Sunset over Ojai, September 2014.
Photo: Lanny Kaufer |
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Sunset Moonrise Herb Walk on Monday, July 15 |
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The March and April Full Moon Sunset Nature Walks were so much fun we’re doing one again on the night before the July full moon. The following night -- the official full moon -- would have us out too late for most people on a weeknight. On Monday, July 15, the nearly full moon will rise at 7:30 and the sun will set at 8:09. That gives us a nice window of time at our vista point overlooking the beautiful Ojai Valley (Valley of the Moon).
We'll stop along the way to meet some valuable native plants including:
- Coastal Sagebrush
- Elderberry
- Purple Sage and
- Toyon
Then, at 9:00 we're off to Ojai Valley Brewery where Jeremy Haffner has created some truly delicious lager-style craft beers and ales using some of the same local plants we met on the trail.
No pre-payment required. Read more and register at
this link.
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Please do me a favor and leave a review on my
HerbWalks
page on Facebook and follow me on Instagram
@ojaiherbal.
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| Lanny describing how to identify Mugwort, an important medicinal plant found at Arroyo Hondo Preserve.
Photo: Linda Blue |
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Arroyo Hondo Preserve Herb Walk & Native Plant
Sale on Saturday, July 20 |
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I was introduced to this beautiful coastal location by writer and hiking guide James Wapotich who says
“Arroyo Hondo is considered by many to be the jewel of the Gaviota Coast.”
The Preserve is managed by The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. It features a year-round creek surrounded by oak forest, coastal chaparral, grassland, and coastal sage scrub. It is where the Chumash village of Tuxmu was once located.
The diversity of plants and plant communities at the Preserve is exceptional. In the creekside riparian habitat, for example, we’ll see a wide array of Southern California native trees including:
- White Alder
- California Bay
- Blue Elderberry
- Bigleaf Maple, and
- Coast Live Oak
Afterwards we’ll regroup for a direct-from-the-grower native plant sale hosted by Santa Barbara Natives.
No pre-payment required. Read more and register at this link.
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Ojai Herbal Symposium: Nov. 16-17
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Mark your calendar for Saturday and Sunday, November 16-17, when the 2nd annual Ojai Herbal Symposium returns with:
•James Adams, PhD
•Amanda McQuade Crawford, RH (AHG), MCPP
•David Crow, LAc
•Jake Felice, ND
•Nathan Kaehler, DACM, LAc,
•Zhena Muzyka
•Jess Starwood
•Jena Sussex, MD
•Ron Teeguarden
•Carol Wade, RH (AHG)
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Salt & Straw staff foraging invasive Sweet Fennel for their Ojai-inspired summer ice cream flavor |
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An Ojai foraged flavor for Salt & Straw ice cream
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This spring I had the pleasure of taking the founder and staff of Salt & Straw Ice Cream on an herb walk in the hills above Ojai.
The purpose? To search for foraged flavors for this innovative company’s camping-inspired summer menu.
The result? Wild Fennel Amaro Milk-Sorbet, an amazing creation featuring wild-harvested invasive Sweet Fennel (
Foeniculum vulgare).
Read my blog post about their visit and their unique ice creams at this link. |
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Click the link in the article below for the latest updates on the Ojai Ranger District. |
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Matilija Poppies thriving in the Los Padres National Forest.
Photo: U.S. Forest Service, July, 2019 |
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Los Padres National Forest Updates
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Here is a link to the USFS webpage with the latest info on Ojai Ranger District trail and road closures, fire restrictions, etc. Hikers: bookmark it for easy reference before heading for the hills. |
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