Volume Volume Volume

XXIVXXIVXXIV

Issue IIssue IIssue I

Winter Winter Winter

201520152015

California DreamingCalifornia DreamingCalifornia Dreaming

The Conservation Study trip to The Conservation Study trip to The Conservation Study trip to

Monterey BayMonterey BayMonterey Bay

A publicationA publication

Of the Of the

Garden ClubGarden Club

Of AmericaOf America

In this issue:

The plight of the redwoods

Water issues

A Visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium

And more……..

Conservation Watch Winter 2015

Index

Introduction to the Conservation Study Trip 1

By Marsha Merrell

Monterey Bay Aquarium: Conserving Oceans 2

BY Heidi Ho

California’s Water Issues: Drought, Water reuse, Dams and Fog 5

By Ruth Flournoy

The Transformation of Fort Ord 7

By Jill Josselyn

Large Scale Sustainable Farming 9

By Susan Lammert

A Tasting in Monterey County's Talbott Vineyards 12

By Michelle Hanss

California Redwoods—From the Ground to the Crown 14

By Celie Harris

A Hike in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 19

By Julia Burke

A Garden by the Sea 23

By Diana Fish

Partners for Plants (P4P) Project Requests for July 1, 2015 –June 30, 2016 25

By Diana Fish

California Dreaming—Remembering the Conservation Study trip in Pictures 27

Introduction to the Conservation Study Trip

The Conservation Study Trip was in Monterey Bay, California at the

end of October. While California may be different in terms of ecology

and climate from where you live, there is much to be learned that ap-

plies to all of us. Under the capable leadership of Missy Jensen, Diana

Fish and the Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club, the Conservation and

NAL Committees were treated to a non-stop view of the area’s beau-

ty, agriculture, ecological connections and challenges.

As California goes in terms of conservation, so goes the nation. Some years back, emission standards for cars

were set in this state that far exceeded the national standards. Car manufacturers did not find it to be advanta-

geous economically to produce cars with two sets of standards, so they gradually switched over to the Califor-

nia requirements. We all experienced cleaner air thanks to this state’s desire to reduce smog. Now water us-

age is under the microscope. We can use the research and practices of this area to be more careful with our

own water usage.

We learned that gardening there is quite a challenge—especially during the horrible drought that has been go-

ing on now for many years. On one hand the visit to Salinas Valley, “the lettuce bowl of America,” was a

real eye-opener. The mechanization of lettuce production was remarkable. The importance of using best prac-

tices regarding fertilizers, pesticides and water was emphasized. On the other Diana Fish’s succulent garden

was one of breathtaking beauty. She has created a dramatic and colorful landscape that uses very little water.

As I write this piece, water is falling in great torrents in California. This will help, but it will take years to re-

fill the reservoirs. Living with limited water supplies happens everywhere at one time or another and Califor-

nia is working very hard to encourage the use of this most precious commodity judiciously and wisely.

A visit to the redwoods in Pfeiffer Big Sur State park reminded us of GCA’s commitment to these ancient

giants. We were treated to lectures that gave us a closer look at how they have survived and the relationship

they have with fog.

One should not visit the area without experiencing the Monterey Bay Aquarium. While it is visually a smor-

gasbord of sea creatures and kelp, it is also a leading research facility for studying the oceans.

I hope you live vicariously reading this issue. If you are several feet under snow, the photos will no doubt

have you “California Dreaming.” Too bad you cannot ship all that wonderful resource to our members in the

west.

Marsha Merrell, Editor

1

Monterey Bay Aquarium: Conserving Oceans

By Heidi Ho, Conservation Vice Chair for Oceans, Zone XII The Garden Club of Honolulu

The Conservation Study Group’s tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium included an exploration of the front and

back of the house exhibits at the aquarium. It all began with lectures by Juliet Pool, Manager of Aquarium

Adventures; Jim Covel, Director of Interpretation; and Dr. Mike Murray, Staff Veterinarian.

We learned that John Steinbeck described Monterey’s Cannery Row as “a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a

quality of light, a tone, a habit, nostalgia, a dream." This was Monterey post-depression, following the collapse

of the sardine industry that closed the canneries. Remains of the toxic canning process left life on the edge,

barely breathing, on shore and along the coastline. Prior to sardines, otters, whales and abalone had been

fished to near oblivion.

