I’ve been keeping a close watch on Western sword fern, the most common plant in redwood forest, for about a decade now and it appears that the recent weather is taking its toll on the ferns. Through Save the Redwoods League’s climate change tracking project, Fern Watch, we visit 10 coast redwood forests every summer to check for signs of fern stress … Continue reading
I’m so thrilled to report that at least one of the poachers who stole burls from Redwood National and State Park last year has been arrested! Law enforcement identified the large 8×8′ burl in a local shop and traced it back to the magnificent coast redwood that still stands today despite its deep cuts. Thank you to … Continue reading
Whenever botanical diversity abounds, a beautiful sight is never more then mere footsteps away. Today, the Santa Monica Mountains were spectacularly in bloom. The colors of wildflowers and shrubs did not disappoint and the bees were all a-buzz despite the unrelenting winds in Red Rock Canyon Park. These are just a few of the lovely splashes of … Continue reading
All the elements combine to shape the trees we walk among every day. We see the result in glorious towering and sometimes twisting trees that curve and arc above us. Deep within the trunk and branches of every tree, wooded tree rings bear history to the tree’s unique story, small rings in lean years and … Continue reading
I’m unfortunately caring a for a sick box turtle at home, Sammy, a tiny guy my family rescued in 1984. While I work with a vet to care for him, I can’t help but think of how challenging it is to simulate wild conditions in captivity. Create the right wavelengths and intensity of light, temperature, humidity, naturally … Continue reading
It was a privilege to meet National Park Service Director, Jon Jarvis, at Muir Woods during BioBlitz 2014. Not even the torrential rain could dampen our enthusiasm for talking about redwood canopy exploration. In the U.S. Department of the Interior video above, you can catch a glimpse of me in my glorious red raincoat and … Continue reading
With the heatwave we are experiencing in California this week, it’s hard to not think about drought. All this dry weather, combined with below-average rainfall, must pose serious challenges for local trees. What’s amazing to me, is that the fantastically tall coast redwoods have evolved to withstand incredibly dry conditions at their treetops. If you climb … Continue reading
