Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 3, 2025

Creosote Bushes Are the Mojave Desert’s Time Travelers  

California Curated reported

The creosote bush, a seemingly unassuming plant that dots the arid expanses of North American deserts, holds secrets to aging that would make Silicon Valley longevity bros green with envy. In the Mojave Desert, one creosote plant known as “King Clone” is estimated to be over 12,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living clonal organisms on Earth. This astonishing fact was highlighted in the BBC series The Green Planet, where Sir David Attenborough brought the extraordinary resilience and survival strategies of desert flora to a broad public audience. The series as a whole is excellent, but the episode on desert plants, Desert Worlds, was especially fascinating and enlightening—particularly for a dedicated succulent fan like me. Watching it inspired me to research and write this article.

Read article at Creosote Bushes Are the Mojave Desert’s Time Travelers  – California Curated

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 2, 2025

What’s the best way to kill a tree? For wildlife…

Anthropocene Magazine reports

Standing dead “snags” can be a boon for wildlife. But the best way to turn live trees into standing dead ones has been a mystery until now.

Sometimes, conservationists want trees to die. That’s true even for majestic icons like Douglas firs, evergreens that can grow to a towering 100 meters in the coastal mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Which begs the question: What’s the best way to kill a tree?

Read more at  What’s the best way to kill a tree? For wildlife…

See upcoming events calendar of hikes and programs at https://www.abdnha.org/calendar1.htm.

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 1, 2025

East Bay Regional Parks Upcoming Events

See upcoming events calendar for the East Bay Regional Parks at https://www.ebparks.org/calendar

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | May 1, 2025

Waves are getting bigger. Is the world ready?

The Guardian reported

Southern Ocean waves are growing larger and faster, threatening coastlines. But some scientists think they could help turn the tide in the climate crisis.

In his remarkable memoir of his life chasing breaks in far-flung corners of the globe, Barbarian Days, the writer William Finnegan describes the “spooky duality” of waves, the way that, “when you are absorbed in surfing they seem alive. They each have personalities, distinct and intricate, and quickly changing moods, to which you must react in the most intuitive, almost intimate way – too many people have likened riding waves to making love. And yet waves are of course not alive, not sentient, and the lover you reach to embrace may turn murderous without warning.”

Read more at  Waves are getting bigger. Is the world ready? | Oceans | The Guardian

The Natural History Museum  reported

An Antarctic discovery might offer new insights into the origins of modern birds.

The skull, from an ancient relative of ducks and geese known as Vegavis iaai, suggests that the key characteristics of modern birds were already in place 69 million years ago.

Birds evolved from dinosaurs millions of years ago – but the route from these avian ancestors to now is largely mysterious.

Read more  Ancient bird skull from Antarctica might be from early duck relative | Natural History Museum

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 29, 2025

Upcoming Activities at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden

See upcoming class, talks and activities at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park at https://nativeplants.org/

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 29, 2025

Bay Nature Upcoming Events

See Bay Nature’s calendar of upcoming events at events

The Guardian reported

Scientists are about to take part in a revolutionary mission aimed at creating detailed 3D maps of the world’s remotest, densest and darkest tropical forests – from outer space. The feat will be achieved using a special radar scanner that has been fitted to a probe, named Biomass, that will be fired into the Earth’s orbit later this month.

Read more  Space probe to map carbon content of world’s remotest tropical forests | Space | The Guardian

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 28, 2025

Function of red stigmas in wind-pollinated flowers

ScienceDaily reported

Scientists discovered that the red stigmas in wind-pollinated trees accumulate anthocyanin, the same compounds that are revealed in autumn leaves after green chlorophyll production slows down and eventually stops. The anthocyanin supports pollen germination and growth by acting as an antioxidant, scavenging reactive oxygen species that might otherwise result in sun damage, scientists found.

Read on www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250213144136.htm

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 27, 2025

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Upcoming Events

See all Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Upcoming Events at see all upcoming events

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 27, 2025

A Walk in the Park may be Good for your Mental Health

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine reported

Perceived greenspace exposure—which represents a person’s perception of the amount and quality of access to and time spent in nearby greenspace—may have a significant positive effect on certain aspects of mental health, according to new research from an interdisciplinary University of Colorado Boulder team.

Read article at  www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2025/02/05/path-better-mental-health-walk-park

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 26, 2025

Bay Nature Upcoming Events

See Bay Nature’s calendar of upcoming events at events

MSN reported

It has to do with their food.

One of the largest algae blooms in Southern California has been linked to the death of two whales, a humpback whale and a minke whale, according to an April 23 news release by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC).

Read more at static1.squarespace.com/static/64c8472af9308f67b75ea7af/t/68090f85d43a025545d95c2f/1745424262038/2025+PR+Follow-up+Whale+Necropsy+Results++-+ACD-KM-NOAA.pdf

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 26, 2025

Portland’s urban naturalist tracks the great blue herons

Oregon Field Guide – has a YouTube video Blue Herons in Portland, creation of a wildlife preserve and Blue Herons becoming the city bird.

Mike Houck tracks the lifecycle of the great blue heron on Portland’s Willamette River while reflecting on his long career bringing green space to the built environment.

