MEMBERSHIP MEETING Membership Meeting Summer Recess Membership meetings are on summer recess for the months of June, July, and August, but watch the website and the Bay Leaf for the September 25 program announcement. CNPS GOES INTERNATIONAL! At its meeting on May 31, the CNPS Board of Directors approved the application of 44 activists (15 are required) to become our 34th and newest chapter— Baja California. The Chapter Council had recommended approval of their application at its March meeting, which was attended by three members of the new chapter including the prospective president. We are proud they chose us because there are a number of environmental organizations in Mexico that they could have affiliated with. The new chapter will cover roughly the northern half of the Baja Peninsula, the part that is in the California floristic prov- ince. The common flora was a major reason for their desire to join us, and also a major reason for our welcoming them. Conversations and cooperation between San Diego County activists and the Baja Californians have been going on for some time. The new chapter is full of enthusiasm. They organized a field trip, expecting 15-20 people and 87 showed up. They had to find the leader a bullhorn. Spanish-language brochures have been flying off the shelves in our Sacramento office. But all is not sweetness and light. While many people say "If you want to know what [Alta] California used to look like, either turn back the clock 100 years or go to Baja," the Baja chapter faces very real conservation issues. Native plants are being plowed and bulldozed under at a rapid rate. One of the main problems is converting seaside bluffs full of native plants into strawberry fields for the US market. Lesley Hunt East Bay Chapter President ESSENTIAL REFERENCE BOOK UPDATED Annotated Checklist of the East Bay Flora: Native and Naturalized Vascular Plants of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California Second Edition Barbara Ertter and Lech Naumovich April 2013 The Checklist is a wonderful source of information about all the plants growing in the open spaces in our two counties. Each plant is listed alphabetically by species and coded native or introduced, by its habit (herbaceous, woody, fern, grass), where it is found, how common or rare it is and some identifi- cation notes. All names are current with The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition, with cross-references inserted and a list of genera by family in the back. There is a section on howto use The Jepson Manual, an interesting description of the geographic sections and subunits used, a colorful map, and many refer- ences. You can buy The Checklist using PayPal; go to www. ebcnps.org. The Checklist is also for sale at Native Here Nursery for $16. Delia Taylor ECOSYSTEM SOCIETY-JAPAN VISITS EAST BAY CHAPTER On 14 May 2013, we welcomed members of the Ecosystem Conservation Society-Japan ( http:/ / www.ecosys.or.jp/ eco- japan/ language/ english.htm l to the East Bay The Society is an NGO whose main objectives are to protect natural ecosystems, including ecosystem services and biodiversity, and to build a sustainable society based on healthy ecosystems. They contacted Chapter President Lesley Hunt in March of this year expressing their admiration for the philosophy and conservation work of CNPS and requesting that the East Bay Chapter of CNPS host their delegation of four representatives to see firsthand the Chapter's conservation efforts and achievements. Mr. Hobun Ikeya, President, Mr. Yoshinori Sayama, Director, General Affairs Dept., Mr. Takeshi Noguchi, Assistant Researcher-Climate Change and Renewable Energy, and Mr. Ken Yoshiya, Director of the Society's Washington DC office, spent the morning on a field trip to the Point Isabel re-vegetation project along the Bay Trail in Richmond. They were hosted by project co-directors, Tom and Jane Kelly, together with core project volunteer and birding enthusiast, John Kenny, as well as the East Bay Regional Park Distrct (EBRPD) Supervisor, Scott Possin. Scott provided an in-depth account of the EBRPD organization, lands managed, and their uses. Jane and Tom presented the visitors with folders containing a project FAQ, an overall description of the project (including before and after photos), photos of some of the many volunteers who have participated, pictures of the dishware shards from the Southern Pacific Railway line that were unearthed at the site, the marsh plants in bloom, and a photo collection of the shore birds we have seen at the site. The Society's President, Mr. Ikeya, is also an ornithologist so he was