Elfin Forest Garden Festival

Book signing, presentation, and nature walk
with author and naturalist Richard Halsey

Elfin Forest Garden Festival

Saturday April 26, 2008 12:30 p.m.

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A special treat for our garden guests! Author and naturalist Richard Halsey has agreed to give a short presentation followed by a nature walk to show you wildflowers you'd never find yourself, followed by a signing of his book, Fire, Chaparral and Survival in Southern California.

This is the best book available that describes in detail California's most extensive plant community, the chaparral!

The book not only provides the basics of chaparral natural history, but also how wildfires are fought, what we have learned about them, and why it is important to reconnect with one's surroundings. The new Second Edition includes details about the October 2007 fires and a new chapter on the importance of understanding the relationship between fire, people, and nature. Also included is an updated color photo identification section with 64 of the most common southern California chaparral plants and animals.

It is an essential book for anyone living in California because it explains why it is important to understand the region's natural environment as well as how best to prepare for the next wildfire.

Richard W. Halsey is the director of the California Chaparral Institute, a research and educational organization focusing on the ecology of California’s shrubland ecosystems, the dynamics of wildland fire in both natural and human communities, and the importance of nature education. Mr. Halsey has taught biology and natural science for over thirty years in both public and private schools. His current research projects include investigating variables determining wildfire behavior, the impact of increased fire frequency on chaparral and other shrubland ecosystems, and the importance of local communities connecting with their surrounding, natural landscapes.

Mr. Halsey also works with the San Diego Museum of Natural History, publishes The Chaparralian, a quarterly newsletter focusing on chaparral and wildfire issues in California, and continues to teach natural history to school and community groups throughout the state. He has given more than 100 presentations over the past three years and assists in the development of wildfire management and risk assessment plans for both private and government organizations. His most recent book, Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California, was published in 2005.
He has also been trained as a Type II wildland firefighter.