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Some Past Field Trips

Saturday, November 26, 9:30 am, Hoffman Marsh and Point Isabel

On this Buy-Nothing Saturday trip, join Tom and Jane Kelly and Janet Gawthrop as they revisit this popular edge of San Francisco Bay shoreline. We will look for new growth in the restoration area, but focus on the marsh plants with a view to both learning tidal marsh flora and identification of particular species. Some plants will still have fruit, but it will be a time to learn plant ID by foliage. This is a field trip, so we will be viewing but not weeding. In case of rain on Saturday morning, we will hold the field trip at the same time on Sunday, November 27. You cannot bring dogs into the salt marsh, but Point Isabel has a nearby dog field providing your dog has a human companion present.

Directions: Exit I-80 at Central Avenue. (in El Cerrito), and cross over the freeway. Once you are west of the freeway, bear right to follow Rydin Road north of Central Avenue. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Rydin Road. This site is also accessible by mass transit, but requires some walking from El Cerrito Plaza BART station. Follow Central Avenue by way of the pedestrian walk over the freeway to Rydin Road, and then follow Rydin Road to the parking lot.

Surveys for Lange's metalmark butterflies at Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge

If you like butterflies and heat, the US Fish & Wildlife Service will appreciate your help counting Lange's metalmark butterflies at any or all of its surveys at Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge.  Training will be provided as to spotting Lange's metalmarks and other common species at the dunes, but you should be sure to bring a lot of water and a hat.  If you have gaiters, you might want to bring them to keep out thistles and ripgut brome seeds, but there will likely be some long gaiters to loan.  Most surveys will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays during August and September.  If you are interested, please e-mail Susan Euing at susan_euing@yahoo.com.

Sunday, September 11, Claremont Canyon butterfly trip, 11:00 am-1:00 pm.  Co-sponsored with Yerba Buena CNPS

The wet, windy May weather cancelled both official field trip dates, but we're back!  In addition to the species we saw on our walk through this overlooked natural area in the East Bay, we will likely see three Vanessa species (American, west coast and painted ladies to butterfly newbies), plenty of skippers, and possibly some migrating Monarchs. Lepidopterist Liam O'Brien will walk you through Butterflies 101 and give tips on identifying butterfly species, plus an understanding of the close relationship each species has with its host plant(s).  If you want a preview of Claremont Canyon's flora and fauna, go to www.nhwildlife.net, a collaborative labor of love compiled by local naturalist Kay Loughman.  We might encounter steep or rough terrain, so sturdy shoes and a walking stick are recommended.  Because parking is scarce, we will meet at Rockridge BART in the parking lot, near the escalators, to form carpools.  From Highway 24 eastbound, exit at Claremont Ave, turn left at the end of the ramp onto Claremont.  Proceed east on Claremont several blocks, and then turn right (south) onto College Avenue.  The BART station is at the Highway 24 overpass above College Ave.  Butterflies are out only when it's sunny, so overcast skies and/or stiff breezes will cancel.  If you have questions, please contact Liam O'Brien at liammail56@yahoo.com or 415-863-1212.  If this seems insufficiently patriotic for September 11, consider that the US Fish & Wildlife Service could really use some butterfly enthusiasts at Antioch Dunes.

Sunday, October 9, 9:30 am, Mount Diablo, Back Canyon, Meridian Point, Meridian Ridge Road, Hetherington trail, Tickwood Trail

This is a moderate round trip of 5 miles with 900 feet elevation gain on the way out. It will be mostly downhill on the return trip. The trip will take 5-6 hours. Bring lunch and at least 1 liter of water. We will take Back Canyon Trail, Meridian Point Trail, Meridian Ridge Road, Hetherington Trail, Tickwood Trail.

We will see some late flowering species, and lots of things fruiting, like Rhus Trilobata. We should arrive back at the parking lot around 4 pm.

The trip leader is Gregg Weber. Call him at 510-223-3310 if you have questions.

Directions: Take 24 or 680 to the Ignacio Valley Road exit. Go east on Ignacio Valley Road into

City of Clayton, turn right on Clayton Road. Take Clayton Road past the first intersection with Marsh Creek Road. In about a mile, it becomes Marsh Creek Road. Continue straight on Marsh Creek Road. Turn right on Regency Drive. Go to the end of Regency. Do not turn onto Rialto drive, that is for a different trail.