particularly thrilled to receive the photos of the newly resident Clapper Rail photographed by John Kenny on April 6 of this year. He also very much liked the collage showing an American Avocet, Snowy Egret, Western Sandpipers, Willets and Whimbrels photographed by core volunteer Lewis Payne. We spent three hours together walking the trail site, describing the trees, plants and wildflowers, discussing the evolution of the project, the practices employed and standards used, outreach strategies, the motivation of its many participants, the educational opportunities, and the importance of the support provided by CNPS and the EBRPD. In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Chapter's Native Here Nursery in Tilden Regional Park where John Danielsen showed them the material being grown for the restoration project at Mt. Diablo State Park and discussed some of the principles of restoration, especially in State Parks. Charli Danielsen then led the delegation through the rest of the nursery, starting with the section of Mt. Diablo plants, which has a wider variety of species than just those for the project, then the Bay/ Delta section with a very different collection of species, and the portions of the nursery with Bay Hills plants. The guests were impressed with the plants being grown and asked many questions. The diversity of plant species occurring in our two counties was a surprise to them, as was the extent of volunteer involvement in operating the nursery. At the conclusion of their visit, Charli presented the delegation with a copy of the newly published second edition of the Annotated Checklist of the East Bay Flora and a copy of Janice Bray's wonderful CD East Bay Native Plants 2012-2013. The Japanese visitors presented their hosts for the day's events with gifts including a generous donation, traditional Japanese scene postcards, bandanas with the extirpated Ibis and Stork pictured, traditional candy, and a beautiful magazine with photographs about their work and challenges in Japan. Mr. Ikeya stated that he was heartened by all he had seen that day, and hopes that similar efforts towards restoration will be possible in Japan. At the end of their trip to California, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Washington DC, the delegation was scheduled to return to Japan where they will present a report on their trip to their government. Jane and Tom Kelly Charli and John Danielsen Photo top of page 3, Japanese visitors tour taken on a field trip to the Point Isabel re-vegetation project along the Bay Trail in Richmond. Photo property of Ecological Society-Japan. Photo bottom of page 3, Japanese visitors visit Native Here Nursery. Photo property of the Ecological Society-Japan. 2 THE BAY LEAF June 2013 THE BAY LEAF June 2013 3 CONSERVATION ANALYST’S REPORT Your Chance to Help Save Tesla Park (Corral Hollow BPPA) Public Workshop June 10, 2013 6:00 pm. to 8:30 p.m. (drop-in anytime) Tracy High School Cafeteria 315 East 11th Street Tracy, CA As you're probably aware, EBCNPS has been working with The Friends of Tesla Park coalition to establish the Tesla Park land (about 3,400 acres in the southeast corner of Alameda County along the Tesla-Corral Hollow Road and part of our Corral Hollow BPPA) as a natural and historic park for low- impact recreation. The State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR), however, is moving forward on an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for adding Tesla to the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area. The draft EIR is expected this fall or winter. EBCNPS, along with our coalition partners, has been insist- ing that the EIR include analysis of non-OHV alternatives for the Tesla Park area. You can view our comment letter for this General Plan's NOP here: http: / /ebcnps.files. wordpress. com/ 2012/ 06 / ebcnps-comments-f or-nop-06_ll_12-f inal. pdf. Thus far, the OHMVR Division has stated that it will not study these and that is why we need as many people to speak up for a low-impact recreation alternative as possible. The OHMVR Division is holding a public workshop to unveil three alternatives for the EIR to evaluate. Through attending, you can show the Division that there is strong support for preserving this jewel of a park. EBCNPS, along with others in the Friends of Tesla Park co- alition, is also petitioning the OHMVR Division to schedule another workshop in Alameda County. For more information on how you can help Save Tesla Park, go to www.TeslaPark.org. EBCNPS Submits Comments on James Donlon Boulevard Extension DEIR On May 29 th EBCNPS submitted comments on the