Ironwood Spring 2018 by Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1

Following the Fire

SPRING 2018

Also inside Replanting Guidelines Garden Calendar PHOTO: B. COLLINS

SP RING 2 0 1 8 Ironwood

1212 Mission Canyon Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Tel (805) 682-4726 sbbg.org GARDEN HOURS Mar – Oct: Daily 9am – 6pm Nov – Feb: Daily 9am – 5pm REGISTRATION Ext. 102 Registrar is available: M – F / 9am – 4pm GARDEN SHOP Ext. 112 Hours: Mar – Oct, Daily 9am – 5:30pm Nov – Feb, Daily 9am – 4:30pm GARDEN NURSERY Ext. 127 Selling California native plants to the public with no admission fee. Hours: Mar – Oct, Daily 9am – 5:30pm Nov – Feb, Daily 9am – 4:30pm DEVELOPMENT Ext. 133 EDUCATION Ext. 160 FACILITY RENTAL Ext. 103 MEMBERSHIP Ext. 110 VOLUNTEER OFFICE Ext. 119 IRONWOOD | Volume 26, Number 1 | Spring 2018 ISSN 1068-4026 EDITOR Flannery Hill DESIGNER Paula Schaefer Ironwood is published quarterly by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, a private nonprofit institution founded in 1926. The Garden fosters the conservation of California native plants through our gardens, education, and research, and serves as a role model of sustainable practices. The Garden is a member of the American Public Gardens Association, the American Alliance of Museums, the California Association of Museums, and the American Horticultural Society. ©2018 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. All rights reserved. BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR Peter Schuyler VICE-CHAIR Tom Craveiro SECRETARY John Parke TREASURER Edward Roach Samantha Davis Lou Greer Frost Gil Garcia Elaine Gibson Sarah Berkus Gower Valerie Hoffman William Murdoch Gerry Rubin Kathy Scroggs Jesse Smith Susan Spector Susan Van Atta

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Following Fire

n December 2017, the Thomas Fire caused us to close for two weeks. However, thanks to the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fire was stopped more than a mile away from us, and the Garden suffered no damage. After having more than 70% of the Garden burn and losing several structures in the 2009 Jesusita Fire, we feel fortunate to have escaped—this time. Our only losses were financial. Unfortunately, many of our members and supporters were not so lucky. We extend our deepest sympathy to all those who lost loved ones, homes, and businesses due to the fire and floods. We know what they are going through and we understand the effort it will take to recover. It will not be easy but with community support, recovery will happen. Our open spaces and wild lands will recover too, and with some rain, the “fire followers” will bloom this spring and the coming years. Fire management and restoration are complex issues. In this edition of the Ironwood, we explore the role of fire in our environment. What can we expect in the future, given climate change, prolonged extreme drought, and unprecedented fire and weather events? How can individuals, communities, businesses, and governments best aid the natural fire recovery process? It is not as easy as Smokey the Bear led us to believe. We extend our deepest sympathy to all There is much more to learn and those who lost loved ones, homes, and understand about businesses due to the fire and floods. how native systems recover from infrequent fire, as well what could happen if fires are more frequent in the future. What might the central coast look like in 50 or 100 years with more extreme weather events, leading to more frequent fires and droughts? We don’t know yet, but we will be here to help our native species and habitats make it through this time of change. The Garden conducts research and works to facilitate informed decisions on these big questions. Thank you for being a part of this effort. Sincerely,

FOLLOW THE GARDEN! FACEBOOK.COM/SBGARDEN YOUTUBE.COM/SBBGORG @SANTABARBARABOTANICGARDEN

Ironwood S PR I N G 2 018

Steve Windhager, Ph.D. Executive Director

B. COLLINS

Jute netting used for erosion control at the Garden

WEED

DON'T SEED PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR REPLANTING AFTER THE THOMAS FIRE

BY BRUCE REED, HORTICULTURIST

The California Flora is good at responding after intense burning. The best choice for homeowners and land managers alike is to allow the natural germination of seeds and resprouting of surviving perennial species. Perennial survivors, like oaks, California lilacs, chamise, and many others are very robust–often beginning to sprout before rainfall. The seedbank—long-fallen seeds from past years buried in the top inch or two of soil—is a part of these plants’ coevolution with fire, and will germinate, even with very modest amounts of rain. Allow these natural dynamics to unfold. Achieving 60% soil coverage in the first rain season after a fire is common. And 90% or better in the second year is also common. No added seeding is necessary in previously undisturbed or semi-wild areas. Adding seed is problematic for the native vegetation on two fronts. It risks the possibility of introducing plants that may become invasive (like the introduction of black mustard decades ago to “control” erosion after fires) even if they are native elsewhere in the region and also may introduce species not present in your locale before, requiring surviving plants to compete. On very disturbed sites where it is demonstrated that the native seedbank is not adequate, the best choice is to reseed with seeds collected locally. Many restorationists would consider “local” on the south coast to be seeds collected from Rincon to Point Conception, for instance and representing species already present on the site. It is often underappreciated how fragmented populations of our native plants are becoming because of development and other land-use practices. It is common to have small populations of some species that are more vulnerable to a “swamping” effect when commercially grown seeds are planted nearby. Commercially produced seed is subject to

different environmental conditions than those in the wild and it is impossible to predict which genetic characteristics will be favored by these conditions. Whereas in developed areas adding commercially produced native seed is fine, and even good for wildlife, doing the same in wildlands may cause more harm than good.

