Author Archives: Molly Samuel

About Molly Samuel

Molly joined KQED as an intern in 2007, and since then has worked here as a reporter, producer, director and blogger. Before becoming KQED Science’s multimedia producer, she was a producer for Climate Watch. Molly has also reported for NPR, KALW and High Country News, and has produced audio stories for The Encyclopedia of Life and the Oakland Museum of California. She was a fellow with the Middlebury Fellowships in Environmental Journalism and a journalist-in-residence at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center. Molly has a degree in Ancient Greek from Oberlin College and is a co-founder of the record label True Panther Sounds.

Thoughtful Bernal Neighbors Leave Altruistic Note on Car

Posted on July 14, 2011

Look at this nice note I found on my windshield this week! (A little worse for the wear after a dose of fog). No sarcasm. No snide but helpful comments. No passive aggressive suggestions. Just a helpful heads-up. Thanks neighbor! … Continue reading →

Posted in Cars | 1 Comment

How to Bike on Alabama Without Biking Up Alabama (Hint: Follow the Bernal Chicken)

Posted on April 18, 2011

I bike down Alabama in the morning to get to work, which, with the combination of awful pavement, loose gravel, and the 67 bus (which seems to only come when I am biking) feels like tempting death. On the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | 8 Comments

So Many Wild Creatures in the Neighborhood!

Posted on March 17, 2011

Bernalwood has all kinds of awesome creatures and plants all over the place; you just have to look a little bit, and learn how to figure out what you’re seeing. It also helps if you have an awesome camera or … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Nature and Wildlife, Photography | 8 Comments

The Oxalis Weed: An Uninvited Guest That Never Leaves

Posted on January 31, 2011

Every winter after the rain, oxalis starts popping up. Maybe even during the rain; I don’t know for sure. But one thing is certain: On that day when you glance up on a walk and think, “oh, it’s green again,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature and Wildlife | 23 Comments

Savvy Spotters Say Bernal’s Birds Are Not So Sexy

Posted on January 6, 2011

San Francisco’s annual Christmas Bird Count happened last week. (The counts don’t have to be on Christmas, just around that time.) The Golden Gate Audubon Society is still tallying the final results, but here’s the initial report on the birds … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Nature and Wildlife | 6 Comments

This Old Tree Is Actually the Most Unpretentious Bernal Heights Native You’ll Ever Meet

Posted on December 14, 2010

San Francisco natives like to talk about the fact that they were born here. It’s like they’re a rare species threatened by invasives on their little peninsula. If trees could talk, this blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) would probably give you … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernal Hill, History, Nature and Wildlife | 7 Comments