In March, we lost a dedicated restoration botanist and long-time friend of EHL.

Sandy ran the educational and field programs at Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary in the Orange County foothills. She trained and mentored generations of young people, many of whom went on to careers in science and conservation.  

With a PhD from UC Davis, Sandy made the restoration of the 4,000-acre Starr Ranch the focus of her life’s work. Over many decades, her love for the land made a huge impact. Visitors are literally stunned by the beauty of this timeless landscape of sycamores, oaks, and the many denizens of the coastal sage.

Artichoke thistle, once dominating hillsides, is nearly gone. Cactus patches now thrive.  California wild grape has replaced invasive periwinkle along the Bell Creek. Native grasslands have returned. 

Part of her legacy is a pioneering technique for cost-effective coastal sage scrub restoration, which employs strip plantings that spread spontaneously over subsequent years. This technique has spread far beyond Starr Ranch. All of this was accomplished without chemical herbicides or pesticides.

While Sandy’s tireless work cannot be replaced, we know that her life will inspire others. Sandy is survived by her husband, Pete DeSimone, manager of Starr Ranch.