The Wildflower Conservancy

New Feature: Wildflower of the Day...

2011-09-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

We have a new page on the Wildflower Conservancy website. It features an image of a different wildflower species each day and includes both its common and Latin names. This is an easy way to learn the names of our beautiful wildflowers. Just think, in a year, you'll be able to identify 365 wildflowers!

Here are a few of our first Wildflowers of the Day...

Showy Gilia (Gilia cana)

Cream Cups (Platystemon californicus)

Kelley's Lily (Lilium kelleyanum)

Recurved Larkspur (Delphinium recurvatum)

Desert Mariposa Lily (Calochortus kennedyi var. munzii)

Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis var. contentiosa)

Desert Gold (Geraea canescens)

Lewis' Monkeyflower (Mimulus lewisii)

Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)

New Logo for the Wildflower Conservancy Facebook Page...

2011-08-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Wildflower Conservancy On Facebook!

2011-08-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Wildflower Conservancy now has it's own Facebook page. Along with this website and the @Wildflowernews Twitter feed, hopefully, the new Facebook page will provide a great resource for wildflower locations and reports as well as guidelines for enjoying our native flora in ways that help preserve it for future generations.

Please check out the new page, and join the wildflower fun on FB as well as here. If you want to receive seasonal reports, please follow us on Twitter too. Thanks!

Summer in the Sierra High Country - A Wildflower Bonanza

2011-08-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

People often think that the beginning of Summer signals the end of Spring wildflowers. For the deserts and most lower elevations, this is true. But as you climb into the mountains, the riot of color only begins to peak in July and August.

On a recent visit to Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra, I was amazed at the variety and abundance of color along the roads and trails leading up to the mountains.

I easily could have spent a week or more exploring the area, but only had two and one-half days. So I focused on Tioga Pass along with Rock Creek and the Bishop Creek drainage.

While many species flourished throughout the area, some only grew in ceertain spots. Elevation seemed to play the most important role, with the bloom concentrated around 8,000 to 9,000 feet.

Meadows along Tioga Pass Road were filled with shootings stars, American bistort, buckwheat, Sierra penstemon and others, but for me, the real show was tucked into the granite along the highway.

It was interesting to walk along the roadside and see how the flowers accommodated themselves to the conditions. Even large shrubs had managed to gain a foothold in narrow cracks in the granite. The hanging gardens along the rock faces were amazing.

Particularly, just west of the turn to White Wolf, these granite terraces were loaded with lupine, Indian paintbrush, larkspur, Mountain Pride penstemon and a number of other wildflower species.

Heading east from Tuolumne Meadows, I found an incredible display of rein orchids, seep monkeyflowers, Lewis' monkeyflowers, crimson columbine, leopard lilies, lupine and more growing in a watery ditch below the tiniest of waterfalls. Just glorious. I spent well over an hour parked along the roadside, focused on these beauties.

All along Tioga Pass Road, there were varied displays. Some blooms appeared periodically along the entire length of the highway, while others were only in a few spots, their populations isolated from all the others. There was one place west of Olmstead Point where I found Scarlet Gilia in abundance, but didn't see it anywhere else.

Late in the afternoon on Saturday, the second day I spent along the Tioga Pass Road, I found wonderful displays of bush lupine and Indian paintbrush along the granite slopes just east of Lake Tenaya.

As I was photographing them, a thunderstorm moved in. I could hear the thunder claps right above me and within minutes, the skies opened up, first with rain and then with marble-sized hail. I took refuge in my car and watched with fascination as water started streaming down the granite, forming impromptu waterfalls. It was quite surreal.

Trying to photograph through the deluge, I was anxious to see if I could catch one of the transient waterfalls. With my car window open, hail and rain came streaming in. I had to wipe my lens every few seconds and I thought my arm was going to freeze! But I got my shots and headed off to meet up with friends in Mammoth. A warm and wonderful end to a glorious day hunting wildflowers in the Yosemite high country.
[First posted on August 11, 2010]

Celebrate Earth Day And Go Native...

2011-04-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

Mojave Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia)

In honor of Earth Day, please consider using native plants in your garden landscape. There are so many advantages to putting in a native or xeric (desert) garden, including less maintenance once established and often, less water-use. Plus, they are remarkably beautiful and some species will attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Of course, please don't try to harvest native shrubs and flowers from the wild. Most don't transplant very well anyway. Species that do adapt nicely to garden use should be easy to find in either seed or plant form. Just check with your local nursery.

