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Celebrate National Wilderness Month in Black Star Canyon

8/28/2015

September is National Wilderness Month, marking the anniversary of the 1964 Wilderness Act. This act of Congress created the National Wilderness Preservation System, and recognized wilderness as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”

The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks provide a wilderness experience right here in Orange County. You can visit unique and protected wildlands just minutes from anywhere in the county. In fact, the OC Parks system includes more than 20,000 continuous acres of open space that is permanently protected and preserved. Most of this land is preserved for wildlife habitat, with docent-led recreation activities. While there are guided hikes and other programs scheduled almost daily, some say the best way to enjoy the local canyons is during the monthly Wilderness Access Days.

Aster-nomical Sights at the Native Seed Farm

8/21/2015

A checkered skipper visits a sand aster flower at the Native Seed Farm.

Asters are in bloom at the Native Seed Farm, and you can help harvest the seeds.

The Aster family (Asteraceae) is one of the largest plant families in the world, with nearly 24,000 unique species. These plants are also known as “composite” flowers, since their flower heads are usually made up of a cluster of tiny flowers surrounded by larger petals. Each of these minute clustered flowers forms a seed, and at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy Native Seed Farm, those seeds are ready to be harvested. Native asters are some of the last blooming flowers of the season, so you can see the final pops of wildflowers while helping restore native habitat across the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Volunteering at the Native Seed Farm is easy, and is even open to kids ages 8 and up. Volunteers receive training in native plant identification, information on how plants reproduce, and background on where the seeds go after they are harvested. All tools and training are provided, and the activities take place before the day gets too warm. Right now, there are three different aster species ready to be harvested at the farm:

Keeping Track of Wildlife

8/14/2015

Learn about animal behavior with a free beginner’s tracking class.

It’s just after dawn, and two mule deer are making their way along a trail. They stop to nibble on some sagebrush when they hear a twig snap in the distance. Just a split-second after their large ears pick up the sound, they take cover, bounding quickly to some large shrubs downhill. A few hours later, the entire scene unfolds again, as a trained naturalist “reads” the tracks left by those deer, recounting their every movement. Understanding the tracks left by wildlife gives us insight into their world, and you can learn the basics of tracking with afree class on Saturday, August 22.

New Bilingual Hikes Cover Flora, Fauna and Folklore

8/7/2015

Two upcoming activities teach hikers about the land and local wildlife with information presented in both English and Spanish.

The coyote, according to Mexican folklore, is a mischievous trickster who’s usually trying to pull one over on other animals. His lack of wisdom is usually getting him into trouble, while his cleverness and cunning are usually getting him back out. For Native Americans, myths and tales about the coyote can vary widely. He is sometimes a revered cultural hero who teaches and helps humans, and sometimes a sort of antihero who demonstrates the dangers of negative behaviors like greed, recklessness and arrogance. Two upcoming nature walks aim to entertain and enlighten with tales about the coyote, along with other native animals and plants, with folklore tales presented in both English and Spanish by bilingual docents.

Celebrate National Wilderness Month in Black Star Canyon

Aster-nomical Sights at the Native Seed Farm

Keeping Track of Wildlife

New Bilingual Hikes Cover Flora, Fauna and Folklore

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