Two pivotal acts turned this Bay from a wasteland to a miraculous recovery of life. In 1931, Julia Platt, Mayor

of Pacific Grove, declared five miles of coastline off-limits to commercial fishing. Then the aquarium opened

in 1984. The mission of the aquarium is “to inspire the conservation of the oceans.”

Today, Jim Covel explains that “Life on the Edge" teems with diversity, action and excitement, and it all hap-

pens at Monterey Bay. “The Edge” is the east coast of the Pacific Basin at the southern edge of the north coast

of California and the northern edge of the south coast, where the greatest diversity of sea life converges from

British Columbia to the Gulf of California in Mexico. Ocean temperatures, tidal changes and up swelling of

deep water to the surface create the perfect storm of life. The movement of these waters brings nutrients and

plankton blooms that attract a variety of living creatures--krill, fish, whales, otters, rays, sharks, seals, birds—

and humans.

2

Where abalone, otters, and whales were once hunted into oblivion in the 1800s, whales now summer and

otters fatten on the mollusks and abalones that live in the kelp beds off the coast. The Bay is living proof that

life can thrive in a protected marine area.

Otters form a sentinel species in the bay. Dr. Mike Murray is head of the Otter Research and Conservation

program. His staff rescues otters and adopts orphaned otter pups. They teach them to survive in the wild and

release them when they are ready. Wild otters are caught and tagged in order to monitor their health and the

health of their environment.

According to Dr. Murray, otters eat 30 percent of their body weight in kelp, urchins, crabs and invertebrates

daily and are critical to the balance of life in the eelgrass beds along the coast. His research group found that

when the otter population died off, a circle of life disappeared with it. Slugs eat algae in eel grass, and crabs

eat the slugs. Without otters to feast on crabs and keep this circle of life in balance, great beds of eelgrass die.

The otters reflect the health of the environment.

Besides man, the two greatest threats to the otter population are great white sharks and land-to- sea pollution.

We would rather not mess with the great whites, not because of the fear their great jaws invoke but because of

their critical role as an apex predator in the balance of life. However, we can and must control our production

of land-to-sea pollution.

After the lectures, we were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour. The equipment, monitoring and care of the flo-

ra and fauna that we saw are truly first rate and innovative. Every minute, the aquarium pumps 2000 gallons of

seawater from the Monterey Bay through 100 exhibit tanks. The water is filtered during the day for clarity.

Wastewater is returned to the bay. This system allows the growth of giant kelp. The kelp grow in a 28-foot tall

tank that was the first kelp forest in an aquarium.

3

Playful Otters photo by Vivian Todd

4

Behind the scenes photo by Vivian Todd

The jellyfish exhibit became my favorite when I first saw the exhibit 20 years ago, and now it is even bigger

and better. Jellies are 95 percent water, having neither brains, bones, teeth, blood nor fins. They move with

ocean cur-

rents and

have thou-

sands of

stinging cells

that allow

them to cap-

ture and con-

sume prey.

We watched

one of the

staffers feed

the jellies by

hand, having

become im-

mune to the

stings after

being

wounded so

many times. Jelly fish in the aquarium photo by Vivian Todd

5

We then went to the best five-star restaurant on the coast, where restaurant-quality salmon, scallops, shrimp,

and fish were blended with krill, seaweed and other micronutrients for delicious smoothies! The Aquarium

lives the mantra of healthy food for healthy animals, and its residents are fat and happy.

From volunteers to full-time staff, all at the Monterey Bay Aquarium are truly dedicated in their passion for

the Aquarium and ocean life, making our visit a five-star treat!

California’s Water Issues: Drought, Water Reuse, Dams and Fog By Ruth Flournoy, Conservation Vice-Chair for Wetlands, Zone IX

Three California professors educated our group about water related policies and issues. It was not surprising

that much of their focus was on drought and climate change.

David Freyberg, a Stanford University professor, explained that California’s relatively moist Central Coast

is very different from the very dry land located inland. Precipitation accounts for 96 percent of the state’s

available water, while river flow accounts for only 3 percent. Numerous federal, state and municipal convey-

ance projects have been built to move water around the state. The snow that falls in the mountains is a criti-

cal source of water. Reservoirs that depend on snow for replenishment are dangerously low. Evaporation is

always a factor. With little precipitation, aquifers are not replenished while more and more water is being

extracted from them.