DEIR for the proposed James Donlon Boulevard Extension in Pittsburg. This roadway extension would involve the filling of multiple drainages and require more than 2 million cubic yards of grading (2,165,000 cubic yards). Our letter commented on the inadequacy of the alternatives analysis, the need to consider the growth-inducing impacts of this project, the need to plan for weed management measures, and the impor- tance of using local ecotypes of native species for landscap- ing and revegetation. You can view our comment letter on the conservation webpage here: http:/ /ebcnps. wordpress. com/ 2013/ 05/31/ 1349/. Public Response from EBCNPS Regarding FEMA Fuels Management EIS Written by Janet Gawthrop on behalf of the EBCNPS Con- servation Committee 05/30/13 California residents continue to move into the urban-wild- land interface, much like residents of other western states. "Urban-wildland interface" came into media use in coverage of western states' wildfires. Western wildfires, in turn, have claimed more media spotlight because of lives and homes lost by residents at the urban fringe. Several years ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) solicited fire prevention grant proposals from managers of public lands in the East Bay, including City of Oakland, East Bay Regional Parks, and UC Berkeley. Unfortunately, early efforts to present a coordinated, trans- parent grant proposal by all of the agencies did not material- ize. FEMA is now considering separate proposals and draft environmental impact statements (EIS) submitted by each of these agencies. In March 2009, local chapters of the California Native Plant Society, Golden Gate Audubon and the Sierra Club jointly issued a Green Paper on Fuels Management in the East Bay Hills to reconcile ecological values of the East Bay hills with realistic fire management. These environmental groups agreed in this policy statement that removal of exotic, invasive trees and understory plants can fulfill both the goals of reducing catastrophic fire risk and maintaining native habitat. Groves of blue gum trees ( Eucalyptus globulus) have had a century's head start on fire control efforts. Many residents moved into Claremont and Strawberry Canyons before local planning agencies grasped the fir e/ Eucalyptus connection. Beginning in the 1930s, East Bay Regional Parks acquired some of the remaining open land in the East Bay hills, which continue to present a mosaic of native and exotic plant spe- cies. Now population density in these hills makes the use of prescribed burns almost impossible. In Australia, land managers discovered that prescribed burns best manage healthy populations of Eucalyptus and Acacia , provided that nearby residents take proper care in home construction and maintenance. For an Australian perspective on Eucalyptus and fire manage- ment, see current information available at www.csiro.au/ en/ Organisation-Structure / Divisions / Ecosystem-Sciences / BushfirelnAustralia.aspx. The East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society cannot deny the pressure on land managers to choose tree removal over prescribed burns. However, tide proposals of dif- ferent agencies present different methodology for removal. 4 THE BAY LEAF June 2013 For that reason, the conservation committee recommends the tree removal program as presented by UC Berke- ley for its lands in Strawberry and Claremont Canyons. Among the detailed comments that EBCNPS plans to submit to FEM A on its fuels management plan, we will be urging both FEMA and the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) to use the current survey standards of the Manual of California Vegetation, 2d edition, to update EBRPD' s fuel management plan vegetation surveys for all its "recommended treatment areas" (RTAs), including those RTAs subject to the FEMA fire management plan (and FEMA funding conditions). Conservation Committee, East Bay Chapter California Na- tive Plant Society The Conservation Committee is always looking for new volunteers to get involved in our many projects. If you are interested in working with me on any of the projects that you have read about on our blog or in past Conservation Analyst Updates, please feel free to contact me by phone at (510) 734- 0335 or by email at conservation@ebcnps.org. And as always, for more detailed updates on all of our conservation projects, please visit the Conservation Blog at: http: / / ebcnps.wordpress.com/ Mack Casterman Mack botanizing this spring in the endangered Tesla Park with East Bay Chapter Vegetation Co-chairs Nicole Jur- javcic and Megan Keever. Photo by Jean Robertson. Once