January 2004 71,6 Bay Leaf California Native Plant Society • East Bay Chapter • Alameda & Contra Costa CALENDAR OF EVENTS Native Here Nursery, p. 3 Fridays, January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Native Here Nursery Open 9- noon Saturdays, January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Native Here Nursery Open 10 - 1 . Plant Sale Activities, p. 3 Tuesdays, January 6, 13, 20, 27, 9:00 am to noon (rain or shine) Plants for sale and volunteer activities Saturday, February 7, final sale of season Chapter Board Meeting Wednesday, January 7, home of Sarah Ginskey, 1095 Miller Street, Berkeley. Go up Marin, right on Keeler, left on Miller. Native Plant Restoration Team, p. 4 Friday, February 7, 1-4 pm, “Generations at San Leandro Creek", Canyon Elementary School Membership Meeting, see below Wednesday, January 28, 7:30 pm MEMBERSHIP MEETING New phytophthoras [Greek: plant destroyers] in California: exotic, na- tive, or naturalized pathogens? Speaker: Dr. Matteo Garbelotto Wednesday, January 28, 2004, 7:30 pm Location: Conference Center, University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley (directions below) Sudden Oak Death (SOD) is an emergent forest disease affecting dozens of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants along the central and northern California coast region. Al- though tree mortality was first noticed in 1994, it was only in 2000 that the microbe respon- sible for the disease was discovered. This microorganism was soon identified as a new and undescribed species of Phytophthora, later named Phytophthora ramorum. Phytophthoras include many well-known aggressive plant pathogens and have caused several plant epidemics, including the potato blight that resulted in the Irish famine of the 1800s. Although fungus-like in appearance, Phytophthoras are actually in a separate king- dom that includes kelp and diatoms. The limited geographic distribution of Phytophthora ramorum and the high susceptibility of several native plant species suggest this pathogen is not native, but an exotic species. Recent genetic analysis has validated this hypothesis by showing the California population has extremely limited genetic variability, a common characteristic of introduced organisms. While previously identified forest phytophthoras are water- and soilborne, P ramorum represents the first exception, being airborne. This unprecedented feature currently limits our understanding of the epidemiology of this new pathogen, as there are few or no com- parative models to which we can refer. Researchers were further surprised to discover two STOP THE DAM WASTE: VOTE NO ON N Please join the California Native Plant So- ciety in opposing the Contra Costa Water District’s (CCWD) proposal on the March ballot to destroy the Los Vaqueros Reservoir and rebuild it to five times its current size. Measure N is an ill-conceived plan that puts at risk district residents’ access to clean wa- ter for the three to seven years it will take to complete the project and asks voters to approve the vaguely worded measure with- out the benefits of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). CCWD only finished construction of the existing Los Vaqueros Reservoir four years ago. The project cost $450 billion and took 10 years to complete. It destroyed 1,600 acres of sensitive habitat and created a 2.5- mile barrier to wildlife and recreation. To get the project approved by voters back in 1988 CCWD was forced to make a lot of promises. The district promised voters that it would provide a myriad of recreational facilities, preserve the watershed, and only modestly increase rates. All these prom- STOP THE DAM, continued on page 2 MEMBERSHIP MEETING, continued on page 2 MEMBERSHIP MEETING, continued from page 1 page more new Phytophthora species while intensively studying P. ramomm. These species are also aerial and cause identical symptoms on many of the same hosts as P. ramorum, however their geographic distri- bution is larger and the disease they cause does not seem to lead to massive plant death. It is possible these new Phytophthora species may represent native microbes in coevolutionary equilibrium with the native