Native Plant Week Continues Through Saturday, April 23rd

2011-04-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder to get out there and do something to celebrate Native Plant Week. If you're looking for activities or ways to get involved, check out the links to local chapters of the California Native Plant Society.

Ridgecrest Wildflower Festival Starts Today; Wildflower Conservancy Presentation Is Tomorrow!

2011-04-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that I will be speaking on behalf of the Wildflower Conservancy at the Ridgecrest Desert Wildflower Festival tomorrow, April 16th, in Ridgecrest, California.

The presentation, entitled "Capturing Ephemeral Beauty: A Celebration of Californiaʼs Wildflowers, will feature my photography and efforts by the Wildflower Conservancy to encourage people to enjoy wildflowers responsibly.

It's happening at the Maturango Museum, 100 W. Las Flores, at 2:30 PM. If you're in the area, please stop by. It's a wonderful opportunity to see wildflowers collected by permit on display and talk with experts in California's Native Plants. Here's a link to the full program: Ridgecrest Desert Wildflower Festival Guide. Hope to see you there!

Get Ready for the First Ever California Native Plant Week - April 17th - 23rd

2011-04-14T01:37:00.000-07:00

The California State Assembly and Senate have approved a resolution that establishes California Native Plant Week. Beginning this year with April 17th - 23rd, the initiative designates the third week in April of each year as California Native Plant Week. How perfect to celebrate our native plants in the midst of Spring wildflower season! Schools, community organizations and individuals are encouraged to get involved in promoting the conservation, restoration and appreciation of California's native plants.

Coincident with the week-long event, the Ridgecrest Desert Wildflower Festival starts this Friday, April 15th, and runs through the weekend. If you're in the area, come by and see real wildflowers on display (collected under permit) and visit the different locations where booths and other activities are taking place.

Just a reminder that I will be giving a presentation on behalf of the Wildflower Conservancy at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, the 16th, at the Maturango Museum. It's entitled, "Capturing Ephemeral Beauty: A Celebration of California's Wildflowers." Hope to see you there! Kahlee

California Wildflowers: Hoping the Best Blooms Are Yet to Come...

2011-03-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

Will the Temblor Range look as colorful
in 2011 as it did here in April of 2010?

Although Anza-Borrego Desert and a few other Southern California locations have reported nice displays of wildflowers in some areas, Spring is slow to get out of bed this year. The unusually cold and rainy weather definitely has played a part in delaying the wildflower season in much of the state.

Scattered wildflowers are just starting in the Alabama Hills and Owens Valley, but just to the south, the Indian Wells Valley around Ridgecrest has been warm enough to encourage large displays of goldfields with other varieties just coming to life. Too much cold and snow to get things rolling yet in the Kern County Mountains and Tehachapis.

It's "wait-and-see" as people
hope for a bloom like this along
California's Central Coast

Similarly, Figueroa Mountain along the Central Coast seems to be confused with snow on top of the peaks and plenty of cold weather and windy conditions that are likely to delay any spectacular blooms in this area for a while.

Although rain is always most welcome in our drought-stricken landscapes, it's difficult to tell if it has come too late to get the wildflowers to make a grand appearance this Spring.

The Sierra Nevada foothils above the
Owens Valley in May, 2010

At this point, it looks like the middle to end of April as well as the month of May are promising for areas along the Central Coast, Owens Valley and high deserts, while the best bloom of all may occur early this Summer in mid-range elevations of the Sierra and later in July and August for the high country once the warm weather melts a good deal of that snowpack.

Wildflower reports are being updated here almost daily as well as going out in short form on Twitter sometimes several times a day so stay tuned!

Ridgecrest Desert Wildflower Festival...

2011-03-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

On behalf of the Wildflower Conservancy, I'm honored to be the keynote speaker for this year's Ridgecrest Desert Wildflower Festival on Saturday, April 16th, in Ridgecrest, California.

The presentation, entitled, "Capturing Ephemeral Beauty: A Celebration of Californiaʼs Wildflowers," will feature my photography and efforts by the Wildflower Conservancy to encourage people to enjoy wildflowers responsibly.

