October–December 2009

Volume 17 Number 6

California Native Plant Society

M ARIN C H APTER NEWSLETTER
Tiburon Mariposa Lily (Calochortus tiburonensis) Marin Chapter established 1973

Tuesday, October 13, Marin Chapter Meeting

“Native Bees are a Rich Natural Resource in
Urban California Gardens” by guest speaker
Gordon Frankie
Evidence is mounting that pollinators of crop and
wildland plants are declining worldwide. A research
group at UC Berkeley and UC Davis led by Dr.
Gordon Frankie conducted a three-year survey of bee
pollinators in seven cities from Northern California to
Southern California. Results indicate that many types
of urban residential gardens provide floral and nesting
resources for the reproduction and survival of bees,
especially a diversity of native bees. Habitat gardening
for bees, using targeted ornamental plants, can
predictably increase bee diversity and abundance, and
provide clear pollination benefits.

Above: Dr. Gordon Frankie by Stephen Spiker

on a new book on urban bees and their host flowers in

California with three other colleagues. The book will
be published by UC Press in the Natural History Field
Guide Series, with a hopeful publication date of early
2011.
Tuesday, November 10, Marin Chapter Meeting

Above: Eucera lunata by Rollin Coville

“Wildflowers of the Western Mountains” by
guest speaker John Longstreth
Gordon Frankie is Professor of Insect Biology in the
John and his wife Carolyn moved to Inverness three
College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley. He
years ago after spending nearly three decades in
received his Ph.D. in entomology from UC Berkeley in
Connecticut, where John was a banker. He earned
1968. His research interests are in plant reproductive
his Masters in Environmental Management from
biology, pollination ecology, and solitary-bee ecology.
Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies,
His field research time is split between California and
then developed and directed a 700-acre nature
the seasonally dry tropical forests of Costa Rica. He
center for the National Audubon Society. He began
teaches several lecture and field courses in applied
photographing nature 20 years ago, starting with
conservation biology and environmental problem
birds. Although birds remain his primary photographic
solving at UC Berkeley. Dr. Frankie is currently working
Chapter meeting information continued on page 2
Chapter meeting information continued from page 1 7:30 p.m. Meet at the Redwoods retirement home, 40
interest, he also enjoys shooting wildflowers, Camino Alto, Mill Valley. Books, posters, and cards will
butterflies, dragonflies, and other critters. be for sale before as well as after the meeting. Lecture
starts at 8 p.m.
❀ ❀ ❀
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The October and November chapter meetings will
be held on the second Tuesday instead of Monday.
❀ Saturday 10/10, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. &
Sunday 10/11, 12–3 p.m.
East Bay Chapter Native Plant Fair
❀ Tuesday 10/13, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
Marin Chapter Meeting: Gordon Frankie on “Native
Bees are a Rich Natural Resource in Urban California
Gardens”
Above: Giant blazing star (Mentzelia laevicaulis) by John
Longstreth
❀ Monday 11/2, 7:30 p.m.
Marin Chapter Board Meeting at Marin Recycling
This program will center on a trip this past summer ❀ Tuesday 11/10, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
with Bob Stewart to the Sierras north of Yosemite.
Marin Chapter Meeting: John Longstreth on
Carolyn Longstreth is on the board of the Marin
“Wildflowers of the Western Mountains”
chapter of CNPS.
❀ Saturday 11/14, 2 p.m.
Sunday 12/6, 11 a.m.
Sunday 12/20, 11 a.m.
Docent-led walks at Tilden Botanic Garden, Berkeley
❀ ❀ ❀

EAST BAY CHAPTER NATIVE

PLANT FAIR
Saturday, October 10, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. &
Sunday, October 11, 12–3 p.m.
Features:
• Native plants, books, posters, and gift items for sale
• Special plants for fall: ferns, Douglas iris, wild ginger
• 5-gallon coast live oak, blue oak, and valley oak at
half price
• Vendors showcasing photography, seeds, bulbs,
and crafts
• Exhibits about invasive plants, native bees, and
CNPS membership
• Guest speakers each day at 1 p.m.
Above: Little elephant heads (Pedicularis attollens) by John • Saturday—Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wilds: “Lose the
Longstreth Lawn, Gain a Beautiful and Functional Garden”
October and November meetings: • Sunday—David Bigham, Landscape Architect:
“Gardening with Locally Native Plants”
(Please note these meetings are on Tuesday instead of
the usual Monday!) Location: Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Dr.,
Tilden Park, Berkeley (across the street from the
5:45 p.m. Join friends and meet our speaker for a entrance to Tilden Golf Course).
no-host dinner at Gira Polli of Mill Valley, 590 East
Blithedale Ave. at Camino Alto. Please be prompt to be Please bring sturdy boxes for carrying your plant
assured of a seat with our group. purchases. Carpooling is appreciated. Checks/cash
only. For more information, visit www.ebcnps.org.

