The September 2002 Bay Leaf California Native Plant Society • East Bay Chapter • Alameda & Contra Costa Counties Calendar of Events Chapter Board Meeting Native Plant Restoration Team, p. 4 Wednesday, September 4, 7:30 p.m. at Delia Taylor’s Saturday, September 7, 10 a.m. Restoration party at house, 1851 Catalina, Berkeley Wednesday, October 2, 7:30 p.m. at Charli Strawberry Creek Park Danielsen’s house Membership Meeting, see below. September 25, 7:30 p.m. Native Here Nursery, p. 5 Tuesdays, collect seed for propagation. Leave Native Chapter Plant Sale, p. 2 Here at 9 a.m. Saturday October 5 and Sunday October 6 Fridays, Native Here Nursery open 9 -noon CNPS Native Plant Conference, p. 3 Saturdays, Native Here Nursery opens 10-1 October 20-21, Oakland Membership Meeting Climate Change as an Ecosystem Architect: Impli- cations to Rare Plant Ecology, Conservation, and Restoration Speaker: Dr. Connie Millar Wednesday, September 25, 7:30 p.m. Conference Center, University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley The natural process of climate change has been largely ignored in our attempts to understand and manage natural resources, much as the importance of fire was ignored during the last 50-100 years. But recent research has revealed that climate fluctua- tions occur more frequently, regularly, and abruptly than previously thought and also have a more signifi- cant impact on vegetation. Within the 90,000 year glacial periods and the warmer 10,000 year periods between them occur periods of less dramatic climate change lasting on the order of 1000 years. And within those 1000-year periods are yet smaller cycles lasting just years or decades. All of these climate cycles are accompanied by measurable changes in vegetation that have implications for conservation and restoration. Dr. Connie Millar, a research geneticist with the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, is a leading researcher in the fields of paleoecology and climate change. She will discuss her current studies of climate change and their important implications for plant conservation and resource management. East Bay Chapter CNPS membership meetings 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, above the main campus of the University of California in Berkeley. The Garden gate will open at 7:00 p.m.; the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the meeting. Please contact Sue Rosenthal, 510-496-6016 or rosacalifomica@earthlink.net if you have any ques- tions. Next month’s program: October 23, 2002 Bethallyn Black Rogers: Sudden Oak Death update Sue Rosenthal One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise. Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac CNPS Sale of Native Plants October 5 & 6 Sat. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Come early Saturday morning for best selection. Follow the signs to CNPS nursery in Landscape Horticulture at Merritt College. The nursery is full to capacity again this year, and the plant list will be available at the gate. You may want to check the list posted on the Chapter web site about a week prior to the sale. Or be surprised - some plants few in number may not make the list. Experienced native plant gardeners will be on hand to help you with our selections. In addition to plants there will be CNPS posters, wildflower seeds, and a good selection of books on finding, identifying and growing native plants. Be prepared: • Wear comfortable shoes. • Bring sturdy boxes to carry plants home. • Bring a friend to help you collect and load your plants. • Plan on using the loading zone at the curb after retrieving your car unless you have brought a wagon with you. • Bring cash or personal check (we can’t accept credit cards). Help us set up for the Sale! September is a very busy month as we move every plant at least once before the sale, spread lots of mulch, put price tags on every plant, refresh labels, assemble temporary structures, groom plants and much more. We’d appreciate whatever skills and time you can offer, and you will get a thorough preview of what is available. People who can drop in to help for just half a day make a big difference keeping us on schedule. Check the calendar below for our work schedule (shaded days are work days). We work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Landscape Horticulture area at Merritt College, to the west of the greenhouses. Bring your lunch if you can stay after a noon break. Parking requires two quarters. Volunteer at the Sale, Saturday and Sunday, morning or afternoon We need many volunteers, especially on Saturday during the plant sale to cashier, sell plants, and assist people. If you’ve helped us in recent years you should receive a reply postcard soon. Please respond . . . even if only to let us know you aren’t available this year but would like to stay on the mailing list. If you don’t hear from us, or you’d like to volunteer for the first time please call (925) 376-4095 or (510) 525- 6614. Shirley and Phoebe s M r w r>i r ^ 5£PT£MB£R . 3 /' ! Z H S , kt tt iZ 3 til in. n lO 1?- M.