Driving south on the 405, exit on Jamboree, turn right. Left on Michelson to 3^rd signal. Right on Riparian View. Pass the IRWD water treatment plant. Follow signs to Audubon House and the Duck Club.

Driving north on the 405, exit on Culver and turn left. At the second signal, Michelson, turn right. Continue on Michelson to third signal, Riparian View, turn left toward the IRWD treatment plant and follow signs to The Duck Club. [Thomas Guide to Orange County, page 859 J-7]

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CHAPTER MEETINGS

January 21, 2010--Restoration, Past and Future at the Bolsa Chica Mesa

6:45 PM doors open

7:15 PM Planting Natives feature: Top 10 Native Plants for the Garden

7:30 PM Main Program: Kim Kolpin, Director, Bolsa Chica Stewards

Focusing on the Mesa portion of the Reserve, Kim will give an overview of the history of Bolsa Chica, the issues and circumstances that have resulted from the property's former uses and the restoration plan currently being designed, which will involve the establishment of multiple habitats with help from the community. Kim will discuss the future nursery design and the challenges faced by the project. The presentation will include historical photos, maps, current photos and conceptual design drawings.

For more information on Bolsa Chica and the restoration plans that Kim will present to us in person, please see the article on page 4, another in the chapter’s “Orange County is Special” series.

Kim Kolpin is one of the founding members and director of the Bolsa Chica

Stewards, the restoration team of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust. For eleven of

the past fourteen years of the organization's history, Mrs. Kolpin has led all of the group's activities. As director, she and landscape architect Guy Stivers are currently designing the Lower Bench restoration project for the Bolsa Chica Mesa. Mrs. Kolpin is also actively engaged in other Bolsa Chica Land Trust projects and issues. As a result of her work at Bolsa Chica, Mrs. Kolpin began a California native plant garden design firm in spring of 2008. Sage Landscape Designs now brings drought tolerant native gardens to homeowners in Southern California. She lives with her husband and three children in Huntington Beach.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010—Native Trees for Urban Gardens

6:45 PM: Doors open

7:15 PM: Planting Natives feature

7:30 PM Main Program: Lili Singer

Trees are the heart of the landscape, and there's a native tree for every size garden. In addition to beauty, shade, and color, trees provide habitat for native wildlife. Learn which tree species are right for your garden, how to plant and keep them healthy, and how to select companion plants. This illustrated lecture will include helpful handouts.

Lili Singer is a horticulturist, educator and garden writer (most recently for the LA Times, and the special projects coordinator for the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants in Sun Valley, CA. Many of us remember that she published and edited two award-winning periodicals, The Southern California Gardener and The Gardener's Companion, and for more than a decade hosted “The Garden Show,” a live call-in radio program on KCRW-FM. A southern California native herself, this engaging and knowledgeable speaker lives and gardens on one-third acre of tree-shaded land in Van Nuys.

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IN MEMORIAM

Jan van der Sloot, a leading Orange County coastal environmental activist, passed away suddenly last November. He was a founder of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, a board member and a founder of the Ocean Outfall Group, a leader of Stop Polluting our Newport, and active in all environmental issues along Orange County’s northern coast. Preservation and restoration of native habitat were always part of his interest.

Jan, a dermatologist, had a strong science background and could be counted on to get to the heart of a matter with the relevant policy. Officials respected his input as honest and well thought out. As Coastal Commissioner Sarah Wan said at his memorial, "Jan always showed up with the smoking gun. When he spoke, the Commissioners always listened very closely, as he came prepared with the facts and the photos.”

Jan and l worked on a range of environmental issues. We took many walks to look at native plant sites and he was like a kid in a candy store. The last project we collaborated on was the plan to integrate appropriate Coastal Sage Scrub and Channel Island plants more fully into the proposed City Hall Park Site in Newport Beach. Rik Katzmeier and I will continue these efforts as the project moves forward.

