Dedicated to the study, exploration, and appreciation of natural history in the Santa Ynez Valley region.

Saturday, February 27: Why Are There So Many Manzanitas? An Ecology and Evolution Journey

Free Lecture and Book-Signing with Tom Parker. Co-sponsored by Solvang Library. Saturday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Grange #644. 2374 Alamo Pintado Ave. Los Olivos, CA. The California Floristic Province (CFP) is the center of diversity for manzanitas (Arctostaphylos species, Ericaceae). The CFP contains 104 of 105 species known worldwide.  Manzanitas are the […]

Saturday, April 23: Poetry in Celebration of Earth Day with Paul Willis

Free evening event. Saturday, April 23, 7:00 p.m. Tipton Meeting House. UC Sedgwick Reserve. 3566 Brinkerhoff Avenue, Santa Ynez. The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society and UC Sedgwick Reserve are pleased to host a poetry reading in honor of Earth Day with former Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara Paul Willis. The human relationship to […]

Thursday, October 29: Hydrology of the Santa Ynez River: Past, Present and Future

Free lecture with Tim Robinson. Thursday, October 29, 7:00 p.m. Legion Wing, Veterans Memorial Hall. 1745 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463. A Mediterranean climate is characterized as having an extended dry season and a short wet season, a combination that is often is associated with a boom-bust river runoff regime. Santa Barbara County, specifically the […]

Saturday, March 21: Butterflies of the Valley and How to Bring Them Into Your Garden

Swallowtail butterfly nectaring on a native ceanothus in flower. Photo credit: Mary Jane West-Delgado

Free Lecture with Mary Jane West-Delgado & Michael Delgado (suggested for ages 10 and up) Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m. to noon Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive Join Mary Jane West-Delgado for a high-definition presentation of short videos and photos about the incredible butterflies that are found in the Santa Ynez Valley. She will also describe […]

Thursday, December 4: Santa Ynez River Steelhead: Past, Present, and Future

Free lecture with Mark Capelli Santa Ynez River Steelhead: Past, Present and Future Thursday, December 4, 7:00 p.m. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive Will we ever witness the return of a steelhead fishery on the Santa Ynez River? Historian and biologist Mark Capelli will explore that question in this illustrated talk about the natural history […]