flora. Synergies or antagonisms among the three aerial Phytophthora species are yet unknown. While surveying California for SOD, re- searchers made a further discovery: Phy- tophthora cinnamomi, an aggressive pathogen for agricultural crops, is now found in the wild throughout the central and southern parts of the state. P. cinna- momi causes significant mortality of coast live oak in southern California and is a very serious and imminent threat for the endan- gered lone manazanita, Arctostaphylos myrtifolia. From current research a picture emerges of a group of microbes, phytophthoras, likely to play a major role in the future of California native ecosystems. Management plans will need to factor in these pathogens in order to STOP THE DAM, continued from page 1 opon ises were broken. The district raised rates far higher than it suggested, provided far less recreation, and now proposes to flood what it promised to preserve. Former Senator John Nejedly remembers those promises well. He was co-chair for the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) campaign that authorized creation of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir. He now serves as chair for the No on N campaign, because of his concern that the measure will harm the envi- ronment and lead to more water exports. Expansion of Los Vaqueros could signifi- cantly endanger the health of our bay and delta (see Bay Institute’s Bay Ecological Scorecard, 2003). It would destroy 2,600 acres of natural habitat, flood current rec- be effective, and regulations will need to be enforced to slow down what appears to be an accelerated introduction of these organisms through human activities. This month’s speaker, Dr. Matteo Garbelot- to, is a plant pathologist who serves as Ex- tension Specialist and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at U.C. Berkeley and is one of the leading researchers work- ing on SOD and new phytophthoras. He will bring us up-to-date on current knowledge of these fascinating microbes. East Bay Chapter CNPS membership meet- ings are free of charge and open to everyone. This month’s meeting will take place in the Conference Center of the University of California Botanical Garden on Centennial Drive, east of Memorial Stadium and west of the Lawrence Hall of Science, above the main campus of the University of California at Berkeley. The Garden gate will open at 7: 00 pm; the meeting begins at 7:30 pm. Due to the popularity of this month’s speaker and the limited seating space, we suggest you arrive early. Refreshments will be served after the meet- ing. Please contact Sue Rosenthal, 510-496- 6016 or rosacalifornica@earthlink.net, if reational facilities and endangered species habitat, allow for the export of our water to the south, increase urban sprawl and devel- opment, and cost as much as $1.5 billion to complete. Measure N is precisely the kind of water ex- port and expansion project that Contra Costa voters overwhelmingly rejected by a nine to one ratio in the initial campaign to construct the reservoir. The only difference is that the construction of a peripheral canal is no longer needed to export our water south; this project, and CCWD’s offer to CalFed to use its pipelines for export, serves that same purpose. CCWD’s “tear it down and rebuild it” plan doesn’t guarantee any benefits to our district, you have any questions. Upcoming Programs Wednesday, February 25, 2004, 7:30 pm(at the U.C. Botanical Garden at Berkeley): Speaker TBA Wednesday, March 24, 2004, 7:30 pm (at the U.C. Botanical Garden at Berkeley): Jan Southworth— Butterfly gardening with native plants Sue Rosenthal yet the potential downside is extraordinary. Consider: no environmental analysis has been conducted, no specific projects have been selected, no financial commitments to pay for the project have been made, no con- crete cost estimates exist, and no guarantees of any kind have been given regarding the creation or protection of recreational facili- ties. CCWD offers no compelling arguments for the expansion, yet the huge risk to our water supply and natural environment is indisputable. Clearly, California faces important water is- sues. But CCWD’s latest scheme is hardly a