It will be difficult to match Jan’s example of selfless dedication. He always implied that anything one did on a project was incredibly valuable. He almost unfailingly kept his cool, even when called a “weed park lover.”

His family deserves credit for sharing Jan with us, because he was always underway on one effort or another. He was very proud of them, his roses, and his cats.

—Laura Curran

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President’s Message

Your fees for membership in CNPS go directly to the state organization. Why should you continue your membership in CNPS, and why is important for others to join?

Here are just a few highlights of 2009 and plans for 2010:

· Tara Hansen assumed the executive director post in early January, just in time for the highly successful Conservation Conference that was held that same month. Tara has quickly taken the reigns and has moved our programs forward in all areas, showing exceptional vision and organizational skills.

· Greg Suba filled the long-vacant and much-needed role of conservation director in June, and has tackled the complex issue of desert energy development and its impact on native plant populations and the environment. He has shown great ability to bring together many interests, to weigh and consider, and to communicate with us.

· Jack Tracey, as part of his role as development director, initiated a monthly eNewsletter. If you have an email address, you should make sure you are receiving this easy to read and informative publication. Read the latest issue at http://www.cnps.org/cnps/publications/news/200912.php

· The Manual of California Vegetation 2 was published in 2009, and the Vegetation Program has been involved in several plant surveys on a contract basis, adding to our knowledge of plant communities in our state.

· The cnps.org website has been revamped, including a new section on native plant gardening.

· The Education Program is working on the next Conservation Conference, which is planned for 2012 in San Diego (convenient for us!) and, along with the Rare Plants and Vegetation Program is initiating a Rare Plant Treasure Hunt in 2010, which will put amateur with experienced botanists to search for known rare plants in sensitive areas.

The next ten years will be a crucial decade for CNPS to grow membership, which has been holding steady between 9-10,000 members for quite some time. Do you have a friend or colleague to introduce to CNPS? In the coming months, we hope to continue to communicate why your membership is so important to the environment and to the preservation of native plant communities. You should be proud to be part of CNPS, and we are all very grateful for your continued support.

—Laura Camp, President

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Native Gardeners’ Corner—Members’ Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

This column offers chapter members a chance to briefly share information on many things related to gardening with natives. The question for this issue was; “Which native plant would you confidently recommend for use in clay soil?” The answers are arranged as received and as you can see, are wide ranging!

Gene Ratcliffe—I vote for Festuca californica (California Fescue), a great evergreen grass that does well in heavy clay and even part shade, midway in size between the Nassellas and Muhlenbergia.

Celia Kutcher—Best shrub for clay soil on slopes within a few miles of the coast: Rhus integrifolia (Lemonadeberry). Best for clay soil flatlands: Nassella spp (Needlegrass species). & some other bunchgrasses. But it depends on how clay-ey & how alkaline.

Alan Lindsay—The soil in my garden is clay, hard as a rock when it is dry. I have just one Chamise that thrives no matter what I do to it. It's been stepped on and broken, gone without water for an entire summer, and it keeps coming back. I believe its botanical name is Adenostoma fasiculatum var prostratum, which Tree of Life sells as Adenostoma fasciculatum 'Nicolas.' Mine has never gotten more than 3 feet high with a spread of 6 feet. The bloom is nothing to rave about but is abundant for a couple of months and its foliage is always dark green. I think this prostrate Chamise is overlooked as a landscaping plant, especially in clay soil.

Sarah Jayne—The quick answer is Deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens. Mine was planted in 1992, reached its present size (about six feet in diameter—admittedly a little too large for its allotted space) very quickly, and carries on year after year with practically no attention save an occasional haircut from underneath. The "soil" is adobe. This makes a wonderful accent plant.

Nancy Heuler—Fragaria chiloensis and/or Fragaria californica.

