Fire has consistently shaped and driven ecological processes for millions of years. We observe this first in charcoalified plants in the late Silurian, about 425 million years ago, which record some of the first forest fires on the planet. Fast forward to the early Cretaceous, 145 million years ago, continuous fire aided in the diversification of early angiosperms, which quickly adapted. More recently in the late Pliocene, around 3 million years ago, uplift in California established a mediterranean climate, with wet winters and dry summers. Oak woodlands and associated sclerophyllous vegetation began to dominate Southern California, including the establishment of chaparral and coastal sage scrub ecosystems following the last glacial maximum, 20,000 years ago. 

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.