November 2003 ■ r ■y . . The /■ Bay Leaf California Native Plant Society • East Bay Chapter • Alameda & Contra Costa Counties Calendar of Events The printed version of the October Bay Leaf has the wrong date for Barbara Ertter’s field trip on Dia de los Muertos. The correct date: Saturday, November 1, 10 a. m. Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday, November 5, 2003 at the home of Elaine Jackson, 3311 Estudillo Street, Martinez Directions from Highway 4: take the Alhambra Avenue. Exit, turn toward downtown, go about a mile or so, then go right onto Alhambra Way (Walgreens on corner), go a block or so and go left onto Estudillo Street, about 2 blocks, turn right on to Park Glen and park. Walk up the access road that is on your left as you turn up Park Glenn (1 house, then access road) counting the house on the corner, we are the third house up. If you happen to be first to arrive there is one spot in the driveway. Please give me a call or e-mail me if you have any questions. (See roster on page 6.) Native Plant Restoration Team, p. 4 Saturday, November 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., “Hands on Restoration” Seminar at Native Here Nursery Thursday, November 6, 1 to 4 p.m., Wildcat Creek Res- toration Project, Tilden Park Plant Sale Activities, p. 2 Tuesdays, November 4, 11, 18, 25, at Merritt College, Oakland Native Here Nursery, p. 4 November 7, 14, 21, 28, Fridays, Native Here Nursery open 9-noon November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Saturdays, Native Here Nursery open 10-1 Field Trips, p. 3 Saturday, November 1, 10:00 a.m., Dia de los Muertos botanical pilgrimage to the gravesites of some great California botanists Sunday, November 16, 2:00 p.m., walk along ridge of San Bruno Mountain Membership Meeting, see below Wednesday, November 19, 2003, 7:30 p.m., Auditorium, Orinda Public Library Membership Meeting Plant Galls of California Speaker: Ron Russo Wednesday, November 19, 2003, 7:30 p.m. Auditorium, Orinda Public Library (directions below) Many of California’s native plants serve as focal points around which numerous vertebrate and invertebrate species spend some or all of their lives. One of the less- er-known plant-animal interactions is the incredible display of plant galls or tumor -like swellings induced largely by specific insects. These strange growths ap- pear mostly on the leaves, buds, stems, and flowers of native plant hosts. Tiny wasps, flies, moths, mites, and various fungi and viruses are the principal agents in- volved in gall formation. Of special interest is the number of species that appear on oaks, willows, sages, and wild roses. This month’s speaker, Ron Russo, will take us on a lively and entertaining journey into the realm of plant galls and gall inducers in our California flora. Ron Russo is the Chief Naturalist for the East Bay Re- gional Park District. He has published six field guides, including Plant Galls of the California Region, and nu- merous papers and articles in journals and magazines. He has lectured and taught extensively throughout continued on page 2 Membership Meeting continued from page 1 Plant Sale Activities California and beyond. In addition to plant galls, his specialties include mushrooms, nudibranchs, sharks, mammals, and humpback whales. East Bay CNPS membership meetings are free of charge and open to everyone. This month’s meeting will take place in the Auditorium of the Orinda Public Library at 24 Orinda Way (in Orinda Village). The Auditorium is on the second floor of the building, accessible by stairs or an elevator. The Auditorium will open at 7:00 p.m. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the presentation. Please contact Sue Rosenthal, 510-496-6016 or rosacalifornica@earthlink.net, if you have any questions. Directions to Orinda Public Library at 24 Orinda Way: From the west, take Highway 24 to the Orinda/ Moraga exit. At the end of the offramp, turn left on Camino Pablo (toward Orinda Village), right on Santa Maria Way (the signal after the BART station and freeway entrance), and left on Orinda Way. From the east, take Highway 24 to the Orinda exit. Follow the ramp to Orinda Vil- lage. Turn right on Santa Maria way (the first signal) and left on Orinda Way. Go one short block on Orinda Way to the parking lot on the southeast side of the new 2-story building on your right. There is additional free parking beneath the building as well as on the street. From BART (4 blocks): Exit from the Orinda station, turn right and cross a pedestrian bridge, then cross a second pedestrian bridge on the left. Go one short block on the sidewalk to the third pedestrian bridge. Go 2 blocks on Orinda Way to the Orinda Library. Many, many thanks to the people behind the Plant Sale in October: from the year-round volunteers who grew the plants then put the Sale together, to the folks who pitched in and helped with final arrangements and met the customers. The response to our plant offerings was very gratifying and a busy time was had by all. There are good shrubs and perennials remaining that are available for purchase Tuesday mornings, during our work sessions. Tuesdays November 4, 11, 18, 25 9 a.m. to noon Merritt College, Oakland Landscape Horticulture Dept. About our plants . . . Our garden soils may still be warm, and that makes for good planting time - but if the fall rains are late or non-existent do not let the soil dry out. Before your natives get their roots down and become established (and winter rains soak in and take over) they