Arroyo Hondo Creek.
Photo: James Wapotich |
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I was introduced to this beautiful coastal location north of Santa Barbara 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. The Arroyo Hondo Preserve features a year-round creek surrounded by coastal chaparral and grassland. There is a great deal of plant diveristy to be seen on a short hike. It also is where the Chumash village of Tuxmu was once located.
Read more and sign up
here.
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Newt found near its pool on Arroyo Hondo Creek.
Photo: James Wapotich
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The Newts of Arroyo Hondo
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Arroyo Hondo Preserve is home to one of our most interesting animals, the California Newt. These amphibians -- famous for their deadly toxicity if eaten -- mate in freshwater pools from which the young "efts" migrate onto dry land for up to three years before returning, with the aid of an internal navigation system, to their natal waters to breed. In Southern California, the lack of watery habitat they require means we don't often see them. You can read a fascinating blog about them by Jack Elliott's Santa Barbara Adventure
here.
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Learn about our iindigenous Chumash people in this informative and inexpensive book published by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, available at
this link in the Herb Walks bookstore. While you're there, check out the other new additions.
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Lanny and new friend Pascal Baudar at last year's workshop
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Pascal Baudar is returning to Ojai on July 22
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Pascal Baudar, author and renowned professional forager for L.A.’s top chefs, will join me for an Herb Walk on Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail and then lead a field workshop on making wild gourmet and medicinal beers and other creations from his best-selling 2016 book,
The New Wildcrafted Cuisine: Exploring the Exotic Gastronomy of Local Terroir.
Read more and register
here. A word to the wise: This event sold out quickly last year. |
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Are you on facebook? Visit and "like" my
HerbWalks page for more updates and photos. |
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Obi Kaufmann's magnum opus goes on sale in September
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The California Field Atlas
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I met Obi Kaufmann about 5 years ago when he worked for the Juniper Ridge company. He was distilling Black Sage onsite at a fundraiser for Los Padres Forest Watch. Since then, this multi-talented artist-scientist has been backpacking across the state compiling what looks to be one of the most amazing books ever written (and illustrated) about California. You can check it out and pre-order now at
this Heyday Books webpage.
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Photos from June 17 Workshop with Dr. James Adams
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I shot the photo above of participants soaking their feet in Cleveland Sage sun tea while one soaks her hands in Sacred Datura sun tea. Then I added that photo and a few more to Enrique Villaseñor's album that you can view at
this link. The album is also posted at
Links to Participants' Photos. |
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Enrique's Photos from the Potrero John Nature Hike on July 2
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Look! They're still smiling after 5 hours on the trail. We try to make learning fun.
Photo: Enrique Villaseñor.
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The late Milt McAuley, renowned author and expert on the plants and trails of the Santa Monica Mountains.
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This is the complete flora you should have on your bookshelf
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The Santa Monica Mountains are a great wildflower garden for Southern California. In fact, almost every plant along our coast and in our hills and inland valleys can be found in Milt McAuley’s epic
Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains.
I'm extending last month's 20% discount on this 575-page book exclusively to readers of this newsletter. You won't find it for less anywhere else. Just follow
this link to the discount code and enter it at checkout. |
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Although I might send out a card announcing fall events, there will not be an August newsletter nor any Herb Walks events in August. I will be working with my brother Michael (shown on the right below) on the
24th Bowlful of Blues, coming to Ojai's Libbey Bowl on Saturday, September 16. We hope to see you there!
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