Allow the natural vegetation to flourish and expand. It will do this best without interference. The best influence we can have is to watch for and remove young, resprouting invasive plants. (See Cal-IPC’s site on plants invasive in California, www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profiles). This may be the most important action we can take in the first growing season after a fire.

Most rains we experience locally are small in quantity and quick. This pattern is perfect for natural revegetation of our foothills. However, long-lasting and heavy rainfall totals can happen. While a growing, resprouting hillside is better than most man-made strategies for controlling erosion, this growth can take time. There are a number of temporary erosion control methods that can be effective in immediately stabilizing soils without reducing the regeneration of native plants: a. straw rolls, or wattles b. jute netting c. air-dropped soil tackifiers, like paper mulch, intended to last through the first couple of rain events, do not inhibit seedling germination. However there are few studies demonstrating how effective they may be in stabilizing bare soils. Note that no fertilizer or seeds should be included in such applications. Straw mats or plastic sheeting will impede seedling germination to different degrees and are not recommended.

SP RING 2 0 1 8 Ironwood

FOLLOWING

THE FIRE

by Sonia Fernandez

F. LAMBRECHT

THE RECENT THOMAS FIRE reminds those of us who live on Santa Barbara’s South Coast of the sobering reality that we live in a place where wildfires are a part of life. What started as a small brush fire some 40 miles away was joined by a second blaze ignited by a power line, and together they burned through both urban and wildland terrain for weeks. The fire ate up about 282,000 acres, and became the largest wildfire in California’s history.

J. WARDLAW

2000 BEFORE JESUSITA FIRE

MAY '09 DAY AFTER FIRE

B. COLLINS

MAY '10 ONE YEAR LATER

D ES E RT S ECTI O N

ll of us in Santa Barbara County watched the blaze march west across the foothills, aided by warm and dry northerly offshore winds and fed by fuels that hadn’t burned in decades. In the end, what remained was a charred landscape of ash and blackened trees. But one community’s devastating disaster is another’s regenerating spark. The local coastal sage and chaparral are fire-adapted plant communities that have evolved to depend on fires to set the stage for their renewal. “Even though we view it as tragic, there's actually a great rejuvenating aspect to a fire,” said Betsy Collins, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s Director of Horticulture. Because it's so dry in this region during the warm season there's not a lot of decomposition the way there is in the wetter regions of the world, she said. Jungles and forests have armies of snails and fungi and worms to dive through leaf litter and old plant material and turn them into nutrients in the soil; we have fire. In addition, fire also destroys soil pathogens and destructive insects. One need look no further than the Garden to understand what Collins is talking about. In 2005, the Jesusita Fire ripped through about 70 percent of it, destroying not just various sections, but also the director’s house and the historic building whose site is now occupied by the Pritzlaff Conservation Center. Now, California bay and coast live oak trees have reclaimed their territories, sprouting from their old stumps. It won’t take long before the same happens in the wildland areas. In fact, it is happening right now, from behind charred bark, as with the oaks, and with manzanitas and chamise, whose underground burls release the energy they have stored there to resprout anew.

JUST ADD WATER However, before the trees and shrubs come back to restore the hillsides, we can look forward to a bloom, as herbaceous flowering plants take advantage of the clearing and the release of nutrients into the soil to spring from seeds that have lain dormant for years. “Botanists get pretty thrilled at the prospect of a fire because there are certain wildflowers that you see only after a fire,” Collins said. It’s a well-orchestrated process that these plants, called “fire followers,” have developed in response to their ecology, Collins explained. Their seeds are tough enough to withstand intense heat and they respond to temperature and chemical cues brought on by fire, ash and smoke. Awakened by these cues, and moistened by the rains that come with California’s wet season (which typically starts in November), they take advantage of the access to light and the influx of nutrients to germinate and rush to the surface for their moment in the sun. “There's a plant called a fire poppy that is one that everyone likes to go in search of,” Collins said. The flower is yellower than the more familiar orange version that is the state flower. Bright yellow canyon sunflowers, ceanothus in various shades of blue, and lupines that may vary in color from blue to yellow to pink also may appear. These plants will dominate the landscape the first year after a fire and deposit their seeds into the soil to await the next blaze. In addition to the flowers, the rapid growth of these plants stabilizes the soils loosened by lack of moisture and the burning of plants whose roots held the dirt together. So effective are they at their job that the practice of re-seeding the hillsides with non-native ryegrass seed to prevent erosion has been discontinued at the federal and state levels. It is now seen as unnecessary,

and potentially a threat to the natural ecology of those areas. “The evidence is overwhelming that seeding with ryegrass will do absolutely no good,” said Jon Keeley, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey and an expert in fire ecology. “It’s a waste of money and it’s a distraction because it takes people away from thinking about real solutions that work.” These solutions are the more physical means of deflecting rain and preventing erosion, including hay bales and jute netting.

