagoon and lunched on the log by the lower lagoon, we wandered the dunes enjoying the lupines, verbenas, beach dandelions, Dudleyas, the rare wavy-leaved monardella, as well as other dune inhabitants.

20260607 Ring Mountain Wildflower Hike (Last of season)

Alison led a few flower seekers over the mountain. It was a beautiful day. Only a few Tiburon mariposa lilies were still in bloom. Alison was able to show them long-rayed brodiaea and Tiburon buckwheat. The Chapter appreciates this special offering of field trips from Ring Mountain Docents Alison and Karen, and Alison and Karen enjoy showing off the secrets of Ring Mountain and having more than just a brief encounter with visitors.

20260609 Middle Ridge, Tiburon Open Space

Five plant enthusiasts joined Eva Buxton on a hike up along the Hippie Tree Trail and along the crest of the ridge with splendid views of Richardson Bay, Mount Tamalpais, plus SF and the Golden Gate Bridge. 

En route, Eva pointed out several invasive, non-native plants such as bamboo, French broom, and Harding grass, and discussed the history and on-going needs for their management—much of it from her long and first-hand experience here. 

As we hiked more into areas with soils derived from serpentine rock, we were pleased to come upon a number of rather rare,  threatened or endangered native plants which have evolved the ability to thrive on the these infertile and heavy-metal-laden soils.  Here the soil-endemic Tiburon paintbrush (Castillleja affinis ssp. neglecta), Marin dwarf flax (Hesperolinon congestum), and Tiburon jewel-flower (Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. niger) are largely free from competition of either invasive non-natives or the many California natives thriving on “more ordinary” soils formed on sandstone and volcanic rocks nearby.  We also found in bloom Tiburon buckwheat (Eriogonum luteolum ssp. caninum) and Rosinweed (Calycadenia multiglandulosa), endemic to serpentine soils, as well as dense-flowered lupine (Lupinus microcarpus ssp. densiflorus), and ruby chalice clarkia, (Clarkia rubicunda). From afar we viewed Marsh zigadene (Toxicoscordion fontanum) in a serpentine seep.  A Pacific ground mantis (Litaneutria pacifica) matched the color of the dry grass thatch so perfectly that we would’ve missed it—but for Eva’s sharp eyes!

20260620 Olompali State Historic Park

Nine folks joined Clint and Madeline Kellner for a good hike at Olompali State Historic Park. They saw some flat spurred rein orchids, coyote mint, California Indian pink, Indian paintbrush, blue-eyed grass, and lots of Ithureal’s spear. They also saw the Napa false indigo, a rare plant growing along the trail. During the walk they encountered the California state grass, purple needle grass; the state lichen, lace lichen; and the state insect, the California dogface butterfly, whose caterpillars eat the Napa false indigo. The weather was good, the hiking was good, and the plants cooperated. All in all, it was a successful plant day.

20260626 Estero Trail Wonderful Wander

Under overcast skies, hearty plant lovers embarked on an exploration of the summer wonders of native and naturalized plants, punctuated with bird calls and sightings of elk on the horizon. Lunch on the trail overlooking Drakes Estero refreshed our spirits to double back and see the initially low tide flats become a lake. Recounting the agricultural history and plans for management of the former ranchlands of the Point Reyes Peninsula by The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the National Park Service was much appreciated.