UC Riverside Lead Field Biologist Melanie Davis

SOLD OUT

To kick off our 2026 Desert-Wise Landscape Tour, Morongo Basin Conservation Association is pleased to host a very special plant event led by botanist and local resident Melanie Davis.

Registered attendees will meet at a home nestled against wilderness areas filled with iconic high desert perennials and annual wildflowers, then proceed on a trail that passes through both boulder and wash habitats. Although the hike is under two miles in length, a three hour walk allows time for questions, close observation, and leisurely enjoyment.

Arch McCulloch and Miriam Seger talk plants with botanist Melanie Davis.

We’ll wrap up the event with a light lunch accompanied by demonstrations showing ways to use Calscape, Calflora, and I-Naturalist as tools for learning about native plants and selecting for gardens. Participants will be encouraged to explore these websites using photos taken during the walk.

Here is the full schedule for the day.

Please expect moderate inclines along the route. Come prepared with sturdy shoes, sun hats, sunscreen and a supply of water. Note: Registrants will need to sign liability releases for MBCA and MDLT.

In order to ensure a quality experience, group size is limited to 25 guests. The fee for each participant includes the botanist walk, a light lunch, and registration for the Desert-Wise Landscape Tour the next day, Sunday, April 19, 9AM – 4PM. (No Botanist-Walk-Only option is available.) MBCA members receive a reduced fee.

Melanie Davis is the lead field botanist in Dr. Lynn Sweet's lab at UC Riverside's Center for Conservation Biology, based in Palm Desert and works on research focusing on rare plant conservation and the protection and connectivity of sensitive desert habitats. She is also a board member on both the California Native Plant Society Mojave Desert Chapter, and Cactus to Cloud Institute and teaches native plant classes with the Joshua Tree National Park Association. She lives in Joshua Tree. 

p.s. You might also enjoy the free Native Plants and Pollinators Talk on Saturday evening in Joshua Tree!