2 CNPS MARIN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER • VOL. 17 NO. 6 • OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2009

BUCKWHEATS IN THE GARDEN attaining a height of four to eight feet and a spread of
six to 10 feet. Its enormous, lacy white flowers mellow
by Carolyn Longstreth to a beautiful pinkish cinnamon and can be useful in
If you have ever admired a flowering buckwheat as dried flower arrangements. St. Catherine’s lace may be
it clung to a coastal cliffside, brightened a mountain lightly tip-pruned to improve habit, but the old wood
slope, or filled a sandy wash, you might consider does not resprout if cut.
celebrating the genus Eriogonum in your garden. With Santa Cruz Island buckwheat (E. arborescens) has been
about 125 species native to California, buckwheats described as the most refined of the buckwheats. It
range from large woody shrubs to herbaceous peren- grows to six feet tall with a spread of three to five feet.
nials and subshrubs and even annuals. In the wild, The flower display begins with flat clusters of pink
buckwheats favor open sunny banks and rocky hill- flowers; more flowers open as the first fade to russet.
sides; in the garden, they need sun and a well-drained As the plant matures, it displays attractive shredding
sandy soil. bark on crooked branches. It looks especially good
massed on a sunny bank with other native shrubs such
as ceanothus and manzanita. It is hardy to 20 degrees.
The most widespread of the shrubby buckwheats is
California buckwheat (E. fasciculatum). With needly
foliage and a somewhat rangy habit, this species
may not be the most classically beautiful when out
of flower, but it is extremely drought tolerant and an
excellent choice for erosion control. Abundant whit-
ish or pale pink flowers virtually cover the plant, later
to turn coppery brown. California buckwheat tolerates
some shade and can be pruned to improve its habit.
Several California buckwheat plants bloom in late sum-
mer and fall next to Limantour Road at the Point Reyes
National Seashore, near the 35 MPH sign just after the
turnoff from Bear Valley Road.
Smaller buckwheats do well in the rock garden or
mixed perennial border. Our local species, the coast
buckwheat (E. latifolium), grows as a low foliage
clump, one to two feet high and wide. It sends up
naked flowering stalks bearing white or pale pink
flowers. Similar but with dark rose-pink flowers is
the red-flowering buckwheat (E. grande var. rubes-
cens), another species associated with the Channel
Islands. For best display, use this plant as filler or
plant in drifts. Sulfur buckwheat (E. umbellatum var.
Above: Buckwheat (Eriogonum) © 1989 Perina Wiley polyanthum) is among the 20 or so species of yellow-
flowered buckwheats that bloom conspicuously in the
Buckwheats bloom late in the growing season, offering
mountains. It adapts quite well to garden conditions,
fresh interest after spring and summer flowers fade.
growing with a semi-prostrate, open habit. The yellow
The simple leaves are often grayish green and hairy
flowers fade to reddish after bloom.
on the underside; round or flat clusters of small white,
pink, or yellow flowers appear at the tips of branched All of these buckwheats are available at local native
or radiating stalks. Bees, butterflies, and other pollina- plant nurseries such as Mostly Natives in Tomales and
tors visit the flowers; birds and mammals relish the California Flora in Fulton.
seeds. The flowers stay on the plant for many weeks,
often drying to pleasing tan, cinnamon, or dark brown ❀ ❀ ❀
shades. Since the stems are brittle, it’s best not to
plant buckwheats where people or dogs will step on
WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
them. If you would like to make a suggestion for a chapter
meeting program, field trip, plant identification
Two of the commonly grown buckwheats are
workshop, or anything else, please contact us. You
evergreen shrubs native to the Channel Islands and
can phone or email your ideas to any of the board
so thrive in salty, windy conditions. St. Catherine’s
members listed on page 6 of the newsletter.
lace (E. giganteum) is the largest of the buckwheats,

CNPS MARIN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER • VOL. 17 NO. 6 • OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2009 3