See video at

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 25, 2025

Upcoming Events from Eastern Sierra Land Trust

See upcoming events for the  Eastern Sierra Land Trust at   Eastern Sierra Land Trust Events

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 25, 2025

Aliens could detect Earth from 12,000 light-years away

EarthSky reported

Aliens could detect Earth from 12,000 light-years away

Read on earthsky.org/space/aliens-detect-earth-from-12000-light-years-away/

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 24, 2025

Rockalina the eastern box turtle’s remarkable recovery : NPR

NPR reported

Rockalina was an adult eastern box turtle living in the wild when she was taken into a New York home in 1977. When a reptile rehabilitation center got a hold of her this February, they worried for her survival.

— Read on www.npr.org/2025/04/24/nx-s1-5369562/rockalina-eastern-box-turtle-new-jersey

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 24, 2025

How the largest pine tree in the world was discovered in Yosemite

SF Gate reported

A sugar pine tree deep within Yosemite is the largest pine tree in the world, researchers found.

Read on www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/worlds-largest-pine-tree-yosemite-california-19863081.php

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 23, 2025

A Very Large Fern

From Jepson Herbarium

Dryopteris tetrapinnata is an exceptional species, having deeply divided fronds up to three meters long! It is narrowly endemic to East Maui, Hawaii.

See photo and read more (7) Dryopteris… – University and Jepson Herbaria – UC Berkeley | Facebook

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 22, 2025

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Plant Sales

Wednesday Plant Sales Resume April 23

Weekly plant sales, Wednesdays from 10 a.m.–12 noon, will resume starting tomorrow, April 23rd, at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.

First Saturday plant sales will resume the first Saturday in June, on June 7th.

Plants are at the Garden Potting Shed; closest entrance is from Anza View Drive.

More info and directions: nativeplants.org

The Guardian reported

Online exhibition collects soundscapes from nature reserves and sites such as Machu Picchu and Taj Mahal

The sounds of wind turbines, rare whales and the Amazonian dawn chorus are among the noises being preserved as part of an exhibition of soundscapes found in world heritage sites.

Read more From butterflies to wind turbines, project preserves world’s sonic heritage | Wildlife | The Guardian

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 22, 2025

Flying into danger: how climate change threatens migratory birds

BirdLife International  reported

Climate change is making bird migration more dangerous

— Read on www.birdlife.org/news/2025/02/07/flying-into-danger-how-climate-change-threatens-migratory-birds/

the Guardian reported

Dozens of gopher tortoises survived a perilous sea crossing after being swept from their homes during Hurricane Helene last summer, and are enjoying a new lease of life on a remote stretch of Florida coastline.

Read more at Gopher tortoises find new home on Florida coast after astonishing journey to flee hurricane | Florida | The Guardian

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 21, 2025

Webinar on Redwoods 4/30/25

Join Interpreters from Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park and Samuel P Taylor Redwood State Park on their journey to uncover how the roots of this ancient Coast Redwood community reach out to each and every one of us.
Preregistration is required, to register follow the link below!
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 21, 2025

A Deep Dive into Monterey Canyon, California’s Great Abyss 

California Curated writes about Monterey Canyon

Monterey Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is one of the largest and most fascinating submarine canyons in the world. Stretching over 95 miles from the coast of Monterey, California, and plunging to depths exceeding 3,600 meters (11,800 feet), this underwater marvel rivals its terrestrial counterpart in size and grandeur. Beneath the surface of Monterey Bay, the canyon is a hotspot of geological, biological, and scientific exploration, offering a window into Earth’s dynamic processes and the mysterious ecosystems of the deep sea.

Read story at  A Deep Dive into Monterey Canyon, California’s Great Abyss – California Curated

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 20, 2025

California Native Plants Pop-Up Sale!

California Native Plants Pop-Up Sale! Thursday, April 24–Monday, April 28

Welcome spring into your garden with California Native plants!

! Join us in celebrating the plants of the California Floristic Province, our best pollinator and habitat plants. You’ll find a range of plants suitable for our varied Bay Area micro-climates from sunny inland areas to coastal fog, and more. Shop early to find the best selection!

The Garden’s volunteer propagators and staff will be on-hand to answer questions and provide advice on caring for your new plants.

Check our website for a plant list and propagator favorites!

Beautiful trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, bulbs, herbs and more.

Plant List

Members Evening Preview and Sale:  Thursday, April 24, 5:00–6:00 pm

General Public:  Friday, April 25–Monday, April 28  10:30 am–4:30 pm

  • Members receive their regular 10% discount on plant purchases
  • Bring a box or bag to carry your purchases home
  • If you plan to only shop without a Garden visit, there is no reservation or admission fee required

Not a member? Join today and receive 20% off membership.
Use code CALNATIVE20, then get ready to attend the
Member Preview Evening on April 24!   (offer good through midnight, April 18)

Join Today
Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 20, 2025

Upcoming CNPS Events

See the calendar of upcoming events of the California Native Plants Society at https://www.cnps.org/events

SF Gate reported on beavers breeding in the wild

The animals have been brought “home to places they’ve been absent over 100 years.”

Read story at  Native Calif. species breeds in the wild for first time in a century

Posted by: Sandy Steinman | April 19, 2025

Upcoming UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Events

See the events calendar for the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden at Garden Events

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