DAY AFTER JESUSITA FIRE

B. COLLINS

"...it's so dry in this region during the warm season there's not a lot of decomposition the way there is in the wetter regions of the world. Jungles and forests have armies of snails and fungi and worms to dive through leaf litter and old plant material and turn them into nutrients in the soil; we have fire."

B. COLLINS

P O RTE R TR AI L

“The slopes are steep and the area hasn't burned in a long time, so there's a lot of accumulation of dry-ravel on the slopes that is held by the shrubs,” Keeley said. “And then when the shrubs are burned down, that gives way.” That phenomenon was apparent with the El Capitan Canyon mudslides that occurred after the 2017 Sherpa Fire and more recently with the tragedy in Montecito after the Thomas Fire. Can we avoid these devastating wildfires? While they are a natural part of the California climate, lightning-ignited fires are relatively uncommon, and occur typically at the higher NOWHERE TO GO BUT DOWN elevations, Keeley said. The vast majority — 99 percent — of the ones that occur in Santa Barbara What makes Santa Barbara a paradise for the and Ventura Counties are of manmade origin. people that live here — mild Mediterranean “That means there is the potential to alter climates and year-round sunny skies — makes it these fires by better prevention mechanisms,” fertile ground for fires. We have a long dry period Keeley said, “and I think in terms of our future that climaxes near the end of the fall season, of fire management that is probably the area that compounded by warm and dry sundowner winds needs far more investigation.” that can gust up to 60 miles per hour, Keeley Meanwhile, the Santa Barbara Botanic explained. In the case of the Thomas Fire, an Garden will take advantage of the opportunity anomalously long sundowner wind event was to better understand the behavior of the local the main factor in the devastation. Usually these ecology in the wake of wildfires. This spring, sundowners last about three days; in the Thomas researchers are conducting a survey of plants that Fire, that event lasted almost two weeks. have sprung up in the Santa Barbara backcounIn the foothills of Santa Barbara, the vulnertry a decade after the 2007 Zaca Fire and 2009 ability is made worse in the wet season that Jesusita Fire. “We are looking for both rare plants immediately follows the dry season. With to protect, and invasive plants that are threatnothing to hold them in place — and subject to ening them, along with other warning signs gravity — the soils have nowhere to go but down like erosion,” said Denise Knapp, Director of in a strong rain. As a result, creeks fill up with Conservation and Research for the Garden. water and silt, debris basins overflow and the “This information will guide the Forest Service in lower-lying areas become flood zones. restoring any areas that need our help.”

ONE YEAR LATER

SP RING 2 0 1 8 Ironwood

R. WRIGHT

Commemorative Benches Garden Commemorative Benches are a special way to celebrate a big anniversary or birthday, honor family and friends, remember loved ones who have passed away, or simply show the community your commitment to conserving native plants. These meaningful tributes and memorials help us create beautiful places to rest and enjoy nature throughout the Garden. Gifts of Commemorative Benches are 20-year leases and the gift range is $25,000 to $100,000 depending on the location in the Garden. Bench gifts are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law and provide critical financial support for the Garden’s core programs. If you would like to learn more about gifting a bench and tour available spaces, please contact Heidi Whitman, Director of Development & Communications at hwhitman@sbbg.org, or (805) 682-4726, ext. 133. Anna's Bench on the Pritchett Trail

Patti Jacquemain Exhibition Walking Through the Seasons at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden At the Pritzlaff Conservation Center Gallery, April 6–July 29 Opening Reception: Saturday, April 7, 4–6pm Book Signing: Wednesday, May 23, 5–7pm

atti Jacquemain was raised on a ranch in Santa Barbara, attended Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, and received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara. As a professional artist, Jacquemain had over 30 one-woman shows of her original woodblock prints across the country. Images of her artwork have been distributed nationally and internationally through the publication of greeting cards and calendars. She has written and illustrated four books including two children’s books. Along with private mosaic commissions, she has created permanent installations in several public institutions including the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospitals, First Presbyterian Church, Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, and her own Creekspirit garden of art. Jacquemain’s passion for wildlife and the environment in which they live is well known. In 1997, she founded the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, presently located in Solvang, California, and the Creekspirit Wildlife Foundation

Ironwood S PR I N G 2 018

in Santa Barbara in 2003. Both nonprofits are devoted to creating an awareness of our fragile environment and its vanishing wildlife through the development of educational programs and art. Jacquemain is married to David Gledhill, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army. ABOUT THE EXHIBITION On January 1, 2017, Patti Jacquemain, a Santa Barbara artist, began a one-year project in which she walked over 325 miles throughout and around the Garden. She documented her walks each day in her journal which has been the inspiration for the upcoming exhibition of her artwork Walking through the Seasons at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden at the Pritzlaff Conservation Center Gallery. The exhibition will portray her vision of the year, from the subtle changes in weather, the blooming of flowers and plants, wildlife and people encountered. It will feature watercolors and drawings from her journal, augmented with her unique mosaics and woodcut prints of the Garden. Opening reception and exhibition are free with Garden admission.