FALL FIELD TRIPS REGIONAL PARKS BOTANIC GARDEN
Marin Chapter Field Trip News and Policies FALL CLASSES
As I sit down to write about fall and early winter hikes, Botanizing the Northern Sonoma Coast
it’s close to 100 degrees out, and since the hillsides
haven’t received any rain in six months, the prospect
Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4
for seeing wildflowers this late in the season is pretty Lead by Glenn Keator. Includes Salt Point State Park,
grim. Everything is very dry, and aside from the profu- Pomo Camp, and Bodega Head. Trip fee does not
sion of huckleberries and acorns this year, it doesn’t include lodging, food, or transportation. Full details
look like we’ll even have much of a fruit/berry/nut of the trip will be provided upon registration. $125
season. members/$140 nonmembers.
Which of course presents a dilemma for setting up field Building Ponds for Wildlife
trips. In fact, the last few we’ve had have been cut short
because of the intense heat. So, what to do? Sunday, October 4, 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Recently, I went through the Docent Training Program Led by Kathy and Dave Biggs. $20 members/$25
at the all-native plant Tilden Botanic Garden, and nonmembers.
have been leading docent-led walks for the past sev- Pruning Principles for Young Trees and
eral months. On one recent walk, a half-dozen Marin
CNPS members showed up; the scheduled one-hour
Shrubs
walk lasted four hours, and we had a truly wonderful Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
time. Led by Jocelyn Cohen. $35 members/$40 nonmembers.
Since I’ve committed to leading several walks there in
the Fall, I thought I’d solve the field trip dilemma by Pruning a Native Tree or Shrub from the
dually offering up those walks to members of Marin Nursery
CNPS. As an added treat for the Saturday walks, the Saturday, October 10, 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Wayne Roderick Winter Lecture Series (http://www.
nativeplants.org/roderick.html) will start in early Led by Jocelyn Cohen. $70 members/$80
November, so you should come early at 10 a.m. for nonmembers.
that, and stick around for the 2 p.m. walk. Growing Ferns from Spores
Bring lunch, as no food is for sale there, but it’s a
Sunday, October 18, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
wonderful place to have a picnic. Everything, from the
parking to the lectures to the walks, is completely free Led by Martin Grantham. $40 members/$50
of charge, so if you’ve never been to the Tilden Botanic nonmembers.
Garden, please consider going on one or more of the
following walks. The dates that I’ll be leading those
Fall Diversity on Oat Hill Mine Road in the
walks in Tilden are: Mayacmas Mountains
• Saturday, November 14 at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 24
• Sunday, December 6 at 11 a.m. Led by Glenn Keator. Tralhead directions will be pro-
• Sunday, December 20 at 11 a.m. vided upon registration. $75 members/$85 nonmembers.
What makes the Tilden Botanic Garden such a special
For full class descriptions, visit: http://www.
place is that not only does it have plants from all over
nativeplants.org/events.html. Classes meet at the
California, but those plants are watered, so that when
RPBG Visitor Center unless otherwise noted.
the hillsides are brown and dry, the Garden is green
and vibrantly alive. To enroll, print out the Class Registration Form
(available online) and send it with your check to:
It takes approximately 45 minutes to get there from
Central Marin, and because there are so many different John Rusk
ways to get there, with some being much more steep 1354-B Lincoln St.
that others, please look at the maps and directions on Berkeley, CA 94702
the Garden’s website at http://nativeplants.org. For additional information call John Rusk at (510) 528-
—Your Field Trip Chair, Joe Kohn 0526 or email at [email protected]. Advance registration
is required for all classes. Drop-ins are not permitted.

4 CNPS MARIN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER • VOL. 17 NO. 6 • OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2009

