05/08/2026
Botanical Hotspots of Northern California: FREE LECTURES IN MAY AND JULY -
Northern California is one of the most diverse floral hotspots in the world, with much of this richness concentrated in well-defined ecological areas. Dr. Glenn Keator will present a series of free talks exploring this diversity. Please join us at the Botanic Garden Visitor Center on the following Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Talks are open to the public. Directions to the Garden.
May 17: Mines Road and Mount Hamilton Area. This long road south of Livermore goes through some pristine habitat that makes you feel miles away from civilization. It features vast chaparral, meadows, gray pine-oak forests, rock scree, and springs including adjacent Del Puerto Canyon.
May 31: Bear Valley and Walker Ridge. This particular Bear Valley lies in the inner north Coast Ranges east of Clear Lake and is accessed from Williams. Besides vast inner grasslands with a plethora of geophytes and annual wildflowers, the ridge to the west has both serpentine and ordinary soils and has not only a selection of beautiful geophytes but is also the only place where two different species of western cypress occur.
July 12: The Smith River Watershed. California’s most northern undammed river feeds into wetlands and sea promontories and extends into deep forested canyons, with peaks rising to 5,000 feet. It is home to many special endemics.
July 19: Cook and Green Pass. Just short of the Oregon border, 5000-foot Cook and Green Pass has an unparalleled diversity combining lowland species with high and subalpine species in a series of forests, meadows, and rock outcrops.
July 26: Mt. Eddy. At 9,000 feet, Mt. Eddy is the highest point in the Klamath Mountains. It is an entirely serpentine area featuring several gem-like lakes, large meadows, a range of interesting conifers, and true alpine habitat. It is also home to vast populations of the curious insectivorous cobra plant, Darlingtonia californica.
Dr. Glenn Keator is a botanist and horticulturist specializing in California native plants. He teaches the docent training classes and many additional courses at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley. Dr. Keator was instrumental in starting the Garden’s docent program and the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden organization.