CALENDAR

ADDITIONAL CLASSES MAY BE ADDED Find up-to-date information and register at sbbg.org/classes-events or call (805) 682-4726, ext. 102

THE SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

Free Public Docent Tours every Saturday and Sunday at 11am & 2pm and Mondays at 2pm / Discovery Station Saturdays 10:30am-1:30pm Pricing: member / non-member / volunteer |

= classes that are part of a series, see sbbg.org for more information

MAR C H MAR

MAR

10 MAR

MAR

16 & 23

MAR

plants found on the popular hiking trail, Rattlesnake Canyon, in this 3-hour field identification course. 9am-noon. $20/$30/$10

Herbal Medicine of Spring Flowers

Take a walk around the Garden with experienced herbalist Emily Sanders, as she shares the medicinal and edible properties of many of our beautiful native spring flowers. 10am-12pm. $25/$35/$15

MAR

The Buzz about Native Bees

Join Rich Hatfield, Senior Endangered Species Conservation Biologist for the Xerces Society, in this special workshop focused on California’s native bees. Learn about threatened species, how to support them with native plants, thoughtful garden design, and how to recognize common bees. University students and California Naturalists may register at volunteer price. 10am-4pm. $40/$60/$25

MAR

Volunteer Orientation

Explore our diverse volunteer opportunities. Bring a friend and get a behind-the-scenes tour. 5pm-6:30pm in the Volunteer Cottage. Free

MAR

Herbal Spa Kit - Lecture

Join herbalist Emily Sanders for a presentation on 10 native herbs used for natural skin care. 10am-1pm. $30/$45/$20. Series of lecture & Medicine Making member price $80.

MAR

Herbal Spa Kit – Medicine Making

Herbalist Emily Sanders leads this hands-on workshop using California native plants to create your own herbal spa kit to take home. 2-5pm. $65/$85 Teahouse Open

Visitors and members are invited to experience our ShinKanAn Teahouse and Garden and witness the rich traditions of the Japanese tea ceremony. 11am-1pm. Free with paid Garden admission.

MAR

Native Plant Palette: Salvias

Join us for this unique Garden walk focused on the diversity of California’s native Salvias. Instructor Stephanie Ranes discusses the cultural care of Salvias in home landscapes, including how to choose the best varieties for your garden, the role these plants play in our chaparral and sage scrub ecosystems, and more! 10am-12pm. $20/$35/$15 Meet the Insects of Mission Creek: Part II

Explore Mission Creek, and learn about the remarkable insects that live there. What do they tell us about stream health? How do they rely on native plants? We bring living specimens back to the Plant Lab for a closer look through the microscope. 1-3pm. $20/$35/$15 Anacapa Island: Celebrate the Wildflowers

The Garden invites you to hike Anacapa’s plateau-like terrain with island expert and botanist, Steve Junak. Explore the unique flora that makes our islands the California Galapagos. 9:30am-4:30pm. $95/$125 California Native Plant Society Meeting

The Garden’s Director of Horticulture is the featured speaker for this month’s Channel Islands Chapter meeting; the topic is Botanical Treasures of the Channel Islands. The Garden hosts Society meetings on alternate months. 7pm-8:30pm. See cnpsci.org for more information. Free Spring Morning Bird Walk

Expert naturalist and birder Rebecca Coulter leads this morning group in watching and listening for the diverse and beautiful birds that make the meadow, woodlands, and creek side their home. Bring your own binoculars, or borrow the Garden’s. 8:30am-10am. $10/$15/$5

Fire in Paradise

Explore the botany of wildfire in California. Covers adaptations and patterns of fire recovery and the human dimension of wildfire and the consequences to plant communities. The class concludes with an optional field trip (date is rain dependent) to view recent wildfires sites. California Naturalists and students may register at volunteer price. 5:30-6:30pm. Lectures: $15/$20/$10 Lectures + Optional field trip (date TBD). $45/$65/$30 Spring Plant ID for Hikers: Rattlesnake Canyon

Learn how to identify common riparian and chaparral

MAR

Afternoon Art in the Garden: Drawing the Natives

Join JoAnn Metzger for her first spring art class of the year, when she demonstrates botanical drawing techniques. Arrive 30 minutes early for a Garden walk to select the native plants you will use in class. 12-2pm. $15/$20/$10 Santa Barbara Beer Garden

Enjoy one-of-a-kind, craft beers from local breweries while exploring the Garden. Indulge in finger foods and treats as well as live music all while experiencing California native plants. Find details at sbbg.org/beer

SP RING 2 0 1 8 Ironwood

CALENDAR

THE SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

Free Public Docent Tours every Saturday and Sunday at 11am & 2pm and Mondays at 2pm / Discovery Station Saturdays 10:30am-1:30pm MAR

MAR

31 thru APR

30 MAR

MAR

Garden Tour: Spanish Tour

El Jardín Botánico invita a la comunidad a dar una vuelta del Jardín con guía en español. Explore los distintos paisajes del Jardín, incluyendo el Bosquecillo de Secoyas de la Costa, La Pradera, y el Arroyo de la Misión. 2-3pm. Gratis, con el precio de entrada. Botanical Toolkit: Documenting California’s Biodiversity

Conservation staff scientists share plant collection and note taking techniques in the field in this day-long professional development workshop. 9am-5pm. $175/$195 Spring Native Plant Sale

Shop from a huge selection of native plants and fill your garden with water wise color, beauty, and butterflies, including native milkweed, matilija poppies, and iris. New shipments arriving weekly. 9am-5pm daily.

