Local knowledge · thoughtfully edited
Chapter one · Mountains to Sea
Know the bird overhead.
The tree beside the path.
The life beneath the tide.
Gardens & streets
Five plants photographed by Stuart—succulents, flowering shrubs, and familiar garden color—with careful identification notes.
Open the garden notebook →
Wild encounters · Coast, canopy & tide pools
Begin with three recognizable neighbors, then follow each note into the larger habitat.
Coast & ocean
Pelecanus occidentalis
A broad-winged silhouette, an enormous bill, and a sudden dive. Meet one of the coast’s most recognizable neighbors.
Open field note Photo: Mrmariokartguy / Wikimedia Commons ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped for layout
Woodlands & neighborhoods
Quercus agrifolia
A spreading evergreen canopy holds a small world of its own. Start with the leaves, then look for the life around them.
Open field note Photograph by Stuart Schonwetter
Rocky shore & tide pools
Anthopleura elegantissima
Open underwater, tucked away in the air. What looks like a shell-covered bump may be a living animal.
Open field note Photo: Ed Bierman / Wikimedia Commons ↗ · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped for layout