NONPROFIT

ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID

GUALALA CA
PERMIT

THE

PO Box 577, Gualala CA 95445

$5.00 per year, non-members
CALYPSO
Volume 2005, May-June 05
NE
Printed on Recycled Paper

NEWSLETTER OF THE DOROTHY KING YOUNG CHAPTER

CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

CALENDAR Over 30 years ago, Californians voted for the Coastal

Act in order to govern coastal protection and the
Manchester State Park Fieldtrip California Coastal Commission was established to
Wednesday, May 4 10:00 am ensure the Act’s enforcement.
Leader: Peter Warner
However, the Commission has continually been under
State Park Resource Ecologist Peter Warner will lead attack from certain business interests and their allies in
an exploration of the proposed realignment of the Sacramento. Despite strong public support for
environmental campsite trail, set amidst the subtle protection of California's coast, over the last three
beauty of coastal prairie, scrub, riparian corridors, and budget cycles the Commission has been stripped of
dunes. Join Peter for the walk and a discussion of a nearly 40 staff positions. This is one third of the
multitude of conservation issues, including habitat agency!
protection of the federally endangered Pt. Arena
mountain beaver, conservation of host plants for two These sneak attacks allow the state legislature and the
species of endangered butterflies, and habitat governor to avoid direct confrontation over coastal
restoration. protection. They are thus insulated from the wrath of
their constituents, while the Commission is left barely
Please meet at the environmental campsite trailhead, able to do their job of coastal protection.
off Kinney Road at the east end of the park near the
park’s administration area. Bring a lunch and water, The focus of Sierra Club’s Great Coastal Places
and be prepared for off-trail walking in coastal prairie Campaign is to secure a guaranteed adequate funding
and scrub, including wet areas. Contact Peter Warner, source for coastal protection. The Campaign makes a
937-9172; 937-2278; [email protected], direct link between coastal program funding and the
need to keep those much-needed tourist dollars
Sierra Club’s Great Coastal Places Campaign flowing into our state.
Friday, May 6 7:00 pm
Mark Massara, the Club’s Coastal Director, states that,
Fort Bragg Town Hall, 363 North Main Street in Fort
“While there are many valuable causes, from stopping
Bragg (sw corner, Main and Laurel)
beach-destroying seawalls to ensuring clean water on
Speaker: Mark Massara, Coastal Director of the Sierra
our shoreline, there is no greater need for our coast
Club.
than to find a guaranteed source of funding for coastal
The DKY Chapter is proud to co-sponsor this program protection. If we can’t save our coastal protection
on the Sierra Club’s Great Coastal Places Campaign. program, we can’t save the coast.”
Other co-sponsors are: The Alliance for Democracy,
Plan to attend this meeting & bring a friend. Help
Mendocino Coast Audubon and North Coast Action.
preserve our coast!
Angelo Coast Reserve Camping Trip
Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15
Come enjoy the Angelo Reserve camping trip. There
will be a potluck dinner on the 13th; otherwise,
participants need to furnish their own meals. Diane
Wickstrom will obtain and distribute a plant list. See
details in CAMPING section on page 4.

