The July-August 2003 B ay Leaf California Native Plant Society • East Bay Chapter • Alameda & Contra Costa Counties Calendar of Events Plant Sale Activities, p. 2 Propagating and potting sessions, Tuesdays, July 1, 8, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 19, 26 and Saturdays, July 26 and August 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Merritt College, Oak- land Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday, July 9, 2003 at 7:30 pm at the home of Charli Danielsen, 10 Kerr Avenue, Kensington. Please note that, for this month only, the board meeting is being held on the second Wednesday of the month, not the first. Directions to 10 Kerr Ave, Kensington: From Berkeley and points south: Take Arlington Ave. from Marin Circle. Turn left on Rincon (just left of Ar- lington Community Church) and where it splits, take the left fork onto Kerr Ave. The house is on the left side of the street, across from #2 1 . From Richmond and points north: Take Arlington Av- enue through El Cerrito. A few blocks past Moeser Lane, turn right on Rincon (if you miss the first turn onto Rincon, turn by the church and refer to above direc- tions), and then sharply right onto Kerr Ave. Native Here Nursery open, p. 3 Fridays, July 4, 11, 18, 25, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, July 5, 12, 19, 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, August 2,9, 16, 23, 30, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Native Here seed collecting hikes, p. 3 Tuesdays, July 5, 12, 19, 26; August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 9 a.m. Native Plant Restoration Team, p. 3 Saturday, July 5th at 9:30 a.m., work party in the meadow at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to Mt. Diablo State Park Saturday, August 2, 9:30 to 12:30 p.m., work party at Eastshore State Park, Berkeley Field Trips, p. 4 Sunday, July 20, 2:00 p.m., Bird Trail Chabot Regional Park Wednesday, July 23, 5:00 p.m., University of Califor- nia Botanical Garden, California section Saturday, August 9, 9:30 a.m., McNabney Marsh, Martinez Membership Committee, p. 2 Solano Avenue Stroll, Sunday September 14, Berkeley and Albany Membership Meeting The East Bay CNPS chapter membership meeting will be on summer recess until September 24, 2003. Watch future issues of the Bay Leaf for announcements of upcoming programs. The Hills and Wetlands of Martinez I have lived for many years in Martinez, visited the John Muir house and walked the shore line. I had no idea what I was missing. Here are a few places I have re- cently discovered. Mount Wanda, named after one of John Muir’s children, is located near the Muir home on Alhambra Avenue. This past April a friend and I went for a stroll up the mountain. We saw fields of Ranuncu- lus califomicus (buttercup), Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia, (fiddleneck), Dichelostemmacapitatum, (blue dicks), Sisyrinchium helium, (blue-eyed-grass), Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum (soap plant), Castilleja exserta (owl’s clover) and Wyethia helenioides (mule ears) just to name a few, among the beautiful oaks and bay trees. On the other side of highway 4, just behind John Muir’s house is another hill, here we discovered fields and fields of mules ears, and a special surprise at the top. It’s a fine place to rest and view the valley. continued on page 2 Hills and Wetlands of Martinez continued from page 1 McNabney Marsh, located off of Waterbird way, is part of Peyton Slough and had been cut off from the whole of the marsh since the 1900’s. A new flooding and drain- age regime started this year along with the planting of natives from the area. Plants, Achillea millefolium (yar- row), Aster subulatusvar. ligulatus (slim aster), Baccharis douglasii (marsh baccharis), Baccharis pilularis (coyote brush), Euthamiaoccidentalis (western goldenrod), Grin- delia x palodosa (marsh gum plant), Pluchea odorata (salt marsh fleabane), and Rosa califomica (California rose), were provided by the folks from The Watershed Nursery, thewatershednursery@earthlink.net. They hold community planting parties. Contact them if you are interested in helping. Every community has creek people. Our group is Friends of Alhambra Creek. Shirley and Igor Skaredoff at skaredoff@califomia.com head the group. One of the future plans is to create a native plant garden at the Junior High School and having the students work the garden and use the plants to do restoration work along the creeks and wetland areas. They can always use more help and would like to hear from you. You can follow our newly created creek flow through downtown, Granger’s wharf, right to the edge of the Carquinez Strait, now look over, see all those old build- ings on the other part of the waterfront. