Adventures in Horticulture - California Carnivores - Sebastapol, CA

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If you were born or growing up in the 80's, then the words "carnivorous plant" might conjure images of this...

Photo cred: studio-be.org

Or maybe you think about some alien looking species that only exists in some deep, dark rainforest on the other side of the world like these... 

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

What most people don't realize (and I only learned very recently) is that a large number of carnivorous plants are native to the United States. Such as, the Venus flytrap Dionaea spp., found in the Carolinas and Northern Florida.

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

or the North American pitcher plant, Sarracenia spp., indigenous to the East Coast, Texas, California, and Great Lakes areas.

 ,

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

or the Cobra Lily, Darlingtonia californica, which can be found along the California-Oregon border

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

What even fewer people realize is that these are all highly threatened species which scientists still know very little about. Let me take a second to break down the physical structure and functions of carnivorous plants (the overly curious biology student in me). Carnivorous plants have evolved to obtain most of their nutrients by trapping and consuming other organisms: insects mostly and sometimes even small mammals. They have modified leaves and cells (insert lots of boring biology jargon) that have specialized to capture prey using five different mechanisms:

pitfall traps/pitchers - drown prey in a pool of digestive enzymes/bacteria

flypaper traps - have sticky mucus that traps and digests prey

snap traps - evolved leaves that quickly close when trigger hairs are contacted

bladder traps - create a vacuum which sucks prey into a bladder where it's digested

lobster-pot traps - use illusion and stiff hairs to trap prey and force it into a pool of digestive fluid

 Carnivorous plants are found in nutrient poor, wetland environments, which might be an explanation for their carnivory. This is also the biggest reason they are threatened and why some species are near extinction and only exists in cultivation. Wetlands are (and have been) exploited and over developed for commercial and residential purposes and in the process habitats of many uniquely evolved species have been destroyed, including these carnivorous plants. It is easy to surmise that many species have gone extinct before we had the chance to discover them, which is a very sad thought.

My close friend and adventure buddy, Trevor Adler, first introduced me to pitcher plants that he had been growing in his backyard in San Diego, CA. Now, I'm no horticulture amateur but carnivorous plants have never been a part of my general education and when I found out that many were native plants to the U.S. I was....offended! After weeks of learning from Trevor and seeing first hand the interesting variety and functions of these plants I had to make some moves! We had the opportunity to visit the Bay Area (I'm a native Northern Californian and I had some personal business to attend) and so we sprung on the chance to pay a visit to California Carnivores (located near Santa Rosa, CA) which is a carnivorous plant nursery which claims the largest variety of carnivorous plants in the United States.

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Before this visit, I had been....moderately curious/vaguely interested about carnivorous plants. It's easy to be excited about something when your friend is so enthusiastic about it but I've always been a very traditional green thumb and any plant that requires ridiculous maintenance (ie. distilled water or artificial lighting) is..."snooty". What I did not expect, was walking into this nursery which turned out to resemble another planet...further, I did not expect to be so entranced by it.

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

 We spent (I kid you not) 4 hours perusing the nursery (there are several rooms to explore) repeatedly visiting tables to inspect/reinspect species we had previously missed.

I was incredibly impressed with the nurseries operation. Not only do they sell rare and beautiful plants at very reasonable prices but they also promote conservation of these beautifully endangered plants through social media and by propagating (reproducing) their plants instead of collecting them from the field.

I walked into the main room and immediately said "WOW!"

There were plants everywhere! Plants growing near/around/on other plants! It was its own mini-ecosystem :) We were greeted by a friendly young man, Axel, who gave us a quick intro to the nursery and informed us what was for sale/show, encouraged us to ask questions and take pictures....and that's exactly what we did!!

Axel (right) David (left) - these two young men are going to change the world :)

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

While Trevor and Axle went through the nursery talking about particular species and plant care techniques, I explored and took pictures. It was overwhelming, to say the least, for someone with limited knowledge of these specialized plants. What first drew my attention was the beautiful juxtaposition of these deadly plants and their extremely delicate blooms!

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Then I spotted the living walls!! I'm a sucker for these!