need to be watered by you. Some will continue to need regular water through sum- mers too, to look good in the garden. Much will depend on your soil, slope, exposure, and so on. This is true for all plants, native or not, and comes down to getting acquainted with what you have. Upcoming Programs December, 2003: No meeting — happy holidays! January 28, 2004: Matteo Garbelotto — Phytophthoras, including an update on Sudden Oak Death Although our chapter does not have a discussion group to address horticultural concerns, there are many ex- perienced gardeners among the members. One contact would be the Tuesday potting group at the nursery. An- other would be the volunteers in Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park, Thursday mornings. Sue Rosenthal Shirley McPheeters, 925-376-4095 Conservation Committee Would you like to help save native plant populations in the East Bay? Here are some things you can do: q Look at CNPS Conservation policies on the state CNPS web site, www.cnps.org. q Identify contacts you might have in a public agency that controls open space lands. q Come on a CNPS field trip, rare plant or plant communities activity. q Estimate how much time you have to read docu- ments, attend meetings, etc. q Come to the Conservation Committee meeting on Thursday, November 13, 7:30 p.m. at the Danielsens’, 10 Kerr Avenue, Kensington. q Contact East Bay CNPS Conservation coordi- nator Charli Danielsen, charlid@pacbell.net, or any board member to discuss your interest and availability. 2 Field Trips Dia de los Muertos Botanical Pilgrimage Saturday, November 1, 10:00 a.m. This year CNPS will once again celebrate Dia de los Muertos, the traditional day for remembering and honoring deceased relatives, with a pilgrimage to the gravesites of some of our botanical “ancestors” who have been laid to rest locally. The pilgrimage to Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland will be led by Barbara Ert- ter, who will weave the personal stories of the botanists whose gravesites we visit into an overall history of the early years of California botany. Albert Kellogg, John G. Lemmon, Sarah Plummer Lemmon, and Volney Rat- tan are among the botanists buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, whose gravesites will be visited. Meet at the entrance to Mountain View Cemetery at 10 a.m. Drivers may wish to park just outside the gate, because construction just inside the cemetery entrance has taken up some parking. Directions: For mass transit users, take the 51 AC Transit bus south from Rockridge BART, and get off at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and Broadway. Then walk south past the Rockridge shopping center light on Pleasant Valley Road, and turn left and walk to the cemetery entrance from the second traffic light at Piedmont Ave. and Pleasant Valley Road. From Highway 13 in either direction, exit at Thornhill/ Moraga Ave. and follow Moraga Avenue downhill (generally southwest) to its end, at the traffic light on Pleasant Valley Road. Turn right onto Pleasant Valley Road, and continue one block uphill to the traffic light at Pleasant Valley Road and Piedmont Avenue. Turn right onto Piedmont and follow it one block to the cemetery entrance. From 580 northbound, exit at Harrison Street/ Oakland Avenue; the exit ramp becomes MacArthur Boulevard. Follow MacArthur straight until its intersection with Piedmont Avenue (another traffic light) . Turn right onto Piedmont and follow it slowly and straight, through all traffic lights and Sunday traffic, to the entrance to Mountain View Cemetery. Sunday, November 16, 2:00 p.m. A walk along the ridge at the top of San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County. The mild climate caused by the nearness of the ocean means that some things will likely still be in bloom. Even if not, San Bruno Mountain has plenty of unusual shrubs and other plants of interest. Meet at the parking lot by the radio transmitters at the summit. Directions: From Highway 101, take the Bayshore Boulevard/ Brisbane exit. Continue on Bayshore Bou- levard to Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. Turn west on Guadalupe Canyon Parkway toward the right and go to the park entrance. Pass the pay station (you must pay even if no staff is on duty). Do not park in the lot near the pay station. Instead, proceed past that lot and through the tunnel under Guadalupe Canyon Park- way. Follow the road to the summit and park in the lot there. Contact David Margolies at 510-654-0283 or divaricatum@aol.com for more information. Janet Gawthrop Autumn Glow The changing light that indicates Fall is on the way, also means that along the trails, our hardy natives haven’t had a significant drink of water since early May (ac- cording to my records) - so many of them are well into their molting phase. Lovely seasonal colors are evident in patches of flaming red poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), drifts of light orange big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) leaves, bright yellow and terra cotta bay (Umbellularia califor- nica) leaves, the raging reds and soft yellows of Cali- fornia’s native grape (Vitis californica), and occasionally the gentle reds of fallen toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) leaves. California coffeeberry’s (Rhamnus californica ssp. californica) showy berry clusters are changing from maroon to black and California honeysuckle’s (Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans) sweet little