solution. Agriculture uses more than 85% of the state’s developed water. If it conserves 10% of its water use, urban demand can be met without new reservoirs and more water 2 The Bay Leaf January 2004 could be returned to the environment, our bay, and the delta. For all these reasons and more we urge you to join our growing coalition, which includes Save Mount Diablo, the Sierra Club, Save San Francisco Bay Association, Golden Gate Audubon, Environ- mental Defense, East Bay Area Trails Council, California Native Plant Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Citizens for Democracy, and others in rejecting more CCWD false promises and another CalFed power grab. You can help save Los Vaqueros and Stop the Dam Waste by joining the campaign. CCWD will spend millions on PR, so we need every dollar, volunteer, and endorsement we can muster. To get involved, contact Jeni Krencicki at 510-848-0800 ext. 307 or email jeni@sfbaysc.org. You can also visit our website at www.StoptheDamWaste.com. Committee to Stop the Dam Waste NATIVE HERE NURSERY Calendar: Fridays, January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Native Here Nursery Open 9- noon Saturdays, January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Native Here Nursery Open 10 - 1 . A new contract has been negotiated with the Park District. Native Here is good to go for another five years. Rent has increased slightly, but we will be expanding the area somewhat. Many of the seeds collected in 2003 have been sown, and more will be through the winter. Planting weather will continue for at least a month or two, so come buy. As bulbs react to rain and sunlight, they will be offered for sale. Some will be ready this month. Ranunculus californica from a variety of locales is available now, too. Volunteers are always needed whenever the nursery is open: Fridays, 9 to noon, and Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm. No need to phone ahead, just show up. Native Here has voice mail at 510-549-0211 and is located at 101 Golf Course Drive, across from the Golf Course main parking lot. PLANT SALE ACTIVITIES Tuesdays January 6, 13, 20, 27 9:00 am to noon (rain or shine) Merritt College, Oakland Landscape Horticulture Department Parking fee: 50 cents Come in on Tuesday mornings in January to find all remaining plants from the October plant sale reduced in price. We have: Arctostaphylos (manzanita) Erigeron (sea daisy) Ceanothus (CA lilac) Berberis (mahonia) Garry a (silktassel) Asarum (ginger) Salvia (sage) Aquilegia (columbine) Keckiella Aristolochia (pipevine) Muhlenbergia (deergrass) Phacelia and a few odds & ends. Our final sale of the season, with further discounting, will be Sat- urday, February 7, 9:00 am - noon. Rain date: following Saturday. Shirley McPheeters Thank you to everyone who stopped by the nursery in November and entered the raffle. We still have plenty of time to plant while the rains continue, so come by and say hello ! Our six winners are: Carole Schemmerling, Berkeley Leila Clark-Riddell, Oakland Edison School Garden, Alameda Arlene Giordano, Piedmont Rikke Cox, Oakland Catherine Sutton, Albany Charli Danielsen We end, I think, at what might be called the standard paradox of the 20th century: our tools are better than we are, and grow faster than we do. They suffice to crack the atom, to command the tides. But they do not suffice for the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it. Aldo Leopold The Bay Leaf January 2004 3 CONSERVATION COMMITTEE I am constantly amazed at the number of projects requiring CNPS’ review in order to ensure that native plants are protected in Alam- eda and Contra Costa Counties. Even with an active group on the conservation committee, it is difficult to cover everything. An ad hoc committee met to investigate the possibility of hiring conser- vation and plant science staff. A plan and budget for a Regional Conservation Analyst was compiled. The chapter does not have sufficient funds on hand to proceed with the plan at this time, but has committed $5000, which could go toward the plan if the rest of the money were to be raised. The chapter board passed a spending plan based on funds already on hand. Even without the