It's happening at the Maturango Museum, 100 W. Las Flores, on Saturday at 2:30 PM. If you're in the area, please stop by. It's a wonderful opportunity to see wildflowers collected by permit on display and talk with experts in California's Native Plants. Here's a link to the full program: Ridgecrest Desert Wildflower Festival Guide

Back Country Wildflower Hunting After A Series of Big Storms: There Is No Joy in Mudville...

2011-03-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

With so much rain in recent days and more to come, Spring wildflower hunting can get trecherous. Even paved roads can get washed out and dirt roads can turn into rivers of mud that are virtually impenetrable by any kind of vehicle.

Chances are, it's going to take a couple of weeks for the flowers to show after these latest storms anyway. By then, the roads should be at least somewhat dry and passable with care. With luck, they'll get freshly graded so rock falls, trees and other hazards are out of the way.

Of course, if someone with a huge vehicle drives through them while they're still muddy, you could be facing something like the road depicted here. Even dry, negotiating this in my Corolla was quite the challenge!

Unless you have a 4x4 with high clearance, wait until things have a chance to dry out thoroughly. And even if you do want to be adventurous and test the limits of those all terrain tires, make sure to check locally for the latest road conditions. It is not fun to get stuck. Be safe out there!

A Watershed Moment for the Wildflower Conservancy...

2011-03-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

This morning, I was thrilled to see that the latest issue of Watershed Wise, a quarterly regional publication of the Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley Rivers Council is out and available online.

This is very exciting as it's the very first magazine to feature one of my landscape images on the cover. They contacted me a while back and asked to use one of three of my shots from the Station Fire that they had found on Flickr. I suggested this one, and, as promised, they provided a "Front Cover" credit on the second page along a nice mention of the Wildflower Conservancy including the website.

If you want to read the whole magazine, it's pretty interesting: Watershed Wise - Station Fire Recovery and Rehabilitation (Note: This is a 14MB PDF!) -- Kahlee

Still Waiting for the Wildflowers?

2011-03-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

Today's Los Angeles Times has a nice article on So Cal wildflowers: What will flower season bring? While it primarily covers Anza-Borrego and the Antelope Valley Reserve, it provides an indicator of how the season is shaping up so far.

Please remember to email your reports to the Wildflower Conservancy. New ones are starting to come in every few days as the season gets growing. And don't forget, mini-updates also are being posted daily on Twitter.

Look What's New: Online Wildflower Indentification Resources!

2011-03-02T08:37:00.000-08:00

If you're looking to identify those beautiful flowers, we now have a page for links to helpful Wildflower Identification Resources.

Further down, there is separate section that includes contact info for various local chapters of the California Native Plant Society. This fine organization does wonderful work in wildflower preservation, and is a great place to get involved at the local level. Enjoy!

Wildflower Reports Are Coming In From Various Locations!

2011-02-23T20:37:00.000-08:00

While I try to figure out how to get a direct news feed set up for the Recent Wildflower Sightings page, please feel free to stop by periodically and check out our incoming reports. Just posted a few today with promises of more to come from some very talented photographers and other folks who follow this blog. Please don't forget you can follow along on Twitter @wildflowernews. Many thanks!

Got Time for a Quick-e? The Wildflower Conservancy is now reporting California flower sightings on Twitter!

2011-02-18T20:37:00.000-08:00

Here's your chance to get quick e-news on the latest wildflower happenings in California. As new reports come in this Spring, we'll summarize and tweet them here: @wildflowernews. You're welcome to follow along, and please be sure to email your own reports for publication on our Recent Wildflower Sightings page. Thanks!

Sahara Mustard: The Challenge of Eradicating an Invasive Exotic to Preserve Our Native Wildflowers...

2011-02-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

Henderson Road in Anza Borrego Desert

State Park. A photographer's favorite, this

location is well-known for its vast expanses
of Spring wildflowers. This was shot in 2010.
That lush green carpet you see behind the
Sand Verbena and Desert Gold is mainly
Sahara Mustard. As a result of its amazing
proliferation, not nearly as many native
plants flourish here now as they have in
years past.

