UCSB Trees
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Field trip with Larry Ballard
UCSB campus
Due to popular demand, we are once again offering a walking tour with Larry Ballard to visit a varied selection of trees on the campus of UCSB. With more than 250 species from six continents, UCSB is among the best locations in California to see both common and unusual trees in an urban landscape. The campus grounds also contain several rare or unusual trees
Rincon Creek to the Ventura River: Slip sliding away!Saturday, November 1, 2025
Field trip with Larry Ballard and Sabina Thomas
The Santa Ynez Mountains are the western-most range within the Transverse Ranges, and they dominate the skyline for the 60 miles of coast between Point Conception and Rincon Creek. At Rincon, however, there is an abrupt change in the topography which extends 12 miles down the coast. It is this section that will be the focus of our nontechnical field trip to examine a unique landscape, ranging from Rincon Creek to the Ventura River and back.
Return Visit to the Magnificent Trees of UCSB
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Field trip with Larry Ballard
The UCSB campus boasts more than 250 tree species from six continents, including several rare or unusual trees not found elsewhere in the Santa Barbara area. Due to popular demand, we are again offering a walking tour to introduce the magnificent trees at UCSB with Larry Ballard. He will be sharing some species not seen on previous trips, and we’ll also revisit some favorite specimen
Saturday, June 1 Pop-up: Exploring Gregersen Ranch: Its Plant Life and History
Pop-up Field trip with Larry Ballard
Join naturalist Larry Ballard for a botany-focused field trip amid the rolling terrain of the historic Gregersen Ranch on Saturday, June 1, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. He’ll take us on a leisurely hike of 2 to 3 miles, with modest elevation gain and loss. Although relatively close to Solvang, this Ballard Canyon ranch feels like a world apart. The property is sometimes referred to by its former name of
Sunday, December 17: The Magnificent Trees of UCSB
The UCSB campus boasts more than 250 tree species from six continents, including several rare or unusual trees not found elsewhere in the Santa Barbara area. In this walking tour with Larry Ballard, we will take a look at the architecture of trees, discuss identification tips, and introduce participants to many of our local urban trees.
Sunday, June 11: Trees of Alameda Park
Field trip with Larry Ballard Sunday, March 12, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Alameda Park in Santa Barbara Participation is limited to 20 $10 members, $25 nonmembers NEED CHILDREN Advance registration is required for this field trip and will open at 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 12 for members and on Feb. 26 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. Directions […]
Saturday March 23: Birds and Ecology of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve
Field Trip with Larry Ballard, Joan Lentz, and Guy Tingos Saturday March 23, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Advance registration begins February 23 at synature@west.net or 805/ 693-5683 Members $10. / Non-members $25. / Children $5. Featured photo of Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve. Photo by John Callender, Wikimedia Commons Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve is the only […]
Saturday, December 29: Trees of UCSB Series: A Walking Tour of Six Continents
Free Field Trip with Larry Ballard Saturday, December 29, 9:00 am to noon Participation is limited to 25 Advance registration begins November 29 at synature@west.net or 805/ 693-5683 This field trip is free. Featured photo of African tulip tree by Matt Ritter UCSB has more than 250 tree species from six continents growing on campus. […]