A Look at Regrowth After Canyon Fire

Although the Eaton Canyon Nature Center was destroyed in October’s Altadena fire, the staff is still offering a way to learn about nature at the burned-out canyon site.

Fire, as most Southern Californians know, is a natural part of the local environment--but often results in tragic loss. The Nature Center, for example, housed a library and a 186-seat auditorium where visitors learned about the plants, animals and environment of the area.

Tonight, naturalists from the center will lead a twilight hike in Eaton Canyon Park and discuss how fire fits into the ecology of the park--in good and bad ways--and observe the beginning regeneration of the park’s plants.

The program will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Visitors should should bring a flashlight and water and meet in the center’s parking lot. Pets are not allowed. Call (818) 398-5420 or (818) 821-3246.

BOTANY

* California native plants will be discussed in a program sponsored by the California Native Plant Society’s Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains chapter at 7:30 tonight at the Brentwood Science Magnet School. Call (213) 933-8993.

* Naturalist Gary Nabhan will speak on “The Life and Times of the Saguaro Cactus,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Annenberg Theater of the Palm Springs Desert Museum. Call (619) 325-7186.

MARINE SCIENCE

* A new UCLA Extension course, “Oceans,” will use concepts from physics, chemistry and biology to explain the world’s oceans and the evolutionary and ecological principles reflected in important marine communities. The 12-week class will begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Call (310) 825-7093.

* Cabrillo Marine Aquarium education curator Steve Vogel and staff members will take visitors on a floating laboratory aboard the vessel Magician from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Participants will look for whales, sea lions and other marine life, trawl the ocean bottom, net plankton and observe the workings of one of the world’s busiest harbors from a biologist’s perspective. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Call (310) 548-7563.

HEALTH/MEDICINE

* The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center stroke club, “Yes We Can,” will discuss “The Invaluable Guide to Life After Stroke: An Owner’s Manual,” at its monthly meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Harvey Morse Auditorium. Call (310) 855-6535.

ASTRONOMY/PLANETARY SCIENCE

* The ill-fated Mars Observer mission will be the subject of a special presentation, “Return to the Red Planet,” offered by Santa Monica College at 8 p.m. on Friday and Jan. 21. The program in the Business Building follows the weekly Night Sky Show at 7 p.m. Call (310) 452-9223 for information or (310) 452-9396 for tickets.

* Suzanne R. Dodd of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will discuss the Mars Observer mission design in a Caltech aeronautics seminar at 1 p.m. Monday in Room 306 Firestone on the Caltech campus. Call (818) 395-4652.