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by Janice Hoiberg
Dr. Matt Ritter, author, botanist, and professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Dr. Matt Ritter, professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, presented a lecture, guided walk and book signing on Sunday, June 30, 2019, at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
“California Plants, A Guide to our Iconic Flora” is Matt’s latest book, a richly illustrated field guide to our State’s spectacular native plants. There are more than 5,000 native species in California—one in five of which are now rare or endangered. Illustrated with Matt’s beautiful photos, the book draws on his insights into California’s native flora, underscored with his unique humor, .
In his forward to the book Governor Jerry Brown writes:
Matt Ritter teaches us to better understand how our future is linked to that of all other living things: our soil, our microbiota, and our wonderful and indomitable native plants.
For anyone interested in California’s flora, Matt’s book is an informative reference and a joy to browse through.
“California Plants,” by Dr. Matt Ritter, book cover.
“California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora” is available in paperback from Amazon.com. Support BAGSC when shopping on Amazon by first clicking on the AmazonSmile button at the bottom of BAGSC’s home page or on the BAGSC Resources page and follow the instructions.
“California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora” also can be ordered through Pacific Street Publishing, with free shipping on orders of two or more books. A portion of the proceeds from each book supports the California Native Plant Society and The Wildlands Conservancy, to protect and preserve our natural lands and open spaces.
by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
Artwork hanging above the card catalog in the Arboretum Library. Artists are: (L to R) Diane Nelson Daly, Deborah Shaw, and Estelle DeRidder. Photo by Janice Sharp, © 2017.
Illustrating the Urban Forest: 20 Years of Botanical Art, is now open at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. The exhibition, featuring Southern Californian urban trees, is now hanging in the Arboretum’s library and includes 29 artworks by 17 BAGSC artists. The exhibition is being held in conjunction with BAGSC’s 20th anniversary celebration.
Photo by Janice Sharp, © 2017.
BAGSC artists in the exhibition include: Diane Nelson Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Cynthia Jackson, Susan Jackson, Clara Josephs, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Patricia A. Mark, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Terri Munroe, Marilyn Anne Parino, Veronica Raymond, Olga Ryabtsova, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, and Jude Wiesenfeld.
Illustrating the Urban Forest: 20 Years of Botanical Art will run from July 6, 2017 to September 28, 2017.
A collage of artwork in the exhibition in The Arboretum Library. Photo collage by Janice Sharp, © 2017.
Join BAGSC members for our 20th Anniversary Celebration at The Arboretum
On Saturday, August 26, BAGSC will celebrate their 20th Anniversary. The program for the celebration will be:
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.
“Illustrating the Urban Forest: 20 Years of Botanical Art” Exhibition by BAGSC Members • Tour of the exhibition includes light refreshments and comments by the artists and Matt Ritter, our guest speaker.
5:00 – 5:45 p.m.
Presentation by Matt Ritter, botanist and author of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Buffet Dinner • Highlights of BAGSC’s 20-year history
BAGSC members and their guests are invited to the programs and the dinner for $60 per person. Admission to The Arboretum is free; please see the Visitor’s Center attendant for free admission to the Arboretum Gardens for BAGSC guests.
Please email Gilly Shaeffer to RSVP with your name, phone number and the number in your party. Gilly will send an email reply to let you know where to send your check, payable to BAGSC, by August 15.
Los Angeles County Arboretum members and others who would like to attend only the exhibition tour and Matt Ritter presentation (but not the dinner) are welcome to join us for that part of the program. Arboretum members are $10; non-members are $15, payable at the door. There is no additional charge for Arboretum admission.
The 2017 Summer/Fall issue of The Arboretum’s magazine has a page featuring the upcoming exhibitions in The Arboretum’s library.
The Urban Forest exhibition can be seen with admission to The Arboretum during regular business hours in The Arboretum’s Library. There are no additional charges. The Arboretum is located at: 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia CA 91007-2697.
posted by Deb Shaw
The Los Angeles Times has an article on this Father’s Day by Matt Ritter in the California Journal section, entitled The case of the leaning pine tree: A natural history mystery unfolds on the Central Coast. The story highlights Matt’s research about Cook pine trees, which he discovered all lean towards the equator, no matter where in the world they grow.
Matt is an engaging lecturer and the author of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us. Matt will be our keynote speaker at BAGSC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration at the Los Angeles Arboretum on August 26, 2017. Come join us for his presentation, our exhibition, and our celebration!
by Lisa Reynolds, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, San Diego Botanic Gardens and Deb Shaw
Cork oak trunk at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
This Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 11 am, the San Diego Botanic Garden will present a rare demonstration by Matt Ritter on how to harvest cork from a live cork oak tree in the grove at the San Diego Botanic Garden.
The cork oak is one of the world’s most interesting and iconic tree species. Commercial cork comes from the thick, spongy, outer bark which is harvested in the tree’s native range in Spain and Portugal. The outer bark of each tree is skillfully and harmlessly stripped off the trunk once every decade, allowing new bark to regrow. Cork oaks are widely grown in California as ornamental trees, but the bark is rarely harvested. The San Diego Botanical Garden has a beautiful grove of cork oak trees that is a perfect place to host this demonstration.
Cork oak branch at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
Botany Professor Matt Ritter will show how the outer bark of the cork oak is carefully harvested so as to not damage the tree. Using special tools and the same techniques employed by cork harvesters in Portugal, he will demonstrate how this amazing renewable resource can be sustainably harvested. Come see this rare opportunity right here in California!
The San Diego Botanic Gardens are located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, in Encinitas. Open from 9 am – 5 pm daily; adult admission is $14; seniors, students and active military are $10; children 3 – 18 are $8; and children 2 and under are free. Parking is $2, except for members and for electric vehicles, which are free.
