by Marcia Basalla | Oct 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
The Monarch monitoring “Bioblitz” event on August 4, 2026, visited the Novato Traffic Island Habitat in Pacheco Valle to count caterpillars and monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). The data collected was for the annual international Monarch Bioblitz....
by Marcia Basalla | Oct 6, 2026 | Uncategorized
On September 18, 2026, Marcia Basalla received the Marin Special Award for Environmental Achievement from the Marin Conservation League (MCL) for her Pacheco Valle Biodiversity Project, which converted a traffic island in Novato, CA, into roadside wildlife habitat....
by admpach | May 18, 2026 | Uncategorized
As we go through the seasons, one constant is for sure: nature has the last word. We are only caretakers, never really in charge, which makes the journey more fun, mysterious, and serendipitous. One mysterious aspect is how a once blank slate could become home to so...
by admpach | Mar 20, 2026 | Uncategorized
We are thrilled to share that the city of Novato has officially recognized Marcia Basalla. The Novato Volunteer Award was presented to Marcia on February 24, 2026, to celebrate her incredible dedication. Turning a simple traffic island on Alameda del Prado into a...
by admpach | Nov 10, 2025 | Uncategorized
On a TV piece, the broadcaster characterized the island plantings as “random,” rather than orderly, responding to a neighborhood group’s contention that there is no real design. Over the past 15 years, I have learned that nature has its own order. After the initial...
by admpach | Oct 30, 2025 | Uncategorized
Many people, including myself, love Spring over the other seasons, but I would like to introduce you to plants that thrive and make their “statement “in the Summer and Fall, providing bright color when most plants are winding down for the winter. These plants provide...
