Rooted In California: CA’s Native Trees & the Stories They Tell Webinar

Monday, March 2, 2026 6:30 PM 18:30
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 3:14 AM 03:14

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Whether you’re a naturalist, educator, land steward, or simply someone who loves walking beneath trees…
this webinar course offers tools for seeing more—and caring more deeply—for the forests and woodlands that define California.

Arborists can earn 7.5 ISA CEU’s for participating in this series. Learn more

What You Can Expect

A guided journey through California’s native trees
Clear, approachable science focused on identification, ecology, and adaptation
Stories rooted in field experience, cultural history, and deep time
Visual learning tools including photos, range maps, and practical ID tips
Live Q&A and conversation each session
A deeper sense of connection, stewardship, and place

Part 1 — What Is a Tree?

March 2 with Matt Ritter & Michael Kauffmann
An opening session that defines what makes a tree a tree—biologically, ecologically, and culturally—while setting the tone for curiosity, wonder, and connection.

Part 2 — Conifers in Detail: Giants, Ancients, and Endemics

March 9 with Michael Kauffmann
A deep dive into California’s extraordinary conifer diversity, exploring adaptations to fire, fog, snow, and drought, and meeting some of the oldest and rarest trees on Earth.

Part 3 — Flowering Trees in Detail

March 16 with Matt Ritter
An exploration of California’s broadleaf trees, from oaks and maples to desert specialists, with a focus on identification, form, and seasonal rhythms.

Part 4 — Elderflora: Trees, Time, and Memory

March 23 with Jared Farmer
This session slows the clock. Trees live across multiple tempos—annual rings, centuries-old trunks, millennia-old lineages. Through the concept of chronodiversity, we explore how long-lived trees connect ecology, culture, and ethics across deep time.

Part 5 — Big Trees of California

March 30 with Matt Ritter & Michael Kauffmann
A culminating session celebrating California’s biggest trees and forests, reflecting on their legacy, vulnerability, and what it means to care for giants yet to come.

ALL SESSIONS ARE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE ANYTIME