Cork oak trunk at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
About Matt Ritter
Matt Ritter is a professor in the Biology Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He has authored numerous scientific papers and botanical treatments, including the second edition of the “Jepson Manual,” “The Flora of North America Project,” and a “Natural History Guide to San Luis Obispo’s Native Plants.” He is also the author of “A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us,” the state’s most popular natural history guide to the urban forest. He is the California Coordinator of the American Forests Big Tree Registry, and editor-in-chief of Madroño, the journal of the California Botanical Society. He is an avid woodworker and gardener, and spent part of a recent sabbatical in Portugal, the cork oak capital of the world.
And if you would like more Matt Ritter…
Matt Ritter will be the keynote presenter at the 20th Anniversary Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California celebration dinner in August at the Los Angeles County Botanical Gardens & Arboretum. All are invited and we hope to see you there!
by Veronica Raymond, posted by Deb Shaw
Although not a BAGSC or ASBA workshop, the following may be interesting to all of us who are working on trees for the ASBA exhibition “Out of the Woods”.Dr. Matt Ritter, professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, will be teaching a workshop entitled, “Tough Trees Made Easy: Pines, Oaks, Eucalypts, and Figs.”
Here is the workshop description and information, by Dr. Ritter and Dr. Yost:
Learn to ID species in the most difficult groups of trees! Help support student research travel. At this workshop we will teach you the biology and important identifying characters of pines, oaks, eucalypts, and figs. This all-day workshop will include lecture and lots of hands-on lab time for you to test your knowledge and practice difficult tree identification. You will walk away with the skills and working knowledge needed to identify species in the largest and most confusing groups of trees in California. We’ll also send you away with all the reference materials you’ll need for future work with these ubiquitous trees.
Three workshop locations to choose from:
- Palomar College, San Marcos on Tuesday June 28th, 2016
- The Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia on Thursday June 30th, 2016
- San Jose State University, San Jose on Thursday July 7th, 2016
The workshop costs $120 and includes:
- A workshop packet and illustrated materials for identification
- Post workshop online identification and reference tools
- Catered breakfast and lunch, coffee, tea, and refreshments
- ISA Continuing Education Units (7 units)
100% of the workshop proceeds go to support student research travel to Australia. Learn new information while helping a Cal Poly student realize their dream!
Space is limited, register online or email Matt Ritter.
Workshop Instructors:
Dr. Matt Ritter: Winner of the WCISA R. W. Harris Award for Excellence in Education and author of California’s funniest book on trees.
Dr. Jenn Yost: Inspiring Professor of Botany at Cal Poly, where she teaches plant identification, ecology, and evolution.
by Ted Tegart, posted by Deb Shaw
The Arboretum is bringing back botany Professor Matt Ritter for a lecture and walk, discussing and celebrating the Arboretum’s Australian trees, “Australian Trees for a Drought-Stressed Southern California”.
Saturday, March 19, 2016, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Los Angeles Arboretum
301 N. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
10 am – 12 noon / Bamboo Room
Matt Ritter, Instructor
$30 members; $40 per non-member (includes Arboretum admission)
Reservations are preferred: Please call 626.821.4623 or pay at the door
Whether it’s an El Niño year or not, it’s dry in California and likely to get dryer. Trees from Australia can be part of the solution toward creating beautiful, diverse, and resilient urban forests that use less water.
We’ll explore drought-tolerant, appropriate Australian species for planting in our Southern California environment. This event will be partial classroom lecture and discussion, and part tree walk in the Arboretum’s world class collection of Australian trees. Come learn about Acacias, Eucalypts, Callistemons, Melaleucas, and Brachychitons, and so many more great Australian trees.
Matt Ritter is a professor in the Biology Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He has authored numerous scientific papers and botanical treatments, including the second edition of the Jepson Manual, the Flora of North America Project, and a natural history guide to San Luis Obispo’s native plants. He is also the author of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us, the state’s most popular natural history guide to the urban forest.
He is the California Coordinator of the American Forests Big Tree Registry, holds a Kenan Fellowship at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, is the chair of the City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee, and editor-in-chief of Madroño, the journal of the California Botanical Society. He is an avid woodworker and gardener.
by Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
Looking up into the canopy of Platanus racemosa, or Western Sycamore. Photo by Deborah Shaw, 2014.
Don’t forget Matt Ritter’s class on trees on Saturday, September 6 at 9:30 am at the LA Arboretum. Matt’s previous class in June, The Botany of Trees, was enthusiastically attended and filled with accolades at the completion! This will be the second of three workshops with Matt:
Tree Diversity and Natural History, with Dr. Matt Ritter
Workshops for Homeowners, Landscape Professionals and Plant Lovers at the Arboretum
Discussion will focus on the remarkable tree diversity in Southern California (including natives), how to identify trees, and how to appreciate them.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia 91007
$25 Arboretum members per class; $30 non-members per class (includes Arboretum admission)
Please call the Class Registration Line at 626.821.4623 to register, or you may register at the door.
Be sure to save the date for Matt’s third (and final) lecture in the tree series:
Saturday, October 11: Trees for the 21st Century in Southern California
The focus in this class will be on the most appropriate trees for both small yards and for Southern California’s climate, in addition to undeservedly rare trees for this region and how to find them.
Matt Ritter has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a Ph.D. in plant biology. He has authored numerous scientific papers and botanical treatments, including the second edition of the Jepson Manual, the Flora of North America Project, and a natural history guide to San Luis Obispo plants. He is a professor in the Biology Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and director of the plant conservatory there. He holds a Kenan Fellowship at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, is the chair of the City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee, and editor-in-chief of Madroño, the journal of the California Botanical Society. http://www.baobabbotanical.com/Ritter
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