Greg Rubin—Some outstanding performers in clay include Baccharis 'Pigeon Point', Erigeron glaucus (Beach Daisy), many Sages (S. leucophylla, S. brandeegii, S. spathacea, S. apiana), many Buckwheats (Eriogonum sp)., Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos) such as 'Louis Edmunds’, ‘Sunset’, ‘Carmel Sur’, ‘Austin Griffith’, ‘Dr. Hurd’, ‘Howard McMinn', California Lilacs (Ceanothus) like 'Joyce Coulter’, ‘Frosty Blue’, ‘Blue Jeans’, ‘Ray Hartman’, ‘Yankee Point’, as well as California Fuchsia (Epilobium, Zauschneria sp).

Gabi McLean—I have good draining soils but I did give several natives to my son in Corona who had only very heavy clay soil. The one that survived best was Salvia apiana. He also grew several cacti Opuntia that did well.

Dennis Keagy—Our front, back, and side yards are naturalized 10-year-old natives. We found that the best native plants are the ones that might have grown locally in our Irvine soil-right under our feet. Those choices include: lemonadeberry, toyon, black sage, ceanothus, encelia, buckwheat, sugar bush, coyote bush, deergrass, scrub oak, monkeyflower, fuchsia flowering gooseberry, redbud, bladderpod, (and several annuals).

Dan Songster—Though normally I stand on the sidelines and watch, I cannot resist mentioning the Ribes nation. Whether Gooseberries or Currants I find most of them (excepting straight R. sanguineum) do surprisingly well in clay. Many add a very welcome mid winter flowering, which is attractive to hungry hummingbirds and in fall, delicious berries for birds and me! Oh, and did anyone mention Coffeeberries? Wonderful.

Thanks to all who responded! Next issue’s question: What "Tool" do you find most useful in your garden? Include information on where hard to find implements might be purchased. Send replies to Dan Songster at Songster@cox.net and please be brief so we can include them all!

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CONSERVATION REPORT

CNPS Chapter Council (CC) approved the proposed new NATIVE PLANTS AND FIRE SAFETY (NPFS) policy on Dec. 5. The NPFS is now under consideration by all CNPS Chapters as a Working Draft Policy. Any interested member is welcome to comment on the proposed policy; comment period will end on Feb. 3. ACTION NOW: Contact Celia Kutcher, celia552@cox.net, for a PDF of the policy. Your comments can be discussed with her and/or our CC Delegate Nancy Heuler, nheuler@cox.net. We will forward them to the NPFS policy-sponsor committee, where they will become part of the input that refines the policy. The Final Draft of the policy will go to the CC for adoption at the March 2010 meeting.

In your comments, focus on the essential points of the policy. Does it state CNPS policy clearly, and describe the Intent adequately? What specific information can you offer that will help support the Rationale and science-basis for the policy? If you foresee any significant potential legal or fiscal implications of this policy for CNPS please describe them.

Most of the specific guidance that CNPS will provide to agencies and insurers will be in the Implementation section; your suggestions on those guidelines will be helpful. Keep in mind that the specifics of influencing pre-fire fuel management will be different than those of influencing fire control actions. As a starting point in thinking about Implementation, existing law and CalFire regulations can be a useful standard. A summary: PRC-4291 now requires 100 ft of clearance/defensible space, the first 30 ft lean and green and the next 70 ft to 100 ft thinned, trimmed, limbed up and free of continuous fuels both horizontal and vertical. Also see “Homeowner’s Guide to Firewise Landscaping” pamphlets (grass, shrub, & timber versions) at http://www.thenet411.net/index.php/education/publications; they can be downloaded as PDFs.

SAN MATEO WATERSHED: The San Mateo Creek Conservancy (SMCC) has been formed to advocate for the creek and the now-protected estuary at its mouth. They are concerned about effects the proposed Marine Corps (USMC) Sierra One Training Area will have on the creek and estuary. The Area is to be sited on the former agricultural land in the creek’s 1.5-mile-long flood plain, just across I-5 from the estuary, and is intended for “heavy equipment and assault breacher vehicle training”.

The Training Area has been proposed for some time—since well before the Coastal Commission turned down the toll-road extension that would have run alongside the site. The proposal is still under internal USMC review; an EA (= EIR) is scheduled to be issued in mid-2010.