part time Conservation Analyst, that allocation is less than half of the expense planned. We need to find sources of revenue to cover the necessary expenses. As CNPS members, are we willing to cut contributions to important campaigns being waged by other organizations with our partici- pation? Do we stint on getting a consultant to work on off road vehicle issues? Do we ask volunteers to cover their own expenses in purchasing documents necessary to comment on projects, and representing the chapter at meetings and hearings? In order to do effective conservation work, we need to develop strategies for raising chapter income. The chapter can accept dona- tions from members and we can use volunteers to develop ideas for raising more funds. Volunteering at the plant sales and Native Here, taking on CNPS poster sales, and helping with book sales, can help fund the work of the chapter. The conservation committee still needs people willing to follow issues in their communities for us, but we also could use members with grant writing skills and contacts. Please think about ways in which you can help ... the plants need you! Charli Danielsen, Conservation Coordinator NATIVE PLANT RESTORATION TEAM na*tive adj. In a natural state; unaffected by artificial influences: at www.ebcnps.org under “Restoration Team.” native beauty . Whether you are considering planting local natives in your own December, “Recovery at Wildcat Creek”. Tilden Park. A big garden, want to teach school kids about botany, or have a favorite “thank you” goes out to the members of the Student Conservation Association who joined our efforts to restore native vegetation to the creek’s banks. (The Park District has installed split-rail fencing to help deter further dam- age.) Our own Team’s work party had to be cancelled due to illness and anticipated rain. We hope you will join us for continued res- toration work in 2004. Friday, January 3, 2004 “Selecting a Restoration Site” The Team will not officially meet on the 3 rd . Instead, have some fun figuring out the puzzle of what plants grow where and why. We would like to broaden the number and type of sites where the Team is sponsoring restoration work to include additional plant ranges (there are 8 in the two counties per the range map in Annotated Checklist of the East Bay Flora). “ Selecting a Restoration Site ” is the Restoration Team’s worksheet and a sug- gested outline for uncovering the uniqueness of your site. Worksheets will also be available San Leandro Creek, Canyon School trail that needs help from weeds, everyone’s help and suggestions are welcome. E-mail reminders: Please contact Jim Sharp at itsa@dnai.com to receive a reminder message the week prior to the event. Friday, February 7, 1-4 pm, “Generations at San Leandro Creek”, Canyon Elementary School. Kids, creeks, spring flowers and newts: weed wackin’, newt anatomy my and restoration planting work party. Directions: Canyon Elementary School, 187 Pinehurst Road, Canyon. 925-376- 4671. From Highway 13, exit Park Boulevard, left onto Park Boulevard, then left onto Mountain Boulevard, then right onto Snake Road. Stay “straight” through intersection onto Shepard Canyon. After almost 2 miles, at Skyline Bou- levard, cross over Skyline - on the other side is Pinehurst Road. Canyon School is on the left after about 3 miles. The school’s parking 4 The Bay Leaf January 2004 lot is very limited but roadside parking is available. If in doubt, a Sarah Ginskey map is advised. (Please note: the W. Roderick Lecture Series is at Regional Parks Botanic Garden at 10:30 am.) Supplies and gear: For each work party, we ask that you wear long sleeves and pants, a hat, sturdy shoes, and bring water, favorite gloves and garden ing tools. We do have some gloves and tools to lend. Questions or comments? Please call me at 510-558-8139. WINTER THRILLS de # cid # u # ous adj. Falling off or shed at a stage of growth, not permanent: antlers, leaves. sub # al # pine adj. Just below timberline; between montane and alpine; e.g. Alps region. wa* ter # shed n. Ridges of high land, dividing two areas that are drained by different systems - “water parting”. Snowshoeing the Carson Pass (8,573’) The Mokelumne Wilderness