Several liquid amber trees grow on the route of my morning dog walk, and I always take a moment to appreciate the useless beauty of the colorful, fallen leaves. While it’s tempting to rake them up, one of the most valuable things you can do to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive winter.

Get ready for another year of fascinating speakers covering topics from roses to mushrooms, dried flowers to fresh herbs. Also,learn about inspiring conservation projects from Ed Almanza, who is working to protect the Aliso Creek Estuary, and Dr. Jana Johnson, who nearly single-handedly saved the Palos Verde blue butterfly from the brink of extinction.