May 27, 2025
Sharing the Journey of Discovery & Native Plant Sale
Tuesday, May 27. 4:30 p.m. plant sale and 6 p.m. presentation on two new species of monkeyflower! (Please note changes in time.)
Location: General Gomez Arts at 808 Lincoln Way, Auburn
Presenters: Botanist Steve Schoenig
Come join in the excitement of two new species of monkeyflower discovered in the Sierra Nevada in a free public program and plant sale of other species of native plants (by cash or check) on Tuesday, May 27 at General Gomez Arts in Auburn.
New Monkeyflower Species Discovered
Botanist Steve Schoenig, the program’s presenter, will share the hard work, focus, and excitement of recently discovering two new California species of the much-beloved monkeyflower.
Learn about these discoveries and explore the beauty and diversity of monkeyflowers (genera Diplacus, Erythranthe, Mimetanthe). We’ll focus on our northern region, together with some special statewide standouts.
The newly discovered Fernleafed Monkeyflower (Erythranthe filicifolia), has finely divided, bi-pinnately compound leaves. It occurs only in nearby Butte and Plumas Counties, mostly on ephemeral seeps in rock outcrops.
The other discovery, Granite-crack Monkeyflower (Diplacus graniticola), occurs in longitudinal cracks of granite formations. Both species are now listed in the Jepson Flora Project.
Location and Registration
This program, sponsored by the California Native Plant Society’s local Redbud Chapter, will be Tuesday, May 27 at 6 p.m. at the General Gomez Center at 808 Lincoln Way, Auburn. A limited number of species of native plants will be available at 4:30 p.m., prior to the program. During the plant sale, come ask Redbud Chapter volunteers your native-plant questions and learn how to become more involved with native plants.
As we anticipate significant enthusiasm for this program and plant sale, please register in advance: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sharing-the-journey-of-discovery-native-plant-sale-tickets-1287880959619?aff=oddtdtcreator
Please email questions to Monica Finn at monicsfinn[at]gmail[dot]com OR Chris Catlin at ChrisSignIn[at]gmail[dot]com. Include your phone number if you would like a return call.
About the Presenter
Steve Schoenig has been photographing, studying and describing new monkeyflowers for over 40 years in California. He is retired from a state government career, which included supervising the state’s noxious weed eradication program, the California Natural Diversity Database, and vegetation mapping programs at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.