- 30 2 - Ot TC&efl 2 2002 East Bay Chapter Scholarships Unusual Plants Alert We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2002 Scholarships. Five scholarships are awarded to students in botany, horticulture, and related fields who are interested in working Avith California native plants. Ruth Kirkpatrick was selected as outstanding appli- cant of the year, receiving both a regular scholarship for $1000 and also the distinguished Myrtle Wolf Scholarship for an additional $750. Ruth is a Ph.D. student in the UC Berkeley Department of Integrative Biology, and is currently pursuing research on the relationships of California ferns, especially the cliff- brake ferns [Pellaea). Scholarships were also awarded to Sally Chess, a masters student at San Francisco State working Avith evening- snow [Linanthus dichotomus) , which occurs in the eastern reaches of our chapter’s area; to UC DaAds masters student Erin McDermott for studying the effects of mycorrhizal (fungal) inoculants on native grass restoration; to Landscape Design student Leita BroA\m who is at Merritt College working AAdth California native plants in habitat restoration projects; and to Elizabeth Zacharias, PhD student at UC Berkeley Department of Integrative Biology, who is studying how functional adaptations of plants are constrained by, or result from, their evolutionary history. We received many excellent applications this year, and the grants committee was challenged to arrive upon this list. 1 hope you AAdll join me in congratulat- ing this year’s AAdnners, and encourage students you know to work AAdth California plants and apply for next year’s scholarships. Preference is given to students working on or Avlth native plants in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, though other applications are also considered. Details and deadlines appear in the Bay Leaf in the spring. Our scholarship program is an important way we can encourage the next generation of students and scien- tists to learn about and make active contributions conserving our Avild plants. Please take a moment to make a donation to the Scholarship fund and pass the torch to the next generation. Tony Morosco There is no Excellent Beauty that hath not some strange- ness in the Proportion. Francis Bacon When you observe you start seeing things. Yogi Berra The Unusual Plants Committee is trying to track doAvn some historical records, monitor current popu- lations, and look for new sites of the folloAving plants in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and we’d like your help; Cuscuta species Piperia species Spiranthes species Triglochin concinna Triglochin striata. If you encounter any of these species, please contact me, proAdding the place and date you saw them, a map or description of the site, how many plants were there, conditions of the plants and the site, how you verified the identity of the species, and your name and phone or email. A photograph shoAAdng the key characteristics would be an added bonus. Thanks for your help! Dianne Lake, Unusual Plants Coordinator diannelake@y ahoo . com 1050 Bayvdew Farm Rd., #121, Pinole 94564 Native Plant Conference The California Native Plant Society presents a conference on landscaping Avith California native plants Sunday, October 20, Sausal Creek Field Trip 10;00 - 3;00 Monday, October 21, Conference 9;00 - 5;30 The field trip and conference will take place in Oakland. Have you ever Avished you had more help carrying out native plant protection and restoration projects? Would you like a paid staff member to take on some tasks? Want to find out how you can find funds to support activities that Avill educate about, protect, and restore native plant communities? If so, this is the conference for you! The goals of this conference are to; 1. Introduce native plant project partners and poten- tial funders to each other. 2. Lay groundwork for new projects. 3. Function as a springboard for creating partner- ships between non-profits, businesses and govern- ment agencies interested in increasing the use of California native plants. 3 continued on page 4 Native Plant Conference continued from page 3 Speakers include: Malcolm Margolin, Heyday Press, “Dancing on the Brink of the World: What the Bay Area Was Like Prior to the Arrival of Europeans” Michael Thilgen, Four Dimensions Landscaping, and Lesley Estes, City of Oakland: “The Restoration of Sausal Creek, the Development of a Native Plant Demonstration Garden and the Creation of a Locally Appropriate Native Plant Nurseiy”. Chris Dundon, Contra Costa Water District: “Partnering With Water Districts on Native Plant Activities: Projects They Might Fund, and How You Can Get Connected”. Breakout sessions will include discussions on Nurs- ery/Landscaping Activities, and encouraging and increasing the use of natives in home gardens. Sunday, October 20 Sausal Creek Restoration Project Field Trip Michael Thilgen, Four Dimensions Landscap- ing 10:00 - 3:00. Limit 30. Participants will tour a 15,000 square foot demon- stration garden Avith more than 80 species of plants native to California, then walk up the adjacent creek to see the 2.2 acre creek restoration project. Through this