MARIN (and other chapters) CNPS NEWSLETTERS available online
other CNPS chapter WEBSITES
Join the California Native Plant Society
Marin CNPS Field Trips and Hikes
Saturday, July 11 Abbott's Lagoon with leader Doreen Smith
Marin CNPS Plant Lists, newly updated for Bull Point, Carson Ridge, Ring Mountain, and Rare Plants of Marin
David Herlocker's MCOSD Naturalist Outings
Plant of the month by Doreen Smith
Navarretia viscidula
sticky navarretia

"I'm pleased to report that on Sky Oaks MMWD the sticky navarretia, Navarretia viscidula, is in peak
condition and coloring violet once-bare patches of the flatlands called Lagunitas Meadows. There are masses
of this small but beautiful wildflower interspersed with the brown dried annual grasses that cover the areas with
somewhat deeper soils."
Marin CNPS Membership Meetings
Marin Sightings
Report (email us) your
Marin native plant sightings and photographs
For information and more photographs of California native plants,
go to Calflora
or CalPhotos.
All reports from 2008-2009 season
click on images for full photos
Mary Stevens and Norbert Jeske report July 2: " Leopard lilies and Western Azaleas are blooming along
the road below the Bootjack parking lot and in Portrero Meadow."
Trevor Simon reports July 1: "We just saw a nice patch of the stream orchid growing in Papermill creek
across the road from Devils gulch.
Really pretty."
Robert Hall reports June 29: "I biked to the top of Tam starting at Phoenix Lake and noticed that there are
still some wildflowers. Of course, monkey flower is blooming everywhere but coyote mint is ubiquitous too.
I also saw pearly-everlasting, fading patches of Ithuriel's spear, western morning glory and one pitcher
sage in bloom."
Doreen Smith reports June 23: "The Lilium maritimum should be
flowering for this Saturday's Bull Point trip."
She also sends a picture of Rosa spithamea taken by Roger D. Harris
on her Ring Mountain walk.
John Conley reports June 21:
"The Blue Gentian
(Gentiana affinis var. ovata) is in full bloom along the bluffs
above Drake's Bay and Drake's Estero. There is still some Sidalcea in bloom there,
as well as some Ceanothus. Brodiaea terrestris is still in bloom, but is beginning to
fade. Lots of Paintbrush, Lotus, Blue-eyed Grass, Ithuriel's Spear, and
Gumweed continue to bloom, and our native Blackberries (Rubus ursinus) are
just ripening.
"The Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa) is currently making a nice show on
the path from Drake's Estero to Horseshoe Lagoon."
Dave Strauss reports June 20:
Monardella villosa blooming along
the Fish Gulch trail above Phoenix Lake.
Doreen Smith reports from the Marin CNPS/RockGarden Society hike to Ring Mountain, June 7th:
"There's still time to
see the Calochortus tiburonensis before
it goes to seed, but for only about one more week!
This year was a good year to see plants with multiple blooms. Other notable flowering
spp. seen on this date were
yellow spring tarplant, Hemizonia
congesta lutescens; white tackstem, Calycadenia multiglandulosa;
creamsacs, Castilleja rubicundula lithospermoides; pale pink Marin
western flax Hesperolinon congestum;
purple coyote mint, Monardella
purpurea; rose-pink Tiburon buckwheat, Eriogonum luteolum caninum;
ruby chalice clarkia,
Clarkia rubicunda and the red-flowered Silene
lacinata californica.
Two new species
were located to add to the
plant list: bright pink Sonoma rose, Rosa spithamea and a pale green
rein orchid,
Piperia transversa.
"
We visited the Bull Point trail June 4th with David Herlocker's
Marin naturalist group. The rosy linanthus,
Leptosiphon rosaceus, made up for the small size of each plant by occuring in vast numbers
and mixed colors of
white, pink and rose. The stream orchids,
Epipactis gigantea, were flowering in great shape but were nearly
trampled to death by their admirers.
"The Carson Falls area is still worth visiting, the new trail
off from the main fire-road is much easier to negotiate than
the old one. The waterfalls continue to flow and the rare foothill
yellow-legged frogs (don't disturb them) sunbathe in
the shallows of
the pools. Rock-lettuce, Dudleya cymosa, flowers there on the rocks
(of course) attract hummingbirds."
Dave Strauss reports June 6: "Today we saw a very nice collection of
Calochortus luteus
at Camp Tamarancho along the Serpentine trail
just below the junction with the fire road to Cascade Canyon.
I saw
Clarkia amoena at the junction of the White Hill fire road and B-17
extension at Camp Tamarancho."
More reports from 2008-2009 season
Gardening with Native Plants
in the San Francisco Bay Area
Native Plants that Attract Birds
Invasive Alert - Lepidium latifolium
Pt. Reyes staff have been finding scattered new populations of Perennial Pepperweed in Tomales Bay
and would greatly appreciate reports of any plants seen around Tomales Bay. Please contact Ecologist
Lorraine Parsons at Lorraine_Parsons@nps.gov. with information as to the location (as precise as possible),
size, and life stage (flowering, fruiting, etc).
