Spring brings a phenomenal wildflower bloom in the Merced River Canyon west of Yosemite Valley that thrills both first-timers and returning hikers. Participants signing up for this course will learn how to identify many species of wildflowers using dichotomous keys and field guides, and will more fully understand the importance of pollination. The course is aimed at all levels of plant expertise, and is a delightful way to experience spring in Yosemite's foothills. Hiking will be about five miles per day, so participants must be in excellent physical condition and have some hiking experience.
Foothill trails are steep and quite slippery when wet.
Join one or both of these three-day workshops in Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows to learn the inherent wisdom of plants and basic elements of flora through the use of botanical keys. Through identification of wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses, the course will investigate how flowers are designed to attract the creatures that pollinate them. Learn how humans and other animals have used plants, and how the geology, climate, and history of these regions have influenced their evolution. The origins of plant names will also be covered in each course. Hikes of up to three miles each day require students to be in good physical condition, have some hiking experience, and wear sturdy boots.