Volunteers are needed to harvest seeds from fragrant wildflowers such as black and white sages in August.

Nestled in a valley in Irvine lies the Irvine Ranch Conservancy Native Seed Farm, a 14-acre plot of land where native grasses, bushes, and wildflowers are grown to produce seeds that get used to restore and enhance native habitat throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Volunteers who want to give back to nature but aren’t looking to hike out to remote restoration sites in hotter summer temperatures are invited to spend upcoming Wednesday and Saturday mornings harvesting seed at the farm.
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The Native Seed Farm is a flat, easy-to-access site where volunteers can enjoy a light breeze, occasional shade covering and on-site restrooms while harvesting seed. The farm harvests as much as 1,000 pounds of seeds per year – enough to fuel projects at sites within the Landmarks' expansive canyons and nature preserves. During the month of August, volunteers will harvest seeds from late summer plants such as mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana), a perennial bush with small yellow-green flowers that hold tiny but powerful seeds. Two aromatic sages – black sage (Salvia mellifera) and white sage (Salvia apiana) – will also be ripe for harvesting, along with California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), a sturdy and productive bush with charming "poof ball" flowers. Later in the summer, volunteers can look forward to harvesting California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), a popular bush that’s also known as “cowboy cologne” due to its pleasing scent.

See native trees such as coast live oaks, Western sycamores and arroyo willows during self-guided and docent-led outings on the Landmarks.
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The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is a unique biodiversity hotspot with five main plant communities: coastal sage scrub, chaparral, riparian, Southern oak woodland and coastal grassland. Within each of these communities are a variety of native shrubs, wildflowers and trees – the largest plants on the planet – that provide shelter and food for local wildlife. Native trees such as coast live oaks, Western sycamores and arroyo willows are vitally important to the Landmarks’ ecosystem as a whole. Many of these tree species stand tall after decades of growth, and can be seen throughout nature preserves and wilderness parks on the Landmarks.

Opportunities abound for mountain bikers to explore the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Mountain biking in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks provides a unique experience for riders to explore remote, rugged areas of local wilderness. Whether on a docent-led bike ride in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon and Weir Canyon Nature Preserves, or a self-guided outing along daily trails in the City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon and City of Newport Beach’s Buck Gully Reserve, adrenaline-seeking outdoor enthusiasts have many opportunities to connect with the open space from the back of their bikes.
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It's important for both first-time visitors to the Landmarks and trail veterans to understand bike safety and multi-use trail etiquette. Knowing what to pack, how to prepare, and when to yield to others is vital to a successful bike ride, and ensures that everyone enjoys their two-wheeled adventure out on the trails.

Weekly series teaches kids about nature-related careers while they explore the Landmarks.

School may be out for summer, but that doesn’t mean your young ones have to stop learning. There are many programs on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks that get kids excited to learn while giving them the opportunity to explore outdoors. Throughout July, adventurers as young as 9 years old can learn about a variety of nature-related careers through hands-on, interactive activities out in the open wilderness.
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The J.O.Y. for Nature series takes place every Wednesday during July, and invites parents and their children to get outdoors and learn about careers in forensic science, astronomy, and pharmacy. From spotting evidence of the tiniest creatures found along the trails, to gazing out into the vast possibilities of outer space, J.O.Y. for Nature is an opportunity for teens and tweens to find new ways to connect with the rare and biologically diverse open space of Orange County.

Cameras help landowners balance the basic needs of wildlife with providing recreational opportunities for the public on the Landmarks.
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The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is a stunning, unique place for people to connect with the outdoors, and also an essential resource of native habitat for local wildlife – some of whom are threatened or endangered. Landowners including OC Parks, the City of Irvine and the City of Newport Beach are constantly striving to accommodate the needs of wildlife while also providing recreational opportunities for visitors to the open space. Striking a balance can be challenging, but it is vitally important to ensuring that the Landmarks can be enjoyed by generations of visitors to come.

As temperatures increase, so can sightings of snakes out on the trails. Keep these basic safety tips in mind while exploring the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks to avoid disturbing these special species.
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There are endless benefits of connecting to the outdoors – but with the rewards of enjoying open wilderness come the responsibility of exploring it in a safe manner. As the seasons change, so do the precautions that should be taken by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians visiting the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Hotter temperatures mean it’s even more important to carry plenty of water and bring extra sun protection such as a hat or sunscreen; summer weather also means it’s time to be on the lookout for one of the Landmarks’ amazing animals: snakes.

Enhanced handheld radio signals improve the safety of visitors to the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks during guided activities.
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For many people in Orange County, the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks provides a gorgeous escape from urban life – a getaway where visitors can reconnect with nature and spend time outdoors without traveling too far from home. Most people exploring the Landmarks do so during guided programs led by trained volunteers, and many factors go into guaranteeing the safety and success of these activities. Thorough planning by landowners and partner organizations, ongoing trail maintenance, and extensive volunteer training all help guarantee visitors continue to enjoy the Landmarks during hiking, mountain biking and equestrian outings.