CULTIVATING COMPETENCE:  WCISA'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Apr
30
3:30 PM15:30

CULTIVATING COMPETENCE: WCISA'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The WCISA “Cultivating Competence” conference is focused on developing and nurturing the skills and abilities needed to perform the tasks required of an arborist on both the personal and professional level. This conference runs from April 29th to May 2nd.

Dr. Matt Ritter will be speaking at 3:30 on Tuesday, April 30th on the topic of “Better Tools for Understanding California’s Urban Forest.”

Register for this event HERE

View Event →
UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS ANNUAL CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Mar
1
to Mar 2

UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS ANNUAL CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL

27TH ANNUAL CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL

Each year, the festival brings together educators, librarians, parents, students, authors, illustrators, editors, and those interested in children’s literature for a unique combination of full conference and small group sessions.

DR. MATT RITTER will be presenting his children’s book, SOMETHING WONDERFUL, in a breakout session, as well as book signings on both March 1st and 2nd. Exact schedule to be announced soon.

MARCH 1 & 2, 2024

REGISTER HERE

View Event →
Currency Creek Arboretum — National Eucalypt Day 2023
Oct
7
to Oct 8

Currency Creek Arboretum — National Eucalypt Day 2023


Currency Creek Arboretum (SA) is open on the 7th and 8th of October as part of the South Australian NATURE FESTIVAL!

Don't miss your opportunity to see the world’s largest collection of eucalypt species with over 900 species and 10,000 individual trees covering 32 hectares.

At 10:00 am and 2:00 pm each day, arboretum curator and eucalypt expert Dean Nicolle, along with Dr. Matt Ritter, will be leading free tours to celebrate National Eucalypt Day.

Details at
naturefestival.org.au

View Event →
Tools for Understanding California’s Urban Forest
Sep
22
7:30 AM07:30

Tools for Understanding California’s Urban Forest

Tools for Understanding California’s Urban Forest

Join the Marin Conservation League on September 22, 2023 at 7:30 AM for a journey with Dr. Matt Ritter into the fascinating lives and captivating stories of the trees that shape our lives.

Date and time:
Friday, September 22 · 7:30 - 9:30am PDT

Location:
McInnis Park Club Restaurant
350 Smith Ranch Road San Rafael, CA 94903

RESERVE YOUR TICKET HERE

Dr. Ritter’s presentation will be a photographic exposé of the lives and stories of some of the fascinating trees that define our cities. He will share recent research findings about the structure and function of California’s urban forest and discuss trends in tree selection in a time of climate change and decreasing biodiversity. He will show how data can be accessed and used to help California communities ensure the health of their urban forests into the future.

View Event →
The Professional Tree Care Association 34th Annual Seminar and Field Day in San Diego
Aug
18
to Aug 19

The Professional Tree Care Association 34th Annual Seminar and Field Day in San Diego

DR. MATT RITTER will be giving the keynote address and leading a tree walk in Balboa Park at The Professional Tree Care Association of San Diego and the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department event, INTO THE CANOPY.

August 18 &19, 2023

Balboa Park Club ~ San Diego, CA

Seminar: Friday, August 18, 2023, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Field Day: Saturday, August 19,2023, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm

Balboa Park Club, 2150 Pan American Rd W, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

Continuing Education Units available at both the seminar and field day for:
ISA: Arborists and Tree Workers DPR: PCA, QAC, and QAL
TCIA: Certified Tree Care Safety Professionals

REGISTER HERE: REGISTRATION

View Event →
California's Forests in a Changing Environment, A Decade of Trees Among Us
Aug
7
5:30 PM17:30

California's Forests in a Changing Environment, A Decade of Trees Among Us

DR. MATT RITTER will be speaking about the current state of California’s urban forests and what's being done to help keep them healthy for the future.

Registration is free.
AUGUST 7th, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Esri - Building Q Auditorium, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373

REGISTER for in person attendance HERE

REGISTER for online attendance HERE
Participants will receive an email with a Zoom meeting link the day before the event.

Jointly sponsored by Esri and the University of Redlands.

View Event →
Dr. Matt Ritter: A Californian's Guide to the Trees among Us
Jul
11
4:00 PM16:00

Dr. Matt Ritter: A Californian's Guide to the Trees among Us

APLD-GLA would like to envite our members to an in-person lecture July 11, 2023 at 4:00 pm.