Lepidium latifolium description and photos
Volunteer Opportunities
- Point Reyes National Seashore-
Habitat Restoration Program
Workdays are normally held on the
second and last Sundays of each month.
Contact Ellen(Ellen_Hamingson@nps.gov,415-464-5196) for more information.
- Audubon California and the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
have partnered
to enhance and restore 65 acres of tidal marsh, sub-tidal, and marsh-upland transition environments at
Tubbs Island and Tolay Creek.
Volunteers will have opportunities to learn ecological monitoring and species identification.
A 1-3 day/week commitment is sought for
Tidal marsh vegetation monitoring from
July 20-August 14.
Additional opportunities for planting will resume in the Fall.
Please contact Mike Perlmutter, Audubon California: 510-601-1866 ext. 231 or MPerlmutter@audubon.org.
- Point Reyes Weed Watchers
Point Reyes Weed Watchers patrol park trails, detecting and mapping weeds as they first invade.
If you enjoy leisurely hikes through the parks but also want to help protect the unique natural
resources, then this is the perfect opportunity for you. Weed Watchers is appropriate for adults
and teens.
For more information, call 415-464-5201 or Natalie_Howe@nps.gov.
- SPAWN" (The Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
Every Saturday, 10am - 1pm, Creekside Habitat Restoration -
Join us as we plant, prune, remove invasives, and improve endangered coho
habitat in the San Geronimo Valley! Its a wonderful opportunity to learn
more about salmon and share rewarding experiences with like-minded folks
of all ages while restoring our local ecosystem.
Location varies, please visit SPAWN"S upcoming events for more details!
Every Friday, 10am - 1pm, Native Plant Nursery Day
Come out and help SPAWN volunteers at our very own Native Plant Nursery!
We cultivate beautiful plants destined for restoration sites throughout
the valley - everything from native blackberries and grasses to majestic
redwoods and Douglas fir. Be a part of transforming creekside habitat from
the ground up!
- Bolinas Lagoon Preserve, Audubon Canyon Ranch
Your help is needed in restoring native plant communities and wildlife habitat in the
coastal riparian
forests of Bolinas Lagoon. Please join us for our weekly Volunteer Work Days:
Thursdays 9am- noon in Volunteer Canyon.
Contact Leslie@egret.org, 415-868-9244 for more information and to RSVP
- more Volunteer Opportunities
New and Revised MARIN FLORA
We are pleased to announce the arrival of the long-awaited, revised
edition of John Thomas Howell's classic 1949 Marin Flora.
The
new edition is co-authored by Wilma Follette, Catherine Best and
Frank Almeda, Senior Curator of Botany at the California Academy
of Sciences in San Francisco, and is a joint project of the Marin
Chapter of the CNPS and the Academy of Sciences. This updated
edition has added 416 line drawings to assist in keying species,
new
well-tested dichotomous keys, and color photos of plant communities
in Marin. There are new maps along with satellite images of Marin
County. As much as possible has been preserved of Howell's original
plant descriptions that have long delighted botanists as well as his
insights and poetic observations.
Cover illustration: "Mt. Tamalpais from Corte Madera Creek" by Tom Killion © 2004
Hard and soft cover books will be available for purchase at chapter meetings or you can
Order Marin Flora from the Marin Chapter CNPS
Marin Chapter members have contributed many hours of volunteer
labor and expertise; work was carried out at the Academy where
plant specimens are retained. Publication was made possible by Tom
Howell's generous remembrance of the chapter in his will when he
died in 1994.
Lost Plants of Marin by Doreen Smith
Marin CNPS Photo Gallery
Common Bay Area Spring Wildflowers
Common Bay Area Shrubs
Arctostaphylos species of Marin County
Orobanche species of Marin County
Some Native Orchids of Marin County
Delphinium bakeri pictures and article
Plant Communities of Marin County
Order
Plant Communities of Marin by David Shuford and Irene C. Timossi
CNPS Posters
Junior Botanists Program
E-mail questions or comments to Marin CNPS
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Our logo is the Tiburon Mariposa
Lily (Calochortus tiburonensis).
This extremely rare lily can be seen blooming from the end of May through mid-June among the serpentine rocks of
Ring Mountain in Marin County, California. In fact, this is the
only place in the world it has ever been found growing
in the wild. It was first noticed by botanists in 1971 when the small patch
of land on which it lives passed from private into public hands. The plant is
now in cultivation and can be seen in botanic gardens.
Try your hand at identifying the parts of this flower:
or
View more photographs of this lily in its native habitat or
Visit the College
of Marin's "To See A World Project" to learn more about Ring Mountain
The California Native Plant Society is a non-profit organization
of amateurs and professionals united by an interest in the plants of
California. Its principal aims are to preserve the native flora and
to add to the knowledge of members and the public at large.
It seeks to accomplish these goals in a number of ways, including:
The work of the Society is carried out primarily by the volunteer efforts of the members of
CNPS chapters
throughout the state. Money at the State level is provided by the dues of members. Local chapters raise money through plant sales and poster and book sales.