in his life a man ought to concentrate his mind upon the remembered earth. He ought to give himself up to a particular landscape in his experience, to look at it from as many angles as he can, to wonder upon it, to dwell upon it. He ought to imagine that he touches it with his hands at every season and listens to the sounds that are made upon it. He ought to imagine the creatures there and all the faintest motions of the wind. M. Scott Momaday THE BAY LEAF June 2013 5 SAVING KNOWLAND PARK Sky High Look at Knowland Park On a sunny May morning a few weeks ago a helicopter took to the skies over Knowland Park. Flown by a Friends of Knowland Park volunteer who donated his professional pilot services, the helicopter made passes over the park so that the professional photographer on board could take a series of photographs and video to help the public better visualize this extraordinary resource. The entire series of pictures will be available soon, but meanwhile we've included two as part of our update on the issue of the zoo's proposed expansion into Knowland Park. Each photo tells a story of the vegeta- tion, topography and geography of the park. Knowland Park Is a Critical Linkage to Other Wildlands in the East Bay Photograph 1 was shot from west to east along the length of Knowland Park, a rectangular peninsula of undeveloped land rising above the urban environment and extending all the way to Anthony Chabot Regional Park, which can be seen as a horizontal dark line stretching from far left to Lake Chabot on the right. Beyond Chabot Park are the wildlands of the Upper San Leandro Reservoir of East Bay Municipal Utility District. Beyond that on the horizon is Mt. Diablo. From this angle and elevation, it is possible to see how the undeveloped portion of Knowland park connects to the wildlands to the east, forming a wildlife corridor that allows animals to move along east- west and north-south axes. Just above Highway 580 at the bottom of the photograph is the Oakland Zoo, occupying the lower portion of Knowland Park. Note the large amount of unused land that is currently available for development within the zoo's existing footprint, including the dry grassy area in the lower right hand corner and the green irrigated parklands. At the near center point of the photo is a small gray chevron— the zoo's new veterinary hospital situated at the furthest eastward extension of the zoo. The planned 56-acre expansion would leapfrog from the current footprint to the knolls above bypassing yet more available land. The Park's Rich Native Plant Resources Photograph 2 illustrates the reason why Knowland Park, in its undeveloped state, offers the public an easily accessible opportunity to visit some prime examples of California's native communities. The angle of the shot is from northeast to southwest. Four different plant communities occupy the lower right quadrant of the photo, which reveals a portion of the north slope of the park: coastal scrub intergrading with coast live oak woodland stretches away from the fire road curving up from the bottom of the canyon. The gray-green strips of vegetation on the right are rare maritime chaparral. Rare native bunchgrass prairie and wildflower fields punctu- ate the grassland areas. This close assemblage of high quality woodlands, scrublands, and grasslands increases the diversity of species found there, including 46 locally rare and 2 state- wide rare plant species, and many different species of wildlife, including the threatened Alameda whipsnake. Yet it is precisely this area that the zoo has chosen to develop with its California Trails exhibit. Contrary to the zoo's claim that its exhibit would educate the public about what California looked like before 1850, the project would grade, fence, and destroy much of this site and forever remove the public's right to visit and explore these wildlands as they are. From this elevation the zoo's parking lot is visible on the right side of the photo. However at ground level in the middle of the project site, the zoo cannot be seen at its location far downhill. This type of sprawl is inimical to the principles of conservation and makes a mockery of the concept of a "con- servation" exhibit. The Zoo's Proposal to Build on the Heart of the Park The third photo is taken from the northwest across the west- ern knolls, crisscrossed by fire roads. This is the heart of the park, the favorite destination of visitors heading west for the spectacular views or to explore the most biologically di- verse area. It is also the central portion of the zoo's proposed project site. Look closely and you'll see people