LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – The Tahoe Plant Book (TPB) has entered its next phase, advancing a community-driven effort to revise and expand Plants of the Tahoe Basin (1999)- commonly known as the Graf book- the region’s primary botanical field guide for more than 25 years.
Building on a successful first season of community-powered fieldwork, the project recently received support from the Tahoe Fund to continue botanical surveys, public engagement, and development of the second edition throughout 2026.
Phase I included 11 community-led hikes during the 2025 field season, supporting iNaturalist observations through the Tahoe Wildflower Big Year, hosted by the Tahoe Institute of Natural Science (TINS). Building on that momentum, TPB and TINS will host three free public botanical discovery events this summer. Registration is free, though space is limited, and available through the TINS event calendar.
“With a project like this, involving the public was a no-brainer,” said project lead Molly Ferry. “People need a reason to get outside, and there is no better way for authentic stewardship to happen than through a grassroots project like this.”
The first botanical discovery walk is at Washoe Meadow State Park on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The guided 2-3-mile walk will highlight Tahoe’s native flora and ongoing discoveries that support the Tahoe Plant Book project.
With bloom season underway and snowplant (Sarcodes sanguinea), Upland larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum), and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.) in abundance, conditions are shaping up for an exceptional wildflower year.
“One of the most important things we can do as citizen scientists is capture real-time data,” Ferry said. “You never know if what you’re seeing is a population that appears every year, every five years, or just once.”
The Tahoe Plant Book website serves as a central hub for participation, offering interactive maps, subregional plant lists, and guidance for species to search for. Participation is open to everyone, regardless of experience level or ability to attend organized events.
“Anyone can participate at any time and in any capacity through the website maps, subregional lists, and iNaturalist,” Ferry said.
With this summer marking the final field season for documenting and verifying plant occurrences before the new edition is finalized, community participation is especially important.
The updated edition is expected to be published within the next year. Valued by both scientific and recreational audiences, the new edition will reflect the rapidly evolving understanding of Tahoe’s flora, including expanded descriptions of traditional plant uses by the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada. Ferry notes that, “it is intended to serve as a lasting touchstone that can reteach and reinspire the Tahoe community for generations.”
For more information, participation details, and access to maps and resources, visit the Tahoe Plant Book website or follow the TINS community event calendar.