The proposed training site is easily visible and audible from San Mateo Campground, the houses and trails along the ridge in adjacent San Clemente, and I-5. It seems odd that the USMC would consider putting such a facility where the public could be so aware of it.

—Celia Kutcher, Conservation Chair

[As always, you may contact Celia at celia552@cox.net if you have questions or would like to become actively involved.]

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ORANGE COUNTY LEADS THE WAY!

We are fortunate to have an active leadership group in the Orange County chapter, on both the chapter and at the state level. For the last two years since I have been Orange County chapter president, I have attended the quarterly Chapter Council meetings, the gathering of representatives from each chapter. I’m still learning about the amazing diversity of work that is happening because of CNPS. These Orange County members (maybe others, too!) are making a difference at the state level:

§ Brad Jenkins, past board president and current board treasurer

§ Sarah Jayne, past Chapter Council secretary, active with the Membership Committee and current board secretary

§ Dan Songster, member of the Horticulture Committee

§ Celia Kutcher, actively attending Chapter Council meetings for many years, working to draft the state fire policy, and providing valuable input on multiple issues

§ Nancy Heuler, Orange County chapter representative on the Chapter Council for 2009

§ Fred Roberts and Dave Bramlet, participants in the Rare Plants program

§ Rich Schilk, working with his counterparts on standardizing and upgrading web-based outreach for chapters

§ Laura Camp, Chapter Council secretary for the past year, joining Sarah and Brad on the state board in 2010 (3 members from our chapter!), member of the Horticulture Committee

We welcome more involvement in the chapter, and the opportunities are numerous and rewarding at the state level, too. Please talk to any board member if you have an interest to share in gardening, conservation, membership, administrative, field trips, just to name a few!

                                                                                                                                                              
—Laura Camp

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ORANGE COUNTY IS SPECIAL: The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, located just north of Huntington Beach right along the coast, is one of the few remaining coastal wetland/upland ecosystems left in Southern California. Following more than a century of human use and abuse, the multiple environments at Bolsa Chica have been experiencing restoration efforts on several levels. The newly restored wetlands have transformed a past oil field into thriving marine and shore bird nesting habitat. Restoration of the habitats above the water line have also found success, and a much larger effort is about to begin.

In 2006 the Lower Bench of the Bolsa Chica Mesa was purchased by the State for $65 Million and title transferred to the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). Since that time, the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, the non-profit organization which worked tirelessly for the Mesa’s protection, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with DFG and has been hard at work developing a unique and state-of-the-art restoration plan for the 120 acre Lower Bench called CPR (Community Promoted Restoration) For The Mesa.

For the past 14 years, the Bolsa Chica Stewards, the Restoration Team of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust has been working on the habitat restoration of the sliver of Mesa owned by the State prior to 2006. Re-establishing Southern California Coastal Sage Scrub to the Mesa’s western edge has prompted the return of the California Gnat Catcher to the Mesa, amongst other wildlife species desperate for native habitat. A volunteer driven effort, to date more than 18,000 one-gallon container stock have been planted by over 8,000 volunteers from all corners of the community.

The Mesa, like all of Bolsa Chica, is unique, controversial, and impacted by multiple and severe stressors which makes its restoration more than a simple challenge. However, the need is great and over the course of the next decade the Bolsa Chica Stewards will be creating five native habitat zones on what is now 120 acres of predominantly non-native invasive European grasses. The largest, most important, and hardest to accomplish will be a 65 acre native grassland/coastal prairie. An amazing on-site nursery system will be producing the more than 60,000 native plants and hundreds of pounds of seed necessary for the job all while being zero-runoff, zero-emissions, and off the grid.

Some of the most important aspects of the project are the opportunities that will be present for the community to participate, for educational purposes and to actually be a part of the healing of this land. It is our intention to follow through on what Reed Noss wrote about Bolsa Chica, “One of the potentially greatest values of the Bolsa Chica Mesa is as an educational resource to the human community of Orange County and beyond…. We are not aware of anyplace in southern California better suited for this educational opportunity.”