Although this battle has been going on for a while, it's becoming more and more urgent that action is taken to stop the spread of Sahara Mustard across the deserts of the Southwest. There already are a number of programs underway to organize volunteers to get rid of this year's mustard crop in several areas. For more information and ways to get involved, here are a few links to check out: Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce - web page on mustard eradication; USGS Western Ecological Research Center - discussion on weed removal and habitat restoration, Morongo Basic Conservation Organization - info page on Sahara Mustard; Anza Borrego Foundation's Sahara Mustard Task Force; Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum - info page on eradication of "Invaders" such as mustard and other exotic species.

Belly Flowers: Blink And You Might Miss These Small Wonders of the Wildflower Kingdom...

2010-06-29T22:37:00.000-07:00

I have a particular fondness for what are commonly referred to in the wildflower parlance as "belly flowers."

These are tiny blossoms that pave the environment with color but live so close to the ground that you practically do need to get on your belly to see them. As such, they are at particular risk for being stepped on, rolled over, layed upon or otherwise mangled by folks who just don't see them or appreciate their delicate beauty.

Along with the Sandblossoms shown above, here are a few examples of belly flowers:

Lilac Sunbonnets, Wildrose Canyon, Death Valley National Park

Red Maids, Red Hill
Road, San Luis Obispo County, California

Desert Mariposa lilies and Rattlesnake Weed

Bigelow's Monkey Flower, Jubilee Pass, Death Valley National Park

Spreading Phlox, Tioga Pass Road, Yosemite National Park

Dwarf Brodiaea, Figueroa Mountain, Central California

Goldfields, San Luis Obispo County, Central California

Baby Blue Eyes, San Luis Obispo County, California

Long Beak Filaree, Santa Barbara County, California

Five Spot, Greenhorn Mountains, Kern County, California

Another "Poppies-in-Peril" Update on the Proposed Fairmont Butte Racetrack

2010-06-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

The hearing scheduled for June 9th before the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission has been continued for 90 days.

This gives a bit more time to prepare and strengthen opposition to the racetrack project. Although it looks like the Planning Commision intended to approve the re-zoning, it is not too late to raise your voice in support of the amazing expanse of poppies that will be lost if this project received the go-ahead.

A number of local environmental groups and organizations such as Cal Parks, the Antelope Valley Conservancy, etc., already are on record as opposing this development. Save The Poppy Reserve is a great website that shows the history of this dispute as well as many ways to take action to voice your dissent for the Motorsports Park project. Other information can be found in prior posts here for May 5th and May 12th.

It would also be helpful if you would add comments and even better, sign on as a Follower and make your support of the Wildflower Conservancy's goals known to the online community. To those who have already signed on, thank you SO much!

Kahlee
The Wildflower Conservancy

Station Fire Burn Area Shows Signs of Recovery With Beautiful Wildflowers

2010-06-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

I'm currently preparing a more detailed report on the Angeles National Forest and how it's recovering from the Station Fire last year.

In the interim, I should note that while most of the roads through the burn area have reopened to traffic, the forest itself remains closed.

No hiking or entry into the burn area is permitted. You have to drive straight through or have a business or residence in the burn area.

And that means no stopping along the highway -- not even in pullouts!

I didn't know about the no stopping rule until I was driving through the forest several weeks ago, hoping to take a few pictures of the restoration.

I did so for about two hours until a U.S. Forest Service ranger came along and explained that one could not stop anywhere along the road -- even in pullouts where, ordinarily, it would be okay. FYI, the ticket can run upwards of $5,000! Thankfully, I did not get one.

That said, I still highly recommend taking the drive. It's very encouraging to see new life arise from what was essentially a lifeless landscape after the fire last September.

Just remember if you do go, be sure to keep moving!

Kahlee
The Wildflower Conservancy

Poppies in Peril: An Update on the Proposed Fairmont Butte Racetrack...

2010-05-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

An excellent discussion on the proposed Fairmont Butte Racetrack continues at CalPhoto eGroup on Yahoo. Jeff Conrad and several others have suggested ways to best counter the Racetrack's attempts to get the area re-zoned.

Just so you're aware of the area in question, I've posted a short video on Flickr called Poppies in Peril... (You Can Help!). It was taken in April, 2010, and provides a panoramic view of the area that would be affected if the racetrack is allowed to build there. (My apologies for the excessive camera movement. Didn't have the tripod handy!)

