Spring 2025 Field Day

Saturday, May 10, 2025
Guided Walks at 10AM and 1PM, gathering at the MCBG Farmhouse

REGISTER NOW – Buy your admission tickets or RSVP as a member, register for walks, and pre-purchase a boxed lunch if you like

Nerd out on nature! Join us for a special spring day of guided exploration, observation, and connection with nature. A stroll through the garden becomes truly enriching when you slow down to appreciate the intricate systems of the natural world. This event offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of local ecology with expert naturalists. Dr. Alex Bippus, our visiting guest, has an intoxicating enthusiasm for mosses, liverworts, and lichens that will open your eyes to an often overlooked but essential piece of our local ecosystem.

Sign up for one or two walks and join our "Citizen Science Team" by contributing to the MCBG Spring Field Day 2025 iNaturalist project.

iNaturalist is a fun and easy-to-use tool that lets you contribute to biodiversity science while connecting with fellow naturalists and experts. Whether you're new to citizen science or looking to sharpen your skills, there's something for everyone.

Discover the incredible variety of plants, animals, insects, and more already observed at MCBG—and add your own discoveries to the growing collection!

THE DETAILS

• Register for walks – There are a selection of guided walks available in the morning (10AM - 12PM) and afternoon (1PM - 3PM). There is limited availability for each walk; advanced registration is required. Walks are free with regular admission to the Gardens (purchased upon registration), and just plain free for Members of the Gardens.
• Pre-purchase lunch – Rhody's Cafe is offering boxed lunches if you would like a delicious and easy meal between walks. As you register, you will have the option to pre-order a Turkey Pesto Sandwich or a Hummus Veggie Sandwich with bottled water & chips ($16.50 each). Of course, you can always bring your own sack lunch and snacks.
• Terrain – Hard-packed gravel trails, potential inclines, some uneven surfaces, and some off-trail walking
• Distance and time – Approximately 1 mile over the course of 1.5 to 2 hours
• Seating options – Seating opportunities will be limited; there are a number of benches along the trails
• Wear your walking shoes and be prepared for the weather with appropriate layers. Consider bringing a water bottle, notebook, and anything else that keeps you comfortable.
• All ages are welcome, provided your child is able to listen quietly and actively participate.
• While we love dogs and they are always welcome in the Gardens, we recommend these guided tours remain a people-only experience.
• Download the iNaturalist app to your phone and create a login. Take some time to familiarize yourself with this tool prior to the Field Day in order to get the most out of the walks and join our Citizen Science Team!

MORNING WALKS

• Bryophytes and Lichens with Alexander Bippus
  10:00AM to 12:00PM  – Another opportunity from 1:00PM to 3:00PM
  Dr. Alexander Bippus will be giving a brief indoor presentation followed by a garden walk during which he will identify and lead an investigation of the role of mosses, liverworts, and lichens in our local ecology. The indoor presentation will be an introduction to lichens and bryophytes, with a focus on why citizen scientists can make major contributions to our understanding of the ecology, distribution, and systematics of these tiny but ecologically important and diverse organisms in Northern California. While not required, attendees are encouraged to bring magnification in the form of a hand lens, magnifying glass, or close-focusing binoculars to the garden walk to fully appreciate the intricate beauty of the garden's lichens and bryophytes. Register now!

• Native Plants with Mario Abreu
  10:00AM to 12:00PM
  Join local Naturalist and former MCBG Horticulturist, Mario Abreu, to explore the fascinating variety of native plant communities at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Discover the native plants that support bumble bees and beneficial insects on the Mendocino Coast and learn to identify them. Register now!

AFTERNOON WALKS

• Bryophytes and Lichens with Alexander Bippus
  1:00PM to 3:00PM
  
  Dr. Alexander Bippus will be giving a brief indoor presentation followed by a garden walk during which he will identify and lead an investigation of the role of mosses, liverworts, and lichens in our local ecology. The indoor presentation will be an introduction to lichens and bryophytes, with a focus on why citizen scientists can make major contributions to our understanding of the ecology, distribution, and systematics of these tiny but ecologically important and diverse organisms in Northern California. While not required, attendees are encouraged to bring magnification in the form of a hand lens, magnifying glass, or close-focusing binoculars to the garden walk to fully appreciate the intricate beauty of the garden's lichens and bryophytes. Register now!

