Free Nature Walks of Elings Park return for the third year with a slate of new topics about the 230-acre park’s biodiversity. Once again led by Santa Barbara Botanic Garden experts, the guided walks begin on Saturday, March 8 with “Botanical Shapes: Drawing in the Field” and continue monthly through December 2025.
The walks are part of an on-going collaboration between the Garden and Elings Park, and each walk includes a visit to their one-acre California-native plant restoration project in South Park.
Nature Walks are held on the second Saturday of the month, start at 9 a.m., and meet at the Elings Park Softball Fields parking lot. They are free and no reservations are needed. For more information, visit https://sbbotanicgarden.org/classes-events/nature-walks-at-elings-park.
“These walks are the perfect introduction to the park’s natural side,” said Elings Park Executive Director Dean Noble. “Though we host softball, BMX, concerts, and more, much of the park is undeveloped. Here’s a chance to learn about the plants, birds, and bugs that live here, and see how we can work together to make it even more conducive for wildlife and for humans.”
New topics include three walks with Garden bug specialists, such as July’s “Flower Visitors and Other Insect Residents,” August’s “Fantastic Flies and Other Bugs You Didn’t Know You Love,” and October’s “Spiders and Other Weird Critters.”
“History and Restoration at Elings Park” in June is an overview of the park’s past and current restoration efforts. Two walks focus on iNaturalist, an online social network for sharing nature observations: April is “Exploring Plants and Bugs using iNaturalist,” and May is “Introduction to the iNaturalist Plants” for those interested in the Garden’s pollinators project.
Hands-on experiences include March’s “Botanical Shapes” and the “Inside Scoop on Preparing Press Planted Museum Specimens” in November. Bird walks in September and December take advantage of the Western fall migration along the Pacific Flyway.
“We’re not just building habitat and conducting research at Elings Park and elsewhere, we’re building a community of people who want to help nature,” says Denise Knapp, Ph.D., director of conservation and research at the Garden. “When we walk the Park together, we explore interconnections of the natural world, from the tiniest insects to bees, birds, and other wildlife. If we can inspire someone during a morning walk in a place they already love, they can carry that experience into their own backyards and landscapes across Santa Barbara – and beyond.”
Volunteers are needed for ongoing garden maintenance and research. Please visit https://sbbotanicgarden.org/conservation/our-impact/restoring-habitats/elings-park-transformation.
2025 Schedule of Nature Walks
March 8 – “Botanical Shapes: Drawing in the Field” led by the Garden’s Herbarium Collections Manager Annie Ayers and Rare Plant Technician Selena Vengco
April 12 – “Exploring the Plants and Bugs of Elings Park Using iNaturalist” led by the Garden’s Invertebrate Biodiversity Technician José Flores and Tucker Plant Systematist and Curator of the Clifton Smith Herbarium Matt Guilliams, Ph.D.
May 10 – “Introduction to the iNaturalist Plants, for Pollinators Project” led by the Garden’s Director of Conservation and Research Denise Knapp, Ph.D. and Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist Sarah Cusser, Ph.D.
June 14 – “History and Restoration of Elings Park” led by Elings Park Executive Director Dean Noble and the Garden’s Director of Conservation and Research Denise Knapp, Ph.D.
July 12 – “Flower Visitors and Other Insect Residents” led by the Garden’s Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist Zach Phillips, Ph.D. and Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist Sarah Cusser, Ph.D.
August 9 – “Fantastic Flies and Other Bugs You Didn’t Know You Love” led by the Garden’s Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist Zach Phillips, Ph.D., and Director of Conservation and Research Denise Knapp, Ph.D.
September 13 – “Birds!” led by the Garden’s Director of Education and Engagement Scot Pipkin and Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist Zach Phillips, Ph.D.
October 11 – “Spiders and Other Weird Critters” led by the Garden’s Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist Zach Phillips, Ph.D., and Invertebrate Biodiversity Technician José Flores
November 8 – “Inside Scoop on Preparing Pressed Plant Museum Specimens – A Show-and-Tell Experience” led by the Garden’s Herbarium Collections Manager Annie Ayers and Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist Sarah Cusser, Ph.D.
December 13 – “Birds!” led by the Garden’s Director of Education and Engagement Scot Pipkin & Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist Zach Phillips, Ph.D.
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