And this is when it all clicked for me! These seemingly foreign and high maintenance plants were not that in the least! Many species such as the Sarracenia pitchers and the soft, rosette Pinguicula spp. I could easily grow in my own house and some I could even keep outdoors! They were intermixed with bromeliads, orchids and normal houseplants you can pick up at the grocery store...these arrangements were unusual in a way but they also seemed to fit seamlessly. I realized then how important these elusive carnivorous plants were to the environment on a grand scale, that they are a very special and essential piece to a much bigger puzzle. I decided then that it was important to share this idea with all of you too :)

My wandering through the nursery opened my eyes to a hidden world that has in fact been right under my nose all along.

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Photo cred: Trevor Adler

Carnivorous plants have gone unnoticed for a few reasons, one of them being that they have a stigma for being foreign, high maintenance, and maybe not as aesthetically pleasing as other plants. The fact that they are also highly endangered means that collectors and specialized nurseries like, California Carnivores, are the only resources for purchase and awareness. The good news for all of you plant lovers and blossoming scientists is that they are relatively easy to take care of, affordable, and very pretty plants! Not only that but caring for these unique plants and supporting conservation of these species is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the amazing world that is all around us.

It was such a pleasure getting to spend the day in such a beautiful nursery and get one on one time with their knowledgeable, enthusiastic and helpful staff. I'm so excited to see this niche market blossom and spread awareness of these wonderfully evolved plants and make them more accessible to the public. I highly encourage you all to check out their website or find your own way of supporting the wetland habitats that these plants need to proliferate.

More on our NorCal trip coming soon!! Stay tuned! :)

Grand Canyon Excursions - North Rim Campground & N. Kaibab Trail

"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness." - John Muir

I don't know how many of you have ever been to the Grand Canyon...I haven't been to the Grand Canyon since.... 2004 and that was a quick day trip. So when Trevor said we were going camping at the Grand Canyon I didn't have to think twice. This trip took place two weeks after I returned back to California and I was aching to get back into the wild! It's ridiculous how much I miss the forest to this day. While Arizona forests are much different than those in Virginia, I simply needed to get lost among some beautifully quiet trees. As you'll see, Trevor takes beautiful photos and so one of his goals was to do some photography while I frollicked.

The plan was to leave Friday afternoon and arrive to the North Rim Campground of the Grand Canyon around midnight. We had friends to meet up with whom had a campsite ready and waiting. We left San Bernardino area around 3pm and off we were, making a few stops for last minute supplies and snacks :) The road to the North Rim from So Cal takes I-15 through Las Vegas to St. George, UT and then south into Arizona so in a matter of hours we were in crossing quite a few state lines. As we left St. George and headed south the skies really opened up, city lights fell away and goodness the stars we saw!! Long story short...we got to camp around 1am, set up and passed out.

Saturday morning we were up with the group for breakfast and coffee and a little morning exploration. The campsite was beautiful! And the wildlife was out in full force and completely unafraid of people which made for some fun photography in the AM.

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

the fattest little chipmunk that would keep us company all weekend

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Ravens (Corvus corax) for days

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

This is Miguel and he brought a hammock that was incredibly comfortable and a hatchet that totally saved our lives! What a boss.

We set out to explore, as the campsite was right on the edge of the canyon, but unfortunately, the weather had it out for us. A thick fog rolled in and not long after so did the rain! It got heavy pretty fast and we all found places to wait it out. I hung out next to the restrooms with this really nice older man and we had some nice conversation. haha The rain was not letting up and then I spot Trevor and Miguel coming back from the general store with supplies so I went to investigate and soon enough we were constructing a lean-to from tarp! It was genius!! With some quick thinking and team work we had it rigged up and a fire started!

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

We would go on to pimp out our shelter (with pine needle floors and furniture) over the next 24 hours and it became quite cozy and most importantly....DRY! :) This was/is one of my favorite aspects of camping. Being tested by the elements and working through it to keep the experience enjoyable. Also I get to practice all the skills I pick up being a nerd and watching survival shows ;)

The rain eventually cleared and we went on our first mini hike around the canyon edge. We spent a couple hours climbing out onto ledges to look over the side and Trevor took some beautiful pictures. Check em out!

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

The clouds moving up and out of the canyon were hauntingly beautiful

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

And when they lifted we got some gorgeous cloud formations along the top of the canyon

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

They started rolling back in though and we had to get back to our shelter ASAP

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Worth it!

