CANCELLED! The dry winter and sheep in the area resulted in very poor conditions and few flowers along the trail.

Join us for a trip to the Unnamed trail which starts at Thomas Creek, but travels along the north facing slope, eventually meeting up with Dry Creek. This is a fantastic area with a huge amount of diversity which tends to start a bit later than the surrounding area. We typically see Phacelia, Penstemon, Eriogonum, Hydrophyllum, and Allium among others!

We'll plan to start at 9am and aim to be out for a couple hours. We will meet at the Thomas Creek Trailhead Bathrooms located off N. Timerbline before heading out on the trail! Exact coordinates are 39.39354009773391, -119.8388704345549 We'll also be keeping an eye on the flora in this location and will notify folks if the sheep that are released this year have had a detrimental impact on the plants.

John Weiser will have an open garden day on Sunday May 31st located at 485 OBrien Way, Sparks, NV. The Garden will be open from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm; feel free to stop on by at anytime! 

The garden features many Western North American dryland species with a mix of other drought adapted species from across the Globe. There are representatives from South Africa, South America, Eurasia, and the Mediterranean. Featured species include collections of Cacti, Agave, Yucca, Penstemon, Eriogonum, Aizoaceae and many others.

If you haven't checked out his garden previously, you're in for quite a treat! Come on by and bring another plant nerd. I'm sure you will find something of interest.

Come visit us and chat about native plants at the plant sale on Saturday. We will have our rulers ($1) and Mary Winter’s wildflower book ($25) for sale. Cash, check or PayPal accepted.

“Shop a beautiful selection of locally adapted native wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses and everything you need to start the pollinator garden you've been dreaming about all winter.”

May 30 & 31, 2026

9am – 3pm

170 Smith Gage Rd, Smith, Nevada

Red Hill, off Dandini Blvd., is home to five species of Eriogonum: E. umbellatum var. nevadense, E. sphaerocephalum, E. ochrocephalum, E. strictum var. anserinum and E. robustum. Eriognum robustum is endemic to southern Washoe County and extreme western Storey County, Nevada, in the Virginia and Carson ranges, and on Peavine Mountain and the Red Hill area. It is found in shallow, rocky, highly acidic (pH 3.3-5.5) soils derived from weathering of hydrothermal iron sulfide deposits formed mainly in andesite, and occasionally in rhyolitic or granitoid rocks, on dry, nearly barren ridges, knolls, and gentle to steep slopes on all aspects.

Parking available here https://maps.app.goo.go/WF7bWWPJW5vQidrP9?g_st=ic

If anybody wants to carpool, we will meet up at the Save Mart in Spanish Springs around 8am: 9750 Pyramid Way, Sparks, NV 89441. Otherwise, parking for the walk is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/igz2kKXrkzRHtmub6?g_st=ic

The two-track out there is relatively fine; anything with the clearance of a Subaru Crosstrek will be good.  We can shuttle from Grass Valley road if anybody’s concerned about it.

 The area comprises various layers of welded tuff and andesite, and is slightly west of an extinct caldera.  There are layers of diatomite nearby that contain Miocene age fossils of willows and alders.

 We be out there until at least noon or one, hiking anywhere from a mile or 3+ (depending on interest and how hot it gets).  Species to look for: Erythranthe nasuata, Phacelia curvipes, Galium aparine, Scutellaria nana, and Eriogonum heermanii.  We’ll also look for anything that looks like Eriogonum microthecum var schoolcraftii or E. alexanderae.

If anyone is interested, after this hike, we can swing by the newly described Pyrrocoma pyramidis in this area: 39.847616, -119.717463.

 Bring plenty of water and salty snacks! 

We have lots of plants for sale, grown or transplanted by our members. Prices range from$5-$10 for most plants. We prefer cash or check but will also accept PayPal.

Song Dog is Lake Mead National Recreational Area's (LAKE) dedicated nursery that aims to preserve the plant composition and genetic integrity of the Mojave region. Join us on Saturday, May 9th at 8 am to learn more about the process of native plant seed collection, growth, tending, and restoration projects. The tour includes walks through the main yard, greenhouses, seed storage unit, as well as a drive down to a nearby site restored with plants grown from Song Dog! Optionally, participants can also check out the visitor center afterwards to learn about the rich cultural, geological, and biological history of the area. Participants should dress for heat (sun shirts, hats, sunglasses) and bring sunscreen and water. Also, bring curious minds and plenty of questions!  

There is a maximum capacity of 20 people, and carpooling is encouraged. Emails with more details will be sent out closer to the date. To RSVP for the event, contact Brianna Kramer at bmkramer05@gmail.com.