MARIN CHAPTER BOARD ELECTIONS inventory of books for sale to and from meetings,
plant sales and other events, needs to step down
FOR 2010 after the November membership meeting. Robert
Your outgoing Acting President and Vice President, has lived for a few years in San Francisco, and his
Kristin Jakob, is very happy to announce that several work schedule makes it nearly impossible for him to
people have stepped forward offering to fill some key continue this service for the chapter. If someone with
positions on our chapter’s Board of Directors. Field a suitable vehicle could relieve him of this duty before
Trip Chair Joe Kohn, while planning to continue in that the October or November meetings, we would be very
capacity, has expressed a desire to run as President, happy for Robert! Many thanks to you, Robert, for your
so long as he has the backup of a Vice President or great contribution over the years!
two. To this end, both Dabney Smith (who is presently We also need one or more people to conduct book
a Member-at-Large), and Doreen Smith (who will sales, maintain, and possibly store the inventory
continue to be our Rare Plants Chair) will be running (presently in Mill Valley), and order books as needed.
as Co-Vice Presidents. Since our last book chair departed, Kristin Jakob has
There are two openings for Members-at-Large, and been filling in with buying, but it is not her forte, nor
this is an opportunity for any members in good has she had time to sell books at meetings. Please call
standing to nominate themselves, or, with permission, Kristin at (415) 388-1844 if you can assist in any one of
another member, for one of these elected positions. these capacities.
The board elections will take place at the start of the ❀ ❀ ❀
November 10 membership meeting at the Redwoods
in Mill Valley. PLANT OF THE MONTH
The slate, to date: Text and photo by Doreen Smith
• President: Joe Kohn Last year, while on a field trip to Stafford Lake Park
• Co-Vice President: Dabney Smith in Novato, we found a new native plant species for
• Co-Vice President: Doreen Smith Marin, a very small petunia, Petunia parviflora, a.k.a.
• Treasurer: Daniel Kushner Calibrachoa parviflora. This annual field trip was
• Recording Secretary: Paula Dawson to look for late-blooming plants; the dried muddy
reservoir shores are home to several species not
• Members-at-Large (up to six): Carolyn Caldwell-
otherwise seen in the County.
White, Jolie Egert, Gini Havel, Stacey Pogorzelski,
Carol Weiske
In addition to these elected offices, several other
volunteer positions remain unfilled, or in need of
assistance. Please contact the following people should
you wish to learn what their positions entail:
• Carolyn Longstreth is doing a superb job represent-
ing our chapter and keeping abreast of the rest of
our statewide organization at the quarterly Chapter
Council meetings, held at various locations in the
state, but she would welcome an alternate for the
meetings she is unable to attend.
• Eva Buxton would welcome a Co-Chair for
Conservation, to attend public meetings and read
Above: Wild petunia (Petunia parviflora)
EIRs, and the like.
• Paula Dawson has for many years provided an This year, on a repeat visit, we found another new
invaluable service faithfully recording our board native species for Marin, alkali mallow, Malvella
meeting proceedings and actions, and would wel- leprosa.
come an alternate for those meetings she cannot The Petunia is very small, only about two inches
attend. Phyllis Faber has occasionally helped in this tall, and the little purple flowers open only at mid-
capacity, but we would welcome one more scribe! day, so it is not easy to find them unless you know
just where they are. In the same area are Persicaria
Book Sales Chair(s) and Transportation amphibia, Heliotropium curassavicum, and Epilobium
Urgently Needed! pygmaeum. A plant list for “Stafford Lake Park”
Robert Feist, who for many years has ferried our (MCOSD), will be on our Marin CNPS website.

CNPS MARIN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER • VOL. 17 NO. 6 • OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2009 5

CHAPTER NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE
ONLINE!
You can find a color PDF edition of this newsletter on the
Marin chapter website by visiting www.marin.edu/cnps/
newsletters.html.
❀ ❀ ❀

PLANT PORTRAITS: BOTANICAL

PRINTS BY KRISTIN JAKOB
October 1, 2009–January 4, 2010
This exhibition will be held at the Helen Crocker
Russell Library of Horticulture at Strybing Arboretum
in Golden Gate Park.
Please join us for the Artist’s Reception on Thursday,
October 29, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The library is open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. except major
holidays. Phone (415) 661-1316 ext. 403 or visit
http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/library/index.html.
A percentage of the proceeds benefits the Library.
Above: Fetid Adder’s Tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii) by Kristin
Jakob

Board of Directors Board contact information has been removed

Position Name from the online version of this newsletter.
President Open—Volunteer Needed
VP, Programs & Acting Pres. Kristin Jakob
Chapter Council Delegate Carolyn Longstreth
Alternate Chapter Council Delegate Open—Volunteer Needed
Programs Co-Chair Open—Volunteer Needed
Secretary Paula Dawson
Treasurer Daniel Kushner
Book Sales Open—Volunteer Needed
Conservation Co-Chair Eva Buxton
Conservation Co-Chair Open—Volunteer Needed
Education Paul da Silva
Field Trips Joe Kohn
Historian Vivian Mazur
Hospitality Chair Open—Volunteer Needed
Invasives Chair Charlotte Torgovitsky
Legislation Phyllis Faber
Marin Flora Project Wilma Follette
Membership Ashley Ratcliffe
Newsletter Editor Krista Fechner
Newsletter Folding/Mailing Paul Kryloff
Plant Sale Co-Chair Kristin Jakob
Plant Sale Co-Chair Renee Fittinghoff
Poster Sales Gerd Jakob
Publicity Open—Volunteer Needed
Rare Plant Coordinator Doreen Smith
Website Mary Stevens
Member at Large Carolyn Caldwell-White
Member at Large Gini Havel
Member at Large Stacey Pogorzelski
Member at Large Dabney J. Smith
Member at Large Carol Weiske

