For the grand opening of the Kathleen’s Canyon Overlook in Black Lake Canyon Preserve on April 19, 2019, the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County commissioned illustrations for a series of interpretive panels showcasing the important and unique habitats found here. Text and graphic design on the panels are by Jamie Creath at LCSLO.

The first of the two large panoramic panels is of the four habitats present in the reserve: dunes, peat bog, riparian woodland/wetland, and coast live oak woodland. I researched the animals and plants that can be found in each of these habitats and composed representative scenes that flow from the woodlands through a riparian area, a peat bog, and through the dunes to the sea.

The second large panel is of frequent flyers, a selection of bird species in the Preserve.

A smaller panel features monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) overwintering on eucalyptus and a caterpillar feeding on narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). Monarchs overwinter onsite at Kathleen’s Canyon and lay their eggs on milkweed further inland in SLO County.

A final panel shows invasive species in the Preserve: American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), bluegum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), and perennial veldtgrass (Erharta calycina).