We have teamed up with UCLA to present Dr. Matt Ritter at Hershey Hall at the UCLA Campus.

Dr Ritter has updated and re-issued his informative guide to the tree that shade our parks, green our yards and line our streets.

There will be copies of the new addition " A Californian's Guide to the Trees Among Us" for sale after the lecture. 

Ritter will discuss patterns and trends in tree selection and considerations for helping to ensure a healthy urban forest in Los Angeles. His presentation will be a photographic exposé of the lives and stories of some of the fascinating trees featured in the recent second edition of his book “A Californian’s Guide to the Trees among Us,” a new natural history and identification guide to urban
and suburban trees in California. He will also share recent research findings about the structure and function of California’s urban forest and its future.

Dr Ritter is an engaging speaker and this talk should be informative and thought-provoking

Please follow the link and reserve your ticket, seating is limited so dont miss out!

REGISTER HERE

View Event →
San Luis Obispo Botanical Celebration
Apr
6
to Apr 8

San Luis Obispo Botanical Celebration

On April 8th we are celebrating the book release and publication of Dr. Dave Keil’s flora of San Luis Obispo. Two decades in the making, and it’s finally in print!
This beautiful book will be available for the first time at this event.

We will also celebrate the grand opening of the new Cal Poly Plant Conservatory, a beautiful new glasshouse with our teaching and research plant collection.

To celebrate these two significant events and a wonderful rainfall year, we are hosting a series of field trips and an evening dinner celebration with a presentation by Dr. Keil.

Thursday, April 6th: Field trip to Arroyo de La Cruz and Northern Coastal SLO County led by Dr. Keil

Friday, April 7th: Join the Cal Poly Field Botany class for a reunion field trip through the serpentine hills of San Luis Obispo, led by Drs. Jenn Yost, Dave Keil, and Matt Ritter.

Saturday, April 8th: Field trip to Shell Creek and Carrizo Plain led by Dr. Keil.

Saturday evening, April 8th: Join us at the Cal Poly Plant Conservatory for a book signing and open house. Dinner will be served with remarks by Dr. Peter Raven and a presentation by Dr. Keil. Books will be for sale and signed at the evening event.

All are welcome and encouraged to join us for any part or the whole event.
Details will be sent to those who RSVP using this form by March 15th. Or register with this QR code:

 
View Event →
HILA Annual Conference Back to the Basics
Oct
28
to Oct 29

HILA Annual Conference Back to the Basics

  • Westin Hapuna Beach Resort (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Matthew Ritter, Phd.
California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo

Dr. Ritter will speak October 28th about Hawaii’s Most Commonly Grown Trees and How to identify Them.

The following day, he’ll be leading hands-on tree identification and selection training during guided tours to Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, Hawaiian Gardens and Ili Kupono Gardens Nurseries.

October 28/29th @ 7:30 am – 3:40 pm
$35.00 – $155.00

FOR REGISTRATION VISIT The Hawaii Island Landscape Association

CEUs For Attending the Conference
5 ISA Certified Arborists CEUs
5 Landscape Industry Certified Technician CEUs

View Event →
California's Native Plants and Urban Forests
Oct
19
6:00 PM18:00

California's Native Plants and Urban Forests

In celebration of our milestone anniversary, Sonoma County Master Gardeners invite you to join us for our 40th Anniversary Lecture event featuring Dr. Matt Ritter, an acclaimed author, botanist, and professor. During his talk, "California's Native Plants and Urban Forests,” Matt will provide a fascinating botanical tour of California, with natural and cultural history stories of our most iconic plants. Tickets are limited, so buy yours today.

Lecture Details

  • Tickets are $20 per person. Click here to buy tickets.

  • Seating is limited. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

  • Doors open at 6 p.m. Program starts promptly at 7 p.m.

  • Book signing and refreshments.

  • The Glaser Center: 547 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, 95401

  • Pay for parking at adjacent 7th Street parking garage.*

  • For questions, email: mgsonoma@ucdavis.edu

View Event →
A CALIFORNIAN'S GUIDE TO THE TREES AMONG US
Sep
30
8:00 AM08:00

A CALIFORNIAN'S GUIDE TO THE TREES AMONG US

  • The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

CALIFORNIA URBAN FORESTS CONFERENCE: LEAD WITH TREES

Dr. Ritter’s presentation will be a photographic exposé of the lives and stories of some of the fascinating trees featured in the recent second edition of his book “A Californian’s Guide to the Trees among Us,” a new natural history and identification guide to urban and suburban trees in California. He will also share recent research findings about the structure and function of California’s urban forest and its future.