standing with red flags throughout the project site to give a sense of scale. The fire road that ends at the left side of the photo next to the eucalyptus tree is the location of the proposed Interpre- tive Center and the terminus of the aerial gondola line that would cut directly across the area depicted in the photo from the zoo to the west. Also visible from this angle is the stand of rare maritime chaparral in the foreground running along two ridges. The dense gray green canopy is lightened in this season by the profuse white blooming of the chamise. Home to many spe- cies of wildlife, including the threatened Alameda whipsnake, the chaparral is a plant community that can burn with great intensity. Rather than move the buildings, animal enclosures, and aerial gondola away from the chaparral, sparing the rare resources and increasing public safety, the zoo has opted to keep this location and cut 75% of the plant canopy. What's next? The zoo submitted its revised Biological Assessment in March to the regulatory agencies, omitting any mention of the rare maritime chaparral despite the fact that the top state vegeta- tion ecologist visited the site with zoo personnel to confirm the occurrence. EBCNPS and Friends of Knowland Park sub- mitted a detailed report last month, including a legal letter, to the agencies documenting the "denial and disappearance" 6 THE BAY LEAF June 2013 strategy that the zoo is using to try to gain its permits (see our conservation website for the report). The report also con- tained an extensive review by wildlife biologist Dr. Shawn Smallwood, of the highly flawed Alameda whipsnake portion of the zoo's Biological Assessment. The Center for Biological Diversity concurred with this analysis and submitted a letter of its own to the agencies, urging that they withhold permits from the project. Word on the street is that the zoo has already begun its prepa- rations for placing a new parcel tax on the ballot, though no formal announcement has been made. We will be following up our letter with actions in which the public can become involved. Stay tuned through our conser- vation website (ebcnps.wordpress.com) for our next steps. The Knowland Park Team The Knowland Park aerial photograph above and those on page 8 are by Steve Whittaker In this age , when a meager utilitarianism seems ready to absorb every feeling and sentiment , and what is sometimes called improvement in its march makes us fear that the bright and tender flowers of the imagination shall all be crushed beneath its iron tramp, it would be well to cultivate the oasis that yet remains to us, and thus preserve the germs of a future and a purer system. Thomas Cole, from "Essay on American Scenery" THE BAY LEAF June 2013 7 SAVING KNOWLAND PARK continued from page 7 8 THE BAY LEAF June 2013 RESTORATION Garber Park Habitat Restoration: Join the Garber Park Stewards for the second of their two June Work Parties. The first, on Tuesday, June 4, 10 am-noon has already oc- curred, but you can participate in the second, on Saturday, June 15 from 10 am-noon. The planting season is over, the rains have abated, and fire season is already upon us, so we are now focusing our efforts on preparing the park for the long dry season ahead. We will continue to pull and chop the weeds— veldt grass (Ehrharta erecta), himalayan black- berry, ivy, poison hemlock, broom sprouts— from our two restoration areas and the Loop Trail. Last month we began a new and fun project— finding the old 1920 , s trail that winds its way down the hillside below Fireplace Plaza to the large parking turn-out on Claremont Ave. We have found old stone stairs and rock walls from the old trail. If you would like to help with this project come prepared to walk steep, uneven terrain which is still covered in years of eucalyptus debris and Algerian ivy. For all workdays in Garber: Wear long sleeves and pants, and shoes with good tread. Drinks, snacks, tools and gloves are NATIVE HERE The 2013 Plant Fair is scheduled for October 12 and 13 th . Steve Toby has agreed to be the Plant Fair Chair. Thanks and congratulations to Steve! The "leads" for various functions will meet again on June 22. Contact Steve Toby (stevetoby@ comcast.net, 510-236-1063) or the nursery to get involved. While many volunteers are needed just before, during and after the Fair itself, preparations for the Fair are intertwined with ongoing operation of Native Here Nursery, as all the plants sold during the Fair are grown here. Watering a specific section of the nursery one or two times a week is a great way to become familiar enough with the plants in it to be of