Join us for our popular summer lecture series. Greet old friends, meet new friends, and enjoy wine and cheese on the patio, and an inspiring presentation in the Library. See website for details on speakers and topics. In the Courtyard and Blaksley Library.

Surprising Facts about Flower Pollination

We take note of flower colors and sizes, but these patterns are just signals of how particular flowers are adapted for pollination by bees, beetles, flies, birds, butterflies, moths, and wind.

What do pollinators gain from these interactions? Plants expend a lot of energy producing flowers; do they benefit to an equivalent degree? Why are there so many flowers that self-pollinate? Isn’t this a counter-productive strategy? We’ll cover peculiar examples (many from the California flora) such as desert annuals, yucca flowers, and much more—with some amazing photos!

Sherwin Carlquist earned his BA and PhD from the University of California. He was professor for 37 years at Pomona College and the Claremont Colleges (affiliated with Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden). He retired to Santa Barbara 21 years ago and now does research at SBBG. He is the author of 330 papers and seven scientific books.

Purchase a passport to the series for $100 members or $140 for non-members.