The increasingly popular Native Plant Fest is returning for its 5th year on the grounds of the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (OPAC). The Native Plant Fest is a FREE event that runs from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. This time around, the organizers are aiming to create an immersive and educational experience where the community can explore and learn about native plants, connect with knowledgeable organizations, and enjoy a thoughtfully curated selection of local retailers, artists, non-profits, and food vendors. 

 

Local native plant growers will have a variety of plants for sale and will provide the info needed for growing them successfully. November through the Spring is prime native planting season in California and OPAC wants to bring together seasoned and newbie plant aficionados for this special event.

 

 

The organizers are asking that participating vendors, artists & non profits consider incorporating an interactive activity for attendees. Interactive booths will be highlighted on the event map. Registration for vendors, exhibitors, and artists is now open at this link: Registration Form | Native Plant Fest 2026.

 

It’s been 2 years since we had a winter like this to experience the wetland at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Ojai Meadows Preserve. Please join me and my wife Rondia for a leisurely nature walk on the historic wetland on Sunday, January 25, from 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. We’ll identify native plants that have been used for centuries by the Chumash and other Indigenous people of California for shelter, food, medicine, fiber, ceremony and much more. Gardeners will discover how these plants can be used in home yard and garden landscapes.

 

We’ll view first-hand the many benefits of the preservation and restoration of this special piece of land by the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC). In the main pond at the lowest spot in the wetland, we’ll likely see waterfowl and typical wetland plants such as tules and cattails. This rains have brought up several smaller vernal pools as well. This walk is presented under a Special Use Permit from OVLC.

 

On Sunday evening, February 1, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m., my wife Rondia and I will lead the first Full Moon Sunset Nature Hike of 2026, my 50th year of leading Herb Walks! We’ll hike to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the sunset afterglow and the full moon rise over the Topa Topa Bluffs. 

 

From the trailhead we’ll gradually walk about 1.5 miles on a well used dirt road with gradual elevation gain to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable edible and medicinal plants including, among others:

After witnessing the sunset and moonrise, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead at about 6:30.

 

My 2021 book, Medicinal Herbs of California, will be available at the trailhead for sale and signing.

 

If enough people are interested, we can go to Ojai Valley Brewery after the hike for a potluck meal on their heated patio where we can continue to watch the moon rise in the eastern sky. OVB’s local herb-infused beers are the perfect complement to our hike among the very plants they use. Also, OVB launched Side Street Wines in 2023 with winemaker Fabien Castel in charge. Fabien worked side by side with the legendary California winemaker Adam Tolmach at Ojai Vineyard for 20 years before joining forces with Liz and Jeremy.

 

In addition to the adult tickets ($35), tickets for students 13-17 ($25) and children 6-12 ($15) are also available. Children 5 and younger can attend free, one per adult. One supervising adult must accompany each child 12 years old or younger.

 

Please join me on Presidents’ Day, February 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for an Herb Walk on San Antonio Creek Trail in Goleta. Scheduled on a Monday for the weekend warriors, this affordable, family-friendly walk will include identifying, demonstrating and discussing the many uses of wild plants by foragers, herbalists, and naturalists seeking them out for food, herbal medicine, first aid, home remedies, survival, crafts, ceremony and more. This time of year we can expect to find Black Sage, California Bay, Mugwort, Indian-Lettuce, California Blackberry, Hummingbird Sage, and Wild Rose, among others. Toxic plants such as Poison Oak and Poison Hemlock will also be identified.

 

Trailside discussion will include sustainable foraging, Chumash plant uses, and other topics generated by the participants. This slow-paced walk is suitable for all hikers able to walk less than 2 miles round-trip on a level trail and stand for periods of time. Participants will receive an email afterwards with a plant list (including common and scientific names) and other useful notes.

 

Walk with me as I celebrate 50 years of leading herb walks on the first Santa Barbara area walk of 2026! To learn more and sign up, please click here or on the image above.

To begin my 2026 anniversary celebration of 50 years leading Herb Walks, I'm extending this special holiday offer through January 31. For every copy of my book Medicinal Herbs of California that you buy for $26.95 in my online shop you will receive a free copy of Milt McAuley's classic 565-page flora of Southern California,  Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains. I normally sell that book for $19.95 but it's really worth much more compared to 2025 prices for similar books. The thing is, no similar book exists! This is the only book of its kind for our region, so there are no comparisons.
 
You can order the book package by visiting the Herb Walks bookshop or by clicking on the book cover montage above and scrolling to either title. Or you can start the order process by clicking on either book's name in the first paragraph above.
 
Then add both books to the shopping cart and enter the following code in the shopping cart where you're prompted to apply a coupon: WildFree2025. The McAuley book ⏤ which includes 496 color photos ⏤ is absolutely free; you just have to pay a little extra for the shipping. This offer is for my newsletter subscribers only and applies only to these two books as a combined order. 
 
To request a simple autograph or have my book signed to you, when you reach "checkout"  use the “Order notes (optional)” field. This personal touch is something not available when purchasing on Amazon or other vendors. 
 
If you already own my book or you're considering buying it, be sure to click on the following link to check out the free hyperlinked bibliography I created to save you the hassle of copying long URLs from the printed page to your browser, enabling you to easily to visit any of the web sources linked to the 350 citations in the book.