Sunday, July 10, 10:00 am, Redwood Regional Park, trip to focus on sedges and late-fruiting plants

We will see about 5 species of sedge. Learn some basics of sedge ID and morphology (sculptural shapes of plant parts in botany). A copy of the Field Guide to Intermountain Sedges and also the key from the 2011 Jepson Manual will be available for reference. We will take Redwood Peak trail, French trail, Starflower trail, Tres Sendas trail, and Stream trail.

Directions: Get onto Skyline Drive in the Oakland hills, either from Highway 13 from the north or 580 from the south. From 13, the most direct route is the Joaquin Miller exit, and then take Joaquin Miller Road to Skyline. Turn left at the light for Joaquin Miller and Skyline, and follow Skyline north (mostly uphill) as you go to the Chabot Space Science Center roughly a mile north of Joaquin Miller Road. Turn into the driveway for the Space Center and park either in the lot or in the parking garage, which is free. Ignore the no trespassing signs as the do not apply to park or science center users. Gregg Weber is leading and you can call him at 510-223-3310 if you have questions.Saturday, April 30, 10:00 am-2:00 pm, Point Molate grasslands (western Contra Costa County)
This is the time to visit one of the last intact coastal bunchgrass prairies in flower, on the Potrero Hills at Point Molate. David Amme will lead this trip to an area now facing several development proposals considered by the City of Richmond and the US Department of the Interior. Point Molate is a peninsula in the narrows of San Pablo Bay, in the rain shadow of the Marin County hills. On the knolls and swales overlooking the bay are coastal prairie meadows, which transition into valley grassland. California oatgrass grows with purple needlegrass, squirreltail, junegrass, and red fescue next to patches of California fescue and the unique form of creeping wildrye. On this trip we will enjoy this still undisturbed beauty and discuss what can be done to save it.

Directions: From the East Bay, take the Western Drive/Point Molate exit from 580, just before the toll booths at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Proceed straight at the first 3-way fork, which gradually rises up a hill, curving more towards the north. As the road descends the hill, park at the parking lot right before the open gate marked Point Molate Restricted Area.

Sunday May 8, 11:00 am, Butterfly field trip up Claremont Canyon: meet at Rockridge BART Station
Meet Liam O’Brien and other members of the Yerba Buena chapter for this trip to look for butterflies and some of their host plants that grow in Claremont Canyon.  If you have only driven up Claremont Canyon, you may not have had a chance to fully appreciate the public lands in the canyon and the remnant native flora. Because of limited parking at the stops, we will meet at Rockridge BART to consolidate into carpools. Butterflies only fly on sunny days, so rain or fog will reschedule this trip to the same time on Sunday, May 15. Inclement weather on May 15 will cancel the trip. If you have any questions, please e-mail janetgawthrop47@gmail.com

Saturday May 14, 9:30 am, field trip to Red Hills (Tuolumne County)
Bob Case will lead an all-day field trip to the Red Hills BLM (Bureau of Land Management) ACEC, near Chinese Camp, plus a driving tour of parts of Highway 49, Parrot’s Ferry Road, Camp Nine Road and stops along Highway 4 up to Calaveras Big Trees State Park (time permitting), and return via Highway 4. The focus will be on the Red Hills area, with the remainder of the trip as frequent roadside stops for botanical exploration. Bring a lunch, liquids, and standard excursion gear. Expect some walking, a total of six hours of driving, and a return to the Bay Area around 9:00 pm.

Five rare plant species occur in the Red Hills which the BLM consider as sensitive; three have been listed as threatened under the ESA. These plants are California verbena, Layne’s butterweed, and Chinese Camp brodiaea. Another species, Rawhide Hill onion, has been proposed for listing.

California verbena (Verbena californica) is a Red Hills endemic. Its distribution in the Red Hills is confined to the moist areas of stream shoreline and ground water seepage.

The Rawhide Hill onion (Allium tuolumnensis) has many, mostly small colonies in the Red Hills, but it is confined to areas with sparse vegetation, south-facing slopes with shallow soils, and intermittent drainages.

Layne’s butterweed (Senecio layneae) is one of the three federally listed plant species in the Red Hillls at this time. There are only a few, very small occurrences of this member of the sunflower family in the Red Hills. Elsewhere, this species is often associated with disturbances, like road cuts.