Our presenter this month will be Cory King from the State Conservation Nurseries Program, his talk is entitled "Cultivating Wild: Nevada's Conservation Nursery Program." Cory will be presenting in person in Reno.

Meeting Information
In Northern Nevada (Reno), attend the in-person meeting in FA 300G on the 3rd floor of Fleischmann Agriculture on the UNR campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking tends to be limited to the street.

In Southern Nevada (Henderson), attend the in-person meeting in A109 on the College of Southern Nevada's Henderson campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking is free and abundant.

Alternatively, you are invited to join remotely via our Zoom meeting which will open at 6:55pm.

Register in advance here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ByTIsRQxQO-gTwMYqhLc6Q

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Join us for a 17 mile drive through Spirit Mountain to see unique native, montane plants in various reproductive stages and ancient petroglyphs nestled in a canyon.

4×4 or high clearance cars recommend. Bring sun protective gear and plenty of water.

RSVP: Brianna Kramer bmkramer@gmail.com

On April 25^th we will help Avi Kwa Ame National Monument celebrate their anniversary by participating in the Time Travel in Avi Kwa Ame National Monument event. This guided hike will begin at 9:30am at Walking Box Ranch and will cover parts of Avi Kwa Ame as well as the Wee Thump Wilderness. We will be exploring creosote, blackbrush, and Joshua Tree habitats and discussing the native ecology of the area as well as plant adaptations to the Mojave Desert. We will be walking through spiny/thorny plants and over uneven ground. Participants should dress for the heat and provide their own water. The hike will end around 11:30, providing enough time to return to Walking Box Ranch for the afternoon events. More information can be found here:

https://events.humanitix.com/time-travel-in-avi-kwa-ame

Our April program will be given by Dr. Naomi Fraga, Director of Conservation programs at California Botanic Garden. Her talk is titled a “A Story of Three Salty Bird’s Beaks: Genetic and morphological research reveal two new Chloropyron (Orobanchaceae) taxa native to the Great Basin and Mojave deserts in California and Nevada”.

Chloropyron tecopense (Tecopa Bird’s Beak) is a rare, hemiparasitic annual herb in the Orobanchaceae that is restricted to alkali wetlands in the transition zone between the Great Basin and Mojave deserts in Inyo and San Bernardino counties in California and Esmeralda and Nye counties in Nevada. It was first described in 1950 from material collected in 1949 in Tecopa Hot Springs, Inyo County, California, although the first voucher collection was made in 1888 by William H. Shockley at Gap Spring, Esmeralda County, Nevada. Major threats include hydrological alteration, groundwater depletion, mining exploration, geothermal exploration, proposed industrial solar projects, off highway vehicle incursion, browsing and trampling by feral horses and cattle, and climate change. We collected and analyzed genetic, morphological and ecological data, to evaluate the conservation and taxonomic status of C. tecopense across its range. Our study finds that C. tecopense is strongly supported as a single lineage in a phylogenetic analysis, with strong genetic differentiation between three isolated locations at Fish Lake Valley, Ash Meadows region, and Shoshone/Tecopa region. These three occurrences are also differentiated by phenology, morphology, and their ecological requirements, providing evidence for the recognition of two new taxa native to the Mojave and Great Basin deserts. A fourth historical occurrence in Death Valley National Park is presumed extirpated, possibly due to climate change or hydrological alteration. This presentation will provide an overview of recent findings that contribute to our understanding of these rare habitat specialists. 

Dr. Fraga will be presenting in-person in southern Nevada.

Meeting Information
In Northern Nevada (Reno), attend the in-person meeting in FA 300G on the 3rd floor of Fleischmann Agriculture on the UNR campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking tends to be limited to the street.

In Southern Nevada (Henderson), attend the in-person meeting in A109 on the College of Southern Nevada's Henderson campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking is free and abundant.

Alternatively, you are invited to join remotely via our Zoom meeting which will open at 6:55pm.

Register in advance here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LqDlLjovSMmzXmL_UMVMaA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you next week!

Marcus Hooker, NNPS Programs Southern Nevada

Sarah Kulpa, NNPS Programs Northern Nevada

Photo credit: Rod Colvin/USFWS volunteer

Mahima Dixit, 2023 recipient of a Margaret Williams Research Grant, will give the program: “Wild Buckwheats of Nevada + Research in Eriogonum subgenus Ganysma”

Meeting Information
In Northern Nevada (Reno), attend the in-person meeting in FA 300G on the 3rd floor of Fleischmann Agriculture on the UNR campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking tends to be limited to the street.

