El Dorado County and Our Native Plants

El Dorado County lies on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Along with some interesting features with gabbro and serpentine soil and the special endemic plants they support, we enjoy the EldoradoIt's one word for the forest,
but two words for the county! National Forest and a wide variety of destinations, from drought-tolerant foothill chaparral at 1500 ft to subalpine above 9000 ft in the Desolation Wilderness.

We offer field trips (during Spring and Summer) to many areas, and you are invited to attend. You don't need a science background to participate; most of our members are not formally trained botanists, simply people who enjoy learning about our native vegetation. If you want to start learning about native plants and why they need protection, CNPS is for you. Meetings are geared toward local concerns and can be enjoyed by even an absolute beginner. If you're a new county resident, this is a nice way to get familiar with the neighborhood.

The California Native Plant SocietySee what CNPS is about... is a state-wide organization dedicated to protecting the native vegetation that is too often seen as "in the way" when it comes time to build a shopping center! By joining, you will be getting to know the plants and learning their importance; then you too can contribute to the well-being and happiness of the community...

Follow the Example of Willis Jepson...

"A scientific interest in at least certain features of our natural environment, as for example the trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants, directs one to useful and agreeable intellectual activity. Accurate and detailed knowledge of even a small area lifts the possessor out of the commonplace and enables him directly or indirectly to contribute to the well-being and happiness of his community."

-Willis JepsonClick to read about Jepson,
a very interesting man., Trees of California, 1921

 

Our logo flower is the Pleasant Valley Mariposa, Calochortus clavatus var. avius...a link to Calflora..., a member of the Lily family that was once so common in the Pleasant Valley area of Placerville that people would dig them up for home landscaping. Now they are listed as 1B: Rare, threatened, or Endangered and can only be found in parts of the Eldorado National Forest that you are likely not going to see unless you come on a field trip with the chapter.

Want to catch up on name changes in the new Jepson Manual: Check these lists on the Plant Names page...

CNPS Chapter Plant Sales

The chapter plant sales only come along twice a year but they are always popular and sell out fast. They are typically held on the first Saturday in April and October:

This year's Autumn Plant Sale will be on Oct. 6. The sale will be held in the El Dorado Government Center under the breezeway between Buildings A and B. 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Buildings A and B are across the street from the El Dorado County Main Library.

We offer grasses, perennials, shrubs and trees suitable for the foothills of El Dorado County (read why...), as well as seed packets of native spring annuals, and native plant bulbs (Here is a list...). There will also be an extremely diverse offering of books on native plant horticulture, the basics of botany, and field guides for all aspects of natural history. Cash and checks only: all sales final!

2012 El Dorado Chapter Field Trips

All field trips will be posted on this website. The last two La Niña winters in California have been full of flux and surprises, either setting new records or coming close. That was the case in March-May 2011, the coolest, wettest spring in recent memory, which produced an epic snowpack in El Dorado County that prevented access to subalpine areas until August. In December 2011 researchers recorded the driest December in 22 years in California and a Sierra snowpack that was measured as the lowest on record in nearly 50 years at certain locations. The second half of March 2012 finally brought some precipitation in a series of storms. This remarkable weather variability has made it extremely hard to predict when and where wildflowers will be in bloom, so the Chapter will no longer advertise our walks in the newsletter. Instead, we will post them here on our website.

When and where: Our usual field trip season runs from April in the lower foothills through early September at and around the Sierra crest. We lead Saturday wildflower walks at Wrights Lake campground, Eldorado National Forest at 10 am during June, July and sometimes August, depending on the snowpack. Details on these walks will also be posted here on our website. We visit all areas of El Dorado County except for the Tahoe Basin. For Tahoe Basin trips contact Tahoe Chapter President Michael Hogan at mhoganierstahoe.com or 530.525.4366.    

Seeking new field trip leaders. We are currently searching for new field trip leaders to lead wildflower walks in areas that they know and like. Please contact Shellie Perry, our Field Trips Chair, at SEPerry55@comcast.net or at 530.644.6335. She can advise you on optimum field trip length and duration and other tips. She can also pair you up with an experienced field trip leader to accompany you to allay first-time jitters.

All are welcome. All of our field trips are open to the public and are free of charge. Children are warmly welcomed, but please equip them with a whistle. Well-behaved pets are allowed on some of our field trips: please call or email the leader first for permission. If you car-pool with someone, please contribute some money to the driver for gas if you are able to: perhaps $5 for less than 40 miles round-trip, and $10 for trips more than 40 miles round- trip. We do want to stress that lack of funds should never prevent anyone from attending a field trip.

What to expect on a field trip: Unless stated otherwise, our trips are easy. We travel slowly and stop frequently to view, identify, and tell stories about each plant species, and thoroughly enjoy all that nature offers in El Dorado County. Hand lenses or loupes (loops) are highly recommended on all of our trips, as are botany field guides, but they are not required. For every trip please check the weather forecast and dress according.

Come prepared! Wear sturdy shoes (absolutely no sandals or flip-flops), wear sunscreen and a hat, bring water, lunch, and snacks.

Board Meetings

Chapter board meetings are held to discuss business items concerning the chapter and its activities. Please note that a decision was made to reduce the number of board meetings to six per year, coinciding with the months of the meetings. Board meetings will be held on the second Mondays in March, May, July, September, and November. Meetings are currently held at the El Dorado County Office of Education at 6767 Green Valley Rd., Placerville. The meeting rooms are in the B complex (opposite the main office behind the flag pole) and usually occur in B-1 or B-3 at 6:30 pm. Please call a board member to confirm the meeting place. All members are welcome to attend. Copies of the minutes from board meetings are available at the regular chapter meetings or you can request a copy from a member of the board.

 Places for Wheelchair Hiking!

Finding very little information available for forest locations with adequate access for wheelchairs, I thought I'd offer a few suggestions about places I have personally checked and believe worth a visit for those who want to go see wildflowers, birds, or just get a breath of fresh air and enjoy a few hours in a forest. Take a look and let me know if I can add more places, or correct any observations.

Contacts

General questions should be addressed to Rosemary Carey, President, or call 530.620.3631

See the newsletter for a list of Board Members and Committee Chairs. If you find an error on the site, please notify .

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