sprays of pink flowers have turned into nearly translucent red orbs. Many of these leaves and berries can be used in floral arrangements - an added bonus of having them in your own garden. Poison oak is not recommended for that purpose! There are also flowers in bloom now. California fuch- sia’s ( Epilobium californica) showy orange tubes (loved by hummingbirds), and an unusual abundance of the lovely aster’s ( Aster chilensis ) light lavender daisy- like flowers and the rich yellow plumes of golden rod (Solidago californica). Some coyote bushes (Baccharis pilularis) are blooming as well - not a showy blossom, but certainly important to the many pollinating insects that need food. Once in a while, I stumble across a lupine (Lupinus ssp.), California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) or yarrow (Achillea millefolium) that somehow has the energy to bloom this late in the year too. The buckeyes or horse-chestnuts ( Aesculus californica) have already lost their leaves in many locations, and their silhouettes are striking with globular fruits hanging like pendants against the sky. Sarah Ginskey He who knows what sweets and virtues are in the ground, the waters, the plants, the heavens, and how to come at these enchantments, is the rich and royal man. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), Essays, Second Series , 1844 3 Native Plant Restoration Team Native Here Nursery res*to»ra*tion n. The act of putting someone or something back into a prior position, place, or condition. October - Our chapter’s annual plant sale was well attended by both Restoration Team members and the enthusiastic crowds that lined up over 25 deep before the gates even opened. This wonderful event provides gardeners access to native seeds, bulbs and a wide variety of plants that are ready for Fall planting. Inspiration and technical informa- tion were available at the bookstand - featuring a nice array of field guides, gardening guides and natural history essays. Volunteers wearing orange armbands answered questions and assisted customers with purchases. Many thanks to the dedicated people who work throughout the year to make our chapter’s main source of income possible. November 1, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Autumn is here. Join us at our chapter’s Native Here Nursery for a mini seminar “Hands On Restoration” - in the lovely Wildcat Canyon watershed. We will create a demonstration garden while covering basic restoration goals, site assessment and planning tasks, plant selection and implementation tips, etc. Seed collecting, propa- gation, plant care techniques, and the Nursery’s goals will also be highlighted. Steady rain cancels. 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 weeding/ gardening tools. We do have some gloves and tools to lend. Directions: Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Drive, Berkeley, 510-549-0211. From Highway 80, take the Bu- chanan Street exit, continue across San Pablo Avenue and this street becomes Marin Avenue. Continue all the way up the hill to Grizzly Peak Boulevard. Turn right on Grizzly Peak and then left onto Shasta. At the four -way intersection, turn right onto Golf Course Drive. The nursery is on the west side of the street, across from the entrance to the Golf Course. (On line, MapQuest should give directions from your house to the nursery’s address). December 6, 1-4 p.m. Wildcat Creek, Tilden Park. Join us for an exciting new phase of this restoration project. We will be installing creekside plants from Native Here Nursery and the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. Please note new starting time to accommodate those attend- ing the Wayne Roderick Lecture Series at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden at 10:30 a.m. Directions: From Grizzly Peak Boulevard, turn East on Shasta Road, left on Wildcat Canyon Road, right to Central Park Drive. Turn east at sign for Lake Anza, then an immediate left on Brook Road which dead ends at the Wildcat Creek. Plenty of parking is available. For road/ trail maps of Tilden Park visit www.ebparks.org. Questions or comments? Please call me at 510-558-8139. Sarah Ginskey November 7, 14, 21, 28, Fridays, Native Here Nursery open 9-noon November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Saturdays, Native Here Nursery open 10-1. Now is the time to start planting in the Bay Area. The won- derful seeds that Native Here’s seed collectors found in 2002 are now plants waiting to go into someone’s native plant res- toration, be it creek, grassland, or backyard (some of us even plant them in our front yards). Native Here has signed an agreement with the Contra Costa County County Agriculture Department to be inspected regu- larly regarding Sudden Oak Death. This allows us to again offer for sale, with certain restrictions, many tree and shrub species which we had removed from the sales floor. Most tree species and many shrub species that are native to the East Bay are capable of hosting Phytophthora ramomm, the pathogen which causes Sudden Oak Death Syndrome. Because both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have known infections, plants of these species may not be moved into uninfected counties from our nursery. Nursery plants will be sampled annually and visual inspections will be made more frequently to assure that the individual plants are not infected. We are offering healthy plants of the suspect species for sale with identifying yellow tags to alert customers not to plant them