Moun t Umunhum:
A Botanically Significant Summit

a Photo Tour by Ken Hickman

Joi n us for our favorite get-together of the year: the annual potluck dinner a nd election meeting, followed by our annual Butner Family Memorial Lecture. The evenin g is devoted to native plant appreciation, Chapter business, and delicious food. It’s the party of the year – don’t miss it!

At 3,486 feet, Mount Umunhu m is one of the highest peaks of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and also one of the most mysterious. Overlooking the Santa Clara Valley, the mountain has v iews that extend to Monterey Bay and even the Sierra Nevada on a clear day. The summit is the former site of the Almaden Air Force Station, which was closed and off-limits to the general public and curious botanists for years . But in September 2017, after 60 years and extensive restoration by the Mi dpeninsula Regional Open Space District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, t his iconic “hummingbird rest” and its unusual geology and flora opened to t he public and took up the mantle as a must-see destination.

< span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: TimesNewRoman;">Ken’s program wil l showcase the flora and fauna that he and botanist John Rawlings documente d on hikes and with camera traps during a survey of Mount Umunhum’s summit, canyons and new trails during the 2014-2017 restoration. The flora include s 290 native taxa, with eight CNPS Ranked, one State Rare, and over 20 Loca lly Rare species. Come learn about Umunhum’s uniqueness, and see why this “ new” summit is a true gem of our Chapter and region!

Ken Hickman is a natural ist and wildlife scientist with a specialty in camera trapping, and a Chapt er member with a love of botany. He’s been building high-quality camera tra ps and conducting wildlife surveys throughout California for over eight yea rs, working for a number of public agencies.

The evening begins at 6 pm with o ur annual potluck. Bring your favorite dish, whether it be a salad, main dish, dessert or beverage; it always works out that we have just the right amount of eve rything! A label identifying your dish will be helpful. Be sure to bring a plate, drinking glass, and eating utensils for yourself, as well as a bag i n which to take home unwashed dishes.

If you can help with setup, please arrive at 5pm t o set up chairs and tables. The potluck feast will begin at 6pm, followed by the program at 7pm. We appreciate your help with cleanup at the end of the program.

We will have a LARGE selection of used books for sale which have been donated by our lon g-time Chapter members, including Sally Casey. We will also have a silent auction of high- quality books and other items which will help raise funds for the Chapter. To donate books or other items, drop off boxes labeled “CNPS Auction” at th e mailboxes in the PCC at 3921 E. Bayshore Rd. in Palo Alto during business hours on or before Wednesday, November 7, or contact Judy Fenerty at This em ail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled t o view it.