Two plants that had been designated as federal candidate category 2 species were eliminated from the candidate list--those are Congdon’s lomatium (Lomatium congdonii) and the Red Hillls soaproot (Chlorogalum grandiflorum) are locally common in the Red Hills, favoring north slopes and ridge tops, respectively. An additional species proposed for federal listing, Chinese Camp brodiaea (Brodiaea pallida) grows on a low gradient drainage in soils that remain wet late into the growing season. This species  has been located on public lands in the Red Hills, and on private land west of Chinese Camp.

Another plant, Hoover’s butterweed (Senecio clevelandii var. heterophyllus) has been included in the CNPS Watch List. It grows with California verbena in riparian zones. It may be recognized as a separate taxon that is endemic to the Red Hills, or it may be included as a single taxon with plants found in the coast ranges.

Meeting Places: Bob Case can meet a maximum of 3 riders at the Pleasant Hill BART station at 7:30 am. Others can meet at with Bob at 9:30 am at the Dennys located at 1555 East F Street, Oakdale, CA. We will be at the Red Hills site around 10 am, but it could be difficult to meet there as it is a large area. If you have questions, please contact Bob at bobcase@astound.net.

Sunday May 15, 10:00 am. Blue Oak Trail at Briones Regional Park
Gregg Weber will lead on this trail that includes views of some unusual plants, such as Myrica californica and Pickeringia montana (think pink). Judging from rainfall so far, there should be quite a few Calochortus pulchellus in bloom also. The Blue Oak loop has a 700 foot elevation change and quite a few ups and downs. The round trip is about 5 miles.

Directions: Take Highway 24 to Lafayette, and exit at Pleasant Hill Road north. Go about one mile north on Pleasant Hill Road, and turn left onto Reliez Valley Road. Stay on Reliez Valley Road for about 3.5 miles. The parking lot is on the left, after Withers Avenue. Do not go into the park entrance farther north on Reliez Valley Road or you will miss the field trip.

Sunday, May 22, 10 am, Mount Diablo State Park North Peak trail from Devil’s Elbow to Prospector’s Gap
Meet at the Devil’s Elbow parking lot at 10 am. This trial is packed with native plants and relatively few alien species. There may be Calochortus venustus, C. pulchellus, Chorizanthe membranacea, Hydrophyllum occidentale, Arnica discoidea, a few areas of Collinsia tinctoria, Clarkia concinna, plus native Cirsium (thistles), lupines, and Lomatium. There are also large areas of Quercus chrysolepis (canyon live oak). This trip will be most of the day, so bring lunch and water. We should arrive back at the parking lot around 3 pm. The trip leader is Gregg Weber, and you can call him at 510- 223-3310 if you have questions.                          
Directions: Take 680 to the Diablo Road exit, and go east on Diablo Road At Green Valley Road, only one lane goes straight ahead. After Green Valley Road, go on and do not turn at the Diablo Country Club sign. In about a mile, turn left at the Mount Diablo State Park sign. Continue to the end of Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard, which becomes South Gate Road as it enters the park. Pay the $10 gate fee at the entrance station (or have your state parks pass visible). Continue to Junction Ranger Station, and turn right. About 3/4 mile past Juniper Camp’s large parking area is a small parking area at Devil’s Elbow, where we will meet at 10 am.

Saturday, June 11, 9:30 am, Mount Diablo State Park, Falls trail, Middle trail, Bruce Lee Spring trail, Wasserman trail

This is a moderate round trip of 5 miles with 1200 feet elevation gain on the way out. It will be mostly downhill on the return trip, and we expect to be out 4-5 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 Monardella douglasii and Collinsia tinctoria in flower, along with several paintbrush species, Clarkia biloba, Parvisedum pentandrum, Campanula exigua, Silene californica, Pickeringia montana, Asclepias californica, and lots of common plants. We should arrive back at the parking lot around 3 pm. The trip leader is Gregg Weber, and you can call him at 510-223-3310 if you have questions.

Directions: Take 24 or 680 to Ignacio Valley Road, and continue on Ignacio Valley Road several miles into the city of Clayton. At the intersection of Ignacio 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.

