STUNT RANCH RESERVE BOTANY CRAWL

Name: STUNT RANCH RESERVE BOTANY CRAWL
Start: 2024-12-08T10:00:00-08:00
Location: Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve

Schedule

Sun, 08 Dec, 2024 at 10:00 am

UTC-08:00

Location

Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve | Calabasas, CA

Hank Dingman (SAMO FUND/NPS botanist/herbarium technician) will lead an outing to the Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve which is located in the southernmost mountains of the biologically and geologically diverse Transverse Ranges in rural Los Angeles County. The reserve contains a variety of different ecosystems, such as chaparral, oak woodland, riparian, and grassland, and serves as the interface between the Gabrielino and the Chumash native Californian tribes.
The group will meet in the Stunt Ranch Reserve parking lot off of Stunt Rd. at 10:00 AM parking in the open space near the Stunt Ranch Preserve sign at the corner of Stunt Rd. & Stunt Ranch Rd. As we make our way through the various trails and ecosystems we will use the UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve checklist to cross reference the plant species we encounter and hopefully add undocumented species to the list. We will discuss tricks and tips on how to identify species using evergreen foliage and dead "plant skeletons." Depending on what we find, we can go over the Do's and Don'ts of how to successfully collect, press, and document a plant voucher to add to a herbarium. On our way back to the parking lot we will get the opportunity to stand in the glory of one of the largest Coast Live Oaks in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Come join us for a day of botanizing the many enjoyable trails and ecosystems the Stunt Ranch Reserve has to offer. Plan on covering ~4 miles at the "botany pace" and make sure to bring hiking boots, sun protection, water, and snacks/lunch. For those who know their birds, make sure to also bring binoculars.
For any further questions feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]