f \ December 2002 ^^■^BayLeaf California Native Plant Society • East Bay Chapter • Alameda & Contra Costa Counties Calendar of Events Plant Sale Activities Tuesdays, December 3, 10, 17, Merritt College, 9 a. m. -noon. Propagation and Potting Sessions, p. 3 Calflora Open House Friday, December 6, 1-3 p.m., Calflora behind the scenes tour and open house, p. 2 Book Signing Friday, December 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the University and Jepson Herbaria. New Edition of Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mount Diablo by Barbara Ertter and Mary Bowerman, reception and book signing, p.2 CNPS State Board and Chapter Council Meeting Friday, December 6, Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8. See page 2 for schedule of activities. Native Here Nursery Fridays, December 6, 13, 20, 27, 9 to noon Saturdays, December 7, 14, 21, 28, 10 to 1. Native Here Nursery open for business, p.3 Sunday, December 22, 1 p.m. Sow seeds at Mitchell Canyon entrance. Mount Diablo State Park, p. 3 Field Trips Sunday, December 8, 10 a.m. field trip to Rock City area of Mount Diablo State Park, p. 6 Saturday, December 14, 10 a.m. field trip to Huckle- berry Regional Park, p. 6 Ballot for Year 2003 Elected Officers The nominating committee presents the following slate of officers for the CNPS East Bay Chapter for the year 2003: 2003 Ballot D D President: Treasurer: Tony Morosco U Vice President: Holly Forbes D Recording Secretary: D Corresponding Secretary: Laura Baker Although voting in an uncontested election may not seem necessary, an election is required by our bylaws. Please vote as an expression of confidence in those who are willing to serve as volunteer officers in our organi- zation. Please send your ballot to CNPS, P.O. Box 5597, Elmwood Station, Berkeley, CA 94705 or bring it to the January Board meeting. The chapter board is also seeking chairpersons for a number of committees. Presently open are book sales, education, an alternate newsletter editor, and poster sales. Other chairpersons may welcome assistance. If you are interested in finding out more about the chapter board, please feel free to attend a board meeting, phone or e-mail the chapter officers, or Charli Danielsen, nominations committee chair, charlid@pacbell.net. state CNPS Chapter Council Meeting CNPS December Board Meeting and Chapter Coun- cil Meetings held on December 6, 7 and 8 at the UC Berkeley Faculty Club. Please contact Charli Danielson (510) 525-9076, charlid@pacbell.net if you are willing to house CNPS guests for Friday and/or Saturday night. Friday, December 6, 1 - 3 p.m. Calflora “behind the scenes” tour and open house, Calflora Office, 937 San Pablo in Albany. 5-7 p.m. Reception and book signing event at the Jepson Herbarium: hot off the press Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mount Diablo by Barbara Ertter and Mary Bowerman. “Behind the scenes” tour of the Jepson Herbarium at 5:30 pm. 7-9 p.m. CNPS State Board Meeting Saturday December 7, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CNPS Chapter Council Meeting 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Sipping and socializing at the back of Heyns room. Have something nice to drink, visit with friends and other plant enthusiasts. Check out the newly published Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mount Diablo and get your copy signed by the au- thors. 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner in the Heyns dining room, a great setting for more conversation and a pleasant meal. All members are welcome at all events. If you are interested in joining the group for dinner, check with Delia Taylor to see if space is still available. The cost for dinner is $20. 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Speaker: Dr. Hugh Stafford. Subject: Plant Species Diversity in California Serpen- tine: Regional Patterns and Possible Causative Factors Dr. Stafford Avill give an overview of the natural history of serpentine (geology, soils, vegetation) as it relates to patterns of species diversity on serpentine. He will also discuss disturbance effects (grazing, burning) on serpentine vegetation and how these differ from those affecting “normal” vegetation, with a detailed look at the Sierra Nevada. Enjoy an entertaining and informative presentation by a leading researcher in the field on one of the most important and unique plant habitats in California. Dr. Hugh Safford, a geologist-ecologist, is both Re- search Associate at UC Davis and Regional Ecologist for the US Forest Service. For Sunday’s activities see Field Trips, p. 6 Local contact: Delia Taylor, deliataylor@mac.com, (510) 527-3912 New Edition of Classic Flora The Jepson Herbarium and the East Bay Chapter will co-host a special reception and book- signing of the new Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mount Diablo, by Barbara Ertter and Maiy L. Bowerman. Mark your calendar: Friday, December 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the University and Jepson Herbaria, 1001 Valley Life Science Building, UC Berkeley campus. A behind- the-scenes tour of the herbaria will be offered at 5:30, with information on the role of modern molecular research and an overview of the Jepson Interchange. All CNPS members (and anyone else!) are welcome to attend; RSVP to help Avith planning. Contact: Staci Markos, (510) 642-2465 smarkos@socrates.berkeley.edu. Grants Committee The East Bay Chapter Grants Committee is pleased to announce two grants. The first is a $550 grant to CHIA, a group that is recreating native coastal prairie along