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

After some brief rain and a hot shower the clouds parted and the stars came out for their chance to be captured. Trevor wanted to work on some astrophotography so we hiked out to a nearby ledge for some stargazing and camera fun.

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

It was really fun watching him work. I've always had a love of astronomy and spent hours in my teenage/young adult years studying stars and looking at amazing photography and wondering how in the world they did it! So it was pretty cool that it came full circle. It's indescribable to express all the thoughts and feelings one gets laying under the open sky on the edge of a huge canyon. You feel so small and insignificant but also extremely connected to everything around you.

The last day, Sunday, we decided last minute to do a nice hike. A couple miles into the canyon...no big deal right?? So very wrong. We took the North Kaibab Trail through the Supai Tunnel and down to the Redwall Bridge. Round trip it was a little over 5 miles but just over 2300ft straight down and straight back up. We started out a little after noon with a few water bottles and some trail mix and didn't get back to camp until about 6pm! I'm in the best shape I've ever been (after my intense summer) and this was no walk in the park! Mostly due to the fact that the trail head starts at 9000ft above sea level haha I would have loved to go further down the trail but we started too late to get back out of the canyon without it becoming completely dark. Parts of the trail (above the Supai Tunnel) are used by mules as well, so it gets wet and slippery...not fun in failing light. Also recommended...food! Atleast a couple sandwiches! Either way it was a breathtaking hike and worth every grueling step :)

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Coconino Overlook

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Supai Tunnel

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Redwall

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

We met Miguel as he was heading back up and we were heading down

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Parts of the trail erode from water runoff and this trail gets closed past the tunnel quite often

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Almost to the bridge!

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Took a short break at the bridge before the climb up and had a little photo sesh with this beautiful Stellar's Jay. He loooved our trail mix =/

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Next time I camp the Grand Canyon I am most definitely taking the trail all the way to the bottom of the canyon to Phantom Ranch which lies right on the Colorado River. It's a 12 mile hike to the bottom but if 2 miles was this amazing, I could only imagine what the rest is like :)

The rest of the trip we goofed around and grilled and told stories and enjoyed each other's company.

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

Photo Cred: Trevor Adler

I was kind of sad to leave, it felt like it went by too quickly and now I want to camp all the time! This is a must-do for all you avid outdoorsmen/women and anyone looking for a little adventure. The campgrounds were very nice with decent bathrooms, showers close by and a general store with WiFi and anything you might need. There were even campfire shows and activities set up for the kids so this is a very family-oriented activity to incorporate into summer break perhaps ;)

Sitting here writing about the whole experience kind of makes me wonder "What am I doing here?! I need to get back out there!!" haha One more for the road...

"Keep close to Nature's heart...and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." - John Muir

Happy Weekend all :)



Post Adventure Adventures - Kayaking La Jolla, CA

Sorry folks, it's been awhile since I last posted but life has been.....life :)

Here I was all amped up to get home and return to "normalcy" and what do ya know...normal is not what I remember....or getting back to normal was much harder than I thought it would be. The climate is very dry and the roads are busy and loud. The wildlife is tucked away in the hills and mountains and the smog....ohhh the smog. Then my every day activities are much different than how I spent my summer; I'm restricted to rigid schedules and deadlines and there are many late nights and too much time spent indoors and away from the open skies. It's kind of funny because this was normal life just 3 months ago and after only 8 weeks living in the forest it now feels slightly foreign and uncomfortable...a month of being home has lessened this feeling but not significantly.

 Something that I came away with from my experience in Virginia was that it really matters who I choose to spend my free time with. It's important to my goals and happiness to be with people who embrace the same passions and lifestyle I have chosen. Those who would fuel my unexplainable love for wildlife and devotion to conservation.

Fortunately, I have made and kept quite a few friends who fit this need in my life. The same weekend I returned to California I drove to San Diego, CA to see a good friend of mine, Trevor, and we did some kayaking and snorkeling in La Jolla. La Jolla Cove is a gorgeous beach with so many available activities and a cute little town to shop and dine around. The area is an ecological reserve meaning it is protected and fishing/scavenging marine life is prohibited. This also makes it a valuable research resource for Scripps' Institution of Oceanography, which owns its own pier north of the cove.

