Sunday, May 19 · 10am - 4pm PDT
Meet the arboreal residents of Inverness Ridge. Whether you already recognize them or all you see is "green,” you'll learn to identify species along with their stories and how they interact with the ecosystem at large.
We'll gather at the Red Barn Classroom in Bear Valley to learn about plant anatomy and identification using fresh samples. Next, we'll head to the field to learn about the different tree communities at several locations around Inverness Ridge. We'll drive to a few stops and hike at a "botanizer's pace" (that is, slowly). Along the way, you'll apply new understanding about the distinct interconnections of each tree species with the ecosystem and environment around it.
Trees/ shrubs could include:
--Douglas-fir
--Bishop pine
--Monterey pine
--Monterey cypress
--Red elderberry
--Willow
--Coffeeberry
--Red alder
--California buckeye
--Red elderberry
--Willow
--Coffeeberry
--Red alder
--California bay laurel
Topics could include:
--The fascinating dramas of fire strategies of bishop pines and douglas-firs
--How do trees grow and repair themselves?
--What’s the deal with mycorrhizae?
--What are the different strategies for surviving fire (or even depending on fire for survival)?
--How can we infer the fire history of each site?
--How have human activities impacted the vegetation of Inverness Ridge?
--The impacts of introduced diseases on native forests
--How do the different trees reproduce, and how is that going?
--What are landscape disturbances, and are they good or bad?
--All-time greatest hits “What’s that thing in the tree?” and “What’s this thing I found on the ground?”
Naomi Sorbet teaches to spread a passion for plants and biodiversity. Sparked by a childhood visit to Point Reyes, Naomi studied Forestry and Environmental Sciences at UC Berkeley, and is a certified California Naturalist. A frequent hiker and backpacker, she has worked in environmental education, habitat restoration, and sustainable forestry.
For any questions, please email us at fieldinstitute@ptreyes.org.