SF Gate reported
Severe wildfires can kill 80% of Joshua trees in their path, and the Trump administration just gutted mitigation efforts.
Read story at More bad news for California’s imperiled Joshua trees
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 3, 2026
More bad news for California’s imperiled Joshua trees
Posted in Park | Tags: Joshua Tree National Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 3, 2026
Upcoming CNPS Events
See the calendar of upcoming events of the California Native Plants Society at https://www.cnps.org/events
Posted in Talks | Tags: Upcoming CNPS Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 3, 2026
The government canceled this nature study. Scientists kept going anyway.
Yale Climate Connections reported
When the National Nature Assessment was shut down, the scientists who worked on it found another way. In this Q&A, one author explains what the research reveals about nature’s powerful, underused role in supporting health.Most of us sense it without being told why: A walk in the woods or an hour in the park leaves us calmer, clearer, and restored. Increasingly, modern science agrees. A growing body of evidence links time in nature to better physical and mental health – and a major new effort is working to document exactly what that evidence shows.
That effort is called the Nature Record, and its survival is a story in itself. It began as the National Nature Assessment, a federal undertaking modeled on the long-running National Climate Assessment and mandated by a Biden-era executive order. Roughly 180 scientists volunteered to develop about a dozen chapters. The project had reached an early public-comment draft when the Trump administration canceled it. Rather than abandon the work, the authors decided to finish it independently under a new name, with foundation funding and National Academy of Sciences review. The report is now under revision, with the final release slated for December 2026.*
Read more at The government canceled this nature study. Scientists kept going anyway.
Posted in Environment
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 2, 2026
Pup boom for endangered gray wolves breaks California records
SF Gate reported
California had a boom of gray wolf pups this year.
In 2026, the state’s gray wolves had at least 42 babies, a record since the species began returning to California in 2011. Yet to be seen, though, is how many of the youngsters born this spring will ultimately survive.
Read more Pup boom for endangered gray wolves breaks California records
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 2, 2026
Slime Mold Intelligence?
Science Blog reported
Slime mould has no brain, no neurons and no central control, yet when scientists placed food at 36 locations matching cities around Tokyo, it grew a network strikingly similar to the rail system — with comparable efficiency, cost and resilience
A single-celled organism with no brain solved a transportation puzzle that took human engineers decades to perfect.
Read more at Slime Molds
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Slime Molds
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 1, 2026
5th Annual Berkeley Bird Festival 10/18/26
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Posted in Bird Festivals, Birds | Tags: Berkeley Bird Festival
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 1, 2026
Theodore Payne and & Los Nogales will be closing 1 PM Friday–Friday
Due to the extreme heatwave, Theodore Payne Foundation and Los Nogales Nursery will be closing early at 1 PM Friday, October 2nd through Friday, October 9th
Both locations will be open for regular hours starting again on Saturday, October 10th.
Posted in Garden | Tags: Nursery Closures
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 1, 2026
Upcoming Events at East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden
See upcoming events at East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden at events.
Posted in Garden, Park, Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: East Bay Regional Parks Upcoming Activities
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | October 1, 2026
Bird feeders have caused a dramatic evolution of California hummingbirds
Sciene reported
Beaks have grown longer and larger, and ranges have expanded to follow the feeders
Hummingbird feeders are a beloved pastime for millions of backyard birders and a convenient dining spot for the birds. But for the Anna’s hummingbird, a common species in the western United States, feeders have become a major evolutionary force. According to research published this week in Global Change Biology, artificial feeders have allowed the birds to expand their range out of Southern California up to the state’s northern end. They have also driven a transformation of the birds themselves. Over just a few generations, their beaks have dramatically changed in size and shape.
Read more at Bird feeders have caused a dramatic evolution of California hummingbirds
Posted in Birds | Tags: Anna's Hummingbirds, How feeders are changin hummingbirds
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 30, 2026
San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island is temporarily closing, cancelling tours again
SF Gste reports
San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island is preparing to shut down to visitors and cancel tours for nearly a month to complete dock repairs, continuing work that led to a sudden closure of the Rock in April. The shutdown will last from Oct. 26 to Nov. 18, allowing crews to “replace pilings that secure the ferry dock to the island,” park officials said in a news release.
Read more San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island is temporarily closing, cancelling tours again
Posted in Park | Tags: Alcatraz Island
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 30, 2026
With rainfall looming, Death Valley plans to close popular route
SF Gate reported
One of the most popular dirt roads in giant Death Valley National Park will close to the public for over six months, the National Park Service announced on Monday.
