CNPS SCV Blazing Star Logo
California Native Plant Society

Santa Clara Valley Chapter

Habitat Restoration

Cataldi Park Native Garden

PXL 20230318 161753847.MP volunteersThe Cataldi Park Native Garden Project is working to create a habitat for native plants and pollinators including monarch butterflies, and to spread awareness about native plant habitats and pollinators among volunteers and visitors at Cataldi Park, a 39-acre park in the Berryessa area of San Jose. We have regular Saturday morning work sessions at the park. Current activities include mulching the remaining area, weeding and setting up irrigation. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up on our chapter's meetup group.

History

A large portion on the western end of the park is barren and not maintained by the park staff. Starting in 2023, this volunteer-lead project sponsored by our chapter and supported by the City of San Jose’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department is converting a part of this barren area into a native garden. The Adopt-a-Park program of the Department organized a volunteer event in March, 2023 to kick off the project. 25 volunteers prepared around 1,500 square feet of the site for fall planting. During the event, volunteers laid down cardboard for sheet mulching, wheelbarrowed wood chips from existing piles in the park and spread the mulch on the cardboard. PXL 20230318 185611146 cropped after mulch

The project obtained a Wildflower Grassland Kit from the Xerces Society. The kit contains 600 small herbaceous transplants (mostly ‘plugs’) including milkweed, flowering forbs, and some grasses. In the first phase of the project, we will plant these plugs between early November – December 2023. The project is also a recipient of a BeautifySJ award from the City of San Jose which will fund other supplies for Phase One of this project.     

 

Habitat Restoration

coyote-ridge-weed-removal-by-david-tharpOur Santa Clara Valley Chapter of CNPS supports habitat restoration projects all over Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. We encourage members and supporters to get involved with a restoration project near you, whether at a park or creek or natural area. It is a great way to learn about native plants and their role in the ecology and see firsthand the damage caused by invasive plants. This is also an important way in which everyone can make a difference and help the environment.

Our Chapter leads three ongoing restoration projects of its own:

Here are some more ongoing restoration projects with other local organizations if you're not able to join one of our chapter projects.

Fountain Thistle Restoration - October 2015 Workday Report

Sacrifice some native plants in order to save the fountain thistle?

By Carol Mattsson, Blazing Star Newsletter Editor

fountain-thistle-serpentine-seep-DWcropAfter several years of corresponding with Jake Sigg by email to publish announcements of fountain thistle work parties in the Blazing Star newsletter, I decided to attend one such workday so I could finally meet him in person.

On a sunny clear October day I drove my car to the "end of Lessingia Court" in San Mateo and as promised by the September-October 2015 Blazing Star announcement, I found a CNPS work crew gathering.

Soon after I finished tying my boot laces, Ken Himes called out to me in greeting.  It was good to see a familiar face, since it was my first time joining in on the fountain thistle restoration project.  Ken had laid out tools and gloves in the back of his car for the volunteers.

Several early arriving volunteers gathered around as Ken explained the three kinds of fountain thistle in our area: Cirsium fontinale var. campylon, the Mount Hamilton fountain thistle, on Endangered Plants list 1B.2, that we can see at Coyote Ridge; Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense that grows in San Luis Obispo County and finally Cirsium fontinale var. fontinale that grows only in San Mateo County.  The latter two are Federally and State of California listed as Endangered species.  All three varieties are found only on serpentine steeps and streams.

The "fountain" in the common name comes from the thistle's flower stems flowing downward growth habit, compared to the usual thistle's flower heads being held erect.

Jake explained that the project started when the entire hillside above the highway was thickly covered with pampas grass.  Caltrans said they'd give the pampas grass three separate sprayings to kill it, as long as CNPS would follow up with on site visits to pull the pampas grass resprouts.  The pampas grass seeds only live for about four months, so after a year only new seedlings from outside seeds would remain.  Now after twenty years, the project has workdays only twice a year, in spring and in fall, which are successful in keeping the pampas grass nearly non-existent and the fountain thistle returning.

fountain-thistle-serpentine-seepDW500From the gathering place we walked single file out to the work site, along a thin trail past teasel and other weeds that soon gave way to mostly bunch grass dotted with coyote brush on a moderately steep slope above Interstate 280.

Soon we came upon our first seep, a serpentine slope with a little water seeping down here and there, with many rosettes of young fountain thistles tucked among other sedges (rushes) and other low vegetation and dead pampas grass bases.  Ken explained that the fountain thistle needs a "high water table" but pampas grass and even some native shrubs with their deep roots will lower the water table, making it difficult for the fountain grass to find the necessary water to grow.

