by Bonnie Gosliner | Jan 25, 2026
Speakers: Richard A. Arnold and Tanya Baxter
Zoom Registration Link.
Hidden within the coastal scrub and prairies of West Marin lives the federally endangered Myrtle Silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene myrtleae). Rarely observed and exquisitely specialized, this butterfly’s life cycle is bound to one plant alone—the Western dog violet. Explore its unique biology, uncover the subtle beauty of its ecological relationships, and learn how identifying and protecting its host plant can make an impactful difference in the butterfly’s conservation.
Presentation Outline: The Myrtle’s Silverspot butterfly is found in coastal areas of Marin and Sonoma counties. We will discuss the butterfly’s historical and present-day geographic range, its life cycle, natural history, and conservation activities. Opportunities to get involved will be discussed.
Speaker Biographies:
Dick Arnold is a retired entomologist who worked as an environmental consultant for 45 years specializing in rare and endangered insects. He has experience with all of the federally-listed, endangered and most of the candidate insects that occur in California. He performed habitat assessment surveys, presence-absence surveys, impact analysis, prepared and implemented mitigation measures, as well as conducted long-term population and habitat monitoring. He is the author or co-author of recovery plans for several of California’s endangered insects, including the Myrtle’s Silverspot butterfly.
Tanya Baxter M.S. is a consultant botanist and ecologist. With over fifteen years of expertise in land management she has led landscape scale restoration projects for the national park service and innovative collaborations with non-profit partners and open space. She led a multi-year grant to eradicate the most invasive species on 75,000 acres in Marin County combined with a dedicated volunteer program. She conducts rare and invasive plant surveys in the Sierra Nevada in the summer where she teaches plant taxonomy at the SFSU Field Campus in Calpine.
by Ann Elliott | Apr 4, 2026
Chapter Picnic at China Camp’s Miwok Meadows with Field Trips
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:30 am to 3 pm
Please sign up for this event on Meetup or just show up.
Potluck Picnic: Get together informally with your CNPS friends and acquaintances for a potluck picnic.
Enjoy simple potluck fare. (Bring some fun bread, cheese, or fruit if you don’t cook.)- Visit with others about recent wildflower discoveries, garden additions and visits, botanical insights, restoration achievements, and advocacy goals.
- Learn about The Friends of China Camp’s habitat restoration efforts in the park.
- Share remembrances of Laura Lovett’s dedication to native plants.
- Take an optional field trip around Turtle Back Hill.
We will gather at noon and plan to start eating around 12:30. Please bring:
- A potluck picnic dish to share w/ serving utensil.
- Reusable picnicware (the Chapter has plates & flatware to share, too)
- Picnic tablecloth if you have one.
- Your favorite beverage (no running water available at site)
Dress in layers for hot sun and cool shade. If it threatens showers, bring your beach umbrella.
Optional Field Trips: Let’s take advantage of the proximity of Turtle Back Hill. It is a lovely, varied trail traversing grasslands, scrub, and mixed evergreen forest, at the edge of saltmarsh of the San Francisco Bay Estuary. Docent led hikes begin at 10:30 am and 2 pm.
You can walk or drive to or from the trailhead (~ 1 mi. from Miwok Meadows). The Turtle Back Hill loop trail is fairly level and less than a mile.
Listen to the Turtle Back Trail Interpretive Audio Tour before or after the hike.
Here is an interesting article: “Tidal Marsh Vegetation of China Camp” by Peter Baye.
If you have not done so already, please sign the CNPS Marin 2026 Waiver
Practice clean trail etiquette. Pocket Guide – Every Step Counts and Cleanliness Tips for Hikers
Directions:
Picnic: We have reserved Miwok Meadows which is accessed by a dirt road off North San Pedro Road (the main park road) about .6 mi east of the China Camp Campground entrance. (Best access is from the north due to road work.) Parking is included in our rental.
Turtle Back Hill trailhead is on North San Pedro Road about .3 mi east of the campground entrance. (Best access is from the north due to road work.) Park along the road there or walk about 1 mile from Miwok Meadows picnic area along Shoreline Trail.
Email Ann Elliott with any questions.
Text for day-of-trip questions or issues: 530-588-2555
Limit: 100
by Ann Elliott | May 2, 2026 | Featured
Chapter Picnic at China Camp’s Miwok Meadows with Field Trips
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:30 am to 3 pm
Please sign up for this event on Meetup or just show up.
Potluck Picnic: Get together informally with your CNPS friends and acquaintances for a potluck picnic.
- Enjoy simple potluck fare. (Bring some fun bread, cheese, or fruit if you don’t cook.)
- Visit with others about recent wildflower discoveries, garden additions and visits, botanical insights, restoration achievements, and advocacy goals.
- Learn about The Friends of China Camp’s habitat restoration efforts in the park.
- Share remembrances of Laura Lovett’s dedication to native plants.
- Take an optional field trip around Turtle Back Hill.
We will gather at noon and plan to start eating around 12:30. Please bring:
- A potluck picnic dish to share w/ serving utensil.
- Reusable picnicware (the Chapter has plates & flatware to share, too)
- Picnic tablecloth if you have one.
- Your favorite beverage (no running water available at site)
Dress in layers for hot sun and cool shade. If it threatens showers, bring your beach umbrella.
Optional Field Trips: Let’s take advantage of the proximity of Turtle Back Hill. It is a lovely, varied trail traversing grasslands, scrub, and mixed evergreen forest, at the edge of saltmarsh of the San Francisco Bay Estuary. The loop trail is fairly level and less than a mile. A docent led hike begins at 10:30 am.
At 2 pm, China Camp Docent Harold Hirsch will lead another field trip along the Shoreline Trail starting at Miwok Meadows (picnic location).
Listen to the Turtle Back Trail Interpretive Audio Tour before or after the hike.
Here is an interesting article: “Tidal Marsh Vegetation of China Camp” by Peter Baye.
If you have not done so already, please sign the CNPS Marin 2026 Waiver
Practice clean trail etiquette. Pocket Guide – Every Step Counts and Cleanliness Tips for Hikers
Directions:
Picnic: We have reserved Miwok Meadows which is accessed by a dirt road off North San Pedro Road (the main park road) about .6 mi east of the China Camp Campground entrance. (Best access is from the north due to road work.) Parking is included in our rental.
Turtle Back Hill trailhead is on North San Pedro Road about .3 mi east of the campground entrance. (Best access is from the north due to road work.) Park along the road there or walk about 1 mile from Miwok Meadows picnic area along Shoreline Trail.
Email Ann Elliott with any questions.
Text for day-of-trip questions or issues: 530-588-2555
Limit: 100