Please visit our website at www.BolsaChicaLandTrust.org or call us at (714) 846-1001 for more information.

—Kim Kolpin, Director, Bolsa Chica Stewards

Do you have a special place that you enjoy in Orange County? Send your stories to the newsletter editor, sbjayne@cox.net, and share the joy of the outdoors. Orange County is special!

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Nature Walks and Other Field Trips 2010

Joan Hampton and Richard Schilk, Field Trip Committee

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Date Destination

Saturday, February 06............................ Trout Journey Part I

Saturday, February 13....................................... Anza-Borrego

Saturday, February 20 ........................................ Caspers Park

Saturday, February 27 .......................... Trout Journey Part II

Saturday, March 06 .................................... San Mateo Marsh

Sunday, March 21 .............................. San Gabriel Mountains

Saturday, March 27 ............................. Trout Journey Part III

Saturday, April 10 ........ Auto tour Irvine Ranch Conservancy

Sunday, April 11 ..................................... Cucamonga Canyon

Sunday, May 02 .................................................... Azusa River

Saturday, May 08 ............................... San Gabriel Mountains

Sunday, June 06 .................................................. Little Dalton

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Much of the information here is preliminary. Visit our chapter website at http://www.occnps.org/ for updates.

Prepare for field trips: Fill your gas tank, wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes, bring water, snack or lunch (depending on the length of the trip), hat, and sunscreen. Other suggested equipment: hand lens, note pad, camera, and perhaps a walking stick.

There are no fees for nature walks or field trips. Pre-registrater, at http://www.occnps.org/. If you have questions, email Rich Schilk, birdguy@naturalista.net.

Rain within 24 hours cancels the event.

Nature Walks

New this year, our nature walks are designed as an introduction to common plants in our area, and their relationship to the rest of our natural environment. Leaders are members of the California Native Plant Society or sister organizations.

Saturday, February 20, 9:00 AM: Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

From the park website: [this] "8,000 acre protected wilderness preserve [is] nestled among the river terraces and sandstone canyons of the western coastal Santa Ana Mountains.” Stroll with us through groves of native Coast Live Oak and California Sycamore. Prepare to get your feet wet if streams are still running. In addition to plant identification, you will learn about the history and ecology of the area. The park admission fee is $5.00 per vehicle.

Saturday, March 6: San Mateo Marsh, 10:00 AM

This fresh-water marsh is a now-rare habitat at the mouth of one of Southern California’s very few remaining free-running watersheds. We will amble around the marsh's perimeter on mostly-level trail (some along the beach), looking at the riparian, estuarine and other vegetation types, as well as early wildflowers. We'll probably take a snack/lunch break along the way.

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Field Trips

Trout Journey: From Shore to Chaparral

Joel Robinson, Naturalist for You

A series of three related outings following the historic journey of the endangered southern steelhead trout from the Santa Ana River Mouth, up Santiago Creek, and into the Santa Ana Mountains. Witness the transition between different plant communities, from saltwater to the headwaters.

Part I: Saturday, February 6, 9:00 AM: Salt Marsh at Santa Ana River Mouth, Newport Beach

Imagine you are a trout and you have to get to the mountains to spawn. From the ocean the tide carries you through the shallow marsh where you navigate through the cordgrass, cattails, and pickleweed to the Santa Ana River channel. The flow is against you, but your muscular tail propels you upstream towards the foothills. This is an opportunity to view wetland plants and wildlife (mostly birds) at the Santa Ana River mouth. Flat trail. Full sun exposure. Bring binoculars.

Part II: Saturday, February 27, 9:00 AM: A Creekside in Orange

Although there have been many obstacles, your sleek metallic shape and relentless determination have catapulted you many miles up the Santiago Creek. You swim under the shade of willows and pass by various drought-deciduous shrubs. This is an opportunity to see the transition between the valley and foothills. Flat trail. Full sun exposure. Bring binoculars. $5.00 parking fee for Part II.