The Life and Beauty of Sonoma County

Wildflowers – a Closer Look
Friday, May 20 7:00 pm
Gualala Community Center
Speaker: Reny Parker
Reny Parker, President of the CNPS Milo Baker
Chapter, brings us a presentation of 70 common and
rare wildflowers of Sonoma County. A Closer Look
takes you into the life and beauty of each plant through
images and discussion. You will be enticed to head for
the back roads and trails to seek out these spring
beauties.
Sidalcea diploscypha, Fringed Sidalcea. Photo taken near
Reny has lived in rural northern California for 40 years, Hopland, Mendocino County. © Reny Parker, April 2001.
currently with her husband and two cats off the power
grid in northern Sonoma County. Reny began
photographing in 1964 and for the past 20 years she Rickabaugh Glade Fieldtrip
has focused her lens on wildflowers. Saturday, May 21 8:00 am – meet in Ukiah or Hopland
Her works have been shown in galleries throughout Rickabaugh Glade is a 160-acre private inholding
California and her photographs have appeared in (surrounded by BLM and State of CA lands) atop
books and on posters. Camera in hand, Reny roams South Cow Mt. in the northern part of the Mayacamas
the western states and Canada in spring and summer range. At approx. 3,000 ft., and containing a large
indulging her passion to capture and communicate the vernal pool within a much wider meadow area, it
delicate beauty of wildflowers. See hundreds of Reny’s stands as an island of botanical abundance and
photographs on her web site: diversity unique to our area.
www.renyswildflowers.com.
The plant list of 160 species compiled for the Glade by
Roger Raiche in the early '90s includes Oregon Indian
Pink (Silene hookeri), Star Tulip (Calochortus uniflorus)
and Naked Broom-rape (Orobanche uniflora var.
purpurea) - all of which were quite abundant in mid-
spring of 2004. Also found there, among many other
species, are Cow Mt. Manzanita (Arctostaphylos
stanfordiana var. raichei) and Yellow-eyed grass
(Sisyrinchium californicum).
There are 2 approaches to the Glade and we will have
2 separate parties that will meet up there. From Ukiah,
one group will leave from the Long's Drug store
parking lot (along Orchard Ave.) at 8:00 am and then
proceed up Mill Creek canyon to the top of South Cow
Mt. There is a parking area at the road intersection to
Grindelia latifolia, Coastal Gumplant. Photo taken at Rickabaugh Glade and we will walk in from there, a
MacKerricher State Park, Mendocino County. moderate to easy 1/2 mile hike.
© Reny Parker, May 2000.

2 May-June ’05
Another group will leave from the main office building Personally, I have lots of thoughts about what can be
of the Hopland Research and Education Center done to repair the awful toll human activities have
(HREC) at 8:00 am, drive to the top of the hill and then extracted from this erstwhile community asset, and
take a moderate 45 minute uphill hike with Kerry Heise how restoration can benefit the local economy, but the
into the Glade. This is a rewarding but somewhat more motivation and moxie of coastal residents will be
strenuous approach. necessary to turn the tide. For now, let’s go for a walk
and enjoy the splendor of the headlands.
To reach the HREC take Hwy. 175 east from Hopland
and drive through Old Hopland (about 2 miles from Please meet in front of the Ford House on Main St.,
Hwy. 101) Just as you are leaving Old Hopland, Mendocino, at 9 am. We’ll walk along the bluffs for
Hwy. 175 makes a sharp turn to the right. At this point most of the morning, and drop down to Big River
you want to make a somewhat awkward and abrupt beach after lunch. Contact: Peter Warner 937-2278;
turn to your left onto Old River Rd. Stay on Old River 937-9172; [email protected].
Rd. for only a few hundred yards and then turn right
(east) onto University Rd. (there is a sign for the Field PRESIDENT’S CORNER - Jon Thompson
Station there) and proceed up the hill about 5 miles
where the road will end at the meeting spot by the Highway One Realignment Project:
main offices. For additional information you can call DKY Chapter members have been monitoring the
Highway One realignment project near Schooner
Vishnu at 467-1341 or Kerry Heise at 744-1620.
Gulch. Mary Rhyne, one of our Rare & Endangered
plants Chairpersons, has been meeting regularly with
Caltrans Biologist Peter Lewendal and other Caltrans
officials.
Caltrans has employed the services of URS to conduct
the botanical survey for the realignment project near
Schooner Gulch. More survey work has yet to be
completed but at this point it appears that one
population of Fritillaria roderickii (Roderick’s fritillary)
will be avoided by the highway realignment project.
The Roderick’s fritillary is categorized as a State
Endangered species and as a CNPS list 1B (rare or
endangered in California and elsewhere). Another rare
species found within the project area, Sidalcea
malvaeflora ssp. purpurea (purple-stemmed
checkerbloom), is categorized as a CNPS List 1B.
The DKY Chapter will be filing for an Encroachment
Permit with Caltrans so that we can help with
transplanting the purple-stemmed checkerbloom to
selected appropriate sites. The tentative start date for
Castilleja sp., Indian Paintbrush. Photo taken at the realignment project is July 1, 2006, so we have
MacKerricher State Park. © Reny Parker, May 2000. some time to get organized and round up some
volunteers. If you are Interested in volunteering
A Growing Concern: Whither the Mendocino in this effort please call me at (707) 884-4847.
Headlands?
Saturday, June 4, 9:00 am to after lunch DKY TAKES STAND AGAINST
Leader: Peter Warner
PREEMPTIVE SEED LEGISLATION
This trip will be an opportunity for everyone concerned
On April 20, 2005, the DKY Board approved a motion
with the degradation of this splendid landscape to
to formally oppose any preemptive seed legislation
show up and speak out. We’ll look at rare plants and
intended at the state or federal level to override local
weeds, human impacts and wildlife habitat, and try to
initiatives that restrict planting and growth of
congeal our thoughts about this deteriorating local
genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).
treasure.