Spanning around 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the contiguous U.S. — and many park aficionados say the best way to experience Death Valley is by venturing off the limited paved roads that cut through the park. The park also holds the title of “more miles of roads than any other national park,” according to the Park Service, with the majority of those being either improved or unmaintained dirt roads.
Read more Storm-worried Calif. national park closes popular road for winter
Posted in Drives, Park | Tags: Death Vallley Road Closures
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 30, 2026
Costa Rica’s Pacific Waters Reach Unusually High Temperatures
Tico Times reported
Ocean temperatures along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast are running unusually high, with researchers recording water up to 2°C (3.6°F) warmer than normal in some areas. One of the most striking readings came from Playa Herradura on the Central Pacific coast. A monitoring station recorded a surface temperature of 32.6°C (90.7°F) on August 18, well above the station’s average of 29.4°C (84.9°F).
Read more Costa Rica’s Pacific Waters Reach Unusually High Temperatures
Posted in Environment | Tags: Climate change, Costa Rica, Warming Oceans
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 29, 2026
These Adorable, Critically Endangered Pygmy Raccoons in Cozumel Are Teaching One Another to Turn Trash Into Toy Balls
Smithsonian Magazine reported
The observations offer rare evidence of a skill being passed among raccoons. But the work also highlights the effects of human pollution at the popular tourist destination
Posted in Animals | Tags: Raccoons at play
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 29, 2026
Iceland, One of Three Countries That Still Hunts Whales, Considers Ban
Yale Environment 360 reported
Iceland is one of just three countries, along with Norway and Japan, that still allows commercial whaling in its waters, but that may be about to change. The Icelandic government will put forward a bill in February that could ban the practice.
Read more Iceland, One of Three Countries That Still Hunts Whales, Considers Ban
Posted in Animals | Tags: Whale Hunting
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 28, 2026
Theodore Payne Foundation Upcoming Events
Theodore Payne Foundation inspires and educates Southern Californians about the beauty and ecological benefits of California native plant landscapes.We are located on 22 acres of canyon land in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley. Our full-service native plant nursery, seed room, book store, art gallery, demonstration gardens, and hiking trails are open to the public year round. We offer garden tours and classes for adults and families, as well as field trips to TPF and in-classroom programs for children. Friendly on-leash dogs are welcome and there is no admission charge!
See upcoming events at Theodore Payne Foundation Events – Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite
Posted in Class/Workshop | Tags: Theodore Payne Foundation Upcoming Events
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 28, 2026
Regional Parks Botanic Garden Native Plant Sale 10/3/26
Annual Fall Plant Sale Saturday, October 3 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m |
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Mark your calendar for the Regional Park Botanic Garden‘s annual fall plant sale! Public sale hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with exclusive access for Friends members starting at 9:00 a.m. Friends memberships may be purchased at the Garden starting at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the sale, or in advance on the Garden website. The sale will feature a wide array of California native plants propagated and grown from the Regional Parks Botanic Garden collection. Here is the plant sale inventory. |
Posted in Garden | Tags: California Native Plant Sale
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 28, 2026
Elephant Seals Amazing Underwater Diving Ability
Science Blog reported
A single female elephant seal was fitted with a depth logger and sent back to sea, and it turned out she was diving more than a mile straight down into darkness so complete it has never seen sunlight, holding her breath for the better part of two hours, again and again, for months, in a place the human body could not survive for a second.
A creature built for extremes reveals the ocean’s most inhospitable depths through the eyes of a single tagged female, rewriting what we thought possible for a marine mammal’s body and mind.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Elephant Seals
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 27, 2026
The Phenomenal Winners of Bird Photographer of the Year 2026
See the Winners of Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 from Peta Pixel at The Phenomenal Winners of Bird Photographer of the Year 2026
Posted in Birds, Photography | Tags: Bird photos
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 27, 2026
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Events
See a list of all active events and virtual events of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy at Events in the Parks | Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
Posted in Park, Talks, Walks & Hikes | Tags: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 27, 2026
Black and White Photos
I recently have been experimenting more with black and white photography. Here are a few of my favorites. I have a Black and White album on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandysteinman/albums
California Fan Palm/Washingtonia filifera
Spiral Aloe/Aloe polyphylla
Shaw Agave/Agave shawii
Posted in Photography, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Black and White Photography
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 27, 2026
Lost Fish Rediscovered
Discover Wildlife reported
‘Lost’ animal caught in fishing net in Papua New Guinea. It hasn’t been seen by scientists for more than 40 years
Missing from scientific records for four decades, the spinach pipefish has been ‘rediscovered’ thanks to local communities – who knew of its whereabouts all along.