APR

thru JUL

29 APR

APR

7 14 21 28 APR

Designing with Water Wise Natives

California native plants offer nearly limitless uses in your residential garden, from creating wildlife-attracting, naturalistic landscapes to cottage, contemporary or traditional style spaces. Learn the steps used by professional designers. Taught by landscape architect and author Billy Goodnick. 9am-noon. $30/$45/$20 Good Fungi, Healthy Roots, Happy Natives

Join author Robert Kourik, as he discusses the amazing beneficial fungi that promote the healthiest roots of native and ornamental plants. Discover the relationships between beneficial fungi and plants, where in the roots it happens, and how to promote it. 2pm-3:30pm. $30/$45/$20

AP R I L APR

ture and beauty of native wildflowers in vibrant watercolor. Arrive 30 minutes early for an optional Garden walk to select some of the natives you will illustrate. 12-2pm. $15/$20/$10

Native Trees and Shrubs: Design 101

Join Patrick Wiley, Garden nursery staff, in this tutorial on native tree and shrub care. Practical demonstrations cover how to choose healthy plants, site preparation, plant care, and pruning techniques. 10am-12pm. $20/$35/$15

Volunteer Orientation

See March 5. 5pm-6:30pm. Free Wildlife Tracks at the Garden

Join expert tracker and author Michael Kresky on a quest for animal track and sign in the Garden. An inspiring introduction that emphasizes a holistic perspective in the study of natural history. 9am-1pm. $30/$45/$20 Volunteers & California Naturalists Afternoon Art in the Garden: Painting the Natives

Join the Garden’s Spring Art class as we capture the struc-

Ironwood S PR I N G 2 018

APR

13 20 27

MAY

4 11 18

APR

Walking through the Seasons at the Garden

Exhibition of watercolors, drawings, unique mosaics and woodcut prints of Santa Barbara artist Patti Jacquemain. 9am-6pm. Free with Garden admission. See description and artist biography on page 5. Opening Reception: Walking through the Seasons

Celebrate the opening of the newest exhibition in the Pritzlaff Conservation Center Gallery. Meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments. 4pm-6pm. Free Botany Basics

Join botanist Natalie Rossington for this short course. Topics include basic plant form and function as well as an introduction to California’s ecology and diversity. 9-11am. $75/$95/$50 volunteer & university students Garden Planning with the Experts

The Garden’s native plant experts lead inspiring tours of the Water Wise Home Garden and then head to the Garden Grower’s Nursery to offer guidance on making the best plant choices for your garden. 10am-12pm. $10/$15 Spring Plant ID for Hikers: Tunnel Road Trail

Explore Tunnel Road Trail with local botanist Natalie Rossington, and learn to identify the dominant chaparral plants of Santa Barbara. 9am-12pm. $20/$30/$10 Hands-On Drip Irrigation Workshop

Water wisely by tuning into your garden’s needs and tuning up your irrigation system! Learn how to start from scratch, make repairs or retrofit your drip irrigation system in this fun hands-on workshop with water resource specialist for the city of Santa Barbara Cathie Paré. 3-5pm. Free Introduction to California Plant Families

Mary Carroll leads this overview of common California plant families and how to recognize its members. Learn the basic terminology of plant identification. 1-3pm. $90/$110/$80 Enjoy Matcha: The Urasenke Way of Tea

Enjoy the spirit of ShinKanAn, the Japanese Teahouse, with a demonstration of the Way of Tea. Make a bowl of Matcha, Japanese powdered green tea, and serve it to your guest, in the spirit of appreciation and hospitality, the cornerstones of the tradition of Urasenke. 11am-1pm. $20/$30/$10

ADDITIONAL CLASSES MAY BE ADDED Find up-to-date information and register at sbbg.org/classes-events or call (805) 682-4726, ext. 102 Pricing: member / non-member / volunteer | APR

APR

17 18

APR

18 APR

APR

28 APR

= classes that are part of a series, see sbbg.org for more information

plant species helps us understand the effects of climate change on native plants and habitats. Become a citizen scientist – join the California Phenology Project and learn how to collect data on seasonal changes in the Garden and at other sites. 11am-3pm. Free

Domecar Botanical Day Trip

A rare glimpse of some of the last original native coastal landscape in southern California. Ride in style for a narrated scenic adventure with botanist and storyteller Steve Junak. Catered buffet lunch including beer and wine. 11:30am-7pm. $175/$195 Spring Plant ID for Hikers: Coal Oil Point

Discover some of the common plants that make up Santa Barbara’s coastal sage scrub communities in this field identification course at Coal Oil Point. 9am-12pm. $20/$30/$10 students, volunteers, and California Naturalists

MAY MAY

Day Trip to Scorpion Ranch

Join us for an exciting trip to Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz Island. Tour the historic buildings and surroundings and explore some of the eastern end of the island on foot with island expert Steve Junak. 7:30am-5pm. $100/$125

MAY

Free Senior Day

MAY

Welch-Ryce Haider invites those 60 and better to visit the Garden as their guests. Seniors pay no admission today and can enjoy special programming. For groups of 10 or more, please make a reservation by calling (805) 682-4726, ext. 161. 9am-6pm