tremendous help selling them on Plant Fair day, and also when customers come in during regular Native Here hours. Helping Penny Spear take inventory of the plants is another great way to prepare. Not only are cashiers needed during the Plant Fair, cashiering help during other times Native Here is open is greatly needed and a good way to become Special from Native Here Through July 20, 2014 this coupon entitles the bearer to "two for one" on grasses at Native Here. Buy one, get a second of the same or smaller size free! provided, but do bring your own gloves and water bottle if you have them. Meet at the Evergreen Lane entrance unless otherwise stated. For a map and directions click here. For more information contact garberparkstewards@gmail.com or visit our blog at www. garberparkstewards.org . lSunday, June 16, Sibley, Regional Park 9:00 am. Skyline parking lot Meet us at the parking lot on the Oakland side of Sibley, where we'll decide the work location based on the weather and condition of the weeds. Wherever we work, long pants and long-sleeve shirts are recommended to help block poison oak. Park staff will provide water, gloves and tools, but send tool requests to sibley@ebparks.org or janetgawthrop47@ gmail.com Janet Gawthrop familiar with our sales recording procedures. As ground shifts, wood decays and metal rusts, portions of the plant protection and display spaces need to be rebuilt. Currently a volunteer is working on replacing one of the shed's doors, another constructs protective wire cages, from time to time, groups of volunteers get to "play with blocks" resetting the concrete blocks and boards that keep the plants away from the ground and accessible to customers. Ongoing potting up, weeding, and moving plants around keep volunteers busy and more hands are always welcome. Once a month, once a week, or even sporadically as you have time, you are welcome to volunteer at Native Here! Native Here Nursery project of East Bay CNPS 101 Golf Course Drive in Tilden Park 510 549-0211 nativeherenursery.org and on Facebook Charli Danielsen, nursery manager This offer is good until July 20, 2014, or until supply runs out, whichever comes first. THE BAY LEAF June 2013 9 DIRECTORY Officers President Lesley Hunt lldhunt@astound.net Vice President and Chapter Council Delegate Bill Hunt wjhunt@astound.net Recording Secretary Tina Wistrom cmwistrom@yahoo.com 510- 207-0370 Corresponding Secretary Robert Sorenson rls@sorensonvision.com Treasurer David Margolies 510-654-0283 dm@franz.com Committees Bayleaf Newsletter Bay Leaf Editor and Webmaster, Chair Joe Willingham 510-705-1798 pepel 066@comcast.net Bay Leaf Assistant Editor David Margolies 510-654-0283 dm@franz.com Conservation Jean Robertson, Chair gaiajean@yahoo.com Conservation Analyst Mack Casterman conservation@ebcnps.org 510-734-0335 Funds Development Delia Taylor, Chair deliataylor@mac.com Field Trips Janet Gawthrop, Chair janetgawthrop47@gmail.com Hospitality vacant Information Infrastructure Peter Rauch, Chair peterar@berkeley.edu Membership Emma Jack 408-391-2454 emma.jack@gmail.com Volunteer coordinator Delia Taylor volunteer@ebcnps.org Programs Sue Rosenthal rosacalifornica2@earthlink.net 510-496-6016 Rare Plants Heath Bartosh, Chair 925-957-0069 hbartosh@nomadecology.com Bryophytes John Game, Chair 510-527-7855 jcgame@stanford.edu Unusual Plants Dianne Lake, Chair 510-691-1428 diannelake@yahoo.com Vegetation Megan Keever, Co-Chair megan@stillwatersci.com Nicole Jurjavcic, Co-Chair nicole@stillwatersci.com EBCNPS Sponsored Activi- ties East Bay Chapter News list Emailed announcements of upcoming EBCNPS events List manager--Martha Booz mlbooz@calnatives.com Native Here Nursery 510-549-0211 Manager — Charli Danielsen nativehere@ebcnps.org Sales — Margot Cunningham bunchgrassmarg@gmail.com Plant Fair Steve Toby Chair 510-236-1063 stevetoby@comcast. net Restoration Huckleberry Regional Preserve Janet Gawthrop, leader janetgawthrop47@gmail.com Point Isabel Tom and Jane Kelly, leaders 510-704-8628 (w) 510-684-6484 (c) kyotousa@sbcglobal . net Marsh Creek Heath Bartosh, leader 925-957-0069 hbartosh@nomadecology.com John Muir NHS (Martinez) Elaine Jackson, leader 925-372-0687 elainejx@att.net Walnut Creek Lesley Hunt, leader 925-937-6791 ldhunt@astound.net Publicity Bay Leaf Mailing vacant Holly Forbes hforbes@berkeley.edu h 510-234-2913 w 510-643-8040 Membership Application and Renewal Form Name Address Zip Telephone Email I wish to affiliate with: East Bay Chapter (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties) Other Membership category: Individual, $45 Family, Library, Group or International, $75 