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December 2022 HerbWalks & OjaiHerbal Newsletter |
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The only way photographer Perry Van Houten of the Ojai Valley News could capture this view of Santa Cruz Island in the distance was to hike up to Pine Mountain in midwinter when the vehicle road is closed. Thanks, Perry! And Happy Winter Solstice and Happy Holidays to all my readers as we welcome the return of the Sun on December 21. |
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With Hanukkah beginning at sunset on Sunday, December 18, Christmas morning one week later on Sunday, December 25, and Kwaanza starting the next day on Monday, December 26, I want to wish you all Happy Holidays! As you shop for gifts for loved ones, please remember my slogan: "Think Herbally, Shop Locally for Holiday Gifts."
You can order my book on my website by visiting this link. (Use the “Order notes (optional)” field at checkout to request a simple autograph or a book signed to that special person.) I can mail it to you or directly to your giftee with a note on your behalf.
If you don't care about a signed copy, you also can find them on the shelf in Ojai at Bart's Books, Crystal Corner, Farmer & the Cook, Ojai Valley Brewery, Ojai Valley Museum, Poppie's Art & Gifts, Rainbow Bridge, Sespe Creek Collective, Shangri-La Care Cooperative, and Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center; in Ventura at Ema's Herbs, Green Thumb Nursery, Timbre Books, and Ventura Spirits; in Oxnard at REI; in Calabasas at Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center Store; in Santa Barbara at Chaucer's Books and The Book Den; in Solvang at The Book Loft; and at Barnes & Noble in Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas and Valencia.
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On Saturday, January 14, 2023, I'll pick up my series of monthly Natural History Walks at Taft Nature Preserve begun in 2022. All the 2022 walks filled up, due in large part to the increasing awareness of － and appreciation for － Taft Gardens and Nature Preserve. You heard about this walk first right here so please read the article below to learn more and register. Or just click on the photo to go straight to the event listing page at HerbWalks.com. |
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SAVE THE DATE: Natural History Walk at Taft Nature Preserve: Saturday, February 11
LOOKING AHEAD;
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Book signing at Bart's Books in June.
Photo by Eliane White |
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Hyperlinked bibliography for
Medicinal Herbs of California |
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Do you own a copy of my book,
Medicinal Herbs of California? Have you noticed that it has over 350 citations referencing the sources of information I present? Those citations required 176 bibliography entries for books and online journal articles to back them up.
As you know, URLs are long and there's no convenient way to transfer them from the printed page to a web browser. So I created a free hyperlinked bibliography for you, my loyal readers. You can find it on my website at this link. Please share with others you know who have the book. |
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Toyon berries are ripening and this year's crop is massive. Read all about these delicious, medicinal fruits in my book.
Photo: California Native Plant Society, Channel Island Chapter |
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View of Taft Nature Preserve from on high.
Photo: Nathan Whitman |
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Natural History Walk at Taft Nature Preserve on Saturday, January 14
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Please join me for a Natural History Walk at Taft Nature Preserve on Saturday, January 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., meeting at 9:45 a.m. We will explore trails through the wild parts of the property, identify and discuss native plants, observe the continuing regrowth of the property since the 2017 Thomas Fire, and look for birds and animal tracks in the context of local ecology.
Taft Gardens and Nature Preserve is an amazing place! According to the Los Angeles Times (November, 2021), "This garden is SoCal’s hidden treasure." You must visit now that the rains have come, especially if you've never been there.
To read more and sign up, vist this link.
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Barbareño: Cuisine of California's Central Coast by chef Julian Martinez |
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A special gift you won't find in my bookstore |
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I love Barbareño! One of Santa Barbara's most iconic restaurants, it captures the tastes and terroir of California's Central Coast through its locally sourced food, deep local wine list and casual ambiance. This book,
Barbareño: Cuisine of California's Central Coast by chef Julian Martinez, includes more than 150 photos, over 300 individual recipe components, and over 50 plated dishes, all woven together by Julian's origin stories.
I'm sure there's someone on your gift list who would appreciate it. Visit this link to order now. |
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Growing Works is an innovative, wholesale California native and drought tolerant plant nursery established by the Turning Point Foundation to provide job training, employment, and horticultural therapy to people with mental health challenges. Watch for a full article about this great program next month. For now, please read more here and consider a year-end gift. |
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Free Planting Guide for Gardens and Restoration Sites |
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Are you ready to plant natives to capture the winter rain that's already begun and, hopefully, will continue? I'm re-posting this link to Calflora's address-specific Planting Guide! Just sign in and enter your address.
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Hummingbird Sage
(Salvia spathacea). Photo: Smitty West |
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10 fragrant natives to plant NOW |
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Jeanette Marantos of the Los Angeles Times wrote a great article for the November 15 issue entitled "The most fragrant native plants are just heavenly. Here’s what to plant now." Her Top Ten includes:
- California bay (
Umbellularia californica)
- California sagebrush (
Artemisia californica)
- Cleveland sage (
Salvia clevelandii)
- Coyote mint
(Monardella villosa)
- Creosote bush
(Larrea tridentata)
- Desert lavender
(Condea emoryii)
- Fragrant pitcher sage (
Lepechinia fragrans)
- Hummingbird sage
(Salvia spathacea)
- Woolly bluecurls
(Trichostema lanatum) and
- White sage (
Salvia apiana)
In a perfect illustration of the healing properties of the terpenes that give fragrant plants their aromas, 8 of those 10 plants can be found in my book,
Medicinal Herbs of California. The Calflora Planting Guide referenced in the article above this one will help you determine which plants are right for your place and locate sources of the plants for you. You will also find the Native Plant Nurseries section on my page of free Resources very helpful. |
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Click on the USFS logo above or the hyperlink below to visit the newly redesigned Ojai Ranger District (ORD) webpage for the latest info on trails, fire conditions, campgrounds, closures and more.
Are you interested in collecting small amounts of plants in the Los Padres National Forest for personal use? Contact Forest Botanist Heidi Guenther at heidi.guenther@usda.gov to apply for a free collection permit. |
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