Tag Archives: Nature

Pit Viper On Arroyo Burro Trail

Chumash bedrock mortars in Barger Canyon below Arroyo Burro Trail. Arroyo Burro Trail purportedly follows an historic Chumash Indian route over the Santa Ynez Mountains linking the Santa Barbara coastal plain to the Santa Ynez Valley. In the foothills below … Continue reading

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California Condor; Timeline of Tragedy and Hope

A California condor soaring over Sespe Wilderness. 1890—California condor population estimated at 600. 1982—Only 22 California condors alive in the world. 1985—A single breeding pair survive for the entire species. 1987—The last wild condor is captured from Bitter Creek National … Continue reading

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Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus Titanum)

Post peak bloom, starting to wilt. It’s a fleeting display lasting only hours. I went out to the University of California, Santa Barbara to see the corpse flower in bloom, a titan arum named “Chanel.” In the wild it’s a … Continue reading

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Gaviota Pass Overlook, Gaviota State Park

The Gaviota Coast and Santa Ynez Mountains. “The Gaviota Coast is the largest stretch of undeveloped coastline remaining in Southern California, and is representative of the only coastal Mediterranean ecosystem in North America.” —Gaviota Coast Conservancy Surf in the morning. … Continue reading

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Marijuana in the Woods: Endangering Hikers and Killing Wildlife

Marijuana growing in the Los Padres National Forest. (Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department) Marijuana Increasingly Grown In National Forests According to the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department, “large-scale marijuana cultivation is a serious and increasingly widespread problem on public lands in California, … Continue reading

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