Greg Mull is the kind of person who shows up—rain or shine, joke at the ready, and always willing to get his hands dirty. Since 2017, he’s been a dedicated OVLC volunteer, lending his problem-solving skills and sharp humor to every project. Whether it’s restoring trails, hauling materials, or simply enjoying the camaraderie of the crew, Greg embodies what it means to give back. A landscaper by trade and a lifelong lover of music and nature, he brings passion to everything he does. OVLC Preserve Manager, Linda Wilkin, recently caught up with him to talk about his journey, his love for the outdoors, and why volunteering means so much to him.

This season has been a time of growth—both for our plants and our incredible Nursery Internship Program. As autumn arrived, we welcomed Nordhoff High School junior Lilac Feliciano to the team. Since her first day on October 16, Lilac jumped right into learning the ins and outs of nursery operations under the guidance of Celeste Ayala, our lead intern. From cleaning pots and tools to mastering propagation techniques, she’s already making her mark.

Not to be mistaken for the showy blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) of eastern North America, the California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica) is a nonmigratory species that occupies a swath of the West Coast. Taxonomically, the California form was recently split from the Inter-Mountain west and mainland Mexico form that is now known as Woodhouse’s scrub jay. Ranging from Washington to Baja California, California scrub jays inhabit a variety of habitat types, including mixed evergreen forests, riparian and oak woodlands, chaparral, sage scrub, and suburban gardens.