Rancho Mirage, CA
September 30, 2022
More info and registration
HERE

View Event →
At The Mountain Air:  California Plants and Urban Trees
Jul
19
6:30 PM18:30

At The Mountain Air: California Plants and Urban Trees

Biology Professor Matt Ritter will be speaking at The Mountain Air about his two books, California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora and A Californian’s Guide to the Trees among Us. Please join him for an evening to learn more about the plants you see on the trail and everyday on the streets.

July 19th, 2022
6:30—7:30 PM

The Mountain Air
667 Marsh Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

View Event →
San Luis Obispo  FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ANNUAL MEETING
May
12
11:30 AM11:30

San Luis Obispo FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ANNUAL MEETING

The 2022 Annual Meeting and Luncheon will be held on May 12, 2022, at the Madonna Inn, and will feature Matt Ritter, PhD, distinguished Cal Poly Botany Professor and one of California’s premier plant experts. Dr. Ritter is the author of California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora and A Californian’s Guide to the Trees among Us. His other books include Rainwalkers and Something Wonderful.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. REGISTER BY APRIL 25TH, 2022.

11:30 Meet and Greet

12:00 Meeting and Lunch

1:00 Guest Speaker—Matt Ritter, Q&A, Raffle

View Event →
8th California Oak Symposium
Mar
21
8:00 AM08:00

8th California Oak Symposium

8th California Oak Symposium, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Monday, March 21, 2022

Tour will depart between 8-9 AM and return between 4-5 PM.

Pre-registration will be required for each tour. Registration information will be available closer to the tour date. Click the picture below for the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources event page for more information.

Sustaining and Conserving Oaks in Different Landscapes

Location: Cuesta Ridge, San Luis Obispo

Dr. Matt Ritter, California native plant and oak expert, will guide participants on a field trip of the Cuesta Ridge oak diversity hotspot. Participants will get great views of the San Luis Obispo area while seeing nearly half of California’s oak species on one short trip. We will drive along Cuesta Ridge, making various stops for short walks on relatively flat areas.

View Event →
Healthy Arborist, Healthy Trees, Thriving Communities
Feb
11
9:30 AM09:30

Healthy Arborist, Healthy Trees, Thriving Communities

Urban Tree Care Conference: Healthy Arborist, Healthy Trees, Thriving Communities

February 11, 2022

Advance your understanding and training while obtaining continuing education units (CEUs) from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Friday February 11th, “Branching Patterns & Shape: How Wood Forms”
Dr. Matt Ritter, Professor, California Polytechnic State University. Flowering trees and conifers form wood and support branches in different ways. Leaves are not borne on all trees in the same way. Genetically determined characteristics in trees can help us identify, plant, prune and maintain them properly. If we know a tree’s biology, we can predict what to expect as it matures.

Friday February 11th, “Water in Trees: Photosynthesis, Respiration, and Stress”
Dr. Matt Ritter, Professor, California Polytechnic State University. Water can move three-hundred feet up to the top of the tallest trees, yet the trees don’t burn a single molecule of energy doing so. In this session, we’ll learn how trees transport water, use it for photosynthesis and respiration, and how these mechanisms are affected by water shortages.

View Event →
UCLA PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES, TRANSPLANTED:  EXAMINING CONTEXTS OF PLANTS, PEOPLE, & PLACE
Nov
4
5:00 PM17:00

UCLA PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES, TRANSPLANTED: EXAMINING CONTEXTS OF PLANTS, PEOPLE, & PLACE

2021-2022 UCLA PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES, MILDRED E. MATHIAS BOTANICAL GARDEN

FREE EVENT, REGISTRATION REQUIRED

California’s Urban Forests in a Changing Environment

Dr. Matt Ritter, PhD • 5:00pm UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion

Dr. Ritter will describe his 20 years working to understand patterns and change in California’s diverse urban forests. He will describe research involving the California Urban Forest Inventory project and SelecTree. Climate change has and will continue to affect the state’s urban areas. Can we predict how urban tree species will respond to increasing temperature and variable precipitation? Ritter will discuss patterns and trends in tree selection and considerations for helping to ensure a healthy urban forest for California cities in a time of climate change and decreasing biodiversity. What should we consider when choosing a tree species for planting? Carbon sequestration potential, aesthetics, water use, provenance, and culture all play a role.

