Sacred datura (Datura wrightii) with sphinx moth; Image: Adobe
By Amina Sharma
In the days ahead, we’ll celebrate California Biodiversity Day and week. And in these stories you’ll see efforts to protect, understand, and enjoy biodiversity—from a rare bee that hasn’t been seen in 45 years to a protective seed bank to a book about how biodiversity has changed over eons. Enjoy!
- It’s ok to have do-overs when gardening with native plants, but find out how to avoid expensive mistakes. (Los Angeles Times)
- So exciting—a rare bee that hasn’t been seen in over 40 years was found on Mt. Tamalpais! (Marin Independent Journal)
- There are tree collectors among us. Are you one? (The New York Times)
- A new book explores the ways different forms of life have altered the Earth, creating the conditions that make biodiversity possible for those that follow. (The New Yorker)
- We know more now about the inner worlds of other animals, but it’s fascinating to read Audubon’s astonished reflections in the 1800s about avian intelligence. (The Marginalian)
- “Every maple is different from an oak, but also, every oak is different from another oak,” says the author of a new 800-page guide to the trees of the U.S. and Canada. (Smithsonian Magazine)
- The Mojave Desert Land Trust’s seed bank of native plants is habitat insurance against fire and other disasters. (Coachella Valley Independent)
- After long effort, Tiburon Ridge will now be now protected and open to all as a Bay-area park with stunning views. It’s also home to the California red-legged frog, serpentine reed grass, and Marin dwarf flax. (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Joshua Tree National Park’s Preventative Search and Rescue Program aims to prevent visitors from experiencing dangers like extreme heat, falls, and thorny cactus spines. (The Los Angeles Times)
- Funny of the day
