When warmer weather arrives, many of us dare to leave our beloved Santa Clarita Valley and take trips outside its boundaries. In my case, I just returned from a trip to France to visit many members of my family. My sister, husband and I managed to carve out a short week of real vacation and free time...

Sometimes when you observe nature in action, you are not sure what is going on. That happened to me a few weeks ago, and as Hercule Poirot would say, “You have to put those little grey cells to work.” I was climbing the garden steps when I saw two alligator lizards right in front of me. The steps...

I enjoy writing about the animals you see in your backyard every day, and trying to find little details that make them more quirky and interesting. My devious plan is to tempt you outside so you can check those facts for yourself. What could be more common than house finches? Surely you see them at your...

In the complex world of wildflower identification, the sticky monkey flower is a life saver. How could you forget such an easy name? The blooming season at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center is rather long, so you will have a pretty good chance of seeing their happy little faces on many trails all the...

Do you want to add excitement to your life, open a nature observation station and do wildlife comparison on a daily basis? You do not need to move and become a ranger. You can accomplish this easily in your own backyard by installing a bird feeder and bird bath close to a window where you can observe...

I typically write about local fauna and flora, but sometimes something really incredible happens not too far away, and I just want you to be aware of it. Valentine’s Day is not only a time for chocolate and flowers; it is also mating and baby time for elephant seals. It’s one the most amazing sights...

The last Christmas tree needles have been vacuumed from the carpet, but in the back of your mind, you know you’ll still find some in August. The ladder is up to remove the last string of lights around the house, and you are deep in thought, enjoying the cool, crisp outside air. The New Year is stretching...

As soon as you’ve eaten the last of the Halloween candy – remember the ones you told yourself you’d never eat? – you start paying attention to all of those Thanksgiving recipes in magazines. Maybe you think about another way to decorate your table for the big day, or you try desperately...

My last two articles were about unusual insects ; the walking stick and the assassin bug, one with a surprising look but totally harmless, the other one small but not so welcome, and could present a real threat, especially if found in your bed. However, I met some friends last week who reminded me that...

A few weeks ago, Leon Worden posted a photo of a bug killing a bee in his backyard and called it an assassin bug. The only problem was that he posted it on the Placerita Canyon Nature Center Facebook page. Social media can turn on you, with experts watching your every step. There were a few friendly...