The California Native Plant Society has 9,000 members statewide.
The Marin Chapter, which was founded in 1973, has approximately 500 members.
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...to other
WEB sites
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2008: The Golden Gate National Recreation Area Endangered Species Big Year
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California Invasive Plant Council
Protecting California's wildlands through research, restoration, and education
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California Native Grasslands Association
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The Bay Institute/STRAW dedicated to restoring the ecosystems of San Francisco Bay
- The Natural Resources DataBase (NRDB)
is a compilation of observations of flora and fauna made at open space and
nature preserves in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The database can be
searched for available data on flora, mammals, birds, and reptiles-amphibians-
fishes seen at one or more preserves.
- The CalFlora Species Database contains summary geographic and ecological distribution information for 7660 California vascular plant taxa (8363 records including species level taxa where there is more than one var. or ssp.), as well as additional habitat information for rare taxa and species of the Sierra Nevada.
- The Jepson Herbarium's
Jepson Flora Project provides on-line:
- a listing of the plant species included in The Jepson Manual
- state-wide distribution maps of individual species
- a list of all the corrections to the original printing of The Jepson Manual
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Marin / Sonoma Weed Management Area
- Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) /
Interpretive walks
- Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD)
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The Planning and Conservation League Foundation
Protecting California's Environment Through Public Education, Policy Research and Legislation
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Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, was founded in 1995 to protect the remaining natural ecosystems of the area, especially those relating to urbanized creeks and wetlands, and where possible to increase the diversity of these ecosystems.
- California Vernal Pools a collection of
information and resources. Includes field trips to see vernal pools.
- San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project
has a website with maps of current invasive Spartina locations, as well as
downloadable identification brochures and photos from their 2000-2001
surveys.
- The Watershed Project creates and carries
out involvement and outreach programs on creeks, wetlands and watersheds for the general
public and educators in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- California Oak Mortality Task Force (COMTF)
includes information on symptoms and diagnosis of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and Associated Diseases Caused by Phytophthora ramorum.
- The Environmental Forum of Marin has a comprehensive list of links to
environmental organizations in Marin County and beyond.
- Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program,
University of California, has valuable information on
oaks and oak woodland related issues in their Publications, On Line Leaflets, and Oaks 'n' Folks links.
- Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris has descriptions
of the native species of California and Marin County. Follow the
links to "wild irises" and to "other western iris" and don't miss Brian Argon's
"Marin Iris" in the photo gallery.
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Cliff Schmidt's Ceanothus Descriptions, set up and
maintained by Oregon State University's Dr. Clifford Schmidt, touts itself as "the web's only
complete treatment of the genus Ceanothus"
- California Lichen Society
- Mycological Society of San Francisco
- California Native Plants Discussion Group allows members to share their experience, their knowledge, and their questions about California native plants with each other. Topics include habitat restoration, gardening with natives, plant identification, propagation techniques, legal and political action, invasive non-natives, and event announcements
- Gardening With Natives Yahoo! Group for individuals interested in growing California native plants in their home gardens, parking strips, school gardens, parks, and elsewhere. This is a forum for communication, for asking questions, and for providing helpful answers. Members come from all backgrounds, from beginners to experts. This forum is particularly welcoming of those new to native plant gardening; they are encouraged to join and post their questions.
This egroup is a service of the Gardening With Natives group of the California Native Plant Society (Santa Clara Valley Chapter). This egroup carries announcements of major native plant gardening events in the South Bay and Peninsula.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND WILDFLOWER IDENTIFICATION AIDS:
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CalPhotos
UC Berkeley Digital Library Photo Collection consists of 63,460 images of California plants (native and naturalized) and habitats.
You can search for plants by name, location (there are 1734 plant images taken in
Marin County), or type and color.
- California Academy of Sciences: California Wildflower Search
- Ron Parson's Flowershots Photographs of Orchids and other Wildflowers
as well as lots of links to orchid sites and sites of general botanical interest
- Reny Parker's Wildflowers An image gallery of wildflower, native plant,
and landscape photographs. Currently over 1,750 images identified to 78 plant families.
- Virtual Guidebook to Marin and the North Bay Counties
(and loads of other spots spanning western North America):
Scroll through 360-degree panoramas, each seamlessly stitched together from 12 still photographs.
They even tell you how to create your own. Definitely entertaining if you have QuickTime software already installed
or want to download it.
WILDFLOWER REPORTS:
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY:
- State CNPS Home Page
A valuable resource with information on a myriad of native plants issues
and related links including:
- Invasive Exotics presents
a comprehensive consideration of the problem of biological pollution.
- CNPS Publications is another State CNPS site with
descriptions and ordering information for books and CD-ROMs of interest to all native plant lovers.
(Many of these titles as well as our popular wildflower posters are for sale at the Marin Chapter membership meetings.)
The most recent issue of the CNPS Journal
Fremontia and current and past issues of the
Bulletin are available here online.
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