See the "Island of the Blue Dolphins" - San Nicolas Island, CA

San Nicolas Island, CA

The story of the "Lone Woman" of San Nicolas Island formed the inspiration for Scott O'Dell's classic coming-of-age novel Island of the Blue Dolphins. 

Take a minute to explore this unique wild habitat 61 miles from the California mainland. Imagine surviving here, by yourself, for 18 years.

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San Nicolas Island is a wild windswept slice of sandstone. California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) lounge on its beaches. Delicate native plants, like sand verbena (Abronia ssp.) thrive by staying low and out of the wind. The endemic San Nicolas Island fox (Urocyon littoralis dickeyi) scratches out a living on dune insects and San Nicolas Island deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus exterus). Current status of San Nicolas Island fox.

San Nicolas Island fox pup

sandstone carved by the sea into unusual shapes

The island is not open to the public because it is a U.S. Navy installation. As Education Director for Friends of the Island Fox, I had the opportunity to visit this most remote of California's Channel Islands. It is a place of unique natural splendor.

Compare San Nicolas to Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park.

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Earth Minute. 

Sounds of San Francisco - Hyde Street Pier

Sounds of San Francisco

Hyde Street Pier, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
 San Francisco, CA

Not only are the sights fascinating, but when you listen closely... the sounds are as well...

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Alcatraz island

Visit Pierce College Botanical Garden - Hidden Gardens L.A. #3

The S. Mark Taper Foundation, Life Science Botanic Garden on the campus of Pierce College in Woodland Hills is a gem of a Hidden Garden. Tucked between classroom buildings, it demonstrates how native plants and creative people can transform a barren lawn into habitat even in the middle of a college campus.

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red mountain sage

I remember taking a class in the computer science building bordering, what was then, a large grassy area with a few trees. Now the two acres of land seem twice the size as planted landscaping and trees break-up the views. Anna's hummingbirds dive and swoop over bright blooms of red mountain sage (Salvia darcyi) and red-eared sliders lounge on water lilies. 

The Pierce College Botanical Garden is a showcase of plants from climates like our own that have hot dry summers and cool, typically wetter, winters. It is a wonderful place to see the beauty of California native plants and how important they are to wildlife. And, like any quality botanical garden, plant species are identified with signage so you can search out species for your own garden. 

This garden in a living laboratory and classroom. Students wander in and out observing the dragonflies for a moment before continuing on to class. Some stop to talk in quiet alcoves or study on the numerous benches. 

An extra attraction is the "Evolution Walk." The main walkway through the garden, the "Evolution Walk" measures out time from the Cambrian to the present. Each six inches represents a million years. Have a hard time remembering what plants and animals lived when? Here is a visual representation with the imprint of animal and plant life in the walkway for the period in which it lived. I love this walkway.

Definitely a Hidden Garden worth seeking out.

bog sage

 Look For:

• Native California and Channel Island plants, as well as additional drought tolerant species from other Mediterranean Climate Zones
• Water features: a pond and sculpture with bog plants
• Variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, dragonflies and butterflies (Including California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi); Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna), western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), introduced red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans), western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), multicolored darner (Aeshna multicolor), white checkered-skipper (Pyrgus albescens) and monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
• "Evolution Walk" with fossil and other life form traces imprinted into the walkway for each time period

Special Opportunities: It surprised me, but I spotted California quail (Callipepla californica) in the garden. The pond and native plants create an island of abundant life despite the human activity. This is a place of discovery right off the Metro Orange Line, an opportunity for anyone to experience wildness in the San Fernando Valley.

The Specifics:

• Open - Daily, 8 AM to Sunset; Free to the public
• Parking - Ample, but there is a fee weekdays: $3 for all day from the self-pay dispensers or $2 with a visitor pass obtained at the Sheriff's office on campus. Parking is Free on weekends or holidays. The Metro Orange Line runs just north of the campus. The Winnetka stop will put you closest to the Botanical Garden. 
• Restrooms - Adjacent in the public campus buildings
• Kid Friendly - This is a wonderful outdoor classroom space. Visitors should keep in mind, however, that during the week classes are taking place in the surrounding buildings.
• Accessibility - The main pathway is wheelchair friendly, however some unpaved areas may be a challenge to navigate.
• Dogs - Dogs are not welcome on campus
• Restrictions - Parking can be limited when semesters begin, especially in the morning. Ongoing construction can make it appear that entrance to the garden is fenced off. It is not. You can reach the garden by following the signs.

For More Information: Visiting the Garden webpage

Visit us every week to watch more at: TheEarthMinute.com

Visit other Hidden Gardens
  Hidden Garden of L.A. - Orcutt Ranch Park
Hidden Garden of L.A. - Malibu Legacy Park

Australia Great Barrier Reef Swim

Swimming over the Great Barrier Reef!

 22 nautical miles from Cairns, Queensland,
is Michaelmas Cay.

 North Queensland, Australia.

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Yes, we were each wearing a "stinger suit" to protect us from jellyfish as we went snorkeling over the reef.

We used VisitCairns.com/au  and   

Seastar Cruises, and they were so great and knowledgeable!  

 

See more on Michaelmas Cay at TheEarthMinute.com!

See Natural Art on a Tropical Australian Beach

Who is making art on this remote beach at Cape Tribulation?

These dots of sand are reminiscent of Aboriginal dot art, but these artists are crustaceans.

Sand dabbler crabs (Dotilla sp) feed by filtering microscopic organic matter out of the sand. As they feed they roll a scoop of sand into a ball and deposit it outside of their hole.

The arrangement of sand balls, wet and dry, near and far, creates an image that is unique and plastic. What you see, depends on your point of view.

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See the monitor lizard just beyond this beach.

Taboose Creek, California - What is that sound?

Taboose Creek Campground.

 Off Highway 395 near Independence, California

A nice spot next to the stream to spend the night.

But what was that sound?

  

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Watching Lizards in Southern California

Two species of lizards inhabit our yard. Take a minute to watch them reveal how different they are from each other.


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The western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) are diurnal (active during the day), numerous, and prey on a variety of small insects–including flies and ants. They are highly visual–sitting in prominent locations watching for food or competition and creating visual displays in response to territorial challenges and mate attraction. Males do push-ups to show-off blue-colored chests and extend a flap of skin under the throat called a dewlap. (Watch the subordinate male in the video.) We typically have several batches of youngsters each year.

The southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) is more secretive, solitary, and predatory. Notice its short legs, elongated body and long tail. It travels through foliage using a serpentine movement. This lizard will prey on the juvenile fence lizards, as well as snails, slugs, and larger insects. The alligator lizard locates prey and mates using its slightly forked tongue and following scent and pheromone trails. On warm summer nights, they are still out hunting the sleeping juvenile fence lizards.

Take a minute to watch for the wildlife in your backyard and you might discover it's a world of predator and prey.

Visit each week to see a new The Earth Minute.
See a lace monitor in the wild.
Other wildlife Earth Minutes