Vernal pools are special seasonal wetlands that can be found in many places around the world, but those found in California present amazing floral displays that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. This talk will examine why California vernal pools are so special, with an emphasis on pools found in the Central Valley. We’ll take a look at their geological and hydrological characteristics, examine some of the rare and endangered animals that are found in them, discuss the importance of native pollinators, and look at examples of the unique wildflowers that inhabit the pools and their surrounding grasslands.

Our speaker: Charlie Russell is a Certified California Naturalist and CNPS member with a special interest in photographing native wildflowers and writing articles about places to hike to see wildflowers. He is a docent at Jepson Prairie Preserve, one of the premier vernal pool habitats in the Central Valley. In addition, he is a docent with the Yolo Basin Foundation, where he is involved with introducing grade school children to California wetlands, and he is a public outreach/education assistant with NorCal Bats. You can see Charlie’s photographs and articles at https://ibrakeforwildflowers.com/

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://cnps-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pdOupqzgjGNfqR7TqivYXuFtfc24R3ICf