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a walking trail through that area also? A group called Martinez Citizens for Responsible Growth, mcfrg@sbcglobal.net, is doing their best to make that happen. If you are interested please let them know. I am looking forward to checking out Briones with my friend Bessie Smith. Bessie is a volunteer at the John Muir Home and started a native plant garden there. She gave me a book featuring five local nature walks, A Martinez Natural History by John A. Davis. I’ll let you know how they are. Elaine P. Jackson Floral Parade for the Stroll Solano Avenue Stroll, Sunday, September 14, Berke- ley and Albany This year’s stroll will be a perfect opportunity for native plants to show off. The theme, “Imagine . . .”, asks us to create booths and parade entries to help the world bloom with hope. Parade entries will be ones that can be pushed, pulled, rolled (wheelbarrows!?) then decorated with flowers. Other ideas: electric or solar vehicles, wheelchairs, hospital beds, rickshaws, strollers, wag- ons, bicycles, tricycles, equestrians, pedestrians and any other modes of transportation. It will be a creative floral parade. We have a handsome banner that would announce who we are in the parade and later at our booth. Now we need ideas and helpers. Please contact Delia Taylor at 510-527-3912 or deliataylor@mac.com. Delia Taylor Conservation Development, land stewardship, and land use planning are going on constantly. Many eyes, ears and hands are needed to keep track of all that is going on and to be sure the voice of CNPS is heard. Do you have time to attend daytime or evening meet- ings? To read and comment on documents? To write letters? To phone people or send e-mails to get local people out to hearings, etc? If so, there is a place for you on the East Bay CNPS Conservation Committee. Contact Charli Danielsen, charlid@pacbell.net or 510- 525-9076. Charli Danielsen Plant Sale Activities Propagating and Potting Sessions: Tuesdays: July 1, 8, 22, 29 August 5, 12, 19, 26 -and- Saturdays: July 26 August 23 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Merritt College, Oakland Landscape Horticulture Parking fee: 50 cents The summer work sessions are a potting spree as we prepare plants for the annual October sale. Notice the extra days (Saturdays) necessary to get the job done. Come up and help out for a couple of hours - it will make a difference. Call 925-376-4095 if you would like directions to the campus or for further information. Plant Sale: October 4 and 5 Shirley McPheeters 2 Native Here Nursery Native Plant Restoration Team Fridays, July 4, 11, 18, 25, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, July 5, 12, 19, 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Native Here Nursery open. Volunteers and customers welcome. Fridays, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Native Here Nursery open. Volunteers and customers welcome. Tuesdays, July 5, 12, 19, 26; August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 9 a.m. Tuesday seed forays from Native Here Nursery. Summer is a good time to plan what will be needed for serious planting come fall. Native Here is a place to buy books as well as plants. Gardener’s Guide, some of the great reprints from Growing Native are for sale and have helpful ideas. We also have many reference books and periodicals that may be browsed while you visit the nursery. Vegetation Management Almanac for the East Bay Hills is available, with sections on what to con- sider in making decisions on what, when and how to manage vegetation and a wealth of color plates of seri- ous East Bay hills weeds. Seed collection Tuesdays will go through October. Meet at the golf course parking lot across from the nursery at 9 a.m. any Tuesday. Many of the trips are close enough that we return by 1 p.m., but occasionally we will plan a longer foray. If time is a concern, check the week before. E-mail is best - charlid@pacbell.net. Early trips have netted some of the native grasses, and we’ve seen lots of “goodies” in bloom that we’re hoping to get back to as seed ripens, but before the vegetation man- agement measures have wiped them out. Janice Bray has posted some pictures from the seed hikes on the chapter web site - check them out. Native Here is at 101 Golf Course Drive in Tilden Park. Follow the signs to the Golf Course and look across the road for our driveway up the hill. Volunteers are always welcome to join in whenever the nursery is open. Once familiar with nursery routines, volunteers may come in on their own schedule to help with watering, weeding and nursery production. There is always plenty to do at Native Here. As I write this in June there are thousands of seedlings waiting to go into pots. Volunteers who show up ready for work will not be disappointed. Charli Danielsen Please join us on