Part III: March 27, 9:00 AM: Silverado Canyon, Maple Springs Truck Trail

Finally, your perseverance has brought you to the riparian forest where you were born. You swim through deep pools carved out of dark bluish-gray bedrock. Alders, bays, and maples shade the cold mountain stream and thick chaparral clothes the steep slopes of the canyon. It is time to spawn. This is an opportunity to see plants and wildlife of the Santa Ana Mountains. Wide, flat semi-paved trail. Gradual ascent. Partial shade. Bring binoculars. Adventure Pass needed for Part III.

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Saturday, February 13: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Hunt for Pilostyles thurberi, Thurber's stemsucker, in bloom

Leader: Tom Chester

Pilostyles thurberi has been called Southern California's most unusual wildflower. It is a parasite that is only visible when it produces its tiny blooms, which appear as tiny warts on the stem of its host plant. The human eye can just barely tell an open fresh flower from a dead flower, but a hand lens or macro camera reveals the difference clearly. Fonts Point Wash, within several hundred feet of the paved road S22, has 20 host plants with Pilostyles. We'll survey them to try to find some in full bloom.

We will eat lunch, then spend an hour or two enjoying the Pilostyles and other plants of this area. Afterwards, for those interested in a longer outing, we will botanize other nearby canyons.

For further information about Pilostyles and other species of the area, visit the following websites:

· Plants of Southern California: Pilostyles: http://tchester.org/plants/analysis/pilostyles/index.html

· Southern California's Most Unusual Wildflower: Pilostyles thurberi: Seldom-Seen Wildflower That Lives Inside The Stem Of Another Plant http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ploct98.htm

· Flora of Borrego Badlands: http://tchester.org/sd/plants/floras/borrego_badlands.html

· Flora of Southeast Santa Rosa Mountains: http://tchester.org/sd/plants/floras/santa_rosa_mountain.html

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Saturday, April 10 (tentative date): Irvine Ranch Conservancy Auto Tour

Field trips offered by the Natural Science Section, Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Pre-registration recommended at http://www.occnps.org/. Questions? Email Richard Schilk, birdguy@naturalista.net.

Sunday, Mar 21: Fire Recovery Hike in the San Gabriel Mountains: location to be determined

Leaders: Cliff and Gabi McLean

Visit an area of the San Gabriel Mountains that was burned in the Station or Morris Fires of September, 2009. We will look at resprouting of shrubs and trees, see what fire-following wildflowers show up, and look for the return of wildlife. This is a slow-paced nature hike with naturalists. Bring hand lens, field guides, binoculars and/or camera. Bring water, and lunch. Wear lug soled shoes.

Sunday, Apr 11, 10:00 AM: Plant ID Walk, Cucamonga Canyon

Leaders: Bob Muns, Liana Argento, Michael Hecht

Slow paced, 3-4 hour walk to identify plants and learn about the unique geology and geography of Cucamonga Canyon. Take State Rte. 57 north, Interstate 210 east to Upland, (or State Route 91 east and Interstate 15 north to Interstate 10 west). Exit Campus Blvd, south to 19th Street, east on 19th to Sapphire, north on Sapphire to Almond, west on Almond to the parking area where dirt road begins. (See Thomas Guide, San Bernardino, p. 572). Bring water, lunch, hand lens, and binoculars. (Optional $1 for plant list and $1 for hand lens) Rain cancels.

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Sunday, May 2, 9:30 AM: Plant ID Walk, Azusa River Wilderness Park, Pasadena

Leaders: Bob Muns, Liana Argento, Michael Hecht

Slow paced, 3-4 hour walk along El Encanto Trail to identify spring wildflowers. From Interstate 210, exit on Azusa. Continue north on Azusa Ave (State Route 39) 3.5 miles. Turn right into the parking lot. (See Thomas Guide, Los Angeles, p. 568). Bring water, binoculars, lunch, hand lens, (optional $1 for plant list and $1 for hand lens). Rain cancels.