is spectacular for its location (the spine of two great watersheds), geology (volcanic and metamor- phic) and sub-alpine forest. That this region borders the Great Basin Province to the East feels palpable from the dryness of the air. One of a half-dozen or so pre- dominant trees, silhouetted against the sky, the western juniper (also known as the Sierra juniper) is gorgeous with its short, ragged, richly reddish trunk and massive crown of gray-green scale-like foliage. Fabulous individuals have been found with a trunk diameter of 16’ and estimated to be over 2,000 years old. My favorite tree guide, the National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to North American T rees, shows most trees silhouetted, as well as photographs of bark, flowers, seeds and leaves. Newt watch Drizzly twilight, a creek-side trail, and a Coast Live Oak J Calif omia- laurel grove are locally good ingredients for catching sight of these redwood-duff and bay-leaf-orange colored masterful swimmers. All summer they have been living under fog-moistened deadwood and rocks, waiting for the storms in order to come out to migrate and mate in the creeks, ponds and ditches. Rain thirst My garden rain gauge consistently records more precipitation than the newspaper’s tally for our town. In summer our redwoods catch the fog and drip considerably, making the sword ferns very happy. Trees direct and drip water to certain areas, and with the first rains, it seems to take longer for the ground sheltered by the limbs to become saturated than the wide-open areas. The shade also eans that once wet, the soil stays moist longer too. I have been lulled by our first few storms into neglecting to observe closely how wet the ground is and have cut off required irrigation prematurely. Hermit thrushes are my current crush with their dainty ways. These darling woodland birds are a bit smaller than a robin, are down south for the winter, and have discovered and love to eat my California grapes. Even the California towhee has joined them for meals, although tending to pick at the grapes - the hermit thrushes swallow grapes whole as big as will fit down their gullets ! Change of view Along the creeks, in the forest un- der-story, and amongst the coastal chaparral — new structural patterns and perspectives are on display now that the deciduous plants are in the process of shedding this year’s garments (gooseberry, buckeye, hazelnut, dogwood, elderber- ry, ninebark, lady fern, alder, willows, current, and thimbleberry). Sarah Ginskey Mostly volcanic Elephant Back Peak (9,635 ft.) The Bay Leaf January 2004 5 Veratrum fimbriatum, fringed com lily The white color of this blossom makes it visible on the dim forest floor. It also grows near the ocean in bogs and springs. On Greenhill Road north of Cherry Ridge Road in Sonoma County, I have seen a colony of fringed corn lilies blooming in October. Because the other plants had all set seed, it had all of the pollinators to itself. As they approach, the ring of yellow is the bull’s-eye that guides them to the nectar and pollen. It is an endemic of Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, a range narrower than Veratrum californicum , and its alkaloids are toxic. The rice-like seed germinate immediately and this plant is very easy to grow if you give it a lot of water and shade. Photo and notes by Margaret Ely 6 The Bay Leaf January 2004 Board of Directors Elected Officers President: Joe Willingham, 2512 Etna St., Berkeley 94704, 841-4681, pepel 066@comcast.net Vice President, Administration: Laura Baker, 79 Roble Road, Berkeley, 94705, 849-1409, Lbake@aol.com Treasurer: Holly Forbes, 7128 Blake St., El Cerrito 94530, 234-2913, w/643-8040 Secretaries: Recording: Barbara Malloch Leitner, 2 Parkway Ct., Orinda 94563, 925-253-8300, bleitner@pacbell.net Corresponding: Nathan Smith, 545 Everett St, El Cerrito, 94530, 559-8286, ncsmith@uclink.berkeley.edu Past President Tony Morosco, c/o Calflora, 937 San Pablo Ave., Albany 94706 w/528-5426, tony-morosco@calflora.org Bay Leaf Editor Joe Willingham, 2512 Etna St., Berkeley 94704, 841-4681, pepel 066@comcast.net Committee Coordinators Bay Leaf Mailing: Holly Forbes, 7128 Blake St., El Cerrito 