Posted in Animals | Tags: spinach pipefish
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 26, 2026
California’s fall foliage season arrived early again this year
SF Gate reported
f you want to catch peak fall colors in the Eastern Sierra this year, plan your trip in the next few weeks.
This year’s fall foliage season in California is about a week ahead of schedule, similar to last year. But unlike last fall, when calm conditions let leaves hang on branches and extended peak fall colors for weeks, forecast wind events will likely shorten peak conditions at many leaf-peeping locations in the Eastern Sierra.
Read more at California’s fall foliage season arrived early again this year
Posted in Fall Foliage | Tags: Eastern Sierra Fall Color
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 26, 2026
Damselfish-assisted repair of wounded corals surprises scientists
Monga Bay
- A new study finds that a coral-associated damselfish may help hasten the healing of wounded corals.
- The research showed a 55% faster recovery rate from larger coral wounds in the presence of damselfish, and a 38% faster rate of healing for smaller wounds.
- Algae living within wounded corals exhibited decreased photosynthetic efficiency, an energy source vital to coral healing, when damselfish were absent.
- Scientists say the findings could inform conservation management plans, focusing more attention on preserving fish habitats to better protect corals.
Read more at Damselfish-assisted repair of wounded corals surprises scientists
Posted in Animals, Environment | Tags: Coral, Damselfish
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 25, 2026
El Niño is already swallowing California’s famous beaches
SF Gate reported
Several Orange County beach cities have declared local states of emergency to help buy and dredge needed sand for coastal protection.
— Read on www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/orange-county-el-nino-sand-22444112.php
Posted in Environment | Tags: El Nino
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 25, 2026
A Shape-shifting Ocotopus?
SpaceDaily reported
The mimic octopus off Indonesia can transform itself into a flatfish, lionfish or banded sea snake — and researchers have even watched it switch into the form of a predator of the fish attacking it, suggesting the disguise can change with the threat
A small octopus on Indonesia’s open seafloor has cracked an unexpected survival code: impersonate whatever predator is currently trying to eat you.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Mimic Octopus
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 24, 2026
Photos from Regional Parks Botanic Garden September 22, 2026
Photographed in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA on September, 22, 2026.
The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a California native plant garden. It is located within Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California, It is a 10-acre garden includes many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses from plant communities throughout the state. There are free weekend and holiday tours. Admission and parking are free. For more information about the garden visit the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.
Posted in Garden, Photos (Sandy's) | Tags: Regional Park Botanic Garden, Tilden Botanic Garden
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 24, 2026
Sea turtle lays eggs on Southern California beach for first time
CBS reported
A sea turtle has nested on a West Coast beach for what wildlife experts say is the first time in recorded history.
Video captured last Wednesday in Seal Beach shows the moments when a female olive ridley turtle lays eggs in the sand before returning to sea.
Read more at Sea turtle lays eggs on Southern California beach for first time, wildlife experts believe
Posted in Animals | Tags: Sea Turtles
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 24, 2026
Private ranch next to Tilden park eyed for purchase by land trust
Berkeleyside reported
The John Muir Land Trust is trying to raise $7 million to buy the 116-acre Johnson Ranch near the steam train, and open its panoramic views to the public. It bought a smaller ranch nearby last December.
Posted in Park | Tags: John Muir Land Trust, Johnson Ranch, Tilden Park
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 24, 2026
Surprising Humpback Whale Behavior
SpaceDaily
Humpback whales are interrupting orca hunts to rescue completely different species, swimming underneath a doomed seal and lifting it out of the water on their chest, or forming a wall between the killers and a grey whale calf, and scientists still can’t fully explain why they bother to save animals they have nothing to gain from
For years, humpback whales have been mysteriously intervening in orca hunts to save animals they’ll never meet again—a pattern so bizarre that marine biologists are still searching for a plausible explanation.
Posted in Animals | Tags: Humpback Whales, Orcas
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 23, 2026
Theodore Payne Foundation Upcoming Events
Theodore Payne Foundation inspires and educates Southern Californians about the beauty and ecological benefits of California native plant landscapes.We are located on 22 acres of canyon land in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley. Our full-service native plant nursery, seed room, book store, art gallery, demonstration gardens, and hiking trails are open to the public year round. We offer garden tours and classes for adults and families, as well as field trips to TPF and in-classroom programs for children. Friendly on-leash dogs are welcome and there is no admission charge!
See upcoming events at Theodore Payne Foundation Events – Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite
Posted in Class/Workshop | Tags: Theodore Payne Foundation Upcoming Events
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