Saturday, July 5th at 9:30 a.m. in the lovely meadow at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to Mt. Diablo State Park. We will work on pulling yellow star-thistle and Italian thistle. Last year the late sea- son wildflowers, chaparral covered hills, gentle breezes, wispy clouds and bright blue skies provided a lovely backdrop for this restoration project in its 12 th year. It was originally started as a joint project between CNPS, Save Mount Diablo, State Park personnel, the Lindsay Museum and Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association (with Charli Danielsen at the helm). N as sella pulchra (purple needle grass) has been spreading well from initial plantings and subsequent sowing of seed. Charli has kindly agreed to “hostess” the work party this year as well. In bloom last year: Milkweed, poppies, yarrow, wild roses, blue eyed grass, star lilies, etc. In leaf: buck- eyes, oaks, snowberry and willows along the seasonal creek bank. Although the restoration of a bunchgrass and wildflower grassland at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to Mt. Diablo State Park has passed its tenth year, there is still a need for volunteers who live nearby to keep an eye on the project area, do some annual mowing, and interact with State Park personnel. The project initiator, Charli Danielsen, is seeking a successor to adopt the project which she has supervised from Kensington, a commute that seems to get longer each time. Nassella pulchra has been the most successful of the grasses at the project, and there are many wildflowers which are fill- ing in. With patience, a few days each year of fairly intense activity have paid off. Another ten years and the whole field could be a nice example of native grass- land. If interested in taking on this project, contact Charli, charlid@pacbell.net. Directions: From Highway 680, take Ygnacio Valley Road through Walnut Creek/ Concord. Turn right onto Pine Hollow Road and follow it into Clayton. Turn right (South) onto Mitchell Canyon Road, and follow it to the Park. Car parking is available in the main lot and then walk back to the field you passed just before the park gate. The adjacent parking lot is reserved for horse trail- ers on the weekends. Supplies and gear: For each work party, we ask that you wear long sleeves and pants, a hat, clothing and sunscreen layers as needed for varying (probably quite warm) weather, sturdy shoes, your favorite gloves, and bring weeding/ gardening tools, adequate water (weed- ing can be hot work) and a snack as needed. We do have some gloves and tools to lend. continued on page 4 3 Native Plant Restoration Team continued from page 3 Wildflower Show Other upcoming events: Saturday, August 2, 9:30-12:30 p.m., work party at Eastshore State Park, Berkeley. We hope to see you at our events - please mark your calendars today. E-mail reminders: If you would like to be on the Resto- ration Team’s e-mail list for team events, occasional field trips, and other related events/issues, please no- tify Jim Sharp at itsa@dnai.com. (Many thanks to Jim who has offered to provide this very valuable service to the Team’s members.) General weeding: Many invasive exotic plants are flow- ering or setting seed, so it is a great time to get them first. Do you have a favorite place you’d like the Resto- ration Team to visit? Questions or comments? Please contact: Sarah Ginskey 510-558-8139. Sarah Ginskey Annual East Bay CNPS Potluck Picnic Saturday, September 20, 2003, beginning at 3:00 p.m. At the Regional Parks Botanic Garden (Intersection of South Park Drive and Wildcat Canyon Road in Tilden Park, Berkeley) All are welcome — bring your friends and family and a dish to share Enjoy food and drink, live music, native plant raffle, games, activities for all ages a garden tour, and more Details in the September Bay Leaf For more information, call 510-496-6016 The Oakland Museum Wildflower Show will be held on July 12 and 13. We will be displaying wildflowers from the Sierra Nevada this year. It should be a delightful event. We need people to help type labels and/or key out plants on Friday July 1 1 . On the days of the show we will need people to help at our membership and information table. This event is always fun and interesting and the en- trance fee to the museum is free for helpers. There will be 2 or 3 hour shifts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Please contact Delia Taylor if you can help, 510-527- 3912, deliataylor@mac . com Delia Taylor Field Trips Sunday, July 20, 2:00 p.m., Bird Trail Chabot Regional Park This short trail (about 1/2 mile with insignificant el- evation gain) is located in a transition zone between redwood forest and mixed evergreen (mostly oak/bay) forest. As a result, it is botanically very interesting, being particularly rich in