If you think you can attend the hearing or lend your support in some way to those who oppose the racetrack, please read the earlier post for contact information, etc. Thank you.

Kahlee
The Wildflower Conservancy

More News of Poppies in Peril...

2010-05-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

I follow Carol Leigh's CalPhoto eGroup discussion forum regularly.
Recently, one of the members posted information on a development project on private land right next to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve that would wipe out most of the prime fields in that area.

This acreage often has more spectacular blooms than the reserve itself. While it certainly is within the property owner's rights to develop the land, in this case it would require re-zoning for its contemplated use as a race track, "Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park." Here's a link their website: Fairmont Butte Motorsports Park. Info on the next public hearing, scheduled for June 9th, is posted there.

If you would like to oppose this development, please consider attending the hearing or voicing your concerns directly to the Los Angeles County Planning Commission. The specific case information regarding the Fairmont Butte project on the LACPC website is here. To contact them, go to their website Who Should I Contact? page. (Bad grammar is theirs, not mine...)

It seems a shame for so much prime poppy territory potentially to be lost to a major development like this. But if the property fails to be re-zoned, perhaps the owners will look elsewhere to build their motorsports park. There certainly is plenty of other poppy-free acreage in the Antelope Valley in which to do so.

Kahlee
The Wildflower Conservancy

Should Poppies Perish Purely For Our Personal Pleasure?

2010-05-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

No, it's not likely that California poppies will disappear any time soon. But since efforts have been made to protect our state flower, I just wanted to write a quick note to bring to everyone's attention some concerns raised recently by the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. In their Latest Poppy Reserve Research Field Notes and Observations on 4/26, they mention:

I would like to address a problem we are having this year. Visitors need to know they must stay on the trails. There has been a great deal of damage to poppies and other wildflowers this year because people are going into the areas of wildflowers for photos. They are walking and sitting on plants and destroying them. Every plant that is destroyed cannot go to the seed producing stage. The poppies and many other wildflowers are annual plants and we need them to go to the seed stage for the seed bank for the next year’s flowers. One should also stay on the trails because there have been many sightings of the Mojave Rattlesnakes."

I also noticed that the L.A. Times ran an article by Lisa Boone on April 27th about the peak poppy bloom this year. Only at the end of the article did she mention a few "no-no's" such as staying on trails, no dogs, no flower picking, etc. It might be the angle of view, but unfortunately, the large picture they ran with the story shows a female photographer who appears to be standing in the middle of a poppy field. Talk about mixed messages!

I will be sending a letter to the editor shortly and encourage others to do the same.

Kahlee
The Wildflower Conservancy

Beginning to Blossom...

2010-04-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

Although it has been less than a month since the seeds of the Wildflower Conservancy were first planted and began to germinate, there has been amazing growth.

It started with this website and blog, including the first blog entry on April 4th, which introduced the Wildflower Conservancy to the public. Since then, additional pages have sprouted, including Guidelines for Responsible Wildflower Enjoyment and several others that showcase images depicting the incredible beauty of the season as well as the damage caused as people try to enjoy it.

Most notably, there is now a page for Recent Wildflower Sightings. This is a resource for anyone who wishes to contribute seasonal reports and read those submitted by others.

I debated initially whether or not to have such a page since it might lead people to explore areas that could then suffer further damage. But I have, in good conscience, decided that since most of the bloom information is online regardless, if I can draw people here and educate them in ways to preserve the wildflowers as they enjoy them, then the reports will be a good thing.

[It should be noted that all reports will be reviewed before publication and every effort made to ensure that the focus is on areas freely accessible to the public -- not on private lands.]

In some ways, the Wildflower Conservancy already is starting to bloom. I'm so thankful for the amazing support this little endeavor is getting right from the start.

On April 21, Sandy Steinman kindly mentioned the Wildflower Conservancy in his blog, Natural History Wanderings. That same day, the Merced Camera Club noted it on their message board, The Birdie. And just today, Steven Bourelle posted a copy of the Guidelines and a very nice article on his website, Sierra Visions.

Carol Leigh's Wildflower Hotsheet at Calphoto.com has been the best known source of California wildflower reports for the past 15 years.

She recently stopped publishing it out of concern for the damage being caused to wildflower populations here in the state, particularly on private property. She, too, has given her personal blessing to the Wildflower Conservancy.

