Dean W. Taylor, an extraordinary botanist

From Charlie Patterson: I’ve always been in awe of how Dean was able to spend so much of his career in the high Sierra Nevada. Also in awe of his prodigious botanical documentation, knowledge and insights; I frequently find myself consulting his photos. He knew immediately when I queried him about this weird little monkeyflower near the Flying ‘M’ Ranch in Merced: “Oh, that’s M. marmoratus… very rare, grows only in … but it isn’t recognized anymore…” at which point he launched into a minor rant about taxonomic lumpers who seem to fear “…dealing with Mimuli.” and yes, he probably could have told you where he was that August day in 1995 when Jerry passed… During one of our recent drought years, I asked him if he had noticed certain shrubs putting on extraordinary growth in spite of the drought. He replied with: “Every year has some winners, every year has some losers.” Sigh. Feels like we’re all losers this year with his passing. Will miss that sly grin.

Cathy Rose remembered: As an amateur botanist, I led hikes as a volunteer for the National Park Service in Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass. One day I was gathering a group to go up toward and beyond Bennettville when someone sidled up to me and said, “You should know that Dean Taylor is on your hike.” I was too old to be intimidated by a GREAT BOTANICAL PRESENCE, and I welcomed him as I would anyone else. I remember well how kind and helpful he was on that walk. He practically stood on his head looking for Gaultheria humifusa among grasses and sedges, and he sprinted half way up a mountain
to find Saxifraga tolmiei. He had wonderful energy and enthusiasm as well as deep knowledge of the California flora. I wish he could have had a longer life.

Jim Morefield wrote: Dean’s generous mentorship and encouragement was pivotal to my early botanical career, especially as my interest in the White Mountains flora grew and became a primary research focus. We only met in person a few times, but corresponded much more. I always appreciated Dean’s insights and incisive commentary on botanical topics most diverse. Even more appreciated was his enthusiastic and upbeat approach toward every interest we shared. Thank you Dean for all you gave to this world and to Botany. Your legacy most definitely lives on.

The Northern California Botanists (NCB)’s Dean W. Taylor Botanical Exploration Memorial Award honors Taylor’s memory as an outstanding botanist with endless enthusiasm, as a brilliant teacher and mentor, and for his extensive botanical collections and descriptions of new species. The aim of the Dean W. Taylor Botanical Exploration Memorial Award is to cover costs associated with botanical exploration in Northern California. The 2026 award application period is now closed.