Sunday, June 19, 9:30 am, Mount Diablo State Park, Knobcone Point Road and Blackhawk Ridge Road

We will go through woodland, grasslands, chaparral areas, with Pickeringia, Salvia, Arctostaphylos, Garrya, Calochortus splendens, and lots of oaks and Clarkia rubicunda. This can be a very hot walk, so dress for heat and bring at least 1.5 liters of water, and lunch.

The road loses about 500 feet down to a creek, and then gains 700 feet to the top of the loop, with elevations reversed on the way back. We should arrive back at the parking lot at 4 pm. The trip leader is Gregg Weber, and you can call him at 510-223-3310 with questions.

Directions: Take 680 to the Diablo Road exit, and go east on Diablo Road. At Green Valley Road, only one lane goes straight ahead. After Green Valley Road, go past and do not turn at the Diablo Country Club sign. In about a mile, turn left at the Mt. Diablo State Park sign. Continue to the end of Mt. Diablo Scenic Boulevard, which becomes South Gate Road as it enters the park. Be prepared to pay the fee (now $10?) at the main entrance station, or have you state parks pass ready. Continue for about a mile, and park at the large parking area at Curry Point, where we will meet

Sunday, April 3, 9:30 am. Gregg Weber will lead this field trip to Toyon Canyon at Briones Regional Park. See the March Bay Leaf for directions and a description, or you can call Gregg at 510-223-3310.

Saturday, April 9, 9:30 am, Mitchell Canyon at Mount Diablo State Park
This year Gregg Weber will lead the hike up the canyon during the mid-spring abundance of oak woodland and grassland flowers, including buttercups, larkspurs, owl’s clover, blue dicks, Mount Diablo globe lily and other Calochortus. Bring $10  for parking or your state parks pass. A couple of good books that describe this area’s plants are Barbara Ertter’s updated Flora of Mount Diablo (from Mary Bowerman’s earlier version), and Yulan Tong’s photo book on Calochortus.

Saturdays, April 9 and April 16, 10 am-12 pm, Warm Springs Vernal Pool Tours (San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge)
Come see the flower rings bloom around some of the last intact vernal pools in the East Bay! Newcomers will enjoy learning about the unique features of a vernal pool grassland. Participants will see endangered Contra Costa goldfields, as well as several species of popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys), as well as Downingia and other native vernal pool and upland species.

Refuge staff will lead a tour of the Warm Springs Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The walking tour will last about 1.5-2 hours. The total walking distance will not exceed one mile, but the terrain is uneven. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress according to the weather. Heavy rain will cancel.

Directions: We will meet off Cushing Road in Fremont. Take I-880 to the Fremont Blvd/Cushing Parkway exit (Exit 13B) toward Cushing. Turn left on Fremont (if you are coming from the north, turn right on Fremont) and right on Cushing Parkway. Go past the light at Northport Loop. On the left side, immediately after the LAM business park, there will be a blue pipe gate across a gravel road. We will meet there. RSVP by e-mail to Ivette Loredo at ivette_loredo@fws.gov or call at 510-792-4275X134 for reservations. Tours are limited to 20 people due to the sensitivity of the vernal pool ecosystem.

Sunday, April 10, 2 pm, Butano State Park, San Mateo County. This park has second growth redwoods along little Butano Creek, located at the southern end of San Mateo County. It has many interesting plants that are often hard to find elsewhere in the Bay Area, many packed into a relatively small area (so this is a perfect trip for people who do not like to walk long distances: you can see a lot in a short space, and then enjoy the picnic area and the visitor’s center while we take a longer hike). Among the plants are California burning bush, skunk cabbage, Clintonia, and calypso orchid (we do not guarantee we will see the orchid).

Directions: go down Highway 1 from San Francisco to Pescadero (it is south of San Gregorio). Turn east onto Pescadero Creek Road. Shortly after passing through the village, turn right (south) on Cloverdale Road and follow it to the park (which will be on the left, 5 or so miles south of Pescadero. Go into the park (and pay the parking fee). Proceed to the restrooms on the right and park there. We meet at 2:30 pm. The trip will be led by David Margolies. Contact him at 510-654-0283 (home) 510-393-1558 (cell) or divaricatum@gmail.com for more information. The walk will take place rain or shine.

