Karen Wiese is a botanist with interests in plant ecology, restoration, soil science and plant- pollinator interactions. Karen has a Master of Science degree from the University of California at Davis in Plant Protection and Pest Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources from Michigan State University. Karen has been guiding natural history hikes throughout the West for over two decades. Karen is active in the California Native Plant Society, the Northern California Botanists and an avid hiker, backpacker and birder. Karen and her husband Carl own an organic farm in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, where when they aren't botanizing, garden year round with their snowshoe Siamese cat.