Update: California's Oldest Tree is Protected
After years of uncertainty, a legal agreement ensures the Jurupa Oak - California's oldest tree - will have room to survive for millennia more.
Naturally Riverside
29 articles
The Humble Pill Bug: More Than Just a Backyard Curiosity
That little armored creature rolling around under your rocks is older than the dinosaurs, tastier than you'd think, and better for your soil than you knew.
Watch Out for Big Red
As the hills turn green, keep an eye out for the red diamond rattlesnake — beautiful, common, and best admired from a distance.
Love at First Bite: How Riverside Created the Perfect Valentine's Day Fruit
The 'Valentine' pummelo - with its heart-shaped red flesh and mid-February harvest - took 50 years to go from UCR research cross to the iconic citrus that promises to become as synonymous with Valentine's Day as pumpkins are with Halloween.
Why the Hass Variety Reigns as Avocado Royalty
From ugly duckling to Super Bowl favorite, a Whittier postman's discovery transformed California agriculture.
Mythical Mistletoes
From Norse mythology to modern doorways, the parasitic plant's journey through history reveals surprising science, ancient legends, and ecological importance hidden beneath its reputation for stolen kisses.
Deconstructing Pumpkin Pie
A culinary journey reveals that America's most iconic Thanksgiving dessert is a delicious melting pot of ingredients from around the globe.
The Palms Among Us
From citrus grove markers to wildlife apartments, Riverside's iconic skydusters reveal surprising stories about our landscape and the creatures who call them home.
Your Nocturnal Backyard Zoo: The Thrilling Three
From opossums to raccoons to skunks, Riverside backyards come alive after dark with a cast of nocturnal neighbors worth knowing.
August Showers Bring … Tumbleweeds!
How August rains spark a green glow in Riverside’s hills — and fuel the rise of a powerful new tumbleweed species born right here.
Why the Black Phoebe Is Riverside’s Perfect Signature Bird
Amid the summer lull of browns and grays, the tuxedoed Black Phoebe stands out—active, distinctive and ever-present—embodying Riverside’s resilience and charm year‑round.
The Double Life of the Brown Garden Snail
Riverside’s most common garden pest is also a culinary delicacy, offering a surprising story of global migration, gourmet appeal, and invasive impact.