In Southern Nevada (Henderson), attend the in-person meeting in A109 on the College of Southern Nevada's Henderson campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking is free and abundant.

Alternatively, you are invited to join remotely via our Zoom meeting which will open at 6:55pm. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86734167478

Photo: Eriogonum deflexum © 2023 Mike Russler CC-BY-NC 4.0

Clare Dittemore, UNR, PhD student in the Forister Lab at UNR, will be giving our program this month. The title of her talk is: “Native pollinators in our region: Change through time, threats, and resilience.”

Observed declines in native pollinators have been linked to a variety of anthropogenic stressors. Clare will be discussing the status of butterflies in the western United States, with special focus on how both pesticide use and climate change are impacting these organisms. There are still steps that we can take to ameliorate these threats, however. Clare will conclude with some stories of butterfly resilience and recommendations for urban green spaces."

Meeting Information
In Northern Nevada (Reno), attend the in-person meeting in FA 300G on the 3rd floor of Fleischmann Agriculture on the UNR campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking tends to be limited to the street.

In Southern Nevada (Henderson), attend the in-person meeting in A109 on the College of Southern Nevada's Henderson campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking is free and abundant.

Alternatively, you are invited to join remotely via our Zoom meeting which will open at 6:55pm. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QGCo6BDXQBqacs9Id-yhSQ

Join Desert Research Institute Associate Research Scientist  and Scientific Illustrator, Tiffany Pereira as she explores the union of art and science. Learn how she incorporates artistic principles into her research in Nevada and the Desert Southwest. 

Meeting Information
In Northern Nevada (Reno), attend the in-person meeting in FA 300G on the 3rd floor of Fleischmann Agriculture on the UNR campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking tends to be limited to the street.

In Southern Nevada (Henderson), attend the in-person meeting in A109 on the College of Southern Nevada's Henderson campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking is free and abundant.

Alternatively, you are invited to join remotely via our Zoom meeting which will open at 6:55pm.

Register in advance here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Vb0dJWX8TIy4AfZqXOnz6w

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

You are invited to the October meeting of the NVNPS this Thursday, October 2^nd at 7pm. Our talk will be "Assessing plant functional and species diversity to identify high-value sagebrush steppe" by Matt Lavin. Matt was faculty at Montana State University for 35 years before retiring last year, but his research on sagebrush steppe continues to this day. We hope you can make it to see Matt speak.

Meeting Information

In Northern Nevada (Reno), attend the in-person meeting in FA 300G on the 3rd floor of Fleischmann Agriculture on the UNR campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm, PT. Parking tends to be limited to the street.

In Southern Nevada (Henderson), attend the in-person meeting in A109 on the College of Southern Nevada's Henderson campus. Social time and refreshments begin at 6:30pm. Parking is free and abundant.

Alternatively, you are invited to join remotely via our Zoom meeting (October 2^nd at 6:30pm).

Register in advance here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6RGtDVmGSoeDp3R-OSP7Qg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Photo of big sagebrush steppe in the Jarbidge area by Matt Lavin

Join us for the first monthly meeting of the fall. Marc Baker will give a presentation titled: "Chollas, with emphasis on those of Nevada".
In Northern Nevada (RENO), attend the in-person meeting in FA 300G on the 3rd floor of Fleischmann Agriculture on the UNR campus. Social and refreshments begin at 6:30 pm, meeting begins at 7pm.
In Southern Nevada (HENDERSON), you can attend an in-person meeting at the College of Southern Nevada on the Henderson CSN campus. Refreshments are available at 6:30 pm in the Niles Herbarium, Bldg A, RM A125. The meeting begins at 7 pm in Bldg C, RM C230. Parking is available at the College Drive lot.

OR register in advance for the Zoom meeting here:ZOOM LINK!

Our final (scheduled) walk for the year! Windy Hollow Field Trip information from trip leader Mike Hagebusch

1. The Windy Hollow Field Trip requires a longer time commitment than most of the recent trips since the site is 120 miles NW of Reno in Lassen County, CA. Because participants will come from different places, there are several meeting sites.

 -- Reno area members should plan on arriving at the Lemmon Road McDonalds between 7:00 and 7:15 am to arrange carpooling. We will leave at 7:30 am sharp!

 -- California members coming from the south will meet our group at the Highway 395 Rest Area, 15 miles south of Susanville, 62 miles to the north of Reno along the highway. Please arrive between 8:00 and 8:15 am, so that we can arrange a final carpooling. This is the last place with restroom facilities. Departure from here will be at 8:30 am sharp!