Saturday, April 16 9:30 am, Burma Road at Mount Diablo State Park
Meet at 9:30 am at the Burma Road crossing of North Gate Road in Mount Diablo State Park. We will walk Burma Road from Camel Rock to Moses Spring Rock. This route will take us along part of Long Ridge, featured in Steve Edwards’ 2006-07 Wayne Roderick Lecture on Mt. Diablo. We will see a variety of spring flowers and some uncommon plants as we pass through woodland, grassland and chaparral areas. There is a 1000-foot elevation gain on the way out, and downhill on the way back. The round trip is about 4 miles and should take about 4 hours, so bring lunch and water. We will not be deterred by rain and will proceed regardless of weather.

Call Gregg Weber at 510-223-3310 if you have questions about this or other Mt. Diablo field trips.

Directions: Take the North Gate Road entrance to the park—state parks charge $10 for cars. Continue on North Gate Road for about 2-3 miles and park at the Burma Road trail crossing.

Sunday, April 17, 9:30 am-1:30 pm. Tour of Ackerman Property and Dry Creek (yes, another Dry Creek)
Heath Bartosh and Seth Adams will lead this tour, which will start from the staging area at Round Valley Regional Park to consolidate for carpools. Save Mount Diablo has been given access to lead a guided tour of an extremely important, 340-acre property on the edge of Brentwood. Preserved by Contra Costa Water District as part of a mitigation package for Los Vaqueros Reservoir expansion, the entirety of this property is endangered species habitat and it functions as an important wildlife corridor between the new Cowell Ranch State Park and other areas. Parallel ridges cut through its center and slope down to rare alkali seasonal wetlands with 360 degree views that stretch from Mount Diablo to the Sierra Nevada on a clear day. This trip will also be in celebration of California Native Plant Week, with East Bay CNPS Rare Plant Botanist Heath Bartosh identifying the flora. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this treasure, possibly followed by a short hike to the top of SMD’s new Dry Creek property. A large group may be in attendance, so RSVP with Heath Bartosh at 925-228-3027 or hbartosh@nomadecology.com. Round Valley Staging Area is located on Marsh Creek Road, outside of Brentwood. For a map including the staging area, go to http://www.ebparks.org/files/.

Sunday, April 24, 9:30 am, East Trail at Mount Diablo State Park
Meet across from the Divide Reservoir sign on Marsh Creek Road in Clayton. This trip goes through some very nice native plant habitat on the northeast side of Mount Diablo, with an interesting live oak forest. This walk has 1600 feet elevation gain on the way out, and downhill on the return. The round trip is about 6 miles. Figure on returning to the parking lot around 3-4 pm. Bring lunch and water. We will take 3 Springs Road, Olympia Trail, East Trail and Zippe Trail.

Directions: Take 24 or 680 to Ygnacio Valley Road. Continue on Ygnacio Valley Road several miles from Walnut Creek into the city of Clayton, and turn right onto Clayton Road at its stoplight intersection with Ygnacio Valley. Take Clayton Road past the first intersection with Marsh Creek Road, and in about a mile it becomes Marsh Creek Road. Continue straight on Marsh Creek Road, and go about 2 miles past Regency Drive. As you go uphill, look for the Divide Reservoir sign (not the Nob Hill Reservoir sign). Park on the right side of the road across from the Divide Reservoir sign, where there is plenty of space to park. Call Gregg Weber at 510-223-3310 if you have questions.

Directions: From west of the Oakland/Berkeley hills, take 24 east and continue to the 680 interchange. Follow the lanes marked for 680 north, but then move immediately to the Ygnacio Valley Road exit, and turn right at the traffic light at the end of the ramp to go east. Stay on Ygnacio Vallley Road for several miles (past John Muir Hospital, through suburbs, past the Lime Ridge entrance and a Cal State campus) to Clayton Road, where you turn right at another traffic light. Go through several intersections on Clayton Road, and then turn right again at Mitchell Canyon Road. Go to the parking lot at the end (there is a fee). Meet at the start of the trail near the visitor’s center.

Saturday, March 26, 9:30 am, Seafoam Loop and Black Oak Loop at Kennedy Grove, El Sobrante

On this field trip, Gregg Weber will compare the native-plant rich area to the Eucalyptus plantation. Under the shady areas dominated by bay trees, there is more plant diversity than you would expect, with many common natives, and some unusual ones. This is a short 2.5 mile walk, with only a 400 feet elevation gain up to the ridge, and 150 feet elevation gain on Black Oak Loop.
 