3 May-June ’05
Environmental Commons, a non-profit project of the Redwood Coast Watersheds Alliance, PO Box 1135
Redwood Coast Watersheds Alliance, sheds light on Gualala, CA 95445 (707) 884-5002. See also:
this subject: http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/iowa022805.cfm
“Seeds represent our livelihood. They help our http://www.environmentalcommons.org/VT-farm-policy-
natural world flourish. Seeds produce our foods, news.pdf
give sustenance to insects and microorganisms,
and are essential to life! Shouldn't local CONSERVATION NEWS - Lori Hubbart
governments retain the ability to make decisions
regarding the seeds we sow?” Highway 1 – Schooner Gulch Bypass -- Chapter
representatives have been talking with Caltrans about
From the Florida Native Plant Society’s webpage protection of Fritillaria roderickii. We are also
using EC information (pers. comm., ed.): concerned about loss of native bunchgrasses as well
“There's a movement afoot in various State as a rare form of checkerbloom, Sidalcea malvaeflora
legislatures to adopt new laws that preempt any ssp. purpurea. DKY is negotiating a plan to move and
local regulation of seeds. This is an ag/biotech replant the checkerbloom elsewhere on the site.
industry response to some California counties
having adopted, or considering adopting, Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness
ordinances that prohibit planting of genetically Act, H.R 233 – As of this writing, H.R. 233 is moving
engineered (GE) crops. along. CNPS has supported various versions of this
bill, which will give official Wilderness designation to
Without debating the pros and cons of local GE some of Mendocino County’s more remote wild areas.
bans, it is worth noting that these State preemption
bills sweep very broadly and generally would not CAMPING - Diane Wickstrom
allow any local regulation of seeds, even if the seed
may present weediness risks in that locality. The Join DKY chapter members and friends camping at
bills are not limited to GE crop seeds. Angelo State Reserve Friday May 13 to Sunday May
15. There will be a potluck dinner on the 13th;
The handy Seed Law Preemption Tracker: participants need to furnish all of their other meals.
http://www.environmentalcommons.org/gmo- You can view species lists from the Reserve at:
tracker.html provides the status pending bills, some http://angelo.berkeley.edu/data.htm. Diane will provide
of which appear to have been adopted already..… copies of the site’s plant list.
Here, e.g., is the text of a Georgia bill (SB 87) that
has reportedly passed both houses there: We are registered to stay at Fox Creek Lodge cabins.
You may bring tents if you wish (mice have been
"No county, municipal corporation, consolidated
known to inhabit the cabins!) It is our intent to explore
government, or other political subdivision of this
the Reserve to seek out native plants in unlogged and
state shall adopt or continue in effect any
undisturbed areas. No species will be collected.
ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution
regulating the labeling, packaging, sale, storage, Directions to Angelo Reserve:
transportation, distribution, notification of use, or Take Hwy 101 north to Laytonville and turn west onto
use of seeds." Branscomb Rd. Travel ~13 mi. to the town of
http://www.fnps.org/pages/fnps/page_announceme Branscomb. Continue another 3 mi. to fork in the road
nt.php?id=1050 and go right. Wilderness Lodge Rd. is paved for the
first 2+ mi. and graveled after crossing the Eel River;
For more information on seed preemption legislation continue another 1.4 mi. to Angelo Reserve HQ. Fox
contact: Britt Bailey, Director, Environmental Creek Lodge & Wilderness Lodge are 2.8 mi. further.
Commons, California (707) 884-5002
[email protected]. From the coast take Hwy 1 north out of Ft Bragg to
Branscomb Rd. 1 mile north of Westport. Turn right
Additional note from EC.org: “In March 2004, and travel just short of 10 miles to Wilderness Lodge
Mendocino County, California became the first region Rd. Turn left and follow above directions.
in the world to successfully say "NO" to growing and
raising corporately developed and controlled For further information and gate combination:
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) including food contact Diane Wickstrom at 884-4556 or
crops and livestock. Other counties within California [email protected]; Angelo Coast Range Reserve
and other regions such as Kona, Hawaii, Parana, 707-984-6653; http://angelo.berkeley.edu/index.htm.
Brazil, and Western Australia are also hard at work to
secure GMO-free areas.”
4 May-June ’05
INVASIVE PLANTS - Peter Warner Gulch Headlands and Cove. The land was purchased
by RCLC from Ardath Schwab for $250,000 and
Pt. Cabrillo Weed Removal Workshop
adjoins 3.91 acres that RCLC bought from Jon Bell in
Saturday, May 14, 9:00 am – 12 noon
2001.
This event will be a brief overview of hands-on
methods for removing some of the Mendocino coast’s Although the State Coastal Conservancy provided the
most annoying weeds: Scotch broom, gorse, majority of the funds for this latest acquisition, RCLC
cotoneaster, eucalyptus, thistles…the list goes on. was able to provide $10,000. Over 200 individuals and
Bring a lunch if you want to stay in the afternoon for groups contributed to RCLC during the last year in
some extra exercise – weeding, of course! support of RCLC’s on-going mission to preserve
Contact: Peter Warner 937-2278; 937-9172; notable features of our north coast’s natural heritage.
[email protected]