the Ohlone Greenway Trail that parallels the BART tracks in Berkeley. The money is to be used for tools, potting soil, and plants from the Native Here Nursery. This project, now in its third year, aims to provide habitat for native animals and plants and to educate the public about native plants. The Committee also made a $1,000 grant to Bay Nature to support its January 2003 special supple- ment, “Gardening for Wildlife.” The Committee has received expressions of thanks from the five recipients of the Chapter’s $1,000 scholarship awards. The recipients of the 2002 scholarships are Sally Chess, Ruth Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth Zacharias, Leita Brown, and Erin McDermott. In addition, Ms. Kirkpatrick was singled out for special recognition and awarded the $750 Myrtle Wolf scholarship. Sandy McCoy Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain. Henry David Thoreau 2 Plant Sale Activities If you haven’t come up to the nursery since the plant sale you are missing out on leisurely shopping among a Avide variety of plants, ready for planting. We have a bonus-crop of young Epilobium (California Fuchsia), blooming the beginning of November. This is the upright form, ‘BoAvman’s Hybrid’. Erigonum arborescens (island buckwheat), a hand- some gray buckwheat shrub Avith shaggy bark and umbels of white flowers next summer, has attained a tempting one-gallon size now. Apache plume, dwarf ninebark, low sage, grasses, medium-height Ceanothus, manzanitas (ground-cover to tree- size), plus many odds and ends, all await your Adsit on Tuesday mornings. Propagation/Potting Sessions: Decembers, 10, 17 9:00 a.m. to noon Merritt College Landscape Horticulture Rain or shine Native Here Nursery Fridays, December 6, 13, 20, 27, 9 to noon Saturdays, December 7, 14, 21, 28, 10 to one. Native Here Nursery open for business. Sunday, December 22, 1 p.m. Sow seeds at Mitchell Canyon entrance. Mount Diablo State Park Restoration of a Native Bunchgrass and WildfLower Grassland Work on this project at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to Mount Diablo State Park is now minimal. We aatII be collecting seed through spring and summer, moAAdng and pulling weeds, and soAAdng seed. This year’s seeds Avill be soAAm at the site on Sunday, December 22 at 1 p.m. Plan to be there on time - this does not take long and is a pleasant gift to nature during holiday preparations. The site is on the left of Mitchell Canyon Road as one approaches the park from Clayton Road. Native Here Nursery Soil problems seem to have been resolved and seed- lings are starting to sprout from the 2002 seed collec- tion. Volunteers are always welcome on Friday and Saturday mornings, as are customers. Working AAdth cuttings from shrubs this month starts us on the way to next year’s sale. The volunteers are taking a 2 week break during the holidays. Sales and propagation resume January 7. Shirley McPheeters Good things are happening at the Ohlone Greenway project along the BART trail near the Peralta Commu- nity Garden, near Peralta Street and Hopkins in Berkeley. Mike Menning has been creating a bit of coastal prairie Avith California Habitat Indigenous Activists (CHIA). This group obtained appropriate coastal prairie plants from Native Here Nursery, allowed them to set seed and from this seed have grovm new plants for use on the site. Every fall the old growth is removed and burned (at a safe location) and the ashes are returned to the soil. Volunteers are welcomed at monthly meetings to propagate plants and care for the site. Further along the BART trail is the newly dedicated and delightful historical mural which tells the story of this area, and some cool steel cows. For more information about the Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative or CHIA, call Mike Menning at (510) 559-9421. Delia Taylor The nursery remains open during the winter, except when heavy rain or wind makes conditions too un- comfortable or dangerous. If it’s rainy, call ahead (510) 549-0211. This is a good time to order plants you are interested in for fall 2003. It’s also time to let Charli know if you Avish to be named on Native Here’s seed collection permits for 2003. E-mail her Avith your name, ad- dress and phone (required for some of the permits) at charlid@pacbell.net. Margot has a signboard on which native plant design- ers, gardeners, maintenance folk and restorationists can put their business cards. We enjoy networking AAtth native plant enthusiasts. Charli Danielson We should not knoAvingly allow any species or race to go extinct. And let us go beyond mere salvage to begin the restoration of natural environments, in order to enlarge populations and stanch the hemorrhaging of biological wealth. There can be no purpose more enspiriting than to begin the age of restoration, reweaAdng the wondrous diversity of life that still surrounds us. Edward O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life 3 East Bay Chapter Membership Meetings Upcoming Programs (7:30 p.m. at the Orinda Li- brary): December, 2002 No meeting (happy holidays!) January 22, 2003 Ronald banner- Conifers of California February 26, 2003 John Game (our very OAvn!) - Topic to be announced March 26, 2003 Alan Kaplan-The New Kingdoms of Life Sue Rosenthal Activities of Others Saturday, December 14, 9:30 a.m. Fall & Wintering Bird Walk December is a great time to see both fall and Avinter- ing birds at the Palo Alto Baylands. Bay Nature and the Baylands Nature Center are cosponsoring a morning bird walk led by naturalist Deborah Bartens. No reservations required. Heavy rain