Bay Area Botany Camp

Bay Area Botany Camp Guided educational tours of California flora

Pines don’t rely on pollinators like bees or butterflies. They trust the wind. Every spring, they send billions of grain...
05/05/2026

Pines don’t rely on pollinators like bees or butterflies. They trust the wind. Every spring, they send billions of grains into the air, hoping a few will reach the right place. (Achoo!)

What you’re seeing here is a whole story unfolding on one branch. The soft, colorful structures are pollen cones releasing clouds of pollen into the wind, while the darker, woody cones are the beginnings of future seeds.

Look closely next time you’re on the trail. There’s so much happening in even the smallest moment of a plant’s life.

🌿 Want to learn how to read these stories in the landscape?
Join a botanist-led hike and experience nature with new eyes.

There is something mysteriously calming about being in the forest. The filtered light, the quiet layers of life, the sou...
05/03/2026

There is something mysteriously calming about being in the forest. The filtered light, the quiet layers of life, the sounds of critters within the heaviness of the quiet, the way every plant has a story if you slow down enough to notice.

From towering trees to tiny understory blooms, the forest is not just scenery. It is a living classroom, a place to reconnect, and a reminder that we are part of something much bigger.

Come walk with me and experience it for yourself 🌿 Sign up link for event alerts in bio.

Have you ever caught that warm, spicy scent drifting through the forest air? 🌬️🌿✨You might be standing near California B...
05/02/2026

Have you ever caught that warm, spicy scent drifting through the forest air? 🌬️🌿✨
You might be standing near California Bay Laurel, also known as Umbellularia californica.

This iconic native tree of the San Francisco Bay Area is full of personality. Its glossy leaves release a strong aroma when crushed, often compared to bay leaves but much more intense. Some hikers even feel a lightheaded effect if they breathe it in too deeply.

Beyond the scent, California Bay Laurel plays an important role in the ecosystem, providing habitat and food for wildlife. And yes, its leaves have been used in cooking, but only in very small amounts due to their potency.

Next time you’re on the trail, pause, take a gentle sniff, and see if you can spot this unforgettable tree.

🌿 Want to learn how to identify plants like this in the wild?
Join a botanist-led hike and experience the landscape in a whole new way.

DM to learn more!

Sipping wine under the sun at biodynamic winery where the vineyard meets a thriving garden ecosystem. Among the blooms,...
04/30/2026

Sipping wine under the sun at biodynamic winery where the vineyard meets a thriving garden ecosystem. Among the blooms, Echinacea stands out: a resilient native perennial related to sunflowers and daisies, long admired for its connection to immune support and herbal traditions.

From soil to sip, it’s all connected: plants, people, and place. 👩🏻‍🌾🌻

Is it Native? Is it Invasive? A Hybrid? The secret is in the prickle! 🔺 ...
04/25/2026

Is it Native? Is it Invasive? A Hybrid? The secret is in the prickle! 🔺

California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica).The inner bark of this plant was historically used as a treatment for pois...
04/25/2026

California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica).

The inner bark of this plant was historically used as a treatment for poison oak rash!

Happy Earth Day from Bay Area Botany Camp 🌿🌎Today is a reminder that every trail we walk, every wildflower we notice, an...
04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day from Bay Area Botany Camp 🌿🌎

Today is a reminder that every trail we walk, every wildflower we notice, and every ecosystem we learn from is worth protecting. The Bay Area is home to incredible biodiversity from coastal scrub to redwood forests. And it’s up to all of us to care for these spaces.

Take a moment today to step outside, slow down, and really look at the plants around you. Learn their names. Notice their patterns. Build a relationship with the land. It’s the first step toward protecting it.

Let’s keep exploring, learning, and advocating for the natural world together 💚

📣 Hi everyone! The next Botany Camp event is happening on May 13th. Just in time for Mother's day weekend!🔗 RSVP here: h...
05/04/2023

📣 Hi everyone! The next Botany Camp event is happening on May 13th. Just in time for Mother's day weekend!

🔗 RSVP here: https://share.hsforms.com/1aMb_wcgMTA632EtEZvJmPgec6vf

🌿 This time around we will meet on the beautiful Main Parade Lawn of the SF presidio at 11AM. Look for the green and yellow balloons.

👣 We will then walk over to the Tennessee Hollow trail nearby. The walk is 1.5 miles and should take just a little over one hour to complete.

😋 There is parking, restrooms, and several food truck options near the main parade lawn if you are hungry afterwards!

You can pay in-person via Cash, Venmo or Apple Cash.

🌿 Licorice fern, or 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘨𝘭𝘺𝘤𝘺𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘢, is a species of fern that grows up to 1 ft long in humid conditions on slope...
02/21/2023

🌿 Licorice fern, or 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘨𝘭𝘺𝘤𝘺𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘢, is a species of fern that grows up to 1 ft long in humid conditions on slopes, rocks and logs.

✍️ The rhizomes of this fern have historically been used by the Native American people to flavor foods and to treat cold and sore throats. Its flavor is said to be somewhere between ginger and licorice!

🍵 Preparation methods: Rhizomes (roots) are chopped into tiny bits and made into an infusion (tea) or chewed.

*Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. Please consult a medical professional before ingesting plant materials.

02/13/2023

Botanist Nick Jensen told Newsweek that this year, the superbloom could be "really spectacular" in some places.

02/10/2023

Phacelia congesta Wildflowers! Spirals in Nature!

~Devon

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94114

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