Come learn about the small and cryptic world of lichens! We will meet at the Rock Springs trailhead, and walk a there-and-back-again trail to meet some of the charismatic lichens of the area. These grow on rocks, trees, and on the ground. Participants will get to know certain lichen species, as well as lichen growth forms, and lichen ecology. The hike will be easy to moderate, with frequent stops to look at lichens. Bring a magnifying glass or hand lens if you have one - lichens are even more fascinating up close!

Dr. Klara Scharnagl is the Tucker Curator of Lichenology at the UC Berkeley Herbarium. She is continually fascinated by the lichen symbiosis, and the many forms that lichens take. Her emphasis is on lichen ecology; how lichens respond to and interact with their environments. Lichens remind us to take our time, and to look more closely at the world around us.