estuary.us – Page 2 – Articles and poetry about plants and animals native to the California coastal sage scrub and chapparal biome. Topics of interest include the interface and disconnects between open (wild) and developed (human) space, evolution and adaptation, climate change.

White-lined Sphinx caterpillar Looking for its next meal or a good place to become a moth

On a recent hike with a friend, Silvia, we came across a late instar of a White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata) […]

White-lined Sphinx Moth

Photo of a Painted Lady whose wings are showing signs of wear

In Thousand Oaks we are fortunate to live near relatively wild land with more than 150 miles of trails. I […]

Conejo Open Space: Autumn Ridge and Sunrise Trails

A photo of Peucetia viridans in her prime

A welcome surpise in the garden this summer was the appearance of a female Green Lynx spider on a Wild […]

Green Lynx, Peucetia viridans

Photo of a cluster of Big Pod flowers

Video: Big Pod Ceanothus on the Sunset Hills Trail