• From Natural Landscapes to Gardenscapes with Natasha Lekach
  1:00PM to 3:00PM
  Whether you're a seasoned native plant enthusiast, considering adding some local flora to your garden, or just dipping your toes into gardening, there's always something new to discover and be inspired by. Nature is our ultimate teacher, and simply stepping into natural landscapes can spark a world of creativity. During this walk, we will discuss observation techniques, documentation strategies, and research tools for reading natural landscapes from a gardener's perspective. Selecting the right native plants for your garden is the first step to creating a successful native plant garden. By the end of our stroll, we hope you'll feel more confident in choosing the right plants for your space and, above all, feel a deeper connection to your garden and the beauty of the landscapes that surround us. Register now!
   
• Birds and Native Plants with Junco Bullick
  1:00PM to 3:00PM
  Join Junco Bullick of the Pacific Environmental Education Center or PEEC, on an exploration of the birds, avian habitats, and how native plants play a role around the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. More than 220 bird species have been observed in the Gardens. Around 90 species are found commonly in the gardens at various times of the year. The Gardens has a range of habitats for breeding, nesting, and feeding. Learn to identify what you see and hear with expert guidance. Register now!

SPECIAL GUESTS

Dr. Alex Bippus

Dr. Alex Bippus is an enthusiastic all-around botanist but is especially interested in the ecology, systematics, and natural history of lichens and bryophytes. He has a Ph.D. from Oregon State University and has conducted extensive research on the bryophyte fossil record and how the unique physiology and ecology of bryophytes has influenced their evolution over geologic time. Alex has previously taught botany courses at Oregon State University and Cal Poly Humboldt, including courses on lichens and bryophytes. He currently works as a project manager for the U. S. Forest Service, where he oversees fuels and fire management projects in the botanically diverse Klamath National Forest.

Mario Abreu

Mario Abreu retired from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens as the Plant Propagation Supervisor, Natural Areas Coordinator, and Collections Curator after 20 years. Mario holds degrees in Natural History, and Liberal Arts and Science. He has interned for the California Department of Fish and Game Mesocarnivore Assessment, Denver Botanical Gardens Applied Plant Conservation Program, and the College of the Redwoods Plant/Lichen Herbarium.

Mario has led guided mushroom walks at the Gardens for more than 18 years and Mushroom Identification classes for the past 15 years. Additionally, he has provided mushroom walks for the California State Parks/Mendo Parks New Year’s Day Event, Visit Mendocino County Mushroom Festival Events, and private tours.

Mario is a passionate natural history volunteer docent for the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, California State Parks, MendoParks, Dorothy King Young Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, and the UC Berkeley Sudden Oak Death Blitz Citizen Science Program. He also finds time to manage natural history displays at the Ford House Museum in Mendocino that include wildflowers, mushrooms, and the local Ecological Terrace Staircase and its associated Pygmy Forest plant community.

Natasha Lekach

While working as an environmental educator at Point Reyes National Seashore, Natasha began applying her naturalist skills to reintroduce native plants to her garden in Inverness. What started as a minor hobby developed into a minor obsession. She continues to learn from trial and error, but also by taking inspiration from restoration ecologists, other native plant gardeners, and the natural landscapes.

Natasha was born and raised in San Francisco and has a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology. She has worked in the natural resource management and environmental education fields for over ten years and currently works for Yosemite National Park as an Environmental Protection Specialist. Natasha is a former board member of the Dorothy King Young Chapter of the California Native Plant Society and was the Plant Sale Chair. She takes great joy in propagating many species through cuttings and ethically collected seeds.

Junco Bullick

Environmental educator, Junco Bullick, named after the sparrow, of course, grew up in Sonoma County, where he started birding at the age of five, leading nature walks when he was 12, and teaching youth the wonders of birds during the annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids. Now, a decade later, Junco has become an environmental educator working for Pacific Environmental Education Center (PEEC) at Mackerricher State Park here in Mendocino County. When he is not working with school groups, Junco enjoys exploring the continent in search of avian life.