Nature Walks with Paul

Select Saturdays in 2025
from 10AM to 12PM

Explore the Gardens' natural history and learn to think like a naturalist! Join MCBG Horticulturist Paul Ruiz-Lopez on a nature walk through the horticultural and natural areas of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. The main focus of each walk will vary based on the season (see schedule below). Plants will be the main subject of observance and discussion, but we will also keep an eye out for animals such as birds, marine mammals, insects, amphibians, and more. The idea is to highlight the prominent “phenomenon” that is occurring in our garden and natural areas.

Conifers of MCBG  – February 15 or 22

Activity: Introduction to the diversity of native and non-native conifers on the property.
Terrain: Paved trails with the option for some meandering off-trail if desired
What to bring: Hand lens, journal, and pencil

Spring Coastal Wildflowers – April 12 or 26

Activity: Introduction to common annual and perennial wildflowers of the coastal bluffs/prairie
Terrain: Paved trails with some off-trail walking in the grass prairies
What to bring: Journal and pencil, hand lens (jewelers lens), field guides, and your smartphone with iNaturalist app

North Coast Seabirds – May 10 or 24

Activity: Observance and discussion of resident and local seabirds of MCBG and greater North Coast area
Terrain: Paved trails with some off-trail rocky/sandy scrambling at the bluffs
What to bring: Binoculars, windbreaker, journal and pencil

Local Bees – July 5 or 19

Activity: Observance, catch and release, and discussion of local bees (native and non-native) and their biology
Terrain: Paved trails with some off-trail walking in the grass prairies and garden beds
What to bring: Hand lens, journal, pencil, an insect net if available, and your smartphone with iNaturalist app

THE DETAILS

• Be prepared for the weather with appropriate layers and wear good walking shoes.
• We recommend bringing along a refillable water bottle, a notebook, a pen, and a camera if desired.
• If you are sick, please stay home. 

REGISTRATION

Class size is limited! Registration for this walk can be made in advance online or at the Gardens' gift shop. Please note, all registration fees are non-refundable unless the walk has been canceled or rescheduled by the Gardens.

Register Now

Walk Registration .......................... $25 per participant and includes Gardens admission for the day

Member Walk Registration ............ $15 per current MCBG Member
*Click Members Sign In Here to receive your discount

TRACKING YOUR OBSERVATIONS

You can contribute as a citizen scientist and keep track of all your observations made in nature using the iNaturalist app. This powerful tool allows anyone with an account to help identify and document anything you observe in nature including birds, bugs, plants, scat, marine life, and more. iNaturalist observations are also helpful to scientists because they document a species in a location and date, and the phenology (blooming, fruiting, larvae, adult, etc.).

• Download iNaturalist to your phone or mobile device and begin to build your profile and observations!
• Click here for some helpful video tutorials to get you started
• Familiarize yourself with iNaturalist and check out all of the observations that the community has made at the Gardens so far — MCBG Community Page
• Prepare your smartphone or digital camera for a day of photographing the flora and fauna of the Gardens