 -- California participants coming from the north from the Central Valley (Chico, Sacramento) via Lake Almanor should take Hwy 36 to Westwood and then drive ca 18 miles N on County Road A-21 to Hwy 44. Windy Hollow is about one mile N, (500 feet) below the NW side of the road. Park at the truck pull-off. The other groups should arrive before 9:15 am.

 -- As usual, bring lunch, sun-screen, and insect repellent. I strongly recommend the newly developed Picaridin cream, (sold under the Sawyer brand at Walmart and elsewhere) since its ingredients are non-cancerous and totally effective against Windy Hollow’s mosquitoes and wasps. 

2. Participants on this field trip will see flora they have not encountered before. In fact, this will be the first group ever to see Pyrrocoma anemophila under its proper name and to walk among the Windy Hollow Eriogonum now called Eriogonum ovalifolium purpureum.

3. The playa is geographically part of the “Modoc Plateau region of the Southern Cascades.” Its local area (which I prefer to call the “Lassen Plateau”) lies between the Cascades to the west and the mountains above Eagle Lake just to its east, and follows the Highway 44 corridor from Susanville to its descent to the Pit River Valley in the north.

 -- Windy Hollow itself is one of the largest remaining vernal playas in its region of California. Most of similar ones have been converted to reservoirs, impacted by grazing, or used for agriculture. As a high-elevation (5600 feet), sub-alpine area reaching 1.5 miles in length and 0.5 mile in width, Windy Hollow has a completely different vegetation structure than the vernal pools in the Central Valley. It receives rain from the spring and summer storms that pass over Northern California before completely drying in late summer and autumn.  

 --Although many specimens have been collected in the “Lassen Plateau” area, it has not been thoroughly studied botanically, and has many other state-rare plants along the corridor. The same is true for its fauna.

 -- One unusual feature at Windy Hollow is a 50-foot vernal waterfall draining the higher elevations to the west, and is evident only at snowmelt during heavy water years. It is located NW of the smaller playa, 0.5 mile N of the

 -- The playa basin is relatively intact and is now “protected” by Lassen National Forest fencing during the grazing season.

 4. Windy Hollow has three California state-rare plants:

 -- Rorripa columbiae, a mustard which grows on the playa bottom and is uncommon and scattered over the bottom, most often near shorelines.

 -- The newly-named Pyrrocoma anemophila, which occurs by the thousands on the playa bottom.

 -- Eriogonum ovalifolium, variety/species not yet determined, covers large portions of the playa bottom and is abundant on many of the shores.

 5. Because of the longer drive, participants are welcome to leave as they choose. I am willing to guide those who wish explore the unique features of the vernal meadow 1.5 miles N of the Windy Hollow playa.

*NOTE* This is a fairly strenuous hike. More information can be found here - Mount Rose Peak Trail, Nevada - 4,065 Reviews, Map | AllTrails

Join fellow wildflower enthusiasts for a full day of plant exploration along the high-elevation slopes of Mt. Rose. We’ll begin at the Mt. Rose Trailhead and zip by Galena Falls with the goal of continuing upward to search for alpine specialties such as pincushion plants, buckwheats, and other lofty flora that thrive at higher elevation.

This outing is in partnership with TINS, and ideal for anyone interested in plant identification, botany, or simply experiencing the diversity of wildflowers in one of Nevada’s most scenic mountain areas.

Make sure you bring plenty of water, food and proper hiking attire! Summit temps and weather can vary greatly from starting conditions, be sure to layer!

For this hike, registration is greatly appreciated. You can sign up here - Mt. Rose High Elevation Wildflower Adventure — TINS

Meetup location will be the Mt. Rose Summit Trailhead @ 8am! 

Epilobium obcordatum (c) Kevin S., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

On Saturday August 2nd, we will be embarking upon the always-fascinating Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop. This is a beautiful area with huge ecological diversity and this will be prime time for experiencing the wild flowers.

We will plan on meeting at 9am at the Tahoe Meadows Trailhead (39.312980, -119.892204).

For folks that would prefer to carpool, we will meet at the Galena Creek Visitor's Center at 8:30am.

It is a roughly 1.3 mile loop on level ground, however, despite it's length, we plan to be walking between 2-3 hours given the immense number of fascinating plants that can be seen here. Among (many) others, we hope to see Veratrum, Sambucus,,, Erigeron, Lupinus, Ligusticum, Erythranthe and Aquilegia genera.

Echo Trails to Little Falls at Mt. Charleston

Join Marcus Hooker of the Nevada Native Plant Society and Kym Martin of Desert Love Native Plant Nursery for a 3-mile guided hike.

Learn about unique, sensitive, and endangered plant species. Perfect for native plant lovers and anyone eager to deepen their understanding of the endemic flora in this ecologically significant region.