Directions: From I-80, exit at San Pablo Dam Road and turn onto Castro Ranch Road in El Sobrante. From Orinda , follow Castro Ranch Road to El Sobrante. Go two blocks on Castro Ranch Road, and then turn right onto Hillside Drive. Go about 1/2 mile to the end of Hillside Drive, and then turn left on Patra Drive and park near the trailhead. No entrance fees. Do not turn into the Kennedy Grove park entrance on San Pablo Dam Road.

Sunday, February 13, 9:30 am, Mount Olympia at Mount Diablo State Park

Gregg Weber will return to the canyons above Clayton to see many late winter flowers, with possible performances by sun, sky and clouds. Winter blooms to look for include two species of manzanita, violas, Nemophila, and some early tidy tips and Mt. Diablo jewelflower. This is a strenuous walk with a 2300 foot elevation gain on the way out, and all downhill on the return trip. The round trip distance is about 6 miles, so the trip will take 6-7 hours. Bring lunch and water, and be prepared for a wide range of temperatures. The trip will proceed despite official predictions of rain, and we will decide on the day of the trip if the weather is sufficiently inclement before postponement. If there is a heavy rain the trip will take place on February 20 at the same time.

Directions: Take 24 or 680 to Ignacio Valley Road. Continue on Ignacio Valley Road into the city of Clayton, where you turn right onto Clayton Road. Take Clayton Road past the first intersection with Marsh Creek Road; in about a mile, it becomes Marsh Creek Road. Continue straight on Marsh Creek Road and turn right onto Regency Drive. Go three blocks on Regency Drive, turn left onto Rialto Drive and follow it to the end. Regency Drive also ends at a trailhead, but that is for a different trail; be sure to turn left onto Rialto. Meet the group at the end of Rialto.

Sunday, January 2, 2011, 2:00 pm: Field Trip to Huddart County Park to see Fetid Adder’s Tongue

Location: Huddart County Park, 1100 Kings Mountain Road, Woodside (San Mateo County) California. Meet in the parking lot just past the pay station.

David Margolies (510-654-0283, 510-393-1858 (cell) divaricatum@gmail.net) will lead a hike on the Crystal Springs Trail where Scoliopus bigelovii (fetid adder’s tongue, Liliaceae) blooms in early January. (In most locations outside botanical gardens, it blooms in late January or early February.) This is a gentle trail, losing about 200 feet over about 1/2 mile to the creek. We will walk to the creek and then return the same way. It is unlikely that there will be any other flowers out this early, but the fetid adder’s tongue’s presence tells us that the new flower season has started. (Other plants out of flower will also be identified.) The area is second growth redwood and mixed evergreen forest.

Directions: Go to Woodside: cross the Bay Bridge, get on I-280 south and take it to the 84 west/Woodside Road exit. Go west through the town of Woodside. Soon after the main part of the town, take a right onto Kings Mountain Road. The park entrance is on the right after a few miles. Go past the pay station into the main parking lot. We will meet there. Note that you must pay the parking fee even if the station is not staffed (use the envelopes provided). Note: There is poison oak in the park. Poison oak is dangerous even when it has no leaves. Stay on the trail. It will probably be muddy and may be raining. Be prepared. The walk will take place rain or shine.

Saturday, March 26, 9:30 am, Seafoam Loop and Black Oak Loop at Kennedy Grove, El Sobrante

On this field trip, Gregg Weber will compare the native-plant rich area to the Eucalyptus plantation. Under the shady areas dominated by bay trees, there is more plant diversity than you would expect, with many common natives, and some unusual ones. This is a short 2.5 mile walk, with only a 400 feet elevation gain up to the ridge, and 150 feet elevation gain on Black Oak Loop.

Directions: From I-80, exit at San Pablo Dam Road and turn onto Castro Ranch Road in El Sobrante. From Orinda , follow Castro Ranch Road to El Sobrante. Go two blocks on Castro Ranch Road, and then turn right onto Hillside Drive. Go about 1/2 mile to the end of Hillside Drive, and then turn left on Patra Drive and park near the trailhead. No entrance fees. Do not turn into the Kennedy Grove park entrance on San Pablo Dam Road.