MAY

Spring Morning Bird Walk

See March 21. 8:30am-10am. $10/$15/$5 Tell Better Stories with Your Camera

Award-winning landscape photographer Saxon Holt leads this hands-on workshop to help experienced photographers tell better stories with their camera. Ideal for designers, architects, and garden enthusiasts. 7-11am. $175/$200

MAY

Meet the Insect Kin

An introduction to millipedes, centipedes, and other arthropods such as spiders, harvestmen, sowbugs, and pillbugs. What are they all doing in the Garden? Learn how to grow a native plant habitat to attract beneficial garden allies. 1-3pm. $20/$35/$15

MAY

14 thru

Garden Planning with the Experts

See April 7. 10am-12pm. $10/$15

MAY

Garden Tour: Chumash Ethnobotany

Explore the Garden through a new lens as our docent guide shares Chumash uses of our native plants. 4-5pm. Free/$10 with admission California Phenology Project Training Workshop

MAY

Botanical Toolkit: Techniques for Vegetation Research & Monitoring

Join the Garden’s conservation experts at Sedgwick Reserve for this day-long professional training on vegetation research and monitoring techniques. 9am-5pm. $175/$195 Introduction to Botanical Drawing

Learn the basics of botanical illustration with Dr. Linda Ann Vorobik. All levels welcome. 9am-4pm. $150/$175 Finesse Your Botanical Drawings

Advanced botanical illustration drawing techniques, with emphasis on creating accurate drawings and using pen-and-ink. 9am-4pm. $150/$175 Herbal Medicine of Desert Plants

Many of our California native plants have traditional uses. Join local herbalist, Emily Sanders, and learn about some of the medicinal uses of native desert plants. 10am-12pm. $25/$35/$15 A Day of Botanical Watercolor

Botanical watercolor with emphasis on taking your painting skills to a new level. 9am-4pm. $150/$175 Volunteer Orientation

See March 5. 5pm-6:30pm. Free Santa Cruz Island Trip

Celebrate spring on the largest and most diverse of the California Channel Islands. Explore pine forests, isolated coves, and more with botanist Steve Junak. Stay at the University of California station in the Central Valley for three nights. 8:30am-5pm. $750/$900 California Native Plant Society Meeting

The Garden hosts the California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands Chapter for their monthly meeting. See the CNPSCI webpage for further information. 7pm-8:30pm. Free Spring Morning Bird Walk

See March 21. 8:30am-10am. $10/$15/$5

Understanding changes in the seasonal cycles of native

SP RING 2 0 1 8 Ironwood

CALENDAR

ADDITIONAL CLASSES MAY BE ADDED Find up-to-date information and register at sbbg.org/classes-events or call (805) 682-4726, ext. 102

THE SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

Free Public Docent Tours every Saturday and Sunday at 11am & 2pm and Mondays at 2pm / Discovery Station Saturdays 10:30am-1:30pm Pricing: member / non-member / volunteer |

MAY

= classes that are part of a series, see sbbg.org for more information

Coal Oil Point–Secrets in the Cliffs

Explore the cliffs of Isla Vista to see up close how seismic activity creates a marine terrace. We will also examine an extensive marine invertebrate fossil layer, which will offer hints of the prehistoric environment. 11am-3pm. $50/$65/$40 Meet the Native Bees

California has over 1,600 species of native bees! Learn to recognize some of our common bees, and learn about their busy bee lives, in this introduction to these beneficial insects. 1-3pm. $20/$35/$15

MAY

Walking through the Seasons at the Garden Book Signing

MAY

JUN

Celebrate the launch of Patti Jacquemain’s newest book featuring her journal pages from her year-long journey through the seasons in the Garden. Meet the artist as she shares her inspirations behind both the book and her accompanying exhibition. 5pm-7pm. Free Afternoon Art in the Garden: Painting the Natives

Join JoAnn Metzger for this second opportunity to paint some of our gorgeous native spring wildflowers in vibrant watercolor. Arrive 30 minutes early for an optional Garden walk to select the native plants for the class. 12-2pm. $15/$20/$10

JUN

JUL

14 AUG

JUN

Volunteer Orientation

See March 5. 5pm-6:30pm. Free Bring the Wild Inside

Create a beautiful flower arrangement to take home with California native plants. Perfect for beginner to advanced floral designers. 1-4pm. $30/$45

Botanical Toolkit: Seed Collections

Learn how to plan and implement seed collections for both conservation and restoration purposes. 9am-5pm. $175/$195 Wildlife Tracks at the Garden See April 6. 9am-1pm. $30/$45/$20

Ironwood S PR I N G 2 018

Herbal First Aid: Medicine-Making

Create herbal remedies using California native plants and take home your own herbal aid kit of salves, oils, & extracts. 2-5pm. $65/$85 Summer Sips

Enjoy an afternoon with friends, tasting Santa Barbara area wines with appetizers, then adjourn to the Blaksley Library for a presentation. 4pm-6pm. $25/$35. Special members series price (tickets transferable) $60/$90 JUNE 9: Oaks in Agriculture, Jesse Smith, owner, farmer, consultant at Casitas Valley Farm

AUGUST 11: Designing Native Gardens, Carol Bornstein, Director of the Nature Gardens, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Channel Island Plant Conservation Tour

