Sunday, September 7 at 10:00 am, driving tour of tarweeds in Livermore. Chris Thayer will continue his tour of Livermore and nearby areas to see, smell and count tarweed (Madiinae subtribe of Sunflower family) species in bloom, beginning at the edge of the very dry Springtown wetlands in Livermore. The diversity and scent of tarweeds are the attraction, but conservation is also in the forefront of this tour as one of the species we will see is endemic to the Livermore Valley, several others are rare, and still others are locally unusual. While the focus will be on tarweeds, we will likely see many other interesting species in other families, some in bloom. This driving trip with several stops will likely include Livermore tarplant, Congdon’s tarplant, and big tarplant, and we will also be looking for other species of tarweeds in the same area. At the Springtown wetlands, we may also look for two species of Cordylanthus, and perhaps Atriplex species. Be prepared for punishing heat with appropriate clothing and water: midday temperatures from 30-40 Celsius (86-104 F) are possible.
Here is a link to What Grows Here on the Calflora.org web site for the starting location of the Livermore tarweed trip (Dalton and Broadmoor): http://tinyurl.com/6ga2lf.
Directions: From most points in the East Bay, go on 580 east to Livermore, and exit at Vasco Road north. Go north on Vasco Road about 1 mile and then turn left on Dalton and park in the area of Dalton and Broadmoor, in a residential area on the left about 1/2 mile west of Vasco Road.
Janet Gawthrop