6 CNPS MARIN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER • VOL. 17 NO. 6 • OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2009

Dedicated to the Preservation of California Newsletter Only
Native Flora If you wish to receive only the newsletter, please make
The California Native Plant Society is a statewide non- $10 check payable to CNPS Marin and mail to:
profit organization of amateurs and professionals with
Daniel Kushner
a common interest in California’s native plants. The
201 Ross St.
Society, working through its local chapters, seeks to
increase understanding of California’s native flora and San Rafael, CA 94901
to preserve this rich resource for future generations. Newsletter Subscription only $10
Membership is open to all.

Join CNPS Now! Tax-Deductible Contributions

Membership includes informative publications, field
Tax-deductible contributions to the Marin Chapter are
trips, monthly programs, and discounts on books
always welcome, either as memorial or honorarium
and posters. Also included are Fremontia (a quarterly
donations or regular contributions. You may designate
journal with articles on all aspects of native plants), the
your contribution for a specific purpose of your choice.
Bulletin (a quarterly statewide report of activities and
Unless otherwise designated, all contributions will be
schedules), and the chapter newsletter. Please call the
placed in a separate Special Projects Fund. The Special
membership chairperson for more information.
Projects Fund will enable the Chapter to extend our
efforts to additional plant-related issues. Our regular,
Yes! I wish to affiliate with the Marin Chapter.
ongoing program and operating expenses are largely
covered by our plant sales and book and poster sales.
Membership Category:
Mariposa Lily $1,500 A contribution of $_______ is made in honor of:
Benefactor $600
Patron $300
Plant Lover $100 Contribution designated for:
Family, Group, or Library $75
Individual $45
Student or Limited Income $25 From:
Name
New Member Information:
Address
Name
Address
Telephone
Email
Telephone
Email Please send acknowledgement to:

Please mail application and check payable to CNPS to: Name _______________________________________
Address _______________________________________
California Native Plant Society
2707 K St., Suite 1 _______________________________________
Sacramento, CA 95816-5113 Telephone _______________________________________

CNPS Contact Information Email _________________________________

Phone (916) 447-2677 (state) Mail check payable to CNPS to:

Fax (916) 447-2727 (state)
Daniel Kushner
Email [email protected] (state) 201 Ross St.
Web www.marin.edu/cnps (chapter) San Rafael, CA 94901
www.cnps.org (state) The state CNPS site is a re-
source for a wealth of materials, including promo- The IRS considers dues in excess of $12.00 per
tional materials such as banners and posters. year and all gifts to CNPS Tax Deductible.

CNPS MARIN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER • VOL. 17 NO. 6 • OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2009 7

CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
MARIN CHAPTER Non-Profit Org.
1 Harrison Avenue U.S. Postage
Sausalito, CA 94965 PAID
Printed on Recycled Paper San Rafael, CA
Permit No. 300

Or Current Resident

Visit us at www.marin.edu/cnps!

GET YOUR COPY OF THE REVISED PLANT COMMUNITIES OF MARIN

MARIN FLORA! COUNTY
Now available: the long-awaited, 2007 revised Do you want to learn more about the diverse plant
edition of John Thomas Howell’s classic Marin Flora communities of this special county?
(originally published in 1949). Copies of the book will Plant Communities of Marin County, written by David
be available at chapter meetings and most field trips. Shuford and Irene C. Timossi and illustrated with
You can also print out an order form at the chapter exquisite black and white photographs of the com-
website (www.marin.edu/cnps). munities and their member species, is an excellent
Prices: Hard cover Soft cover resource. Send your check payable to CNPS for $11
per copy (shipping, handling, and tax included) to:
Retail $45 (plus $3.49 tax) $35 (plus $2.71 tax)
CNPS members $36 (plus $2.79 tax) $28 (plus $2.17 tax) Phyllis Faber
(20% off) 212 Del Casa Dr.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
❀ ❀ ❀
Enclosed is $__________. Please send me_________
RENEW ONLINE copies of Plant Communities of Marin County.
Renew your CNPS membership online using a credit
card. As an option, set it to renew automatically year Name
after year. It’s quick, easy, convenient, and reduces
Address
renewal mailing costs.
Visit www.cnps.org and click JOIN.
Telephone