94530, 234-2913, w/643-8040, hforbes@uclink4.berkeley.edu Book and Poster Sales: Vacant Bryophytes: Dan Norris, 802 Lexington Ave., El Cerrito 94530, 435-2004, dhnorris@uclink.berkeley.edu Conservation: Vacant East Bay Public Lands: Peter Rauch, 526-8155, peterr@socrates.berkeley.edu Education: Vacant Field Trips: Janet Gawthrop, 360 Monte Vista Ave. #214, Oakland 94610, 654 3066, Janetg24@excite.com Grants: Sandy McCoy, 1311 Bay View Place, Berkeley 94708, wbmccoy@earthlink.net Committee Coordinators Hospitality: Irene Wilkinson, 440 Camino Sobrante, Orinda 94563, 925-254-3675 Media: Elizabeth Bade, 2151 Carrol Rd„ Walnut Creek 94596, 937-8006 Membership: Delia Taylor, 1851 Catalina Ave., Berkeley 94707, 527-3912, deliataylor@mac.com Native Here Nursery: Charli Danielsen, 101 Golf Course Dr., Berkeley 94708, 549-0211, charlid@pacbell.net Native Plant Restoration Team: Sarah Ginskey, 1096 Miller Avenue, Berkeley 94708, 558-8139, sawginskey@sbcglobal.net Plant Communities: Susan Bainbridge, 2408 Parker St., Berkeley 94704, 548-2918, suebain@SSCL.Berkeley.EDU Plant Sale: Shirley McPheeters, 104 Ivy Dr., Orinda 94563, 925-376-4095 Phoebe Watts, 1419 Grant St., Berkeley 94703, 525-6614 phwatts@cs.com Plant Sale Publicity: Elaine Jackson, 3311 Estudillo St., Martinez 94553, 925-372-0687, elainejx@mindspring.com Posters: Vacant Programs: Sue Rosenthal, P.O. Box 20489, Oakland 94620, 496-6016, rosacalifornica@earthlink.net Rare Plants: John Game, 1155 Spruce St., Berkeley 94707, 527-7855 Regional Parks Botanic Garden Liaison: Sue Rosenthal, P.O. Box 20489, Oakland 94620, 496-6016, rosacalifornica@earthlink.net Unusual Plants: Dianne Lake, 1050 Bayview Farm Rd. #121, Pinole 94564, 741-8066, diannelake@yahoo.com Recorded Chapter Information: 464-4977 CNPS Home Page: www.cnps.org East Bay Chapter CNPS Home Page: www.ebcnps.org Bay Leaf & Board meeting minutes online Chapter CNPS-EB-Alerts E-mail List: Find out more; email to listserv@usobi.org with: Membership Application Name Membership category: Student, Retired, Limited income, $20 Address Individual, Library, $35 Household, Family, or Group, $45 1 wish to affiliate with: East Bay Chapter (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties) E-mail Supporting, $75 Plant lover, $100 Benefactor, $500 Other (optional) Life, $1000 Mail application and check to: California Native Plant Society, 2707 K Street, Suite 1 , Sacramento CA 95816 The Bay Leaf January 2004 7 ACTIVITIES OF OTHERS Saturday, January 31, 10 am, Rock City Area, Mt. Diablo, Contra Costa Co., California Lichen Soci- ety (CALS) Field Trip CALS potluck birthday celebration and general meet- ing, followed by The Making of the New Mini-Guide, a slide presentation by Richard and Janet Doell. We will start at the Rock Creek Area of Mt. Diablo at 10 am. Doris Baltzo, a long-time CALS member, will lead us on a lichen foray to this area. Her master’s thesis was The Lichens of Mount Diablo State Park. We will meet at the Rock City area of Mt. Diablo. Coming from the North or South on Highway 680, watch for the Mt Diablo signs, and turn east on Diablo Road (South of Alamo). Drive east to the South Gate. Rock City will be the first picnic area after the gate. This will be our starting point. We may reach the summit, which has a fire trail around it with many rock lichens. Bring a lunch. At approximately 4 pm, we will drive west over the San Rafael bridge to the Brickyard Court Clubhouse in Pt. Richmond, where we will hold our annual CALS Potluck, Birthday Celebration and General Meeting. After the meeting, Richard and Janet Doell will show slides taken in connection with the preparation of their new mini guide to Southern California Lichens, which is approaching completion, and talk about some of their experiences along the way. CALS will furnish the cake, plates, utensils and drinks for the Pot luck. Please bring your favorite dish to share. Contact Judy Robertson atjksrr@aol.com or 707-584-8099 if you plan to attend the field trip and/or dinner. California Native Plant Society East Bay Chapter P.O. Box 5597, Elmwood Station Berkeley CA 94705 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Oakland, CA Permit No. 2018 Time Value January 2004 issue