Celebrate the new farm’s opening by planting seedlings that will be harvested for future habitat restoration.

The New Year brings new beginnings for all, and 2016 is off to an exciting start with the opening of an expanded Native Seed Farm. The original 12-acre farm, created in 2009, has relocated and expanded to 14 acres, with 8 acres of growing area ready to be planted. You can help get the new farm site off the ground by planting seedlings that will be harvested for future habitat restoration projects throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Winter is the optimal season for native species planting, and 15,000 native plant seedlings need to be in the ground at the new farm site by the end of February. Public support has been crucial to the farm’s success from day one, and will continue at the new site with twice-weekly volunteer opportunities tailored to fit each season. Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff have spent the past year planning and preparing the site, and now members of the community have a unique chance to plant tiny seedlings that will have a huge impact on successful habitat restoration.

Minimizing rain damage to trails keeps native plants and wildlife thriving.

The hints of winter weather are finally here! Orange County was happy to see some much-needed rain this past weekend, with some areas of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks reportedly getting as much as 0.28 inches of rainfall in one night.

​While the skies have dried for now, more is likely coming. The El Niño weather pattern is expected to hit Orange County in 2016, and is forecast to be one of the strongest on record. The expected rain is a welcome change for flora and fauna, but California’s recent drought has left many trail surfaces so dry that even those constructed to direct runoff into surrounding habitat could be overwhelmed by an abundance of rain. Landowners and managers are prepared to evaluate potential storm damage and reduce long-term effects, but you too can minimize rain damage by understanding wet trail conditions and abiding by closures to the trail system.

Gather for 2015's last yoga class in Bommer Canyon. The program picks up again in the New Year.

End the year with a relaxing combination of hiking and yoga at Morning Yoga in Bommer Canyon on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. This is the last chance to gather in the City of Irvine’s picturesque Bommer Canyon for this Irvine Ranch Conservancy-led program before it breaks for the holiday season and resumes in the New Year.

​Rich in both Irvine Ranch lore and nature’s wonders, Bommer Canyon beckons walkers, hikers and yoga enthusiasts to enjoy the beautiful ancient oaks, sycamore groves and rough rock outcrops. Morning yoga participants will begin with a hike around a 1-mile loop, strolling through the local meadow and finding unity within nature. The hike will end at the yoga mats for a 45- to 60-minute guided yoga class, as the canyon slowly begins to warm for the day.

Now is the time to see winter flora come to life in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

​While the hint of colder weather might encourage some to bundle up inside, winter in Orange County is a perfect time to explore the outdoors. Our native plants that have been dormant throughout summer and fall come to life during winter months. So as people bring more green into their homes in the spirit of the holidays, it’s an excellent opportunity to experience green bursting to life out on the trails as well.