Withdrawing water from underground aquifers leads to numerous problems. Salt water intrusion contami-

nates the wells. Agriculture cannot survive with salty water. As water is withdrawn, the land sinks. Some

areas of San Jose have sunk over 11 feet in recent years.

Who uses the water? While agriculture still uses more water than urban dwellers, agricultural diversions

have been declining because of changes in crop selection and technical advances in irrigation. California’s

urban population has more than doubled since 1990 and exceeds the national average in its use of water for

households and lawns.

Freyberg talked about how to deal with acute water shortages. To help limit the quantity of water used, Cali-

fornia has passed a law requiring water metering by January 2020. Another way to increase water supply is

to change the way wastewater is treated. The Stanford University Woods Institute for the Environment is

deeply involved in figuring out how to extract and utilize resources found in wastewater. Most, if not all,

materials in waste water can serve useful purposes. Research is being done on generating energy from bio-

gas and bio solids with microbial fuel cells. Scientists have learned that certain microbes introduced into

wastewater will gobble up a tremendous amount of nitrogen and phosphorous that can be extracted to use as

fertilizer. Water scalping is the process of harvesting water to use for non-potable purposes. Treatment can

remove organic materials and pathogens allowing the water to be used for irrigation and toilet flushing. Fur-

ther treatment can provide water suitable for washing clothes. Removing the salt from wastewater is cheap-

er than desalination of seawater so it can more easily be converted to potable water. The wastewater treat-

ment industry can transition to a resource recovery industry.

Dr. Doug Smith of California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) delivered an eye opening presenta-

tion on dams and dam removal, known as decommissioning. There are 75,000 dams in the US with a

lifespan of approximately 50 years. 3300 are now considered unsafe. Dams have taken a huge toll on the en-

vironment by trapping sediments that are needed to replenish coastal wetlands. Water quality has been com-

promised. Fish are not able to travel freely up and down dammed rivers. Erosion problems are created be-

cause reservoirs often destroy the riparian vegetation that stabilizes banks. Dams don’t last forever. The res-

ervoirs fill up with sediments reducing their water holding capacity. These reservoirs also lose a huge

amount of water because of evaporation.

6

There are 1248 dams in California. The San Clemente dam on the Carmel River, built on a fault and not de-

signed to withstand an earthquake, is considered the least safe. The dam is now being removed and the river

is being rerouted to the San Clemente Creek. The massive amount of sediment left behind by the drained

reservoir will stay in place and be developed into a landscape.

Dan Fernandez who is Professor and Co-Coordinator of Environmental Studies at CSUMB talked to us

about his five years of collecting data on fog. He and his students use mesh mounted on frames to trap water

from fog in different sites along the coast. They can capture 35 cubic centimeters of water on 1 square me-

ter of mesh. Fog collectors have been set up in many places around the world, not only for scientific re-

search, but for a source of water where very little water is available. Fog collectors are now being used in

many places throughout the world to generate data about climate change. One prediction is that warmer

oceans will result in less fog. Another prediction describes more fog as colder water rises to the surface be-

cause of the upwelling that can result from increased winds. Mercury and other chemicals are absorbed by

fog. The collected data gives important feedback

about mercury and other pollutants emitted by coal

plants.

Communities that rely on fog collection as a water

source obviously want to know if climate change

will severely alter patterns of fog. If fog is reduced,

what will the climate be like in the Monterey Penin-

sula area that is known for its very cool sum-

mers? Fog lowers the need for water by plants

which can absorb water through their leaves. Less

water means more groundwater withdrawals and all

the problems that scenario creates. The iconic Red-

woods and wildlife associated with them are fog de-

pendent. Fog can help or harm the wine growers by

creating good and bad fungi. Fog has significant ef-

fect on air traffic at San Francisco airport as well as

traffic on roadways. Dr. Fernandez’s work is provid-

ing meaningful data for weather forecasters, clima-

tologists and environmental researchers.