cancels, and if you have any questions about the weather, please call the Nature Center at (650) 329-2506. Directions: From Highway 101 (Bayshore Freeway) in Palo Alto take the Embarcadero/East Embarcadero exit. Stay on Embarcadero past Geng, until you reach the “T” intersection, then turn left and follow road to the Center. There is no direct public transit access. Sara Marcellino Outreach Director Bay Nature magazine “Exploring nature in the San Francisco Bay area” www.baynature . com (510) 528-8550, cell (510) 289-3004 fax (510) 528-8117, sara@baynature.com 1328 Sixth Street, Suite 2 Berkeley, CA 94710 Baylands Nature Center (650) 329-2506 The Wayne Roderick lectures Winter 2002 - 2003 At the Regional Parks Botanic Garden Wildcat Canyon Road and South Park Drive (South Park Drive is closed Nov. -March) in Tilden Park, Berkeley, (510) 841-8732 E-mail Address: bgarden@ebparks . org www. nativeplants . org Saturday Mornings 10:30 -noon Free to the Public [Notice: Seating is limited. To be sure of a seat, come early and save a chair.] 2003 January 4 Arizona desert wildflowers and animals - Larry Abers 1 1 Plants and rocks of the Plumas County Sierra - Steve Edwards 18 Serpentine soils from Alaska to Baja - Earl Alexander 25 Modoc meanderings - Steve Edwards February 1 Four and a half billion years of history in 90 minutes - Alan Kaplan 8 Kew and Sissinghurst - Gail Delala 1 5 Botany and history along the Bradshaw Trail of the eastern Mojave, and other foragings in the Basin and Range - Joe Dahl 22 A pot-pourri of paleobotanical discoveries in California and Nevada - Howard Schom The California Botanical Society 2002-2003 lecture series continues Schedule of Speakers January 16 — Fire, drought, and the evolution of chaparral shrubs, David Ackerly, Department Biological Sciences, Stanford University February 15 — Annual banquet and biennial gradu- ate student meeting in San Diego Discoveries on a Jloristic frontier: Baja California, Jon Rebman, San Diego Natural History Museum March 20 — The evolution of a specialized pollina- tor system in southern Africa, Kim Steiner, Cali- fornia Academy of Sciences April 17 — Giants in the mist: coastal redwoods and the land-sea interface, Todd Dawson, Depart- ment of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley May 15 — Seed dispersal and coexistence of tree species in tropical forests, Marcel Rejmanek, Division of Biological Sciences, UC Davis The battle we have fought, and are still fighting for the forests is a part of the eternal conflict between right and wrong, and we cannot expect to see the end of it. . . . So we must count on watching and striving for these trees, and should always be glad to find anything so surely good and noble to strive for. John Muir 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: 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 large: vacant Jim Sharp, 2663 LeConte Ave., Berk. 94709, 644-9344, itsa@dnai.com 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 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 5 Field Trips Sunday, December 8, 10:00 a.m. Barbara Ertter will lead a field trip to the Rock City area of Mt. Diablo State Park. This trip will include late fall color from both oaks and toyon fruits, and possibly some late- flowering tarweeds and early flowering shrubs. Fern gametophytes may also make an appearance, if it rains sufficiently before the trip. East Bay members, please contact Janet Gawthrop at Janetg24 ©excite. com if you can drive one or more attendees of the state CNPS meeting. Directions: Take 1-680 to El Cerro Boulevard in Danville. Proceed east on El Cerro one mile to join Diablo Road. Proceed east on Diablo Road two miles to Mt. Diablo Scenic Boulevard. Turn left (north) on Mt. Diablo Scenic Boulevard (which becomes South Gate Road) for approximately three miles to Rock City. If the park entry booth is open, there is a $2 entry fee, so you may want to carpool. If you have questions, call Janet Gawthrop, 654-3066. Saturday, December 14 10:00 a.m. Dan Norris will take on the biyophytes (mossess, liverworts, and maybe homworts) of the East Bay hills at Huckle- berry Regional Park. First-time bryophyte hunters may want to bring a hand lens, magnifying lens, or photo lens that magnifies close up subjects. If the East Bay has not received rain before this date, a spray water bottle may also be handy. The trip will start at the parking lot for Hucklebeny Regional Park, and proceed down to the creek at the section of the Bay Crest trail below the Huckleberry Preserve Loop. This trip may take a half-day, or longer, depending on interest. Only heavy rain will cancel. Directions: From the north, take the Thornhill Drive exit from 13 and follow Mountain Boulevard south until you reach Snake Road. Take a left onto Snake Road, and all the way up to Skyline. Left on Skyline, and then look for the signs to the parking lot on the right about V 2 mile north. From the south, exit from 13 at the Park Boulevard exit, go north on Mountain Boulevard and then right on Snake Road and follow through as outlined above. Janet Gawthrop Photo by John Game. Fritillaria liliacea is one of four species in the genus in our two counties. It is a CNPS listed rare plant and is more or less confined to the greater Bay Area. It is seen here on Mount Diablo, on February 25th, 1995, and for lucl^ visitors it may be one of the early spring rewards of botanizing the mountain in the coming season with the new flora of Mount Diablo, by Maiy Bowerman and Barbara Ertter. 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 December 2002 issue