I’ve spent more than 30 years at the Environmental Nature Center. I’ve watched children who once attended programs here return years later to share the ENC with families of their own. I’ve seen volunteers become staff, students become educators, and generations of families make the ENC part of their lives and their memories. The ENC…
Finding a Path Through Plants: A Horticulture Intern’s Journey at the ENC
When Dylan Mitchell applied for the Environmental Nature Center’s Horticulture Internship, he was standing at a crossroads. A recent college graduate who had just returned home to Orange County, Dylan knew he loved plants. He had grown up in a family of dedicated gardeners who instilled in him a deep respect for the natural world,…
Mike Evans on What’s at Stake for the ENC
A Newport Beach native, educator, and longtime advocate for California’s native landscapes, Mike Evans – President and Founder of the California Native Horticultural Foundation and President and Co-Founder of Tree of Life Nursery – has dedicated much of his life to helping people understand the landscapes they inhabit and the value of preserving a meaningful…
What I Want My Daughters to Learn
I’d like to introduce you to my daughters. If you’ve spent any time around the ENC, you’ve probably seen children like them. Mud on their shoes. Sticks in their pockets. Completely convinced that a few acres of nature can become an entire world. My youngest, Evie, loves passing out flyers. Not because she fully understands…
Growing Knowledge Rooted in Place: A Horticulture Intern’s Experience at the ENC
When Alexis Hernandez applied for the Environmental Nature Center’s Horticulture Internship, she already knew she loved plants. “The Horticulture Intern role aligns with what I’m most passionate about…plants!” she wrote in her application. “I have always had a deep connection with nature and plant behavior.” She hoped the internship would deepen her understanding of native…
Understanding Non-Native Plants: Ecological & Sustainability Impacts in Orange County
Landscaping decisions shape biodiversity, water use, fire behavior, and climate resilience — whether we realize it or not. Most non-native plants are not “bad.” Many are beautiful. Some are well-behaved in garden settings. But plant choices are not neutral. When we introduce plants from other regions, we change ecological relationships that have developed over thousands…
California Native Plants: Biodiversity, Water Savings & Climate Benefits
Biodiversity & Ecology California hosts approximately 6,500 species, subspecies, and varieties of native plants that occur naturally in the state. Many of these are found nowhere else on Earth. (California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife) Of these native plants, more than 2,000 taxa are endemic — meaning they evolved here and occur nowhere else on…
Cultivating the Next Generation of Native Plant Stewards
Learning by Doing at the Environmental Nature Center At the Environmental Nature Center (ENC), our horticulture internship program is designed to do more than teach plant care — it immerses emerging professionals in the living systems that shape healthy landscapes, resilient ecosystems, and meaningful community spaces. Recent Horticulture Intern Victoria Stover exemplifies what this program…
The Hidden Dangers of Seed Balls and Guerrilla Gardening
At first glance, seed balls (or “seed bombs”) and guerrilla gardening may seem like creative, eco-friendly ways to beautify urban spaces and contribute to biodiversity. However, a deeper look reveals significant risks and unintended consequences that can harm ecosystems, disrupt restoration efforts, and undermine the very goals they aim to achieve. Environmental Risks of Seed…
Understanding the Behavior of Black Phoebes: A Guide for Bird Enthusiasts
Understanding the Behavior of Black Phoebes: A Guide for Bird Enthusiasts At Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, we love hearing from the community about their backyard bird observations. Recently, April reached out with questions about Black Phoebes—a fascinating species of flycatcher native to the western U.S., easily recognizable by their sooty black bodies and crisp white bellies….
Some Thoughts from our Founder, Robert House
It was always my intention to establish the Environmental Nature Center as a natural example of real California, which as we all know, is one of the most unique places in our world. Not only do we have the lowest and highest elevations in the United States, but also our extensive relationship to the ocean….
Artisan Spotlight: Deborah Sherrell
Deborah Sherrell is an artist, freelance writer, and a native of California. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA in a premed major, and has completed post-baccalaureate studies in medical microbiology, art, and real estate. Motivated by a lifelong love of the environment, Deborah Sherrell wanted to ensure her first book Baby Lauren…