The rare Channel Island plantings surrounding our new Pritzlaff Conservation Center are showcased. The tour focuses on the Gardens ongoing conservation and restoration work to protect these endangered and unique Island plants. 4-5pm. Free with admission

Herbal First Aid: Lecture

This introductory course covers 7 useful native California herbs for cuts, scrapes, burns, bites & stings. 10am-1pm. $30/$45/$20. Series of lecture & Medicine Making members $80

JULY 14: Botanical Treasures of Santa Cruz Island, Steve Junak, botanist and tour leader

JUN

JUNE JUN

Native Plant Palettes: Buckwheats

Walk the Garden and for an in depth look at the various species of Eriogonum and learn their role in our ecosystem, buckwheat identification and how to use them in a home landscape. 10am-noon. $20/$35/$15

Santa Rosa Island Trip

Experience the unique botany and landscape of second-largest of the eight California Channel Islands. Participants will explore the island’s pristine beaches and coastal terraces and learn about the island’s history of land use, and major plant associations from island expert Steve Junak. 9am-6pm. $900/$975

thru

JUN

Meet the Wasps

Part of the Entomology for Botanists and Gardeners series. Class includes an introductory lecture, hands-on lab, and Garden exploration. 1-3pm. $20/$35/$15 Trails Less Traveled: Rattlesnake Canyon

Join naturalist Alan Prichard on an exploration of lower Rattlesnake Canyon. Discover some of the side trails that reveal the geology (and archeology!) of one of Santa Barbara’s most popular hiking spots, and witness firsthand how debris flows have shaped the local landscape. 9am-1pm. $50/$65/$40

MEMBERS

PICNIC

for those 60 years old and better

APRIL 18 | JUNE 20 AUGUST 15 | OCTOBER 17 DECEMBER 19 Learn more at sbbg.org/seniors

meet other members rsvp at sbbg.org

S. HOLT

free SENIOR DAYS

R. MORDINI

enjoy delicious food fun for all ages

S. BLOODWORTH

MAY 17 | 5-7pm

Picture your next event at the Garden corporate meetings • conferences lectures • special events PLEASE CONTACT Natalie Wiezel Events Coordinator nwiezel@sbbg.org (805) 682-4726, ext. 103

SP RING 2 0 1 8 Ironwood

GARDEN People TH E GAR D E N I S P LEAS E D to WE LC O M E to the B OAR D O F TR U STE ES Gil Garcia Gil is an award-winning practicing architect, born and raised in Santa Barbara, and has been intensely involved in civic affairs over the years. He has served on many nonprofit boards as well as on several boards and commissions for the City and County of Santa Barbara. As a City of Santa Barbara Council member from 1992 to 2002, he was active in several policy committees of the National and California League of Cities. Gil is a recipient of several community awards that include University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Honorary Alumni Award, Santa Barbara News-Press 1996 Life Time Achievement Award Recipient, 1993 Man of the Year Santa Barbara Ad Club and various other civic awards and honors. Gil’s hobbies include dancing, meditating, exercise and traveling worldwide with his wife Marti.

Kathy Scroggs Kathy Scroggs is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who supports nonprofits, estates, and trusts with accounting operations and complex reporting. Her professional affiliations include the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Kathy is treasurer of the Board of Directors of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, serves as Secretary for the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation, and is involved with the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. Kathy lives in Santa Barbara and enjoys doing yoga, listening to live music, reading, and hiking the trails. She's an award-winning baker, and loves to gather folks around the table for a good meal and stimulating conversation.

Bill Murdoch Bill Murdoch grew up in a tiny village in Scotland, where he roamed the countryside and learned to love nature. He completed an undergraduate degree in Zoology at nearby Glasgow University and a D.Phil (Ph.D.) in ecology at Oxford before immigrating to the US with his wife, Joan. After a postdoctoral year at the University of Michigan he became a professor

Ironwood S PR I N G 2018

of ecology at UCSB, which was one of the US’s great places for ecology. Bill recently retired from UCSB, where his research, both theoretical and experimental, centered on the dynamics of populations of predators and their prey – for example how a tiny insect parasite from Asia has managed to keep California red scale (an insect also from Asia) under stable biological control for 60 years in citrus orchards around the world. He has also had a long interest in analyzing and solving environmental problems. For example, he edited a widely-used environmental textbook in the 1970s, directed a 10-year study of the effects of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on behalf of the California Coastal Commission and served on scientific panels including on endangered bird species. He served on the Board of Directors of The Nature Conservancy for nine years. Bill loves the outdoors, including hiking the trails behind Santa Barbara and wandering around the Santa Barbara area with binoculars, checking out its magnificent bird fauna. That includes visiting the Garden, which he feels is one of our most beautiful and soul-enriching environments.

