Naomi Fraga
@naomibot.bsky.social
Director of Conservation at California Botanic Garden and Associate Professor at Claremont Graduate University. I study the biodiversity extinction crisis, flora of Western North America, alkali wetlands, rare plants, #monkeyflowers.
Patrick @bitterwaterblue.bsky.social, you are not only my most favorite field partner, but you are the most special wildflower I have found in the field. To our love, to our life. 🌼 💘
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Patrick @bitterwaterblue.bsky.social, you are not only my most favorite field partner, but you are the most special wildflower I have found in the field. To our love, to our life. 🌼 💘
My heart remains full from the showing of generosity from our friends & family who shared this special day with us. As we professed our love, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, in rain and in drought, for as long as we both shall live, a community of people were there to support us.
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
My heart remains full from the showing of generosity from our friends & family who shared this special day with us. As we professed our love, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, in rain and in drought, for as long as we both shall live, a community of people were there to support us.
Since we’ve joined forces in a more formal way, we have adopted many new plants; a milkvetch, a bird’s beak, and an orchid. We will certainly adopt many more as we pursue our shared goal to protect life on earth, including many obscure and perhaps not so charismatic micro flora and fauna. 🐟🌱🦋
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Since we’ve joined forces in a more formal way, we have adopted many new plants; a milkvetch, a bird’s beak, and an orchid. We will certainly adopt many more as we pursue our shared goal to protect life on earth, including many obscure and perhaps not so charismatic micro flora and fauna. 🐟🌱🦋
We monitored, photographed and documented our two-inch-tall plant friend in pursuit of saving life, and in the process we found each other.
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
We monitored, photographed and documented our two-inch-tall plant friend in pursuit of saving life, and in the process we found each other.
Of course, our love story started with a plant, the enchanting Tiehm’s buckwheat. The plant brought us together, spending countless hours on the road, in the field, and traversing across the white lithium rich soil of the Silver Peak Range.
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Of course, our love story started with a plant, the enchanting Tiehm’s buckwheat. The plant brought us together, spending countless hours on the road, in the field, and traversing across the white lithium rich soil of the Silver Peak Range.
We have been friends for 10 years, a couple for five years, and on Oct 25 we affirmed our love before our family, friends, and our beloved desert.
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
We have been friends for 10 years, a couple for five years, and on Oct 25 we affirmed our love before our family, friends, and our beloved desert.
It’s hard to believe, it's already been three weeks since I married my love and #Teambuckwheat co-conspirator @bitterwaterblue.bsky.social in a beautiful ceremony in the Amargosa River Basin. 💕
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
It’s hard to believe, it's already been three weeks since I married my love and #Teambuckwheat co-conspirator @bitterwaterblue.bsky.social in a beautiful ceremony in the Amargosa River Basin. 💕
The more I hike this road the more and more I want to proselytize for chaparral love ❤️
I am pretty sure this California towhee sitting on a San Gabriel scrub oak is feeling it with me.
I am pretty sure this California towhee sitting on a San Gabriel scrub oak is feeling it with me.
September 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM
The more I hike this road the more and more I want to proselytize for chaparral love ❤️
I am pretty sure this California towhee sitting on a San Gabriel scrub oak is feeling it with me.
I am pretty sure this California towhee sitting on a San Gabriel scrub oak is feeling it with me.
These are my fall colors 😀
September 23, 2025 at 2:18 AM
These are my fall colors 😀
I overheard someone say the thing they didn’t like about living in CA was the lack of “seasons”. I didn’t want to be rude, but I wanted to say that maybe haven’t been paying close enough attention. Go outside, touch some grass & maybe a buckwheat. I’ll forgive you if you don’t touch the poison oak.🍂
September 23, 2025 at 2:12 AM
I overheard someone say the thing they didn’t like about living in CA was the lack of “seasons”. I didn’t want to be rude, but I wanted to say that maybe haven’t been paying close enough attention. Go outside, touch some grass & maybe a buckwheat. I’ll forgive you if you don’t touch the poison oak.🍂
It's striking how "wildflower" is often used as a pejorative; a way to dismiss biodiversity as insignificant. The disconnect between humans & nature is fundamentally linked to our inaction on climate. The magnitude of ignorance is well illustrated in this cartoon, w/ the original by its side.
August 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
It's striking how "wildflower" is often used as a pejorative; a way to dismiss biodiversity as insignificant. The disconnect between humans & nature is fundamentally linked to our inaction on climate. The magnitude of ignorance is well illustrated in this cartoon, w/ the original by its side.
The piece was shared on X and further illuminates what a dumpster fire platform it is. Comments from seemingly real people overwhelmingly call for the active harm of Tiehm's buckwheat. From "just move it" to "herbicide it" to "its just a wildflower".
August 3, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The piece was shared on X and further illuminates what a dumpster fire platform it is. Comments from seemingly real people overwhelmingly call for the active harm of Tiehm's buckwheat. From "just move it" to "herbicide it" to "its just a wildflower".
Above Palm Springs is the NE face of the San Jacinto Mountains, the steepest escarpment in the continental US rising from 800 to 10,834 feet in 7 horizontal mi. A nice way to get your heart rate up in the morning! I am awake and ready for #Botany2025.
