Thanks to a mix of showers, sunshine, and perseverance, spring is here and our two wonderful interns, Celeste and Lilac, are blooming right alongside the wildflowers! Just like the pollinators drawn to the sweetness of a hard-earned reward, they’ve been transforming the nursery into a season of growth, organization, and emerging leadership. 

Last creature feature, we were acquainted with our native ‘blue jay,’ the California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica). This time, we’re trading feathers for scales. Known to many as ‘blue-bellies,’ the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a critter most of us are likely familiar with from time spent at any of our preserves—or really, anywhere in California and our neighboring states. They’re a jack-of-all-trades, found from sea level to dizzying heights above 10,000 feet! Western fence lizards inhabit a variety of habitats, from woodlands, forests, and grasslands to suburban gardens and farmlands. In these varied settings, they play an important role in nutrient cycling, pest management, and disease control.

OVLC and Ojai’s Agora Foundation marked the 75th anniversary of Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac with a joint event on February 1. It is clear that the Ojai Valley is entering a time of profound intersection of legacy and responsibility. Leopold’s vision, a call for a “land ethic” that regards soil, water, plants and animals as a community, remains as relevant as ever. Our two organizations came together to promote the understanding of Leopold’s land ethic in this time when individual and collective responsibility can advance profound benefits.