Restoration Update

Last week, we spent time at Lusardi Creek.  In addition to the usual Artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus) and Carnation spurge (Euphorbia terracina), we treated a variety of undesirable plants.  The most numerous of them was Purple salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius).  A perennial herb originally from Europe, it is not invasive but it does displace natives.  We found it intermixed with Prickly lettuce (Latuca serriola), both of which share the same habitat of disturbed ground.  The salsify was a bit difficult to distinguish as they are the same color and the salsify just a bit shorter.  On the plus side, we found a large number of native lupines well on their way to seed not far away.

This week I have Wednesday through Saturday to work with Committee members.  An early summer heatwave in the forecast may make it difficult but we might be OK if we get to work early.

Below are photos of native Mohave yucca (Yucca schidegera) near the San Dieguito trailhead at Lusardi Creek.

Mohave yucca (Yucca schidegera) Photo by Bob Byrnes

Mohave yucca (Yucca schidegera) Photo by Bob Byrnes

--Robert Byrnes
Co-chair

Habitat Restoration Committee

Restoration Update: Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)

We treated artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus) at Lusardi Creek.  We also treated four areas where Carnation spurge (Euphorbia terracina) is persisting. One of these was near the end of a berm extending into the Creek.  We had to fight our way past thick native brush that we had restored in order to reach it.  This was encouraging despite our leaning toward despair at ever getting rid of this invasive. There are two additional areas but we didn’t have time to tackle them. 

This week's photo is of native Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) against a backdrop of drying pond scum along the banks of the San Dieguito River. According to Calscape, it is a water-loving plant spread almost worldwide, from Europe to central Asia to across the US. It is also one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings. It is botanically related to garden cress and mustard, all known for a peppery, tangy flavor.

This week I have Monday and Saturday to lead work parties.  Email me if you can help.

— Robert Byrnes

Co-chair

Habitat Restoration Committe

CNPS-San Diego

Native Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) . Photo by Bob Byrnes

July Newsletter

Our July newsletter just dropped!

There’s a whole bunch of activities going on this month, from field trips to nursery work, to potluck discussions. Read it to get all the details. As always, our activities are open to everyone and many are kid-friendly!

We can’t wait to See Your Garden on the 2024 Native Garden Tour!

More and more people are recognizing the benefits of planting native gardens and your garden could be their inspiration to make that leap. Experienced native gardeners also come to our garden tours to discover new native plants and explore new ideas to add to their own gardens.

Restoration Update: CA False Indigo

We surveyed current restoration sites in the San Dieguito River Valley and potential sites near Santa Ysabel in the upper reaches of the watershed.

California False Indigo (Amorpha californica). Photo by Bob Byrnes.

Here is a photograph of California false indigo (Amorpha californica).  We see this native along the San Dieguito River every spring.  This year it is appearing much more robust than we've seen in the past.  This is probably because we've removed the invasive weeds which confined it at these locations.  The high water which lasted for months likely also contributed. 

Arne and I are looking for individual(s) who may want to become co-chairs with us on the Habitat Restoration Committee.  As Committee members know, our group has an established stewardship program where we do restoration through hands-on training.  A typical training period is one complete growing cycle to see annual change.  Benefits include meeting great people, spending time outdoors, learning native and non-native plants and the reward of seeing the changes that result from our activities.  Contact Bob Byrnes and Arne Johanson at invasiveplants@cnpssd.org.

This week I have Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday to lead volunteers.  Email me if you can help out.

--Robert Byrnes

Co-chair

Habitat Restoration Committee

CNPS-San Diego

Restoration Update: The Pervasive Sea Lavender

Last week, we continued treating Carnation spurge (Euphorbia terracina) pictured at right.  The seed of this invasive perennial germinates and continues growing over a period of many months.  This year the number of new plants seems worse than usual.  Let's hope that the extensive efforts we've been putting into controlling it put a significant dent in the seed bank.

Euphorbia terracina Photo by Bob Byrnes

Below is a photo of non-native Canarian sea lavender (Limonium perezii) at Lusardi Creek not far from Camino del Sur.  This species is not described as invasive in California, though it is said to be abundant along our coasts and roadsides (https://naturecollective.org/plant-guide/details/perezs-sea-lavender-non-indigenous/).  This is the only example of L. perezii we have seen in our work area.  However we have come across other, superficially similar Limonium species that really are highly invasive (https://naturecollective.org/plant-guide/details/california-sea-lavender/).

Limonium perezii Photo by Bob Byrnes

This week I have Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday to work with Committee members. Email me if you can help.

--Robert Byrnes

Co-chair

Habitat Restoration Committee

CNPS-San Diego

Restoration Update: Keeping ahead of invasives

The growth spurt created by extended rainfall and cloudiness that moderates temperature continues.

After spending several days earlier this year treating invasive Carnation spurge (Euphorbia terracina) and Artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus) at Lusardi Creek, we returned to the job.  We also continued to pull non-native Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) from natives at Lusardi Creek.  Here are photos of a White sage (Salvia apiana) before and after removing vetch.  The Coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis) growing behind the sage is now visible.

This week I have Wednesday through Saturday to work with Committee members, though Saturday may be tentative.  Email me if you can come out.

--Robert Byrnes

Co-chair

Habitat Restoration Committee

CNPS-San Diego

View fullsize

Salvia apian before. Photo Bob Byrnes

View fullsize

Salvia apiana after. Photo Bob Byrnes

Restoration Update: Hairy Vetch

We pulled non-native Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) from native vegetation.  Below are before (top) and after photos of a California sagebrush (Artemisia californica). Photos by Bob Byrnes

This week I have every day Monday through Saturday with the exception of Wednesday to work with Committee members.  Email me (the earlier in the week the better) if you can help.

