In the San Francisco Bay Area, slices of nature pop up in the most unexpected places, a testament to the region's wealth in biodiversity and the resilience of its natural systems. Bringing nature to urban areas is not just about ensuring the survival of species, but enhancing people's quality of life through a fulfillment of our innate need to be with nature.

Habitat and Humanity

July 1, 2010 •  by

With millions of people and millions of acres of open space, the Bay Area is a lively, and sometimes uneasy, blend of wild and urban. In the East Bay, dozens of rare species — from birds along the Bay to wildflowers in the hills — survive against the odds thanks in part to the East Bay Regional Park District, whose staff does everything from creating nesting islands to clearing trees for the sake of imperiled plants and animals.

Touring Native Gardens

April 1, 2010 •  by

All over the Bay Area in spring, native plant gardeners throw open their yards during several public tours. Chances are, there are some great gardens right near you.

Public Transit and Other Endangered Species

January 1, 2010 •  by

Might the streets we travel have once been migratory corridors for other species, now displaced and threatened by our urban ways? Did butterflies pass by this way, looking for mates, or did salmon swim up a creek long since buried? Could we once again share this landscape and these corridors with other species, if our own daily migrations became more communal–a few buses in place of a swarm of cars, a single train where SUVs now reign?

Getting to Work on Tennessee Hollow

September 5, 2008 •  by

The Presidio’s Tennessee Hollow watershed is steeped in history. And it’s a magnet for wildlife. Now, the Presidio Trust is embarking on an ambitious restoration project. Find out how you can take part.

Argiope aurantia

Fall is the Season When Garden Spiders Live Large

August 29, 2008 •  by

Look in your backyard right now, and there’s a decent chance you’ll see the ornate webs of our local orbweaver spiders. After feeding on insects all spring and summer, banded garden spiders and yellow garden spiders get big and very noticeable in fall, just before they lay their eggs and die.

Perseid Meteor Shower

August 8, 2008 •  by

In the early hours from moonset to dawn between August 8 and 14, skywatchers in the Bay Area will be able to see the spectacular annual show put on by the Perseid meteor shower. At its peak on August 12, the tiny cast-off comet particles will streak across the sky at rates up to 60 per hour. Stay up late, grab a blanket or a lounge chair, find a spot away from streetlights, and enjoy the show!

San Francisco Natural Areas Program

July 1, 2007 •  by

San Francisco’s Natural Areas Program is in the final stages of hammering out a plan to guide the management and improvement of its designated Natural Resource Areas. Of the 3,480 acres managed by the Recreation and Parks Department, 31 sites … Read more