Gerry Rubin Gerry Rubin, a native of Evanston, Illinois, is co-founder of Rubin Postaer and Associates, a billion-dollar full-service independent advertising agency headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Gerry began his advertising career in 1962, with the Leo Burnett advertising agency, and then for 18 years with the Needham advertising agency in their Chicago and Los Angeles offices. In his career, he has been responsible for businesses such as Procter & Gamble, Continental Airlines, American Honda Motor Company, Campbell Soup Company, and Armour-Dial. Today, Rubin Postaer and Associates’ principal clients include American Honda Motor Company, am/pm, Apartments.com, Arco, Farmers Insurance, La-Z-Boy, and Southwest Airlines. In 2013, the American Advertising Federation inducted Gerry into its Advertising Hall of Fame. Today, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Santa Barbara Center for Performing Arts and is past chairman of the Southern California chapter of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As), and past chairman of the Western Region 4As Board of Governors. Gerry and his wife Bobbie reside in Santa Barbara. Bobbie served as a docent at the Garden from 1994-2002. They have two adult children who also live in Santa Barbara.

TH E GAR D E N I S P LEAS E D to WE LC O M E N EW STAF F Lucie Gimmel Herbarium Curation Assistant Lucie studied forestry, English, and natural history education in the Czech Republic before relocating to Arizona, where she volunteered in the herbarium at Arizona State University. She has worked most recently at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, where she was both an imaging as well as a curatorial assistant in the mollusk collection. We are thrilled to have her skill and expertise here at the Garden to work on two different contracts dealing with specimen processing and imaging.

Sarah Termondt Rare Plant Technician Sarah hails from Ojai, where she worked as a consulting biologist for six years. She is an excellent field botanist with complementary skills in bird and reptile ID/monitoring. Sarah also has education and outreach chops, thanks to her time in the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corps and

working with the local Wilderness Youth Project in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. She will be working on all things rare plants, both in the field and the lab and she will play a big role in caring for the Garden's conservation seed collection.

Natalie Wiezel Events Coordinator After graduating college with a theatre degree, Natalie moved to Los Angeles to start a career in theatre and production. After a year, she felt that something was missing in her life and decided to find a career that would offer a more creative outlet. It was then that she got involved in a couple internships for wedding designers, helping them create innovative and exquisite weddings and events. Shortly thereafter, Natalie was offered the position of Office Manager/Design and Accounts Manager for SPARK Creative Events and was able to dive into the world of the Santa Barbara event industry and has never looked back. Natalie is very excited to continue her love of events and nature at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

FIRST RESPONDER free Sundays

S. WINDHAGER

Starting April 1, first responders with ID are invited to visit the Garden free of charge the first Sunday of each month in 2018. Funded in part with proceeds from Santa Barbara Beer Garden ticket sales!

Firefighters stationed at the Pritzlaff Conservation Center during the Thomas Fire

SP RING 2 0 1 8 Ironwood

The Garden Welcomes Heidi Whitman as New Director of Development

Stephanie Linder, the Garden’s Director of Development & Communications has been appointed as Executive Director of the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society. Stephanie served as the Garden’s Director of Development and Communications where she oversaw philanthropic relationships, membership, marketing, communications, events, and more. The Garden wishes to thank Stephanie for her leadership and partnership in caring for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and the conservation of California native plants.

The Garden is pleased to welcome Heidi Whitman as its new Director of Development & Communications. Heidi comes to us from the National Tropical Botanic Garden (Hawaii and Florida) where she has been the Director of Philanthropy since 2015. Prior to arriving at NTBG, she served as the Director of Development for the University of California Santa Cruz’ Coastal Sustainability Initiative. Heidi has over 15 years of experience in development. Heidi is an avid gardener, and has worked as both a field botanist and a National Park Service Ranger, sharing her love of plants with thousands of visitors.

E. PEPIN SILVA

Garden’s Director of Development takes the Reins in San Francisco

In Memory Jill Vander Hoof

S. BLOODWORTH

(1945-2017)

'Lovepops' cards Jill Vander Hoof passed away on November 22, 2017, in Santa Barbara. Jill was devoted to education. She served as a docent at the Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Lotusland, and here at the Garden. In fact, it was Jill who helped build an alliance between the Garden and the Museum of Natural History. She loved to inspire people to see the world in different ways, which makes sense given her generous donations of microscopes to the Garden’s education program. Jill also left gifts supporting the Garden, and other organizations.

Ironwood S PR I N G 2018

More than a just a card, Lovepops are a gift that people keep and display. Designs for every occasion, year round. Bring your Ironwood to the Shop, and enjoy 20% OFF your purchase of one unique card design! (Limit one per Ironwood.)

the

GARDEN SHOP

GAR DEN S HOP HOU RS: MAR – OCT: 10 a m – 5 : 3 0 p m N OV – F E B: 10 a m – 4 : 3 0 p m (805) 682-4726,

ext.

I N FO@S B BG.ORG

112

Saturday, March 24 1–4:30pm

Alan Noelle Engineering

1616 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA

93101

phone: 805.563.5444 fax: 805.456.5901 alan@aneng.com Electrical Engineering Lighting Design

SP RING 2 0 1 8 Ironwood

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

1212 Mission Canyon Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105-2126 sbbg.org • (805) 682-4726

Spring

NATIVE PLANT SALE Largest selection on the central coast! Fill your garden with color, beauty, and butterflies, including native milkweed, matilija poppies, and iris.

R. WRIGHT

9am – 5pm DAILY

MEMBER DISCOUNT

Ironwood S PR I N G 2018

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA BARBARA, CA PERMIT NO. 451

MARCH

through

APRIL

Members Shop Early FRI. MARCH 30

9am—5pm Don't miss this special shopping opportunity for members only!