Robert Byrnes

Co-chair

Habitat Restoration Committee

CNPS-San Diego

CNPS-SD teamed up with Audubon to tackle invasive plants on Hospitality Point on Mission Bay

The restoration site is on the right.

Last month, CNPS-SD teamed up with Audubon Society to do a quick clean-up of invasive plants around a patch of rare and endangered Acmispon prostratus, or Nuttall’s Lotus, at Hospitality Point on Mission Bay. This was speedily coordinated by CNPS-SD member Bonnie and Andrew from SD Audubon Society. Within a few days, State Parks gave permission for a group to weed there for a couple hours one Wednesday.

Can you spot the Acmispon in this photo? It’s not the yellow Beach Primrose (Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia) on the top right!

The sandy soil was thick with crown daisy (Glebionis coronaria) and burclover (Medicago polymorpha) and various invasive grasses. Getting down on hands and knees was the easiest way to spot the tender plants under the mat of burclover.

Cindy and Al make their way through a patch of weeds.

The Acmsipon finally emerging from the tangle. Flags were put at the base of the Acmispon to mark their locations.

The growing weed pile. While we were a little late (the burclover and grass were already seeding) we still got hundreds of invasive seeds off the ground.

Bonnie discovered the protected area last year while searching for native bees around the county to photograph for iNat. She did some research on the area and found it was a past project from CNPS member Gary Suttle, who passed away in March 2015. He won an award from CNPS for his work on conserving Acmispon prostratus. He was featured in our July-August newsletter of 2006:

Gary Suttle

Chapter member Gary Suttle received the State CNPS Volunteer Recognition Award on June 3rd for his diligence in studying and protecting the rare Nuttall’s Lotus, Lotus nuttallianus, in the San Diego area. Gary has learned about and worked to protect Nutall’s lotus for years. He surveyed accessible populations (including some on military bases) and raised awareness of the species in the jurisdictions responsible for its management. He personally convinced the City of San Diego to protect a population that was being impacted by a volleyball court. Gary first weeded the site by himself and later began organizing work parties. He has worked to promote weed control at other sites by providing photo-documentation before and after invasion to demonstrate the problem. In adopting and studying Nuttall’s lotus, Gary has insured protection and appreciation of this rare plant in the San Diego area. His own efforts and his involvement of others, including city staff, demonstrate what a dedicated, self-taught volunteer can accomplish.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/585dc42c725e25ca57806ffc/t/59d711ab8fd4d2c45d47b7bc/1507266987397/Newsletter0607-08pdf.pdf  

His obituary was on page 5 of our June 2015 newsletter: 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/585dc42c725e25ca57806ffc/t/59d4681980bd5e1dfaa2c4f9/1507092512206/newsletter1506.pdf

He was also featured on page 5 of the state newsletter:

https://cnps.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bulletin-v36.4_oct-dec2006.pdf;

Restoration Update: Lupinus truncatus

We treated Artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus) and pulled up non-native Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa).  The vetch is a vine that is climbing up natives such as White sage and California sagebrush and covering over low growing Valley lupine.

Above is a picture of collared annual lupine or blunt-leaved lupine (Lupinus truncatus), a California native that is found only slightly outside the state.  It can be identified in part by its truncate or blunt leaf tips and sparse flowers.  Raindrops can be seen beading up on the plant.  Photo credit:  Bob Byrnes.

This week I have Tuesday and Thursday to work with Committee members.  Our primary activity will be pulling up Hairy vetch.  Email me if you can help.

Thank you,

Bob Byrnes

Restoration Committee Chair

Restoration Update

On one of our all-too-common rain days, it was too wet and muddy to work.  Instead we visited the nearby Lusardi Creek County Preserve to survey for weeds that had come up since we restored the area.  We didn't see many because of all the natives in the way.  They included very large Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, not shown) and Horseweed (Erigeron canadensis, sometimes called Conyza canadensis).  Though appearing much like what you might expect a weed to look like, Horseweed is native according to Calflora and is found throughout North and Central America.

Erigeron canadensis. Photo by Bob Byrnes

Restoration Update

Last week, we met with the Audubon Society and boated to the FAA island (the Bowling Pin Island) in Mission Bay to treat weeds in preparation for nesting of Least terns.  While there we saw an example of rare Nuttall's lotus (Acmispon prostratus), a species that has been the topic of recent emails from the CNPSSD discussion group.  It's possible that the island might become something of a haven for this native as invasives are removed regularly.

We also met with working partners to plan fall and winter work in the San Dieguito River Valley.  And we visited the San Dieguito trailhead at Lusardi Creek to prepare for guided trail hikes as our contribution to the celebration of California Native Plant Week and found a cluster of native Rough hedgenettle (Stachys rigida) (pictured).

The San Dieguito River remains very high after the winter rains.  River banks continue to be scoured by the flow.  We haven't been able to perform any work in the valley for months.

Rough hedgenettle (Stachys rigida) Photo by Bob Byrnes

This week I have Friday and Saturday to work with Committee members.  Email me if you can help.

--Bob

Robert Byrnes

Co-chair

Habitat Restoration Society

CNPS-San Diego

Restoration Update

Arne and Ben worked at Artesian Creek on Carrotwood trees and Castor bean. 

The San Dieguito River and Lusardi Creek are still very high.  Weeds and non-native grasses are phenomenal this year.  I can truthfully say I have never seen so many.

This week we have a little more time but not as much as we would like.  I can guide volunteers on Friday and Saturday.  Arne (email arne_kj@yahoo.com) has Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday open.  Most of these days of course are tentative as more midweek rain, which always leads to mud, is in the forecast.  Email Arne or myself if you can make it.

—Robert Byrnes

Co-chair

Habitat Restoration Committee