Plant Identification Workshop

Unlock the secrets of the natural world with the tools of plant identification. Botanical knowledge makes possible trail-inspired gardens, curated seed collections, and homegrown habitat. This is an extraordinary opportunity to learn from Professor Shawna Martinez on Sunday, April 13th at the Loomis Library.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Techniques for using field guides and apps to identify plants in the field
• How to identify common local flowering plant families
• Key characteristics of different plant families
• The basics of botanical terminology and plant anatomy

Through lecture, discussions and hands-on activities, you will learn how to overcome common challenges in plant identification by practicing the utilization of appropriate resources, tools and scientific language. You will learn terminology, abbreviations, use of dichotomous keys, and be trained to recognize the characteristics of the most common plant families.

BRING WITH YOU

• Spiral bound notebook
• Snacks and lunch
• Water
• Hand lens (if you have one)
• Recommended resource: Peterson Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers and Wildflowers of Nevada and Placer Counties (optional)

This program, sponsored by the California Native Plant Society’s local Redbud Chapter, will be Sunday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. at the Loomis Library at 6050 Library Dr, Loomis, CA. Class will start indoors from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and, following a lunchbreak, we’ll take a walk in the demonstration garden to practice our new skills from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

TUITION

Class tuition is $30 with all proceeds going towards the CNPS Redbud Chapter Scholarship Fund. Class size is limited to 20 students.

Please email questions to Monica Finn at monicsfinn[at]gmail[dot]com OR Chris Catlin at ChrisSignIn[at]gmail[dot]com. Include your phone number if you would like a return call.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Shawna Martinez is a Professor Emeritus in Botany from Sierra College where she spent 33 years teaching Forestry, Biology, Botany, and Environmental Science. She spent the earlier part of her career working for the U.S. Forest Service as a rare plant botanist. She has led many ecology-based field trips over the years for Sierra College, both locally and abroad. She also has spent time leading wildflower and naturalist hikes for California Native Plant Society, other non-profits and several local Land Trusts. Currently, she volunteers at U.C. Davis in the Plant Diversity Lab (Herbarium) identifying plants. She earned her B.S. degree from U.C. Davis in Natural Resource Science and completed her M.S. in Conservation Biology and Botany from Sacramento State University which included a thesis on Giant Sequoia ecology. Shawna is an active gardener, hiker, nature enthusiast, and tree-hugger.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Loomis Library & Community Learning Center, 6050 Library Drive, Loomis, United States