A Hardy Californian
Lester Rowntree (1879-1979) was a self-taught botanist and independent spirit who spent half her life trekking up and down California observing, gathering, and photographing the state’s native flora. Born in...
Science and Nature
Which spot in the Bay Area gets the most rainfall and which the least?
Q: Which spot in the Bay Area gets the most yearly average rainfall and which spot gets the least? Why? [Diane, Bolinas] A: Nearly all the precipitation we receive comes...
Botanic Magic
On just ten acres in the Berkeley hills, there's an enchanting garden that hosts much of California's vast botanic diversity. The Regional Parks Botanic Garden—Northern California's only public garden focused...
Duck! It’s Time for Winter Waterfowl
San Francisco Bay and its surrounding wetlands become a mallard mecca every winter. Mallards come by the thousands to spend the relatively balmy fall and winter months here while their...
Bay Area Migrations
Thanks to our mild climate and productive ecosystems, many species of animals (including people) migrate to and through the Bay Area. Winter is a great time to learn about some...
Lake Merritt Improvements
On the first rain-soaked day of the season, I walked around Oakland’s Lake Merritt to try to envision its coming makeover. After four years of planning, construction is scheduled to...
Lead Poisoning in California Condors
When California condor number 307 saw biologists capturing other condors at Pinnacles National Monument last summer, she apparently spooked and flew northeast to San Luis Reservoir. By the time she...
Looking Ahead on the Napa River
In our January-March 2007 feature, “Valley of Water and Wine,” we highlight the innovative work of landowners along the Napa River who are initiating restoration projects on the upper reaches...
Forest Lowlife
This winter, discover the miniature world of mosses and their kin.
Rare and Endangered Mosses
January-March 2007 WEB EXTRA: Rare and Endangered Mosses Many of us go through life barely noticing mosses and their cousins, liverworts and hornworts. It’s easy to miss bryophytes—the collective name...
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