Friday December 22, 2 – 3:00 p.m.
Join us each month as plant science and conservation efforts are presented by San Diego Botanic Garden’s staff, research associates, colleagues, and guest speakers. This month we will feature Fred M. Roberts who will introduce us to the mariposa lilies (Calochortus spp.) of southwest California. The Mariposa lilies are members of the lily family (Liliaceae). They are one of California’s most popular, easily recognized, and showy wildflowers. There are about 70 species of mariposa lily in western North America, ranging from British Columbia south to Guatemala. The center of diversity of the genus is California. About 15 species are found in the mountains, foothills, and coastal regions of southwest California. Eight of these are found in San Diego County. Join us as Fred Roberts gives us a tour of these diverse and beautiful bulb-forming perennials. Among those you will meet are the white fairy lantern (C. albus) with its globe-shaped flower, Weed’s mariposa lily (C. venustus) with its wide range of colors from white, pink, yellow, and red, the brilliant orange-flowered desert mariposa (C. kennedyi), and the late-flowering mariposa lily (C. fimbriatus), with its straw-colored petals and striking dark maroon hairs. We will also learn about interesting challenges presented by the C. weedii and its close relatives.
Cost: Free with Garden admission.
Class format: In-person, indoors
Please register by December 21, walk-ins welcome, space permitting.