outside our two county area. If you have been wanting a madrone, buckeye, live oak or coffeeberry, we have them for sale now. Watch for native bulb plants and buttercups to be available later in the winter. Volunteers are always welcome to help any time the nursery is open (Friday and Saturday mornings). There’s no need to arrange ahead of time. There will be tasks available. In addition to plant care, potting, and selling plants, we will be planting the small area by the road where the driveway to the nursery begins. We will need help preparing the soil, planting, carrying water, and weeding. We also could use the services of an arborist or tree trim- mer. We have been asked by the park to take responsibility for maintaining the trees within the nursery fence. Several Monterey Pines need pruning. Please submit a bid to the nursery. 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. Charli Danielsen Hope in this deep and powerful sense is not the same as joy that things are going well or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously headed for early success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good, not because it stands a chance to succeed. Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out Vaclav Havel 4 THE WAYNE RODERICK LECTURES WINTER 2003 - 2004 Regional Parks Botanic Garden Canyon Road and South Park Drive (South Park Drive is closed November -March) Tilden Park, Berkeley 510-841-8732 bgarden@ebparks.org www.nativeplants.org Saturday mornings at 10:30 Saturdays 2003 November 1 Sudden oak death and its native American cultural implications (lecture in the morning followed by a garden tour after lunch. The tour will cover plants affected by S.O.D. plus plants used by Indians) Bev Ortiz 8 Joaquin Murietta country and the arid inner south coast ranges Steve Edwards 1 5 The trillion trillium trek Bob Case 22 Native grasses and grasslands of California (lecture in the morning followed by a garden tour of grasses after lunch) David Amme December 6 Common and rare monkeyflowers of California Steve Schoenig 13 Convict Creek Basin of the eastern Sierra Nevada Stew Winchester 20 Exploring the White Mountains of Inyo County Steve Edwards 2004 January 3 Wildflowers of the western Mohave Steve Edwards 1 0 Plant galls of California, emphasizing new discoveries Ron Russo 17 Botany and soils of the Oat Hill Mine Trail and Butts Canyon Dick O’Donnell 24 The flora and fauna of Joshua Tree National Monument Larry Abers 3 1 Australia’s Mediterranean climates Ron Felzer February 7 Plant communities of California Phyllis Faber 14 California and East Bay invasive plants update Bob Case 2 1 California Indian material culture Steve Edwards 28 The bay and its creeks the way they were: investigations into the changing Bay Area landscape Robin Grossinger Seating is limited. To be sure of a seat, come early and save a chair. Free 5 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@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 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 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, $1 00 Benefactor, $500 Life, $1 000 Mail application and check to: California Native Plant Society, 2707 K Street, Suite 1 , Sacramento CA 95816 6 Native Here Nursery Auiiwir ii Celebration Raffle Cyme vijii us during the mnnlh of November! With winter ruins -due swn, now is the time to plan for installing new plums in the garden. Do ynu have HOmt gaps in yernr garden? Need more grynndcover? Privacy screening? Seasonal color? Wan! lo attract more local birds and butterflies? Let the friendly staff al our nursery hetp you with the righl selection for your area. To enter the raffle, bfirtg this coupon in to (he Nur&ety @ 101 Golf Course Dr , Berkeley. {510) 549- 0?S I Open; friduyi 9-imOn and SntuTtlaya tO-J p.m. Name: Address: Cilyr £ip Code: rtiOmc: £-rtUtl : If A^lL-etL-d. I'd ureter the Follow i-n a priao; 0 Adopt - any one plant up lu eme gallon in sifte; 0 inspired - Gunftnirig with a Wild Heart by I- Lowry; 0 Garden tips - Growing California Naii'iV Pbn& by M, Schmidt; 0 Field jiuide - Trees and Shwbs tif Caltfbmiti by I. Stulrl & J. Sawyer; 0 Celebration - Ongi mil art {small framed piect). Inspired by our local native planls-; G ConsulUiiion - J hour free garden consultation *iih S. □inshey (use yourself or give to a friend); 0 They all sound £Dad - uny af I h l 1 above. No purchase neccssury Id win. UmLi vm cnu> per persun per visli to Native Here Nursery. En tries musl be brought to the nursery and v\ ill be uerepteil thro ujih E 2.05 '0?. S-i* (6} wmrwre wi II be randomly selected jt ihe drawing lo beheld ] Z-'Ot'lOJ. Thr winners v. ill be eomaeLed and. amusements made to deliver Lie priitd. For further uiformnrton, conUiel Sa/ah at (MO - ? 55S- S139. 7 Flowering Quillwort, Lilaea scilloides, is a wetlands plant that is uncommon in the East Bay region. Seen here from Sacramento County, it occurs in both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and ex- emplifies the Great Valley and Delta elements in our area’s flora. It is sometimes treated as defining its own unique family, but the Jepson Manual places it in the small Arrow-Grass family (Juncagina- ceae), which in California includes the genus Triglochin. The common name refers to the similarity between the leaves of this plant and fern-relatives of the genus Isoetes - the true quillworts. These can grow in similar habitats and be confused with it. 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 November 2003 issue