The public is invited to support the Yolo Basin Foundation by purchasing a ticket for ''Wildflowers through a Lens.'' This special tour will take place on Saturday, April 19th from 10am to 3pm and includes a picnic lunch.

Dr. Glen Holstein, botanist and native plant specialist, will lead the trip to UC Davis’ Stebbins Cold Canyon, where many of central California's plant communities and habitats come together and can be seen in one place. Oak woodland, riparian, chaparral, evergreen forest, and prairie are all there in a wild and beautiful setting still close to home. Numerous colorful native wildflowers species are present in the canyon throughout the spring, but they peak in mid-April at the time of the trip.

Long-time expert nature photographers David and Lyn Price of Manteca will also lend their skills to the outing. David says, ''We will explore wildflower photography techniques such as silhouettes and backlighting as the participants learn different approaches to photographing the wonders of a spring-time wildflower patch,'' and he adds, ''Bring questions on techniques, equipment, or anything else photographic.''

 ''Wildflowers through a Lens'' costs $50 and is part of the Yolo Basin Foundation’s new fundraising activity, ''A Gaggle of Gatherings,'' which is composed of a variety of field trips and parties throughout the year that are offered with fixed prices and dates. Details of the gatherings are available at www.yolobasin.org.

All proceeds go toward supporting wetlands education. To reserve a spot on the wildflower trip, please call the Yolo Basin Foundation at 530-757-3780. Yolo Basin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the a