The project has indeed been a success: the most recent fountain thistle count was done by Crystal Niederer of the Edgewood Restoration Project.  She gave up counting after finding 6,000 individual plants.

See the photo below of Ken and Jake on either side of the rushes to measure for the extent of the fountain thistle growth.

jake-ken-edges-of-seep500As in any habitat restoration project, volunteers need to learn the difference between plants to be saved and plants to be pulled out.  Jake showed us the difference between pampas grass seedlings and young rushes.  The pampas grass has a definite keel along each blade and the grass edges are sharp, especially if you try to run your finger down the edge to the base.  The rushes have a less distinctive keel and the grass edges are smooth - you can run your fingers up and down the edges.  Jake said we only needed to get a few inches of the pampas grass roots in order to kill the plant.

In spite of the overall project success, there are plenty of weeds remaining to pull, including blackberry, yellow star-thistle and the occasional pampas grass seedling.  We had a large enough crew to split into two, so I joined the group heading to the "far west," an area that sometimes gets neglected when the workday crew is smaller.

There, we concentrated pulling weeds from within a large area of rushes just above the highway's break-down lane.  To pull blackberry, Jake showed me how to hold the seedling a foot above the ground with one hand, near the ground with the other, and slowly pull to get a goodly portion of root along with the stem.  We pulled a couple of pampas grass seedlings from the rushes, and a few other weeds, then considered the coyote brush.

The controversy here is was it necessary to pull native shrubs and trees to save the fountain thistle?  Did we want to restore the hillside to pure bunch grass and other small native plants?  There were several coyote brush shrubs mixed in with the sedges, and the hillside held the occasional small oak tree and toyon bush.  The coyote brush was definitely encroaching, as there were plants of all sizes and we observed far-away hillsides that were mostly covered with coyote brush.  The restoration area is on a 30-year old roadcut, so the vegetation has filled in starting from bare soil that long.

Ken and Jake had differing opinions on what to do.  In the end Jake said another volunteer, Dave, and I could take out coyote brush if we wanted to.  I worked with Dave to dig out several small coyote brush including several inches of root, with a mattock.  Then, emboldened by our success and the loppers and pruning saws at hand, we took on some of the larger shrubs.

What to do with the dismembered coyote brush branches?  A deep pile of brush would kill the grass underneath.  Instead we laid out the brush in a single layer at the edge of the sedges, so enough sunlight could get through for the sedges to spread and grow up within the dead branches.

At about the time I was starting to feel tired, I saw that noon had arrived and the crew gathered their tools and started heading back to the gathering point.  The hillside sure was pretty on the clear, sunny day.  If not for the constant background roar of the passing cars, we could have been on any wild, grassy open space.  Once we returned to our parking spot, we returned the tools and gloves to their owners and I thanked the leaders for a pleasant outdoor experience with like-minded volunteers.

The project welcomes new volunteers.  Check a Blazing Star newsletter early next spring to learn of the next fountain thistle restoration workday.

All photos by Dee Wong

 

Lake Cunningham Native Plant Garden

Lake Cunningham Native GardenCNPS volunteers have been working since 2002 to establish a California Native Garden at Lake Cunningham Park, one of the largest regional parks in San Jose. Their goal is to enhance the environment at Lake Cunningham Park by removing invasive plants and planting California native wildflowers, perennials, and shrubs; to provide summer shade through native tree planting; to encourage community participation; to create a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape; to enhance nature-based recreation; and to create wildlife habitat. This garden is part of City of San Jose's Adopt A Park program, and a project of CNPS Santa Clara Valley Chapter.

View a talk about the Native Plant Garden at Lake Cunningham.

History

The native garden project began in 2002 when neighborhood residents who were CNPS members sought and received permission from the park staff to plant wildflower seeds in selected areas of the park. This early effort was unsuccessful because of the huge seed bank of invasive annuals and perennials at the park. From the second year onwards, volunteers focused their effort on controlling invasives and planting native trees, shrubs, and perennials.

A grant from San Jose Beautiful funded the expansion of the garden along the accessible path from the parking lot to the lake. A CAP grant from the City of San Jose funded the construction of a native plant nursery in the maintenance yard of the park. 

Ranger Mark Rayner installed an interpretive sign at the entrance to the native garden, and signs at the Tully Entrance and near the parking lot. As part of the skate park project, the seasonal stream was lined with river rocks.

In 2006, the frontage bed along Tully Road was mulched with help from San Jose Conservation Corps, and planted with native plants using a grant from San Jose Beautiful.

