📍 1. Where in Tahoe Are We Talking About?

Think horseshoe-shaped mega-botany zone! From Carson Pass to Pyramid Peak, over Freel Peak & Jobs Sister, circling Tahoe to Mount Rose, sweeping western Desolation Wilderness, Donner Summit, Sagehen Meadows, and back across Martis Valley. If it grows near Tahoe, we probably observed it!

🌿 2. Building the Ultimate Tahoe Master Plant List

🔍 Plant Inventory Magic

·             A fully updated flora list compiled ahead of the 2025 season

·             Expected new plants: 30

·             Actual new plants: 350+

·             Every plant vetted using Jepson eFlora, Calflora, USFS lists, Herbariums, iNaturalist & more.

🌱 Special Species Notes

·             Rare species ranked (CA/NV) set aside from Search Party duties.

·             Added 39 new non-native/invasive species (20 were in 1st edition).

🧬 Taxonomy Tune-Up

·             ~40% of the original taxa got fresh scientific names and/or plant families!

🚫 What We Still Aren’t Touching (Yet)

·             Graminoids (sedges, rushes, grasses) still out—though echoes of inclusion of simple family descriptions.

·             Most aquatic families still excluded... but under reconsideration because water & Tahoe- hello! 

🧪 3. Expert Review Round

·             267 proposed new additions → sent to 5 top-tier botanists.

·             Results? Only 3 deletions recommended.🌟

🌺 4. Ethnobotany 

·             First edition: 43 plants with Washoe cultural importance

·             Now flagged: 84 more species, ~40 getting full write-ups with names & cultural uses

This section is becoming one of the most interesting and meaningful parts of the new edition.

🥾 5. Search Parties: Adventure With a Mission

How It Works

Each taxon gets: target sites, coordinates, priorities, and search codes—so citizens (“foot soldiers”) know exactly what mystery they’re tackling.

2025 Field Fun by the Numbers

·             236 species on the Search Party radar

·             68 confirmed (welcome to the book!)

·             167 still on the loose

·             5 guided Search Party hikes 

·             28 new species added for 2026 missions

·             2026 list now on their way with cleaner maps & coordinates

Plant sleuthing continues next season! 🔍🌼

🌻 6. Citizen Science & Community Magic

📸 Tahoe Wildflower Big Year (TWBY)

·             2,182 participants

·             35,541 a whooping iNaturalist observations!! A 35% increase from previous TWBY!

·             1,398 species documented

·             11 celebratory TWBY events  & 8 Tahoe Plant Book Wildflower Walks- 53 participated!

·             TWBY Celebration Celebrating a Year in Bloom APRIL 2nd 5:00PM-7:00PM at Keep Tahoe Blue Amphitheater!

Participants helped shape the new book—literally!

💻 Project Website Launch!

Created by Molly J. Ferry and loaded with:

·             “Calling All Plant Lovers” homepage + intro video

·             Event calendar for Wildflower Wednesdays & Friday Forays

·             Search Party maps

·             Downloadable plant lists by region

This platform has become a hub for Tahoe plant lovers of all levels.

🌱 7. What’s Next? (a.k.a. Funding Needs for 2026)

·             Phase II→Search Parties, investigate 195 remaining mysteries, photographic needs, and more

·             Phase III→ graphic design, layout, publication & presale!

🌟 In Summary

2025 built the foundation

2026 will build the book

🌼 Thank you for helping bring the Tahoe Plant Book 2nd Edition to life! 🌼