shrubs. In July, we should have scarlet monkey flower, rosilla, rein orchids, and the fruits of earlier blooming flowers. The trail starts close to the MacDonald Staging Area in Chabot Regional Park off of Redwood Road. Directions: From the northern East Bay, get on 13 south (east on Ashby Avenue for example) and take the Red- wood Road exit east. Or from Oakland, you can go east on 35th Avenue, which becomes Redwood Road. From the southern East Bay, take 580 west to 13 north, and exit at Redwood Road (immediately after the 580/ 13 junction). From San Francisco, take the Bay Bridge, staying to the right (but do not go on 880 to San Jose). Take 580 east, and then 24 east (towards Walnut Creek). Take the 13 South exit from 24, and from 13 take the Red- wood Road exit. Once on Redwood Road, go east (uphill). At the top of the hill you will cross Skyline Boulevard and pass vari- ous equestrian facilities. Go down into the valley. About 2 miles from Skyline Boulevard., turn right into the MacDonald Staging Area parking lot. (It is a large lot and you cross a bridge over a creek; there is a small lot about 1/4 mile to the north which is not the correct continued on page 5 4 Field Trips continued frojm page 4 place; if you reach the entrance to Redwood Regional Park on the left, coming from the north, you have gone too far. Please contact David Margolies at 510-654-0283 or divaricatum@aol.com if you need further information. Wednesday, July 23, 5:00 p.m., University of Califor- nia Botanical Garden, California section Nathan Smith will lead an evening tour of about 2 hours, which will include information about drought adapta- tions and horticultural considerations for species found in the garden. Eriogonum and Clarkia flowers will domi- nate, but a large assortment of garden plantings bloom in the summer. Bring $ for parking and garden admis- sion. Directions: From east of the Bay Hills, take 24 west and exit at Fish Ranch Road. Follow Fish Ranch Road to Grizzly Peak. Turn north onto Grizzly Peak and fol- low it to the intersection with Centennial (stop sign at corner) . Turn left onto Centennial and follow it down- hill past Lawrence Hall of Science to the UC Botanic Garden. The parking lot lies uphill from the garden entrance, on the right side of Centennial. From points south, take 580 north into Oakland, and then exit in the right-hand division to 24 east. Exit less than a mile north at Martin Luther King/ 5 1st Street. Stay to the left in the exit lanes and follow Martin Luther King straight into Berkeley. Turn right from Martin Luther King onto Dwight Way, and follow Dwight Way uphill through Berkeley. Turn left at Prospect, or one of the other streets after Dwight reverts to 2-way, and go around the end of the football stadium. Turn right onto Centennial and follow it uphill to the parking lot, which is on the left side from this direction. Saturday, August 9, 9:30 a.m., McNabney Marsh Laura Hanson returns to lead a summer flower/marsh plant trip in McNabney Marsh, east of Martinez. The field trip will include areas subject to restoration/reveg- etation; Laura will provide information on the marsh ecology and restoration, along with identification of vari- ous wetland plant species. Participants can expect to see Iva axillaris (poverty weed), Pluchea odorata (salt marsh fleabane), and Rosa calif omica (California rose). Public access to McNabney Marsh is uncomplicated. Parking and bathrooms are available at Waterbird Road Park, just above the marsh. Directions: From most East Bay locations, take 680 north towards the Benicia Bridge. Just before the bridge toll booths, take the Marina Vista exit, and then head right onto Waterfront Road. The marsh will be on the right. Next, make a right turn onto Waterbird Road (in the direction of the dump) , and meet Laura at the marsh access near the Waterbird Road Park. Janet Gawthrop Activities of Others Yerba Buena Chapter of CNPS Field Trips Sunday, July 13, 10:00 a.m., San Bruno Mountain Loop Trail (San Mateo Co.) Join Randy Zebell to see what’s blooming on San Bruno Mountain in July. We’ll stroll along a three-and-a-half mile loop from the San Bruno Mountain Botanical Gar- den parking lot. We’ll traverse coastal scrub, grassland, and wetland plant communities and weather permit- ting, we’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Bay and ocean. To get there, enter the San Bruno Mountain State and County Park’s main gate off of Guadalupe Canyon Park- way. Turn right immediately after passing the kiosk. Go under the overpass and park in the Botanic Garden parking lot. Bring water, lunch, etc. If you need further information call Randy Zebell at 415-759-7448 Saturday, July 19, 9:30 a.m., Presidio Coastal Dunes (SF County) Summer is a great time to enjoy San Francisco’s coastal dunes. Lobos Creek Valley and