July 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Above Palm Springs is the NE face of the San Jacinto Mountains, the steepest escarpment in the continental US rising from 800 to 10,834 feet in 7 horizontal mi. A nice way to get your heart rate up in the morning! I am awake and ready for #Botany2025.
I'm almost ready to upload my #Botany2025 talk. Mining for the Renewable Energy Transition Threatens Plant Diversity. Its a not so cheery topic, but an urgent one. How can scientists prevent extinction in the face of accelerated mining and does a just energy transition include biodiversity?
July 28, 2025 at 1:21 AM
I'm almost ready to upload my #Botany2025 talk. Mining for the Renewable Energy Transition Threatens Plant Diversity. Its a not so cheery topic, but an urgent one. How can scientists prevent extinction in the face of accelerated mining and does a just energy transition include biodiversity?
Hey #Botany2025! The California Botanic Garden is only a 1 hour drive from the convention center and attendees get free admission when showing their badge at the ticket kiosk. It’s a botanists paradise, the perfect side trip while you are here! Don’t miss the buckwheats in bloom!
July 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Hey #Botany2025! The California Botanic Garden is only a 1 hour drive from the convention center and attendees get free admission when showing their badge at the ticket kiosk. It’s a botanists paradise, the perfect side trip while you are here! Don’t miss the buckwheats in bloom!
I am excited to welcome #Botany2025 to my big backyard in the California desert. I kicked off the conference with a field trip up the Palm Springs tramway to explore the beautiful flora of the San Jacinto Mountains. I hope everyone enjoys Palm Springs!
July 26, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I am excited to welcome #Botany2025 to my big backyard in the California desert. I kicked off the conference with a field trip up the Palm Springs tramway to explore the beautiful flora of the San Jacinto Mountains. I hope everyone enjoys Palm Springs!
Each year we trek out the Death Valley region to monitor the Amargosa Niterwort. These rare alkali wetland plants like it hot 🔥 and July is peak season. To accommodate working in extreme temps we start our day at first light to take advantage of the cool morning hours (about 80° F).
July 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Each year we trek out the Death Valley region to monitor the Amargosa Niterwort. These rare alkali wetland plants like it hot 🔥 and July is peak season. To accommodate working in extreme temps we start our day at first light to take advantage of the cool morning hours (about 80° F).
In the face of mounting threats, we are in a race to document the rare plants of NV. We’re using remote sensing to identify previously undocumented pops of rare plants in alkali wetlands. Spiranthes infernalis is now known from 3 new locations, unfortunately, all are highly threatened.
June 24, 2025 at 2:35 AM
In the face of mounting threats, we are in a race to document the rare plants of NV. We’re using remote sensing to identify previously undocumented pops of rare plants in alkali wetlands. Spiranthes infernalis is now known from 3 new locations, unfortunately, all are highly threatened.
Flower filled hikes have always been a respite from the daily grind, but they have take on a greater importance for me in these challenging times. I am so grateful to have access to these beautiful public lands. Castilleja foliosa, Tauschia arguta, Lithophragma affine, Clematis lasiantha.
April 27, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Flower filled hikes have always been a respite from the daily grind, but they have take on a greater importance for me in these challenging times. I am so grateful to have access to these beautiful public lands. Castilleja foliosa, Tauschia arguta, Lithophragma affine, Clematis lasiantha.
📣Job Announcement!
California Botanic Garden, the largest garden dedicated to #CAnativeplants, is seeking a Nursery Manager to join our team! To view the position click the link: drive.google.com/file/d/1MGcA...
Please share! 🌱
California Botanic Garden, the largest garden dedicated to #CAnativeplants, is seeking a Nursery Manager to join our team! To view the position click the link: drive.google.com/file/d/1MGcA...
Please share! 🌱
April 11, 2025 at 6:32 PM
📣Job Announcement!
California Botanic Garden, the largest garden dedicated to #CAnativeplants, is seeking a Nursery Manager to join our team! To view the position click the link: drive.google.com/file/d/1MGcA...
Please share! 🌱
California Botanic Garden, the largest garden dedicated to #CAnativeplants, is seeking a Nursery Manager to join our team! To view the position click the link: drive.google.com/file/d/1MGcA...
Please share! 🌱
One of the bright spots in my day is seeing the lupines pop in my garden. The Hesperoyucca flower stalk is still trying to find its way. #canativeplants
April 8, 2025 at 1:54 AM
One of the bright spots in my day is seeing the lupines pop in my garden. The Hesperoyucca flower stalk is still trying to find its way. #canativeplants
Also I had an Agave ‘blue flame’ flower over the winter and it’s still going (sort of). My yard is currently full of giant asparagus spears. 😵💫
April 2, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Also I had an Agave ‘blue flame’ flower over the winter and it’s still going (sort of). My yard is currently full of giant asparagus spears. 😵💫
My Hesperoyucca whipplei is about to bloom and it’s located perilously close to my big berry manzanita. Who will win or will they find a way to sort it out? Watch this space.
April 2, 2025 at 1:56 AM
My Hesperoyucca whipplei is about to bloom and it’s located perilously close to my big berry manzanita. Who will win or will they find a way to sort it out? Watch this space.
These fuel breaks are like golden runways of mustard.
March 30, 2025 at 6:19 PM
These fuel breaks are like golden runways of mustard.
Can confirm the mustard is doing fine this year.
March 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Can confirm the mustard is doing fine this year.