This is a free event, but spots are limited. Please register using this QR code or by emailing kym.m@desertlovelv.org.

On Sunday July 27^th we will be heading up Mt Rose Highway to explore the area around Tamarack Lake. This hike will follow an informal trail from Mt. Rose Highway up to Tamarack Lake, we will explore the area around the lake, including a wet area at the south of the lake. We will follow the Tamarack to Galena Trail back down to the highway. There are some moderately steep sections with loose rocks on the way up.

We should see a variety of plants including: Veratrum californicum, Eriogonum marifolium, Eurybia integrifolia, Penstemon gracilentis. Castilleja nana, Plantanthera dilitata, Arnica sp., Delphinium sp., Lupius breweri and more.

Sunscreen, insect repellant and water recommended. We will probably spend about threes hours exploring this area – unless of course we find something extra special in which case it could take longer!

Carpooling is highly recommended as we will be parking on a pullout along Mt Rose Highway. Meet in the Galena Creek Visitor Center parking lot at 9:00am, we will plan to head up the highway at 9:15am.

Directions from Galena Creek Visitor Centre: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HCZiWzEMe8TgjqT76

Destination: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UcJzD9qehLvuZvbK9

Grass Lake is a large bog in the Eldorado National Forest near Luther Pass on Highway 89 south of the town of Meyers. From the CPNS El Dorado Chapter website: “Grass Lake is the largest Sphagnum bog in California and is considered the best representative floating bog in the Sierra Nevada. This is a large site with a complex association of habitats ranging from aquatic and meadow types through upland forest types. This diversity, along with a largely intact watershed surrounding the marshlands and meadows, contributes to the value of this site. This site supports a number of boreal plant species unusual in the Sierra Nevada. In addition, several species of plants occur locally at substantially lower elevations than typical elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada. Along with a few uncommon or disjunct plants, the wetlands support three species of carnivorous plants and four species of orchids. The plant associations are relatively pristine with virtually no introduced plants in the bog and meadow associations. The bog and meadow associations are diverse, with 11 types described.” For more information on the plant associations check out https://research.fs.usda.gov/psw/rnas/locations/grass-lake

For a plant list go to Calflora What Grows Here: https://www.calflora.org/entry/wgh.html#srch=t&nplace=Grass+Lake+1&fmt=photo&inma=t&y=38.7941&x=-119.9642&z=17

Grass Lake is a floating bog; we will get wet feet so plan your footwear accordingly! Tall wellington boots or old shoes are both good options. Bring sunscreen, insect repellant, water and snacks or lunch. It is always difficult to judge the length of our field trips, as there is a lot to explore in the area so it will not be a quick trip!

Grass Lake is about 60 miles from South Reno; carpooling is recommended as we will be parking in a pull out at the side of CA-89 (Luther Pass Road). We will meet Doughboys Donuts, 57 Damonte Ranch Pkwy, Reno, NV 89521, at 8:15m and will leave there at 8:30am. We will head to Fuji Park, 601 Old Clear Creek Rd, Carson City, NV 89701 to meet up with people from Carson City area. We will plan to leave Fuji Park by 9:15am. 

Directions to Grass Lake from Doughboys Donuts on Damonte Ranch Parkway https://maps.app.goo.gl/aiDuX7FqTgdMFVv9A

Our destination https://maps.app.goo.gl/z4tUNfKLswQPgsGQ6

Peavine Mountain in Reno has a special place in the heart of NNPS, many members spent hours in the field cataloging the vascular flora of Peavine Mountain and writing it up in Mentzelia Vol. 6.

Our leader for this trip will be John Weiser. Last time we had a substantial snow pack on Peavine, the summit was a virtual rock garden. The wild blown scree at the peak had Phlox condensate, Boechera puberula, Lewisia rediviva var. minor, Phacelia linearis, Castilleja chromosa, Phacelia linearis, Erigeron aphanactis and Astragalus purshii var. tinctus simultaneously in full bloom. 

Those traveling from the Carson area should meet at the Save Mart at 3620 N. Carson St.,  located at the intersection of West College Parkway and north Carson Street at 9:00 a.m. to carpool.  Our final meeting place will be at the McDonalds Restaurant parking lot located at 120 Lemmon Drive in North Reno at 10:00 a.m.  After meeting up, we will carpool to the summit of Peavine at about 10:15. Expect to have stops on the way up and down for flower sightings. The unpaved road to the summit is generally a good one but bumpy; four-wheel drive vehicles suggested but not required. Our route to the top can be found HERE.

Contact John Weiser:  johnpweiser@yahoo.com  call or text (775) 229 5992