REGISTER HERE

View Event →
New Trees for a Changing Climate & Growing Healthy Roots
Oct
22
9:30 AM09:30

New Trees for a Changing Climate & Growing Healthy Roots

  • Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery - Clements (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

New Trees for a Changing Climate & Growing Healthy Roots at Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery

A walking tour of Devil Mountain's growing grounds guided by David Teuschler, Dave Muffly, and Dr. Matt Ritter. Lunch to follow.

Free Event, Registration Required

David Teuschler, Dave Muffly, and Dr. Matt Ritter will guide a walking tour of Devil Mountain’s growing grounds with a focus on new tree selections for a changing climate and growing practices that build a superior root system. A taco lunch will immediately follow the tour.

3 CEUs available for I.S.A. Certification holders.

9:30am Morning Refreshments & Networking

10:00am-1:00pm Walking Tour

1:00pm Taco Truck


Tour Topics

Growing Healthy Roots | David Teuschler

Climate Change and California | Dave Muffly

New Oaks | Dave Muffly

New Eucalyptus and Other Subtropicals | Dr. Matt Ritter

Other Cool Trees | David Teuschler, Dave Muffly, Dr. Matt Ritter

Register HERE

Screen Shot 2021-09-29 at 3.29.40 PM.png
View Event →
INVEST IN THE GROUND UP, TREES FIRST, WOOD NEXT
Oct
14
8:00 AM08:00

INVEST IN THE GROUND UP, TREES FIRST, WOOD NEXT

INVEST IN THE GROUND UP, TREES FIRST, WOOD NEXT

October 14, 2021

Register Here FREE event, donations accepted

Co-hosted by the California Urban Forests Council & the Urban Wood Network

Dr. Matt Ritter

Botanist, author, and professor, Dr. Matt Ritter has been working with us on our CIRCLE4.0 grant, looking at underutilized species that could become great urban trees. As a scientific author, his publications attempt to foster a sense of appreciation for California’s unique flora. Many of us have a copy of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us and California Plants: A Guide to our Iconic Flora, on our shelves. This session examines what tree species could become great urban trees in different regions around California with the changes to our climate.

Connect with municipal arborists, urban forest managers, urban wood enthusiasts, landscape design professionals, planners, and non-profits from across California for this unique educational and networking experience held online this October.

Join the virtual sessions to gain insights, strategies, and inspiration designed exclusively for the urban forest and urban wood sector.

View Event →
The 32nd Annual Seminar and Field Day, The Professional Tree Care Assoc. Of San Diego & The City Of San Diego Park And Recreation
Aug
20
to Aug 21

The 32nd Annual Seminar and Field Day, The Professional Tree Care Assoc. Of San Diego & The City Of San Diego Park And Recreation

32nd Annual Seminar and Field Day
Solutions For Managing San Diego’s Trees

Seminar: Friday, August 20, 2021, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Dr. Matt Ritter will be giving the Keynote Talk on “Identifying and Managing Eucalyptus in San Diego.”

Field Day: Saturday, August 21, 2021, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm
Dr. Matt Ritter will be leading two Tree Walks in Balboa Park

View Event →
Apr
14
11:00 AM11:00

Have lunch with Matt Ritter and learn about trees

Join us for a 5 part webinar series on the Botany of Trees

Starts April 14, 2020

www.wcisa.net

Tuesday April 14, 2020 from 11am- 12:30 pm - The first in a five part webinar series taught virtually by Dr. Ritter. Four more webinars will follow each Tuesday, same time. Each lecture is an hour long followed by 30 minutes of discussion, questions and answers. Students earn 1.0 CEU per session. Participate in one or all of the series. $20 per session for Members / $30 for Nonmembers.

View Event →
Southern California Horticultural Society
Jun
13
7:00 PM19:00

Southern California Horticultural Society

Matt Ritter, botany professor and author, will speak on "Tree Selection: Keeping Our Urban Forests Healthy"

Trees are more important to our urban environment than most people realize. They cool our cities, fight pollution, and provide crucial habitat for urban wildlife. Matt Ritter will speak about the best trees for our cities in this era of climate change.

View Event →