Environmental News

A curated set of environmental news stories brought to you by the Gottlieb Native Garden team.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Diane Shader Smith
310.386.6803
dianeshadersmith@gmail.com

Geology of the Santa Monica Mountains

This presentation will provide an introduction to the various sedimentary and volcanic rock units, which can influence native plant communities, and will make the tilted structures and juxtaposed rock types more understandable to the casual observer.

Navigating Race & Inclusivity in Community Gardens with Sama Mirghavami

Well-meaning people have been organizing since the dawn of the local food movement to create vibrant, urban garden spaces in an effort to build and support their communities. However these efforts, which are often oriented towards the goal of ameliorating social issues such as lack of access to food and green space for marginalized people, sometimes undermine themselves in terms of equity and inclusivity.

8 Best Places To See Spring Flowers In Southern California

As winter fades and temperatures start to warm, spring flowers burst from the ground and welcome us back outdoors. Spring is a welcoming space between the chill and gloom of one season and the heat of the next. It’s a beautiful time of year to picnic, hike, or just gaze at nature’s blooms.

Bee Reports over the Past Century Indicate a Loss of Diversity

An analysis of museum data and naturalists’ observations finds that the number of bee species recorded has been declining since the 1990s. The first global, long-term study of bee trends adds to mounting evidence that the pollinators are in trouble worldwide.

Butterfly wing clap explains mystery of flight

The fluttery flight of butterflies has so far been somewhat of a mystery to researchers, given their unusually large and broad wings relative to their body size. Now researchers have studied the aerodynamics of butterflies in a wind tunnel.

Common pesticides stop bees and flies from getting a good night’s sleep

Researchers urge UK to keep EU ban on pesticide which has detrimental effect on pollinators

10 Amazing Rescues of Sick, Injured, and Abandoned Birds

Like any other animal, birds face so many manmade threats in addition to natural ones such as being rejected, injured, or affected by the elements. 

North Bay photographers’ new book captures diversity of native flowers, encourages conservation

California is particularly fertile ground for wildflowers. The golden poppy is the official state flower.  Because of its size and vast diversity of climate and geography, from mountains and deserts to ocean and forests, California has more native plant species than any state in the union. Due to their captivating charm, the state’s wildflowers can serve as ambassadors of the natural world and call attention to environmental threats of all kinds.

Building Pollinator Habitat in Towns and Cities: California Region

Join Jessa Kay Cruz, Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, as she takes a closer look at the needs of pollinators in the California Region. Learn what plants pollinators need, how to provide nesting habitat, and what steps you can take to make change in your city.

To quiet your mind, listen to the birds

Hearing birds singing, and sometimes perceiving high biodiversity, may increase people’s well-being.