Talbert Nature Preserve/Talbert Regional Park

While not a wetland area, this Orange County Regional Park parallels the Santa Ana River, and provides a space for native plants and animals. The park is divided into two sections - North Talbert and South Talbert.

North Talbert contains Quailbush scrub, Golden Bush, Coyote Brush, and Summer Bush Lupine, in addition to many variety of trees (Coastal Live Oak, California Sycamore, Cottonwood trees, Willow trees).

South Talbert has a mix of habitats that includes both native and non-native (invasive) plants. Many of this habitats vary with changes in rainfall amounts. Also located in this section is Victory Pond, a waterbody that pre-dates urban development in the area.

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Victory Pond in Talbert Park, looking southeast. Ducks, egrets, and other waterfowl can be found in the pond, while California Bulrush, Black Willow, Mule Fat, and many invasive non-native plants surround the pond
	California native Mule Fat brush with non-native nasturtium vine climbing up it. Nasturtium flowers are beautiful (and edible!), but can choke and kill a plant as it uses it to climb up to the sun. Two other beautiful but non-native flowers are white/purple Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and the yellow Bermuda buttercup (buttercup oxalis).
The Santa Ana River drains nearly 1/3 of Orange County. This photo was taken on April 2, 2019, just after a rainy winter. View is looking south, towards the Pacific Ocean (just beyond the bridge off in the distance). To the left is a bike path that runs nearly the entire length of the Santa Ana River.