Scripps' Institution of Oceanography - Dec 2012

Scripps' Institution of Oceanography - Dec 2012

Within the protected swim area there are numerous activities that the general public can enjoy including, kayaking, snorkeling and diving. This is such a wonderful (and inexpensive) way to enjoy such a wide variety of local marine wildlife. I hadn't been kayaking or snorkeling in quite a long time so this was a pretty exciting experience to, quite literally, jump into.

Paddling out to the cliff/cave area of the cove was tough work and took some team work (aka me just sitting there enjoying the ride while he did all the work haha)

Once we got to the cliffs, it was all about fun in the sun and exploration! The sea lions were putting on quite the show and I had been aching for some major Vitamin D absorption ;) The cliffs themselves were breathtaking and covered in Cormorants!! Sea Lions were swimming leisurely between the numerous kayaks and divers and the water was clear enough to see some of the brightly colored and highly protected state marine fish, the Garibaldi.

Photo Credit: Trevor Adler

The water was pretty chilly but not uncomfortable, either way I chose to snorkel right at the surface...not trying to freeze if I don't have to. Trevor, on the other hand, transformed into a fish, diving down and pointing out schools of fish and such.

Photo Credit: Trevor Adler

It's indescribable how the world simply slips away once you immerse yourself in the ocean. It might as well be another planet. I floated near the surface enjoying the muffled noises from above and getting lost in the rhythm of the endless amount of life directly below me. We swam to a nearby rock and enjoyed the sun for a little then hopped back on the kayak to continue our exploration of the cove. We rounded a bend and headed out to more open waters where we saw kayakers and swimmers getting pretty close to some basking sea lions!! I wanted in!!!

After working with bears all summer I guess I was a little overly enthusiastic about getting closer to the sea lions. haha They were so relaxed and faintly curious about our presence so I kept telling Trevor "Get closer!!! Cmon!!!" hahaha He was not as enthused... ;) And rightly so ...maybe. California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) give birth in early summer and care for their pups for atleast five to six months so if any of these sea lions were younger offspring of a female in the "raft" and she chose to get a little protective, well we could have been in for a surprise! haha We (meaning just Trevor) were concerned for the phones we had with us so we didn't get as close as I wanted. But I was confident that we had nothing they would want (specifically fish) and simply craved interaction with some animals!! Nevertheless, I've never been able to enjoy watching sea lions so closely and it was an experience I will not soon forget.

Photo Credit: Trevor Adler

We spent about three hours paddling around the cove and enjoying the abdundance and close proximities of the native wildlife. The cliff face that surrounds the cove is peppered with cave openings and they are supposedly, really fun to snorkel through. While we didn't snorkel into these caves, we did kayak into one of them. Interestingly enough, if you get caught by the lifeguards while kayaking into any of the caves, there is a fine that's about $300....so ofcourse Trevor took us in there.

 I take zero responsibility for this!! When we entered the cave we were able to get pretty close to good sized rookery (group of sea lions). On the other side of the cave there was a small beach which would be cool to snorkel/swim to next time :) Heading back to shore we even caught sight of numerous leopard sharks which was especially exciting!

My very capable and quite good-looking kayak operator, Trevor :)

All in all, it was an amazing day out on the ocean. One I desperately needed. I was taken aback by the wealth of wildlife and adventure so easily accessible to not only those who live here in So Cal but anywhere near the California Coast. It became apparent to me how privileged we are to live right next to such vast biodiversity, ready and waiting for us to learn and explore.

 Another observation I made (as a growing scientist I observe everything) was that all of the kayak tour guides and operators were college kids, close to in age to myself, and I thought..."what an amazing summer job this would be!!" I'm pretty sure Trevor even pointed out a tour guide and said something to the effect of... "that could be you" And it is true, not only is an ecological reserve, such as La Jolla Cove, a wonderful resource for diversion and education...it's helping to create jobs for college kids like myself and contribute to the community in the form of revenue as well as environmental awareness and appreciation. What a wonderful opportunity it would be to educate the general public about local wildlife while enjoying the day out on the water! 

That day opened a whole other avenue of possible study while I pursue my education in biology. Hopefully, I am able to get back onto the water and further explore this burgeoning curiosity into marine creatures and the vast world they live in.

More to come people! Stay tuned! In the meantime, perhaps take a day on your weekend to explore your nearby ecological reserve and learn a little bit about the exquisite world that exists in your own backyard :)