Stories
Welcome to Stories, a place to explore—and be inspired by—the wonder of our natural and cultural worlds.
California Holly: How Hollywood Didn't Get its Name
In Nancy Dale’s 1986 epic tome of Southern California native plants, Flowering Plants, she has this to say about Toyon — aka California Holly, Christmas Berry, or, if you’re a botanist, Heteromeles arbutifolia:
Niña de la Tierra: Children of the Earth
No it's not the title of a horror film, Children of the Earth bug is actually one of the many common names for Stenopelmatus fuscus.
A Microscopic Look at Snail Jaws
Have you ever wondered what the inside of a snail's mouth looks like?
'Tis the Season for Baby Lizards
Over the past few weeks, baby lizards have been hatching out of their eggs throughout Southern California.
Misplaced Fears: Rattlesnakes Are Not as Dangerous as Ladders, Trees, Dogs, or Large TVs
In Southern California, rattlesnakes can be seen year round, but Spring and Summer have the most rattlesnake activity.
Q: What are Those Miniature Spiky Puffballs? A: Brown Widow Egg Sacs
Earlier this week, staff found some small circular egg cases on a gate in the North Campus. Upon closer inspection we realized they were brown widow, Latrodectus geometricus, egg sacs.
When Fig Beetles Attack!
It’s a beautiful summer day in L.A. and I am strolling across a wide open lawn. The sky is bright blue and decorated with scattered clouds.
Voices of L.A. Nature: An Interview with Iris Hill
Welcome to our new series, Voices of L.A. Nature, where we'll hear stories from a diverse range of Angelenos about their relationships with nature in L.A.
Voices of L.A. Nature: An Interview with Lynell George
Welcome to our new series, Voices of L.A. Nature, where we'll hear stories from a diverse range of Angelenos about their relationships with nature in L.A.