After losing his sight, this scientist created a unique nature walk for the other senses

Ron Peterson, Volunteer Docent:

Ron Peterson Good question. Yes, this is lemonade berry. And the reason I know it’s lemonade berry is because the leaves are thick and leathery, almost like the tongue of a leather shoe.

I have learned to identify about almost 40 plants just by touch and also smell. All right, Gidget, here we go.

My name is Ron Peterson. I’m 73 years old. I’m a retired scientist and engineer. I live here in Imperial Beach, and I am blind.

And we are here at the Tijuana Estuary. This is one of my homes away from home. There’s several nature walks and there’s several bird walks. And one of those nature walks is mine. I’m a docent for this nature walk called the Eye-Opening Experience Without Sight, where a blind person leads a nature walk and introduces visitors to the native plants with the emphasis on the other four senses besides sight.

Well, let’s start over here with a very special plant right over here. Everyone take a whiff and tell me what you think.