Friday November 26, 2010, 10 am: Field Trip to Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park (Union City/south Hayward area)

Join Janet Gawthrop on Buy Nothing Day (except maybe mass transit fare) for this moderate hike up to Tolman Peak. This trip will take in the oaks and riparian trees in fruit along Dry Creek, and then proceed uphill to Tolman Peak. There is a population of hairy milkweeds at the summit. If you would like a plant list for the park, e-mail janetgawthrop47@gmail.com. Bring water, lunch, and your well-behaved stock dog for this trip ending in mid-to-late afternoon. Heavy rain cancels this trip (we can reschedule for the same weekend if I receive at least 5 advance e-mails expressing interest).

Directions:

Drivers should take the Whipple Ave. exit from 880, and proceed east on Whipple Road to its end at the intersection with Mission Blvd. Cross Mission Blvd and jog south slightly to May Road, and follow May Road to its end at the park entrance. You may park inside the park ($5.00 if kiosk is attended) or on the streets.

Mass transit riders from the north should take BART to the South Hayward station, and take the #99 AC Transit bus from its terminus in the station parking lot (fare $1.75 with BART transfer). Proceed south on Mission Blvd and exit the bus at the intersection of May and Mission Blvd. Walk into the park by following May Road to the park entrance, less than 1/2 mile. (Disregard the instructions for #21 line on the Regional Parks website--AC Transit renumbered this route, which has all the same stops under the new route number).

Larry Abers

 

Larry Abers, EB chapter activist and plant photographer familiar to many of us from wonderful field trips, workshops, lectures and other activities, died on the evening of July 30th while he was camping at Tuolumne Meadows at the beginning of the Jepson Herbarium Alpine Botany Workshop in Yosemite. Those with him at the time said that he was relaxed and in good spirits until he suddenly lost consciousness from an apparent heart attack and could not be revived.

I had known Larry for some time, especially through Jepson workshops, which he attended once or twice a year, accompanied recently by his companion Britt Thorsnes. We shared a strong interest in photography, and he was always very helpful, encouraging, and friendly. I remember him particularly from San Miguel Island, where the plants were so good that I ran out of film. He provided a spare roll and shared his top-of-the line lenses. Larry liked to visit Anza Borrego in the spring of most years, and this year he encountered our CNPS group by chance in Borrego Palm Canyon. He had found an unusual penstemon that most of us had never seen, and obligingly retraced his steps to show it to the group (see Delia Taylor’s photograph). Later, I talked more about penstemons with Larry on the excellent San Jacinto Mountains workshop in May. Early in July, Larry came to Berkeley and we visited the herbarium to talk at length with others about plant locations in Oregon, where Larry was going to look for rare Calochortus species. The genus was always a favorite with Larry, me and others in our loop, and he would, as always, share his enthusiasm and information about it. We had talked of going to Oregon together one day, but sadly it wasn’t to be. His knowledge, warmth, companionship and generosity will be missed by many.

John Game

He was a long-time boy scout troop leader and took the boys out on many outdoor and nature outings, including rafting on the Klamath River. He was also a dedicated desert rat and arranged his schedule most years so he could spend as much of the spring in various southern deserts as possible, much of it on his own.

It was when he gave his first lecture/slide show at the Botanic Garden earlier this decade that I realized he not only took great photos of the flora, but also was a wonderful all-around nature photographer with fabulous shots of birds, mammals, reptiles/amphibians, insects, landscapes, etc. In addition, he shared wonderful stories of his experiences as he roamed the natural world. I always looked forward to his annual slide show at the Garden.

I was lucky to have been friends with both Larry and his girlfriend Britt Thorsnes separately before they “found” each other and fell in love, and so feel fortunate that I witnessed that wonderful relationship from its beginnings. They went on so many terrific nature explorations during their years together, including participating in several Jepson Herbarium workshops.

More recently, this past year Larry led two field trips for our chapter for the first time, helped the Regional Parks botanist monitor rare plant populations, and volunteered regularly with Britt to get the Bay Leaf mailing out on time; they have been volunteering at the plant fair each fall as well. Also, this spring he confirmed Britt’s rediscovery of a fairly large population of the rare Oakland star tulip, Calochortus umbellatus, (not reported since the 1960’s) on or adjacent to EBMUD land near Wildcat Canyon Road. I am glad to have seen Larry grow through the years in his relationship with and contribution to native plants through both our chapter of CNPS and the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. We will miss him..

Celia Zavatsky