With a little bit of luck and know-how at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center one can locate certain showy-but-secretive maroon blooms tucked away in shady ravines.  The Spicebush, or Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus occidentalis) is a native plant that is endemic to California.  The genus Calycanthus is in the family Calycanthaceae which is endemic to North America, and has been used in the horticulture industry for over 100 years.   

These deciduous shrubs can be found along streamsides, shady wet ravines, and nearby to spring-seeps.  The maroon-colored flowers are produced in early summer and can have a smell similar to bubblegum.  However, the name Spicebush comes from the strong camphor smell that is released when the stems are scraped or crushed.  This smell can remain for years on twigs that are stored in a dry environment.

A significant portion of the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center is vegetated by what is referred to as the "Chaparral biome", or what many might call brushlands.   One of the most widespread plants in this biome is a shrub called Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). This evergreen shrub can grow in many nutrient-poor soil types and under very dry conditions.   With its tiny 1mm-wide leaves, the plant has one of the highest "leaf surface to air ratios" of any plant in the world.  This characteristic, along with dry matter that accumulates within the interior of the shrub, and in combination with oil-substances within, make it very flammable during most times of the year.

Where chaparral is dominated by chamise, the monotypic  brush stand can be referred to as chamissal. The plant recovers quickly after fires, which it is adapted to, by sending out new palatable (to deer) growth from the root crowns.  Currently, the chamise plants are in full bloom with bunches of small white flowers.

The "chipping" trill of a very small sparrow drifts in the air amongst the oak woodlands here at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center during spring and early summer months.  This distinctive call of the Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) announces the territory of a male who is setting up or has an established breeding territory.  

The small size, notched tail, plain breast, and bright rufous cap all help to identify this bird species.   This bird is quite common throughout North America, but restricts its winter range to the very southern portions of the U.S. and Mexico.  For their nesting habitat they prefer grassy woodlands and certain agriculture settings with woody edges ...as well as back-yards.  The nests are typically a small, flimsy one of grass material, and is usually located within four feet of the ground in a shrub or tree.

Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), a common meandering terrestrial bird throughout California's oak and pine woodlands, are routinely considered "introduced non-native" gamebirds.    Even though this genus is native to the Americas, it did not occur in California during historical times, and introductions to California began as early as 1877 (Santa Cruz Island).   Most successful introductions occurred after the 1950s.

Researcher David W. Steadman, as published in the 1980 proceedings of the L.A.County Museum, reviewed the osteology and paleontology of Turkeys in North America.  It is important to note that today's wild turkey is the same species as the turkeys that existed in N.A. in the late Pleistocene, about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Fossil turkey remains from the La Brea tar pits of Los Angeles County, and a humerus turkey bone from Potter Creek Cave in Shasta County, are supporting evidence that wild turkeys roamed what is now California as recently as 10,000 years ago.

Check out the "tommies" (adult tom, or male, turkeys) in the photo below.  Also, please see an interesting paper for further information on the subject by Don Roberson at:  http://creagus.home/montereybay.com/turkey-in-CA.html