UCSC Arboretum

The Budding Naturalist As Guide

Kelly McCandless, 15, signs copies of her field guide to the Arboretum on Sunday, May 17.

First-time author Kelly McCandless isn't like most 15-year-olds.

Putting the Fun in Phenology

This darling child only looks like a forest sprite. In fact she's a climate scientist making important discoveries. Public domain photo.

The much-loved tradition of watching the seasons change has become critical for documenting how plants and animals respond to climate change. Do it with new friends at the Arboretum and possibly contribute to great discoveries!

Peter Raven on Plants and the Planet

Dr. Peter Raven can make the frighteningly huge task of planetary survival sound doable. Photo by Sage Ross.

by L. Clark Tate

Listening to Dr. Peter Raven, the plant biologist, environmentalist and author whom Time magazine named a “Hero of the Planet,” I found myself laughing in the face of calamity.