Salt Point State Park – Invasive Plant Ambush

Friday, May 27 – Sunday, May 29
Join the Habitat Restoration Team from Pt. Reyes
National Seashore for a weekend of weeding at Salt
Point. This remarkable group of volunteer stewards
has devoted thousands of hours to ecological
restoration, working in state and national parks and on
other public lands to rid landscapes of invasive plants
that compete with native species.
We’ll convene at the hike-and-bike/group camping
area east of Hwy. 1 beginning on Friday night, and
work on removing jubata grass, broom, Watsonia, and
other habitat invaders on Saturday and Sunday.
Camping is free for weed warriors. Enjoy a potluck Hearn Gulch photograph by Bob Rutemoeller.
dinner on Saturday evening. Please join us for a Various required reports and surveys have been
weekend of camaraderie and conservation, and see completed for this project, most notably, botanical
why public land managers keel over in delight when surveys by Dorothy Scherer and Jon Thompson, and a
they learn this troop of restoration stalwarts is coming geological report by Tom Cochrane. However, there is
their way. Contact: Peter Warner 937-2278; considerable work and fundraising yet to do:
[email protected]
Due to the configuration of State Highway 1,
Big River Stewards a portion of the highway’s western “cut” has to
be widened to achieve the required line of sight
Please watch this space for announcements of future
distance for the property’s safe public ingress
Big River Stewards work events. We’ve already
and egress.
accomplished a lot, making a clean sweep of broom at
the laguna this past winter, and continuing work on A small parking area must be fenced to prevent
weeds along roads and trails. To volunteer for Big the continuation of vehicular damage to the
River weed work, or to participate in other Big River fragile headlands.
volunteer activities, please contact Matt Gerhart A unique custom-designed cabled stair system
at the Mendocino Land Trust: 962-0470 or needs to be installed to allow safe descent over
[email protected]. the steep final segment of the planned trail to
the cove.
PRESERVATION AND PUBLIC ACCESS
FOR HEARN GULCH RCLC estimates the cost to accomplish the required
improvements to be $40,000. Donations of time, talent
The Redwood Coast Land Conservancy’s (RCLC) and treasure will be needed to complete this project
recent acquisition of 1.89 acres near Hearn Gulch will and preserve for all time this dramatic piece of the
enable RCLC to move ahead with plans begun four Mendocino coast. For more information contact Dave
years ago to provide safe public access to the site and Scholz at 408 739-3451 or www.rc-lc.org.
preserve and restore the significant flora of the Hearn