project, which was carried out primarily by volunteers, invasive weeds were removed by hand, and more than 60 species of plants propagated from remnant native plant populations found in the water- shed were planted on the banks of the creek and upland slopes. We’ll picnic at the restoration site, then carpool to the Joaquin Miller Park Nursery, where more than 20,000 plants native to the water- shed were groAvn for use in the restoration project. (See Avww.sausalcreek.org for more information on the project.) The registration fee for the conference is $20. This includes morning and afternoon refreshments, lunch, and a Avlne and cheese. The field trip is $10. Atten- dance is limited to 80 at the conference and 30 on the field trip. This event is expected to fill, so don’t be disappointed; register early! Please make your check out to CNPS. Send your check and a self-addressed, stamped envelope (or e- mail address) to: Kathy Kramer, CNPS Education Coordinator, 1718 Hillcrest Road, San Pablo CA 94806. Questions? Call (510) 236-9558 between 9 am and 9 pm, or e-mail Kathy@KKramerConsulting.net. Please note if you would like table space to display flyers, books, or other materials. We would like to provide accommodations for CNPS members who A\dll be coming in from out-of-toAvn to attend the Oct. 20 and 2 1 conference on native plants in Oakland. If you can help, please e- mail or call Kathy Kramer at kathy@kkramerconsulting.net or (510) 236-9558. Native Plant Restoration Team Dreams of fields and meadows: July Work Party - Removal of yellow star thistle and Italian thistle Golden hills, gentle breezes and bright blue skies greeted us at Charli Danielsen’s long-term grassland restoration project in Mitchell Canyon located on the east side of Mt. Diablo (10 years running!). A combi- nation of moAAdng, prescribed burning and hand pulling of weeds over the years has transformed this field that reputedly was a carrot field, then a cow pasture full of invasive exotics. Today, purple needle grass, milkweed, tarweeds, poppies, yarrow, and blue-eyed grass run into stands of snowberiy, roses, and stately oaks and buckeyes at the bordering seasonal creek. August Work Party - Removal of yellow star thistle at Berkeley Meadow (Eastshore State Park) at the Berkeley Waterfront Susan Schwartz (Friends of Five Creeks) has been out hand pulling weeds for years in this rare piece of bay- shore open space. Targeted areas have improved immensely and AAdth continued Adgilance, to this nasty thistle we say: “Farewell and good riddance!” Stands of native aaJIIows and coyote bush intermingle Avith many other invasive exotics that have ferociously populated what were once tidal marshlands before becoming a landfill project. Despite the need to control the weedy species and provide much more native plant diversity, this area is critical habitat for shoreline animals and can be delightfully serene. September Work Party: Saturday, September 7, 10 a.m. Join the Friends of Strawberry Creek, in Berke- ley, at Strawberry Creek Park for restoration work to this lovely creek and its watershed. October Work Party: Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6 are CNPS’ annual plant sale days at Merritt College- come out to help A\dth the sale and/or pick up some exciting plants for your OAvn garden! Sarah Ginskey 4 Native Here Nursery Native Here Nursery is a place to learn about local native plants, as well as to purchase them. The summer months are very active in the nursery, although not a very good time to be planting things out in one’s garden. The two July classes on propa- gating local native plants were well attended. Partici- pants seemed pleased Avith what they had learned and with the little pots of seeds and plants they took home with them. Another learning opportunity is volunteering — either the Tuesday seed collecting walks, or helping when- ever the nursery is open. Volunteers are always welcome, and it is a low-key way to learn a lot about our local natives and how to grow them. September will be very busy, with seed sowing start- ing even as seed collection continues; seedlings are ready to go into individual containers, and small container plants are ready to move to larger contain- ers to prepare them for gardens and projects in the fall. Native Here also has a few books for sale, and lots of reference books to browse through. There is no need to phone ahead unless you are afraid the nursery might be closed due to weather conditions. The phone number is 549-02 1 1 . It has come to our attention that web directions don’t get one to the nursery, or even to Tilden Park Golf Course, our nearest neighbor. At the comer of Grizzly Peak Blvd. and Shasta, turn into the park at Shasta (east) and then turn right at Golf Course Drive (park signs at the corner of the course) and go Vi mile. Native Here is on the right, golf course on the left. Charli Danielsen Activities of Others Watching Our Watersheds: Reducing Pollution in Our Homes and Schools Saturdays, September 21 & September 28, 2002 from 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. This two-day workshop will be held in