This is a huge endorsement. You could have knocked me over with a bit of Desert Dandelion fluff when I heard that. It's like Oprah saying to her audience, "I'm taking a break, so please check out this other talk show while I'm gone..." I'm so honored.

In any event, I definitely have my work cut out for me. People dream about romping through vast fields of wildflowers. Songs are written about picking them, rolling in them, etc. I completely understand. What sounds more fun than a nice picnic with your family among the wildflowers? And whose heart hasn't melted when your beloved gathers a handful of feral fleurs and brings them to you as an expression of love?

I know not everyone will come onboard. But I also know that policing behavior or attempting to pass more laws won't protect the flowers either. My sincere hope is that education will. Thank you all for your kindness and support.

Kahlee
The Wildflower Conservancy

Our wildflowers are in trouble, folks...

2010-04-04T19:37:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've become quite frustrated over the ever increasing numbers of professed wildflower lovers, photographers and others who, in their zealous efforts to enjoy these Spring treasures, are causing damage to public and private property as well as to the flowers themselves. Enough already!

This year, I have arrived on scene at several popular locations only to find people jumping fences, tripod-toting photographers standing in the road who wouldn't even budge for oncoming traffic, picnickers with blankets spread out in the middle of the flower displays, dogs running loose, hikers trampling "lesser" blooms to get to prime areas, children picking flowers for bouquets that probably won't make it through the end of the day, etc. People were leaving piles of trash and even driving off the road right into the fields of flowers to get closer.

It has been heartbreaking to watch such flagrant disregard for the very gems we all seek. Property owners justifiably are angry and concerned about liability. Recently, there have been threats of prosecution for trespassers, law enforcement called for crowd control, etc. On March 30, Carol Leigh even decided to stop publishing her well-known CalPhoto Wildflower Hotsheet out of concern for the flowers and locations in which these beauties live.

Of course, there are plenty of other online reports, newspaper articles and TV stories during the season. Even I had compiled a list of online resources for wildflower reports on my other blog, Spirits Dancing In The Heart of The Wind. I have now transferred it here, but with information limited to public lands, parks, etc. I don't think one can stop the flow of seasonal bloom information, but perhaps if people are educated about the fragility of these environments, they will be more respectful when they do visit.

In the aftermath of all this controversy, I started thinking about what I personally might be able to do to help. I'm an educator by trade as well as a photographer, fine artist and writer. And of course, I'm absurdly passionate about nature and wildflowers. Probably my favorite subject matter creatively. I'm also at a point where I can no longer stand by and watch the devastation. So I've come up with a plan and an organization: The "Wildflower Conservancy."

This is my very first post under that umbrella, and it feels both daunting and exciting. I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me if I'm to create true value with this project. But in what I view as a miraculous bit of serendipity, on March 30th, I was able to reserve the name "wildflowerconservancy" for .com, .net, and .org domains. I've paid the registration fees, and once I learn web design (!), I'll have the site up and running.

I've also started looking into what might be involved in setting up a non-profit corporation. (Sometimes, it's handy to work with lawyers! LOL!) None of this is likely to happen overnight -- well, except this blog of course -- but I believe there's a great future for this kind of educational enterprise.

Initially, I've envisioned wildflower presentations for children in grades K-6 as well as scout troops and other youth organizations. If I can get to kids early enough, hopefully, they will learn to appreciate and respect nature. With luck, they might even get their parents to wake up and smell the grape soda lupine. I taught children's improvisational theater for a number of years, and I've seen first hand how a creative approach can make a huge difference in learning for students as well as their families. (They take their enthusiasm home and share it.) I will offer these children's educational presentations for free, so I shouldn't have to fight a heck of a lot of bureaucratic madness.

Beyond that, I have lots of ideas to help raise awareness in local communities and nature-oriented groups as well as the settings where wildflowers abound each year. I will add pages to this blog and eventually to the website with educational information, guidelines for responsible wildflower enjoyment, links to resources and organizations that promote same, etc.

I'm not a wildflower expert by any means, but I am passionate about their preservation, so I figure I'll learn as I go. I'll probably make mistakes, despite my good intentions. But my heart and soul are definitely in this. I welcome your suggestions and feedback. Thank you kindly for your support of this venture.

Kahlee Brighton

The Wildflower Conservancy