5 May-June ’05
OFFICERS 2005 MEMBERSHIP
President: Jon Thompson 884-4847 Total members: 142
Vice President: Roz Bray 785-2694 Submitted by Bob Rutemoeller
Secretary: Rich Schimbor 785-9626
Treasurer: Mary Hunter 785-1150 CALYPSO July-Aug Deadline: Please send
newsletter items by June 19, 2005. Contact J. Larke at
964-2845, P.O. Box 1631, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437.

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS DKY CHAPTER WEBPAGE at www.dkycnps.org

AT LARGE OPEN has a beautiful gallery of wildflower photos along with
CAMPING Diane Wickstrom 884-4556 other useful botanical links. You may view the current
CONSERVATION Lori Hubbart 882-1655 issue of Calypso as well a past issues (check out the
fax:882-1645; wildflower photographs in color). Norm Jensen, DKY
Greg Jirak 882-1660 webmaster, encourages you to send in photos.
EDUCATION Heidi Marshall 884-383
FIELDTRIPS OPEN CNPS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
HISTORIAN Ramona Crooks 884-3585 DOROTHY KING YOUNG CHAPTER
HOSPITALITY: Membership in the California Native Plant Society is open
North Coast OPEN to all. The task and mission of the Society is to increase
South Coast Beverly Sloane 785-3134 awareness, understanding, and appreciation of California
Roberta Rams 884-4847 native plants. The challenge is to preserve their natural
INVASIVES OPEN habitat through scientific educational, and conservation
JUBATA ERADICATION Roz Bray 785-2694 activities. Membership includes subscription to the
LEGISLATION OPEN quarterly Fremontia, as well as our local chapter
MAILINGS Linda Jones 785-1743 newsletter, the Calypso.
MEMBERSHIP Bob Rutemoeller 884-4426 Name ______________________________________
NEWSLETTER Julia Larke 964-2845 Address ____________________________________
PLANT SALE Jon Thompson 884-4847 City ________________________ Zip ___________
PLANT WATCH Heidi Marshall 884-383 Tel _____________ e-mail _____________________
POSTERS Lynn Tuft 785-3392
PROGRAMS OPEN; Lori Hubbart (pro tem) I wish to affiliate with the DKY Chapter _______
PUBLICITY OPEN or, other chapter _____________________________
RARE & ENDANGERED: (Please check, or name a chapter; CNPS will make
North Teresa Sholars 962-2686 assignment if none is specified by applicant.)
Inland Clare Wheeler-Sias 895-3131
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY
Sea Ranch Elaine Mahaffey 785-2279
Sonoma Co. Dorothy Scherer 882-2850 Limited Income $20
South Coast Mary Rhyne 884-3043 Individual $35
VEGETATION Family/Group $45
North OPEN Supporting $75
South OPEN Plant Lover $100
WEBMASTER Norm Jensen Patron $250
[email protected] Benefactor $500
Mariposa Lily $1000
All phone numbers are Area Code 707. Make check out to the California Native Plant Society;
mail check and application to:
Bob Rutemoeller, Membership Committee
NEXT BOARD MEETING will be held Monday, June
DKY Chapter, CNPS
20th at 10 am in Pt. Arena’s Coast Library Community
PO Box 577
Room. All members are welcome. For information, Gualala, CA 95445
please contact Jon Thompson 884-4847.

6 May-June ’05