Birgit Knorr Is Recognized for Her Botany Work

Cylindropuntia fosbergii

Birgit Knorr, a stellar active member of the Botany Society, was highlighted in a recent Observation of the Month by the San Diego Natural History Museum. 

Birgit has contributed over 200 observations of the elusive Mason Valley Cholla (Cylindropuntia fosbergii) using the digital application iNat on her smartphone.. Her observations constitute nearly half of all 450 observations of Mason Valley Cholla in San Diego County on iNat.

Birgit's observations, and others, help to refine the extent of the range of this narrow endemic which is on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants. As she has stated that she is "fascinated by Cylindropuntia fosbergii and wanted to map its range."

Huzzah Birgit!

This link will take you to Birgit's "observation of the month." 
Information courtesy of Millie Basden. 

Stephen Ingram Returns to Speak on Desert Succulents

The Botany Society of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park invites you to a public lecture by Stephen Ingram as he returns to present a free-to-the-public talk on native desert succulents, His talk is scheduled for March 12 in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® Visitor Center. Ingram’s presentation will be drawn from his book Cacti, Agaves and Yuccas of California Deserts in the park.

Stephen Ingram is a native Californian with an enduring interest in plants and plant ecology. He received a B.S. in biology from Lewis and Clark College and a M.A. in botany from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Following graduate school, Stephen worked as Herbarium Manager at Selby Botanical Gardens but now focuses on photography and writing. He also works part-time as a botanical consultant in the Eastern Sierra and the Mojave Desert. Stephen’s photos appear in numerous books, magazines, and calendars, and he has written many articles for scientific journals and magazines. He lives with his wife at 6500 feet on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, in porcupine prickly-pear habitat.

Botanist, writer, and photographer Stephen Ingram traveled more than 30,000 miles – much of it on remote backroads – to search out, study, and photograph the cacti, agaves, and yuccas of California and Nevada. He also delved into the scientific literature, visited numerous herbaria, and interviewed our region’s leading experts on Cactaceae and Agavaceae. 

Who:     Stephen Ingram, photographer and biological consultant
What:    Botany Society Public Lecture Program
When:   Monday, March 12, 2018; 10:00AM
Where:  Discovery Lab, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® Visitor Center
Cost:     Free to the public

Jon Rebman to Speak on New Botanical Discoveries, Resources, and Projects in our Region

Dr. Jon P. Rebman, noted botanist for the San Diego Natural History Museum, will be speaking at the Anza Borrego Botany Society Public Lecture Series on his new botanical discoveries. The free-to-the-public lecture will be delivered on Monday, February 12, 2018, at 10 a.m., in the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. 

San Diego and Imperial counties of California and the Baja California region of Mexico are areas with continual botanical discovery. Come and learn about some of the most recent new plant species found and described in our region, analog and digital tools for better understanding the local flora, conservation-oriented tasks, and digital projects that include public participation. 

In respect to our extremely rare, regional flora, Dr. Rebman is currently conducting extensive botanical research via binational collaboration throughout the Baja California peninsula in an attempt to re-discover 15 native plant species that are endemic to the Baja California peninsula and have been documented with only 1 historical specimen (the type specimens). Come learn about the progress on this conservation project and see images of some of these “never been photographed before” plants.

Who: Jon P. Rebman, Ph.D., Curator of Botany, San Diego Natural History Museum
What: New Botanical Discoveries, Resources, and Projects in our Region
When: Monday, February 12, 2018; 10 AM
Where: Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center
Cost: Free to the public

Auction Announcement: 1990 4Runner SR5

Toyota 4Runner up for auction. offered by the anza borrego foundation

The Anza Borrego Foundation will hold an eBay auction of its Toyota 4Runner, which has been used over the last seven years to assist the District’s archaeology program. The eBay auction will open at 9:00 am on Monday, January 22 and close on January 31. 

The starting price has been set at $2,200. The vehicle is in good condition with less than 33,000 miles—driven primarily in the desert. There is recommended maintenance to the buyer; details will be provided in the eBay listing.All proceeds will benefit the Colorado Desert Archaeology Society.

Once live, you can use this link to access the listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/162857664672?ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1557.l2649#vehicle-use-and-event-check

Vehicle Viewing Opportunity

For any potential bidders who would like to see the vehicle in person and “kick the tires,” a viewing session has been scheduled for this Sunday, January 21 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in the parking lot near the ABF office in The Mall located at 587 Palm Canyon Drive.

Mike Evans to Speak at Botany Society Public Lecture Series

Mike Evans is founder and President of Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano, California. Founded in 1976 and located on 40 acres on the historic Rancho Mission Viejo, Tree of Life is the largest native plant nursery in the state. The nursery offers 400+ species and varieties. Mike is involved in several professional horticultural, and botanical organizations and is a supporter of and frequent visitor to ABDSP.

Mike's talk will illustrate the principles featured in native plant gardens by building a potted "mini-ecosystem" during his presentation.

Who: Mike Evans, President, Tree of Life Nursery
What: Diversity and Beauty of the Natural Garden for Desert Environments
When: Monday, January 9, 2018; 10 AM
Where: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Visitor Center Discover Lab
Cost: Free to the public