Saturday, May 8: Fire Recovery Hike in the San Gabriel Mountains: location to be determined

Leaders: Cliff and Gabi McLean

Visit an area of the San Gabriel Mountains that was burned in the Station or Morris fires of September, 2009. We will look at resprouting of shrubs and trees, see what fire-following wildflowers show up, and look for the return of wildlife. This is a slow-paced nature hike with naturalists. Bring hand lens, field guides, binoculars and/or camera. Wear lug-soled shoes. Bring water and lunch.

Sunday, June 6, 9:00 AM: Plant ID Walk, Little Dalton Canyon, Pasadena

Leaders: Bob Muns, Liana Argento, Michael Hecht

Slow paced 3-4 hour walk to identify plants and talk about fire ecology in a fire recovered canyon. From Interstate 210 E, exit Lone Hill Ave. Go north on S. Lone Hill Ave, east on E. Foothill Blvd, north on N Valley Center Ave. Take the first left onto E Sierra Madre Ave, then the first right onto Glendora Mountain Road and the third left to the parking area. (See Thomas Guide, Los Angeles, p. 569). Bring water, lunch, and hand lens (optional $1 plant list and $1 hand lens.) Rain cancels.

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The Jepson Herbarium at UC Berkeley offers an exciting series of workshops on botanical and ecological subjects. While many of these are held on the university campus, others take place in the field in a wide variety of locations. The list is too extensive to include here, but tempt yourself by going to the website at http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/workshops and clicking on Registration information for 2010 workshops is available.

As other field trip opportunities arise, we will keep you informed at http://www.occnps.org//, chapter meetings, and through the newsletter. Many CNPS chapters post their newsletters at cnps.org. Be sure to consult these for listings of field trips when traveling in other parts of the state.

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Upcoming workshops at Tree of Life Nursery:

Remove-Your-Lawn series

Saturday, February 6: Kill the grass! with Gene Ratcliffe

Saturday, February 13: Creating and Caring for your Native Garden, with Mike Evans

Saturday, February 20: Design Elements, with Pat Overby

Saturday, February 27: Plant Selection—30 plants, with Mike Evans

For complete information, go to the TOL website at http://www.californianativeplants.com/

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2010 Garden Tour–Saturday, May 8, 2010—Water-saving plants your neighbors will love

The garden selection process continues through February. We’re still looking for front yard lawn conversions that have been in the ground for at least one year. We’ll be happy to take a look and let you know if your garden fits our guidelines for this tour. We’re also looking for volunteers to act as hosts at the gardens on tour day so be thinking about that too.

Sarah Jayne, at sbjayne@cox.net or see me at the chapter meetings.

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NATURE WRITINGS

11-14-09

stained glass comes in many forms

is found in many places

i find mine beneath the autumn sycamores

morning sun streams through

gentle breezes quake leaves

making a kaleidoscope of

ochre

orange

yellow-green

stained enough for me

morning light

morning breeze

morning right

illustration from Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope, by Geprge B. Sudworth

WESTERN SYCAMORE,ALISO

perhaps, Platanus racemosa

dilley preserve

11-14-09

squawk of scrub jay

tap of pecker

chirp of wren

oak woodland song

11-14-09

not a chorus

but many solos

jree of towhee

background thunder of

journeying jet

chirps of cricket

ratatat of woodpecker

many solos

one song cycle

early morning dilley preserve

chuck wright

Chuck Wright is single-handedly attempting to rid the Dilley Preserve of weeds. If you would like to join him occasionally, please contact Sarah Jayne and your interest will be forwarded to Chuck.

CONTENTS

CALENDAR

—Laura Camp, President

ORANGE COUNTY LEADS THE WAY!

Nature Walks and Other Field Trips 2010

Date Destination

NATURE WRITINGS

illustration from Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope, by Geprge B. Sudworth