January 20 Speaker Series: A plant lover’s guide to Oak Galls

January 20, 2026, 7:30pm
Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa

Zoom link to this presentation: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83098278267

Abstract: This talk will transport you to the miniature world of gall wasps. The oaks of California host a dizzying diversity of galls, the majority of which are formed by wasps in the family Cynipidae. These ecosystem engineers, whose complex life cycle involves multiple generations every year, induce oaks to produce galls in a dazzling array of shapes, textures, and colors. Recognizing these unique insects can aid with Quercus identification and appreciating them is a point of access into the beautiful complexity of our local oak woodlands. Sam will share about gall wasp life cycle, identification and ecology as well as how community scientists can help to discover and document new species to science.

Bio: Sam Smith is a habitat restorationist, environmental educator and community scientist. He is a project manager with Point Blue Conservation Science’s Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW) program, connecting classrooms to salt marsh habitat restoration projects across the North Bay. He’s also a passionate community scientist, participating in efforts to document and spread knowledge about macrofungi, birds and plant galls. As an outdoor educator, he highlights cross-species interactions like oak gall wasps, specialist pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi – relationships that encourage curiosity and uncover the interdependence of life. He was born and raised in Chicago, received a BA from Pomona College in 2019, and has lived in the Bay Area since graduating.

Milo Baker Chapter General Meetings and Speaker Series are held on the third Tuesday of each month (except for July, August, and December) at 7:30p.m. Meetings are held at the Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa, or via Zoom.