Contra Costa County at Stanley Middle School in Lafayette and Wagner Ranch Elementary in Orinda. It is designed for Grades K-12 educators working in Contra Costa County. Participants will conduct surveys of hazardous prod- ucts in homes and schools and discuss safer alterna- tives, explore a creek for invertebrates and conduct water quality tests, propagate native plants to pro- mote a healthy watershed, learn the principles of Integrated Pest Management, and learn to develop outreach projects that educate students and the community about the need to reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and household hazardous waste. A curriculum guide Avith extensive resource materials is also included. Participants will receive help in applying for grant funds and gain access to Teacher Action Grants of up to $2,000. Academic credit (1.5 units) is available through California State University, Hayward (cost for credit is an additional $ 68 ). A non-refundable, $25 pre-registration fee is required to attend the workshop. For more information about the workshop, or to register, please check our web site at AAww.aoinstitute.org or contact Tamara at the Aquatic Outreach Institute at (510) 231-9493. This program is funded by the Contra Costa County Clean Water Program, West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority, and the Cities of Orinda and Antioch. Lisa Lacabanne Aquatic Outreach Institute 1327 S. 46th St. #155 Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 231-5783 California Botanical Society 2002-2003 Schedule of Speakers 7:30 p.m. on the 3^^^ Thursday of the month 2063 Valley Life Science Budding University of California, Berkeley Sept. 19 Martin Bidartondo, Department of Plant Biology, UC Berkeley Obligate cheaters of mycorrhizal networks Oct 1 7 Tmman Young, Department of Environ- mental Horticulture, UC DaAds Ecological restoration: an emerging conservation strategy Nov. 21 Randy Jackson, ESPM, UC Berkeley Spring-fed wetland structure and function in California oak savannas Jan 16 David Ackerly, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University Fire, drought, and the evolution of chaparral shrubs Feb 1 5 Annual banquet (To be held in San Diego) Jon Rebman, San Diego Natural History Museum Discoveries on a fLoristic frontier: Baja California 5 ActivitiSS of Others continued from page 5 Mar 20 Kim Steiner, California Academy of Sciences The evolution of a specialized pollinator system in uthem Africa April 17 Todd Dawson, Dept, of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley Giants in the mist: coastal redwoods and the land- sea interface May 15 Marcel Rejmanek, Div. Biological Sciences, UC Davis Seed dispersal and coexistence of tree species in tropical forests Lectures are open to all. Refreshments will be served following each seminar. For further information about lectures, activities, or membership, please call 510-643-7008. Holocarpha macradenia photographed in Santa Cruz County by John Game. This rare tarweed has been extirpated from its former East Bay loeations in the wild, but thrives in naturalized mitigation sites in the East Bay hills. 6 Board of Directors Elected Officers Committee Coordinators President: Tony Morosco, 2329 7‘^ St., Berkeley 94710, 549-2238, 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: Michele Lee, 2923 Sheldon Dr., Richmond 94803, 243-1265 Corresponding: Joanne Kerbavaz, 1709 Berkeley Way, Apt. B, Berkeley 94703, JKERB@parks.ca.gov Past President Barbara Ertter, 1859 Catalina Ave., Berkeley 94707, h/526-4592, w/ 643-0600 Advisors Members at iarge: John Game, 1155 Spruce St., Berkeley 94707, 527-7855 Jim Sharp, 2663 LeConte Ave., Berk. 94709, 644-9344, itsa@dnai.com Bay Leaf Editor Joe Willingham, 2512 Etna St., Berkeley 94704, 841-4681, pepe@dnai.com Committee Coordinators Bay Leaf Mailing: Holly Forbes, 7128 Blake St., El Cerrito 94530, 234-2913, w/643-8040, hforbes@uclink4.berkeley.edu Bryophytes: Dan Norris, 802 Lexington Ave., El Cerrito 94530, 435-2004, dhnorris@uclink.berkeley.edu Conservation: Steve Asztalos, 839 York St., Oakland 94610, asztalos1@llnl.gov Donations: Sandy McCoy, 1311 Bay View Place, Berkeley 94708, wbmccoy@earthlink.net 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 Hospitality: Irene Wilkinson, 440 Camino Sobrante, Orinda 94563, 925-254-3675 Media: Elizabeth Bade, 2151 Carrol Rd., Walnut Creek 94596, 925-531-7896 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 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: Heather Koshinsky, 2033 Carquinez Ave., El Cerrito 94530, w/522- 8180, hak@dnai.com 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: http://www.cnps.org East Bay Chapter CNPS Home Page: http://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 Hemizonia parry i ssp.congdonii photographed near Livermore by John Game. This rare plant was recently found at a new location with other listed species near Dublin. California Native Piant Society East Bay Chapter P.O. Box 5597, Eimwood Station Berkeiey CA 94705 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Oakland, CA Permit No. 2018 Time Value September 2002 issue