Ventura Hillsides Conservancy : 2004 Wild Flower Walkabout Event

Wildflower Walkabout
Sunday, April 18th, 2-4 PM
Arroyo Verde Park, Ventura

Ventura Hillsides Music Festival.
Photo: Amanda Peacock

This was the most successful educational outreach event to date and it celebrated the arrival of Spring and the hillside's wildflowers. The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy partnered with the California Native Plant Society-Channel Islands Chapter to feature special activities and guided hikes lead by botanists for kids and for adults. The 150 participants learned about local flora and sketched wildflowers along the trails. A group mural was created by participants and live music was provided by Ventura singer-songwriter J. Peter Bowles who performed his blend of folk, country, and bluegrass. The mural was later displayed at the City's Spring ArtWalk a week later.

Our beautiful poster was designed by local artist Alicia Carman. See to the right >

All photos taken at the Wildflower Walkabout below were taken by Debra Myrent.

Click to see a larger
image of the poster.
(277K PDF file)

Click on a photo below to see a larger view.


Biologist Chris Bysshe (Ventura Hillsides Conservancy volunteer and California Native Plant Society member) explains the unique plant community known as Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub to eager Wildflower Walkers.	Cher Batchelor of the CNPS points out the unique features of Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) to a curious crew – while Dr. Ken Niessen looks on.	Wildflower lovers amble past a beautiful stand of California Sunflower (Encelia californica) in the hills above Ventura.


Young artists learned while doing and were provided tools to sketch their botanical findings.	Chris and Cher explain the fundamentals prior to the Walkabout.	Ventura singer J. Peter Bowles s serenades the Conservancy's mascot Two Trees.


J. Peter Bowles sings the flower song.	The subtle blue of California lilac (Ceanothus sp.) contrasts nicely with its deep green leaves.	The end of a brief but information-filled journey. Non-native black mustard (Brassica nigra) hugs the trail.