Looking for wildflowers? Here’s where to go in Marin

Spring doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes it quietly paints the hillsides one wildflower at a time.

That’s exactly what’s happening above Tiburon, where the slopes surrounding Old St. Hilary’s Landmark are beginning their annual transformation.

According to the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society, the area is on the verge of a spectacular seasonal display as native wildflowers burst into bloom across the preserve’s rolling hills.

The 4-acre site, leased from the county and carefully stewarded by the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society, is one of the region’s botanical treasures.

Each spring, the landscape comes alive with delicate native species, turning the grassy slopes into a patchwork of color overlooking the bay.

Want more than just a passing glance? Come experience the flowers in bloom during a free guided wildflower walk.

Docents lead tours from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays through May 30, starting at the steps of Old St. Hilary’s Landmark at 201 Esperanza St. in Tiburon.

Along the way, visitors will learn about the area’s unique ecosystem, discover rare native plants and enjoy sweeping views that stretch across the bay.

A few practical notes: The preserve’s trails are steep in places, so sturdy shoes, and perhaps a hiking pole, are recommended. Parking is limited, but the walk up from downtown Tiburon is scenic for those who don’t mind the extra walk.

For more information, call 415-435-1853 or go to landmarkssociety.com.

In search of more wildflowers? You can find some good suggestions on Marin Agricultural Land Trust’s blog post entitled “Where to See the Spring Wildflowers in Marin County.”

In the post, Matt Dolkas, the Marin Agricultural Land Trust’s senior marketing and communications manager, shares some of his favorite wildflower-viewing hikes in Marin, such as Bolinas Ridge, Chimney Rock, China Camp State Park, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Ring Mountain and Tomales Point Trail.

For each hike, he lists the hike’s distance, the flowers that grow there and the best times to see them, plus parking tips, links to directions and possible animal sightings, such as tule elk, northern elephant seals or migrating whales. Go to malt.org/recreation/wildflowers-in-marin-county.

Before you go hunt for wildflowers, make sure to download the organization’s free “Wildflower Guide.” It includes beautiful snapshots of some of the area’s flowers you might spot. More information at malt.org.

Show off

If you have a beautiful or interesting Marin garden or a newly designed Marin home, I’d love to know about it.

Please send an email describing either one (or both), what you love most about it and a photograph or two. I will post the best ones in upcoming columns. Your name will be published, and you must be over 18 years old and a Marin resident.

Don’t-miss events

• Bring your cellphone to the Marin Rose Society’s monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 10 and learn how to photograph roses in natural light with photographer Susie Dranit at the Marin Art and Garden Center at 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross. West Marin photographer Rudi Dundas will show how to photograph roses in a garden. Admission is free. Go to marinrose.org.

• Have a lamp, small appliance or bike that needs repair? Volunteers and specialized repair professionals will help fix them at the Repair Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 14 at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center at 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in San Geronimo. Admission is free. There’s also a clothing swap at the same time. Register at sgvcc.org.

PJ Bremier writes on home, garden, design and entertaining topics every Saturday. She may be contacted at P.O. Box 412, Kentfield 94914, or at pj@pjbremier.com.