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 […]
Thursday, November 12: Surf, Sand, and Stone: How Waves, Earthquakes, and Other Forces Shape the Southern California Coast

Free lecture with Keith Heyer Meldahl. Thursday, November 12, 7:00 p.m. Legion Wing, Veterans Memorial Hall. 1745 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463. Join us for a free evening lecture and book signing with Keith Heyer Meldahl, author of Surf, Sand, and Stone, and the 2011 Rough-Hewn Land: A Geologic Journey from California to the Rocky […]
Saturday, March 21: Butterflies of the Valley and How to Bring Them Into Your Garden

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 […]
Saturday, May 2: Camera Trapping California: Wildlife Study Stories from across the Golden State

Free Lecture with Ken Hickman Saturday, May 2, 7:00 p.m. UC Sedgwick Reserve, Tipton House Gates open at 5:30 for those who wish to picnic outdoors before the lecture. Seating is limited to 90; bring a flashlight for returning to the parking area in the dark. In this photo-rich evening talk, Ken Hickman will introduce […]
Saturday, May 30: Spiders of the Pacific Coast: Diversity, Ecology, and Myths Dispelled

Free lecture and book signing with R.J. Adams Saturday, May 30, 7:00 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado, Los Olivos We are pleased to host a lecture by R.J. Adams, author of the new book, “Field Guide to the Spiders of California and the Pacific Coast States” (UC Press). Over half of […]
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 […]