Field Trip with Larry Ballard

Sunday, November 7, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Participation is limited to 15. Advance registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on October 7 for Members and on October 28 for Nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. Members $10 / Nonmembers $25 / Children $5 Masks are optional for those who have been vaccinated.  

Valley oak near the intersection of First and Oak streets in Solvang. Photo by John Evarts.

  Solvang is home to a diversity of native and imported trees that are found in both residential and commercial neighborhoods. We’ll explore this urban forest on a casual two-mile city walk that will allow us to visit a variety of arboreal species originating from California to around the globe. We’ll see some outstanding specimens of trees that are native to the Santa Ynez Valley, such as sycamore and valley oak and also view other California natives, such as Torrey pine, an extremely rare conifer. The trip will also include an introduction to a selection of Solvang’s exotic trees, such as Ginkgos —  one of Earth’s oldest tree species and a survivor from the time of the dinosaurs. With any luck, some of Solvang’s deciduous trees will be displaying their fall color. Dress in layers and wear sturdy but comfortable shoes for urban walking. Recommended reading to prepare for the trip is, A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us by Matt Ritter, who has lectured for the Society in past years. Your trip leader is Larry Ballard, who has offered past tours of the famous collection of trees on the campus of UCSB, as well as educational walks to introduce the trees of valley communities, including Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang. Larry is a naturalist with a focus on botany and has been a popular field trip leader for the Natural History Society and other organizations for more than 20 years.