Ceanothus, aka California lilac, dapples our mountains and hills with a multitude of diversity. On the cusp of spring, the flowers burst with color and scream of place and existence—hearkening to the clicks and ticks of winter’s cues. Its tall stature billows over trails like an elven tunnel in chaparral landscapes and speckles the coastal sage scrub. I point to the periwinkle-colored flowers puffing out, and declare it an angel, a cloud, a vector of light. This illusion must be the long-flowered panicles that filter the light in a mesmerizing spring glow. 

Often shadowed by the eminence of steelhead trout, clinging to cobbles in channels throughout the watershed, lies another anadromous fish. As a California State Species of Special Concern, the pacific lamprey is threatened by diminished habitat conditions throughout Southern California watersheds. They are ranked S1 by NatureServe, signifying their population in our watershed is critically imperiled. 

Ojai Meadows Preserve is a living example of what sustained community commitment and thoughtful stewardship can accomplish. Since the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy acquired the property in 2000—thanks to the vision and hard work of dedicated local residents—thousands of volunteer hours have gone into restoring this landscape into a thriving ecosystem that supports a rich diversity of native plants, wildlife, and pollinators. But restoration doesn’t end when the planting is done or when grant funding runs out. True ecological recovery takes time, persistence, and ongoing care. That’s where our Stewardship team and dedicated volunteers step in.