On Saturday, February 12, eleven fearless volunteers became mini-game hunters in Santa Margarita. The mini-game we sought: slumbering elm leaf beetles. If you’ve lived in this town awhile, you know these beetles. Dr. Donald Dahlsten, a UC Berkeley entomologist, was looking for a good batch of ELBs to send to Australia for use in biological control efforts there. The details could make a long and fascinating story for another day. Back to the hunt...

    Success! Cadre of Corps (AmeriCorps x California Conservation Corps environmental service learning program) members and Los Osos Middle School Earth Club members collected at least 2000 ELBs from selected woodpiles around town. Beetles were carefully packed into cardboard cartons for the trip to Dr. Dahlsten’s lab. Within a week of the hunt, Santa Margarita’s ELBs had arrived at a quarantine facility in Australia.

    The hunt was a lot of fun. Thanks to the cooperating hunt site owners, especially the Moose Lodge, and the Blakely and Johnson families. Pictures are available.

• The Trees in My Forest by Bernd Heinrich
  Escape to a Maine forest during your lunch break.This award-winning book will carry you deep into the woods.
• Conifers of California by Ronald M. Lanner
  Did you know that California is home to 52 native coniferous species? This is a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to learn about these treasures.

• Roses Red, Violets Blue ~ Why Flowers Have Colors by Sylvia Johnson
  Have you ever wondered about this? Spring is a great time to find out the story behind those colors.

The 2000 focus:

"Water for Life ---
   Keep the Wild Alive."

Educational resources available at www.nwf.org