Celebrate the flower-filled month of April with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and the Santa Cruz County chapter of the California Native Plant Society as we spotlight the science and beauty of local flora.

Join graduate researcher Georgia Vasey for an engaging talk on the role of prescribed fire in restoring California’s coastal prairies. The presentation will begin with an accessible overview of how fire shapes both aboveground plant communities and belowground ecological processes across the Central Coast. From there, Georgia will share exciting preliminary findings from her work at Wilder Ranch State Park, where she is studying how fire can help reestablish vibrant native wildflowers.

Whether you’re drawn to spring blooms, curious about land stewardship, or interested in the intersection of ecology and restoration, this lecture offers a fascinating look at how fire can be a powerful tool for renewal.