Plant lover, $100 Patron, $300 Benefactor, $600 Mariposa Lily, $1500 Limited Income or student, $25.00 Other Mail application and check to: California Native Plant Society, 2707 K Street, Suite 1, Sacramento CA 95816 10 THE BAY LEAF June 201 3 FIELD TRIPS Sunday, June 9, 2013, Mount Diablo Falls Trail, Middle Trail, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, 20 Rialto Dr, Clayton This is a moderate round trip of 5 miles with 1200 feet eleva- tion gain on the way out. It will be mostly downhill on the return trip, and we expect to be out 5-7 hours. Bring lunch and at least 1.5 liters of water. We will start on Clayton Oaks trail, and proceed from there to Bruce Lee Spring trail, lower Donner trail, and on to Wasserman and Falls trails. Expect to see Coyote mint (Monardella douglasii) and tincture plant (Collinsia tinctoria) in flower, along with several paintbrush species, several Clarkia species, Sedum radiatum, Campanula ex- igua, Indian pink (Silene califomica), Chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana), California milkweed (Asclepias califomica ), Phacelia spp., Cryptantha spp., maybe Mount Diablo jewelflower, and lots of common plants. We should arrive back at the parking lot around 3-4 pm. Directions: Take 24 or 680 to Ygnacio Valley Road, and con- tinue on Ygnacio Valley Road several miles into the city of Clayton. At the intersection of Ygnacio Valley and Clayton Road, turn right at the stop light onto Clayton Road. Stay on Clayton Road past the first intersection with Marsh Creek Road; in about a mile, Clayton Road becomes Marsh Creek Road. Continue straight on Marsh Creek Road to Regency Drive, where you turn right. Go 3 blocks on Regency Drive, and then turn left on Rialto Drive. Go to the end of Rialto Drive and park. Do not go to the end of Regency, because that is a different access point. Gregg Weber will lead. Saturday, June 22nd, 2013, Tomales Bay Rare Plant Treasure Hunt Join CNPS and California State Parks for a Rare Plant Treasure Hunt at Tomales Bay. We'll hike through wet meadows and along some of the marshes near Millerton Point in search of Point Reyes bird's beak (Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre), Humboldt Bay owl's clover ( Castilleja ambigua var. humbold- tiensis), Marin knotweed (Polygonum marinense) as well as a few Rank 4 rare plants (Hosackia gracilis and Calochortus uni- floms). This will be an easy hike on mostly flat land. In order to cover a larger portion of the Millerton Management Unit, we'll split up into several groups. Meet at 9 am at the Millerton Point parking area off of Hwy 1, on the east side of Tomales Bay. From Point Reyes Station, head north on Hwy 1 for about 5 miles. The parking area will be on the left. Send an email to dslakey@cnps.org to RSVP for this trip, or if you have any questions. Saturday, June 29, 10:00 am. Coyote Hills Regional Park Join us at the parking lot outside the visitor center (overflow parking area next to the water has the best bird watching). We'11 revisit trails near the water to look for plants in flower, and perhaps early fruit. For those who want to know what to expect, see Phyllis Faber's Common Wetland Plants of Coastal California, particularly the section on salt marsh flora. In dry years, salt marshes and other sites near water have some of the latest blooms in the area. Bring sunscreen, water, and lunch if you want to opt for the extended option (Apay Trail across to USFSW Refuge). Directions: From the 880 freeway, exit to 84 west toward the Dumbarton Bridge. Exit 84 at Paseo Padre Parkway, which is the last exit before the bridge toll booth. Turn right onto Paseo Padre Parkway, and then left onto Patterson Ranch Road to follow the signs to the entry kiosk and visitor center (bring $ for parking). Mass Transit Directions: Take BART and get off at the Union City stop. At the bus stops next to the BART parking lot, take AC Transit # 332, towards New Park Mall/Newark. Get off at the intersection of Ardenwood Blvd and Commerce, and walk/ bike southwest towards the water. Commerce Dr. changes its name to Patterson Ranch Road as you cross Paseo Padre Parkway, but you follow the paved path alongside until you reach the visitor center. Janet Gawthrop will lead. Weaving together the large and small fragments of natural habitat on both public and private lands is the only way to fully protect America's natural heritage. Even an acre of old timber, a remnant wetland, or an isolated spring often harbors hundreds of species, including many of threatened status. By inventing new economic incentives for conserving these special places on private