North Baker Beach are two places to observe this habitat and volunteer resto- ration efforts. Mike Wood and Ruth Gravanis will lead this trip, on which we will probably see endangered Lessingia germanorum (San Francisco lessingia). Mike and Ruth will discuss recommendations in the recov- ery plan, including the importance of wind and distur- bance, and consider the threats of non-invasive exot- ics, such as ripgut brome and ice plant, and also tree removal. Meet in the parking lot at the Lobos Creek dunes (served by the #29 MUNI bus). Directions: From the southwest entrance to the Presidio (25th Avenue and El Camino Del Mar), proceed east on El Camino Del Mar. After crossing Lobos Creek, take the first turn right into the parking area for Building 1750. We will meet at the southwest comer of the park- ing area. Be prepared for wind, fog, and/or sun. Bring lunch and liquids if you want to stay for the picnic on the beach after the walk. For more information call Ruth 415-585-5304 or Mike 925-899-1282. Gardening for Wildlife This workshop and event series presented by Aquatic Outreach Institute is designed to teach residents to landscape with California native plants, and improve habitat for wildlife. Gift certificates of up to $150 from local native plant nurseries will be available to those who complete the 5 Activities of Others classes and participate in two volunteer work days with CNPS or local watershed groups. Gardening with California Native Plants Workshop, July 19, San Leandro Library, 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. Garden Design Workshop, August 23, location t.b.a., 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A non-refundable, $25 pre -registration fee is required to attend the series. For more information or to regis- ter, please check our web site at www.aoinstitute.org or contact Mary Malko at the Aquatic Outreach Insti- tute at 510-231-9430 or mary@aoinstitute.org. Partici- pants are encouraged to attend all workshops and events in the series. This program is presented by the Aquatic Outreach In- stitute in partnership with Alameda County Waste Man- agement Authority, Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and the Calfed Bay-Delta Program. This photograph shows two species of Mimulus on vemally moist gravel in late spring in the western Sierra Nevada at about 4,500 feet in eleva- tion. Mimulus bicolor (uppermost) has a yellow lower lip with a white upper lip. The uncommon Mimulus pulchellus, in the lower part of the picture, is also two-colored, with a deep pink upper lip and a mainly gold lower lip. The attractive color combination justifies the species name “pulchellus”, which means “small and beautiful”. (See this photo in color in the online Bay Leaf at www.ebcnps.org/TheBayLeaf.htm.) Photo and caption by John Game. 6 Board of Directors Elected Officers ■ Committee Coordinators President: Tony Morosco, c/o Calflora, 937 San Pablo Ave., Albany 94706 w/528-5426, tony-morosco@calflora.org Vice President, Administration: Elaine Jackson, 3311 Estudillo St., Martinez 94553, 925-372-0687, elainejx@mindspring.com Treasurer: Holly Forbes, 7128 Blake St., El Cerrito 94530, 234-2913, w/643-8040 Secretaries: Recording: Laura Baker, 79 Roble Road, Berkeley, 94705, 849-1409, Lbake@aol.com Corresponding: Nathan Smith, 545 Everett St, El Cerrito, 94530, 559-8286, ncsmith@uclink.berkeley.edu Past President Barbara Ertter, 1859 Catalina Ave., Berkeley 94707, h/526-4592, w/ 643-0600 Bay Leaf Editor Joe Willingham, 2512 Etna St., Berkeley 94704, 841-4681, pepel 066@attbi.com 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 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, 510-558-8139, 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, phoebewatts@cs.com Plant Sale Publicity: Elaine Jackson, 3311 Estudillo St., Martinez 94553, 925-372-0687 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: INFO CNPS-EB Alerts Membership Application Name Address I wish to affiliate with: East Bay Chapter (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties) Other Membership category: Student, Retired, Limited income, $20 Individual, Library, $35 E-mail Household, Family, or Group, $45 (optional) Supporting, $75 Plant lover, $100 Benefactor, $500 Life, $1000 Mail application and check to: California Native Plant Society, 1722 J Street, Suite 17, Sacramento CA 95814 7 In keeping with the theme of this year’s Oakland Museum wildflower show (see p. 4), this photograph shows high country in the southern Sierra Nevada. The location is in the Miter Basin, southwest of Mount Whitney, in August 1979. Elevations are upwards of 1 1,000 feet at the lake, rising to well above 13,000 feet in the background peaks. Photo and caption by John Game. 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 July-August 2003 issue