In 2009-2010, a boy scout eagle project expanded the garden along the lakeside path, and a girl scout team expanded the garden to the east of the parking lot.

The construction of the adjacent BMX bike track in 2016 damaged parts of the native garden. That area has since been restored with a mix of locally native plants.

In 2017-2019, with grants from BeautifySJ and City of SanJose Parks & Rec, volunteers planted 100 native trees along Inner Lake Path from the garden to the Marina. Each tree has a bubbler and is watered weekly during the dry months. Three valley oaks have been planted along Park Road near the native garden.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are welcome at the Lake Cunningham Native Garden. Tasks include weeding invasive plants, mulching, watering, and planting. No prior experience necessary. Students earn community service hours by volunteering here. The chapter's listings on meetup.com and on volunteermatch.org attract students and others from all around the South Bay. Nearly 1,000 volunteer-hours are logged each year. 

Location

Lake Cunningham Park, 2305 S. White Road, San Jose. In google maps, search for the pin "Lake Cunningham Native Garden".

Dates

Workdays are every Saturday 8-10am. To volunteer, RSVP throup the chapter meetup site below. Look for events titled "Habitat Restoration @ Lake Cunningham".:

https://www.meetup.com/California-Native-Plant-Society-Santa-Clara-Valley-Chapter/events/

Contact

Weekends: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More Information

https://lakecunninghamnativegarden.org/

Lake Cunningham Volunteers egroup - low traffic, mostly weekly status reports

The 2021 GNGT Kickoff featured a talk about the Native Plant Garden at Lake Cunningham - learn about the area history, the garden and its wildlife, and its volunteers.

Byddi Lee's Blog about the Native Garden at Lake Cunningham

https://www.meetup.com/California-Native-Plant-Society-Santa-Clara-Valley-Chapter/events/calendar

Edgewood Weed Warriors

LogoOverview

Though just 467 acres, Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve near Redwood City is widely known for fabulous wildflowers and amazing diversity.  Did you know it’s an official Natural Preserve, and the only one in the San Mateo County park system?  As a Natural Preserve, its goal is to protect native species, including over 300 native plants!  And that’s where YOU can help.

Invasive, non-native “weeds” displace native plants and reduce diversity.  But dedicated park staff and volunteers, in a collaboration between San Mateo County Parks & Recreation, The California Native Plant Society (CNPS), and Friends of Edgewood, work to control the weeds so natives have plenty of room to flourish.

Want to help preserve this natural treasure?
VOLUNTEER with our Edgewood Weed Warriors restoration team!

You’ll be able to:

  • Learn about native plants, weeds, and ecology from local experts
  • View rarely seen plants up close at our work sites
  • Meet other volunteers with similar interests
  • Keep Edgewood native while getting fresh air and exercise in a beautiful setting!

There’s lots to do so everyone is welcome, whether every week, occasionally, or just once.  No experience is necessary, just volunteer spirit and an interest in Edgewood.

 IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • DON’T DO THIS ON YOUR OWN!  Plant removal & going off trail require a permit. 
  • Teens must each be accompanied by one of their own parents; unaccompanied adult students must have proof of age. 
  • Large groups should call ahead to make special arrangements.
  • Sturdy gloves are recommended; you might also want: sunscreen, water, a hat, layered clothing, long sleeves/pants.

Hope to see you soon at one of our work outings!

History

Our volunteer restoration program at Edgewood Park has run for over 25 years.  Known as the Edgewood Weed Warriors, the program has made amazing progress, yet there’s still so much we can do to make Edgewood an inspirational showcase of all CNPS stands for!  To learn more about the past history and what challenges lie ahead, check out:

Restoration Sessions

We have weekly sessions on Wednesday afternoons during daylight saving time and at  9 am on Friday mornings. Meeting locations are determined weekly. For more information contact the Weed Warriors coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Our program operates under permission from and/or in partnership with:

Subcategories

Edgewood Weed Warriors (EWW)

Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve is located just west of Redwood City, in San Mateo County.  Though just 467 acres, Edgewood is widely known for fabulous wildflower displays and amazing diversity.  And as a Natural Preserve, its goal is to protect native species, including over 300 native plants!

Our CNPS chapter has a long and storied history (almost 40 years!) of exploring the Edgewood site before it was even a park, fighting to save it from development, and then working to protect and restore the habitats found there... visit our Edgewood page to learn more of the story, or visit our Edgewood Weed Warriors page to learn how you can help with restoration.

Alum Rock Park

Chapter habitat restoration project, led by Steve Rosenthal.

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