lands, the spirit of wilderness can be taken literally to the grasssroots and made more fully part of the national passion. Recognition and reward can engage the attention and win the support of landowners and local communities. These are the practical steps we must take to join our daily lives more fully with the natural world. E.O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life THE BAY LEAF June 2013 11 2013 CONSERVATION ANALYST FUND Goal achieved for 2013 Conservation Analyst Fund We have reached our goal of $40,000, the funds we need to support Mack Casterman through December. Special thanks go to Tom Wolf (son of Myrtle Wolf, who passed away last year). Tom's very generous contribution brought us to our goal of $40,000. Myrtle Wolf was a stalwart contributor in the East Bay chapter for over 30 years. She was a major force in the development of our annual plant sales as fundraisers and in promoting the use of native plants in the California landscape. She was made a Fellow of CNPS in 1987. Myrtle was also very active at the University of California Botanical Garden. Volunteers at Native Here Nursery are taught to do the "Myrtle Shake". Come up to the nursery to find out just what that is! Heartfelt thanks to the following donors who have contribut- ed to the Chapter and the 2013 Conservation Analyst Fund: John Alcorn, Karen Asbelle, Eleanor Bade, Eaura Baker and Lewis Lubin, Joy Barnitz, Heath Bartosh, Bob Battagin, Laura Beckett, Linda and Richard Beidelman, Robert and Evelyn Berman, Martha Berthelsen, Bruce Beyaert, David Bigham and Howard Arendtson, Aria Bonnett, Martha Breed, Shelagh Brodersen, Zelda Bronstein, Margaret Brostrom, Roy Buck, Amida Cary, Bob Case, Carmen Castain, Carol and John Casterman, Carol and Pedro Castro, Dan Cheatham, Albert Chung, Patricia Coffey, Robert and Carol Coon, Beverly Cover, Mary Frances Dahlquist, Charli and John Danielsen, Elizabeth Davidson, Sally deBecker, Adrienne Debisschop, William De- jager, Mark Detterman, John and Lisa Doyen, Mary Dreiman, Sue Duckies, Christopher Erickson, Barbara Ertter, James and Betsy Flack, Holly Forbes and Gerald Ford, Norman Frank, Gordon Frankie, Dorothy Frantz, Lisa Frost, Sara Gabriel, Janet Gawthrop, Clara Gerdes, William Gilbert, Kathleen Gilcrest, Dan Gluesenkamp, Marilyn and Amos Goldhaber, Michael Graf, Katherine Greenberg, Sandy Greenwald, Judith Ann Gurbaxani, Anthon Hahne, Joan Hamilton, Mary Ann Hannon, Jim Hanson, Joyce Hawley, Miao He, Claudia and Scott Hein, Daniel Hill, Kristin Homme, Kristin Hopper, Jus- tine Hume, Lesley and Bill Hunt, Grace Hyde, Carolyn Jacobs, Anni Jensen and Carol J Manahan, Dwight Johnson, Philip Johnson, Robert Jolda, Larry Jones, Nicole Jurjavcic, Timothy Kask, Elizabeth Katz, Megan Keever, Tom and Jane Kelly, John Kenny, Caroline Kim, Julie Kinder, Marian Kirch and Cynthia Siegel, Gudrun Kleist, Marcia Kolb, Jill Korte, Kathy Kramer, Christopher Kroll, Arvind Kumar and Ashok Jethanandani, Watson Laetsch, Eve Lednicky, Barbara and Philip Leitner, David and Evelyne Lennette, Ed Leong, Vera Lis, David Loeb, Lois and Harry Lutz, Mike Lynes, Matt Madison, Ruth Malone and Terry Sayre, Tamia Marg, David Margolies, Sandy McCoy and Natasha Beery, Shirley McPheeters, Jon Merkle, Louise Miller, Gregory Moore, Caroline Moyer, Brian Napolitan, Lech Naumovich, Linda Newton, Dan Norris and Nancy Hillyard, Bill Nownes, Richard O'Donnell, Anne and Charles Olsen, Sharon Ordeman, Carol Pachl, Lisa and Andy Paterson, Anita Pearson, Deborah Peterson, Tom Reid, John Roberts, Jean Robertson, Richard and Doris Ryon, Philip and Shirley Schild, Dick Schneider, William Schramer, Susan Schwartz, Brenda Senturia, Suzanne Skrivanich, David Smith, Elizabeth Sojourner, Norma Solarz, Robert Sorenson, Linda Spahr, Nicki Spillane, Malcolm Sproul, Jacqueline Steiner, Emile Strauss, Ann Sullivan, Aaron Sunshine, Robert and Martha Sykora, Ted Tawshunsky, Delia and John Taylor, Chris Thayer, Liz Varnhagen, Charles Verrill, Jeanne Walpole, Stephen Walsh and Brenda Buxton, Joyce Walton, Phoebe Watts, Catherine Whiteside, Kitty Whiteside, Susan Wickham, Andrea Wil- liams, Joe and Doris Willingham, Christina Wistrom, Elaine Worthington-Jackson, Roberta Zorzyski In memory of Barbara Louie, a long time volunteer at Native Here Nursery Margot Cunningham, Sara Goolsby, Delia Taylor In honor of Delia Taylor Mary Alderson Thanks to the following organizations who have made gener- ous contributions to the Chapter: Berkeley Garden Club Earthly Delights Oaktown Native Nursery Piedmont Garden Club Prestige Printing and Graphics, San Ramon Stout Foundation Delia Taylor 12 THE BAY LEAF June 2013