San Clemente Dam before removal Restoration work on waterway after removal

Photo shared by Dr. Fernandez

7

Researchers adjusting fog mats, Phoo by Fernandez

USGS Fog Hill

The Transformation of Fort Ord

By Jill Josselyn, NAL Vice Chair for National Parks and Public Lands

The Portland Garden Club, Zone XII

A National Monument designation is reserved for special areas of scientific or historical interest. President

Obama did just that in 2012, when he created the Ford Ord National Monument, as authorized by the Antiqui-

ties Act of 1906. The former military base was established in 1917 and stretches from the Monterey Bay

dunes inland, covering 28,000 acres, an area roughly the size of San Francisco. This area contains some of the

last undeveloped wild lands along the Monterey Peninsula. A private/public partnership is overseeing the

changes to the property. The base closed in 1994, and the area evolved under a “Reuse Plan” to provide op-

portunities for economic recovery, create a home for California State University at Monterey Bay, to restore

the site for recreational use and preserve it for the future as open space. This comprehensive plan was en-

dorsed by the local government. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provides stewardship of 7,212

acres of open space while the Army Corps of Engineers continues the cleanup of the superfund site, which all

closed bases leave behind. This area of 7, 446 acres, is expected to be turned over to the BLM and available

for public use by 2019.

The Fort Ord National monument is a sprawling expanse of maritime chaparral, oak woodlands, vernal pools,

hummacks, mima mounds and dunes which combine to create a spectacular visual mosaic and unique ecolo-

gy. The monument receives over 100,000 visitors a year to hike, horseback ride or cycle the 80 miles of

trails and roads covering 14,000 acres. There are 44 rare and endangered plants which call this unusual and

diverse landscape their home territory. Inland, the hills are populated with California Live Oaks and studded

with native grasses which frame vistas that reach from the ocean to Wildcat Ridge.

8

One of the best experiences at Fort Ord

was meeting the BLM botanist, Bruce

Delgado, and his colleague Laura Lee

Leink. Together, they hosted the Con-

servation Study group on an afternoon

exploration which focused on restora-

tion and conservation techniques the

BLM employs to manage the Monument. We learned about the careful introduction of sheep and goats to

mitigate the invasives that would otherwise force out native plants. Although the goats and sheep don’t know

which plants are on the endangered species

list, they do provide a competitive edge for

those natives against the vigorous invaders.

Bruce Delgado explained that the natives

tend to be lower-growing, and by keeping

the larger grasses and bushes short, the na-

tives have a better chance of establishment.

The BLM recognizes that fire can be benefi-

cial to the landscape. Maritime chaparral

does not readily burn, and yet a fire is anoth-

er of nature’s ways to regenerate seeds. The

fire ecology that is natural in this area be-

gins with ash and then develops to a wild

flower phase, short-lived shrubs follow, then

longer-lived shrubs and eventually oak

woodland. The BLM botanists know fires

will help native species recover more readi-

ly. Controlled burns are being used to help

with this process.

Bruce put perspective to this vulnerable ar-

ea when he explained that “what is coastal

and rare becomes rarer because most of the

development is near or on the coast.” Such

is the case for the Fort Ord National Monu-

ment, a spectacular area being restored and

open to the public for recreational uses.

No article on our excursion to Fort Ord

would suffice without mentioning that Bruce Delgado, the BLM botanist, is also the charismatic Mayor of

Marina. No doubt the “Reuse” plan will be successful with a botanist in government as well as in the field.

Horseback riding on Fort Ord National Monument

photo from NPS web site

Bruce Delgado and Conservation Study Group, by Vivian Todd

9

Large Scale Sustainable Farming

By Susan Lammert, NAL Vice Chair for Agriculture, The Garden Club of Saint Louis, Zone XI

Tanimura and Antle (T&A) owns and operates the property that once was the largest sugar plant in the world.

Mike Antle, a third generation farmer, is justifiably proud of maintaining the historical character of Spreckels,

which was founded in 1886 to raise beets for Claus Spreckels’s sugar refinery in Watsonville. In 1899 a new

plant was completed at this location, along with a town to support the operation.

At its peak, the plant processed 7,000 tons of sugar beets per day. It used 13 million gallons of water daily—

an amount equal to the total water consumption of San Francisco at that time. In the beginning, the waste

was dumped into the Salinas River, killing fish and creating a terrible odor. Soon, holding ponds were con-

structed and lime was added to control the odor. Dried beet pulp was used as cattle feed. Today the lime is

mined and applied to the soil .

Now these fields grow much of the

lettuce we consume in the United

States. Every week T&A ships 350

truckloads packed with 700,000 car-

tons, 40 pounds each, to markets. All

the lettuce is picked, cleaned and sort-

ed by hand. The produce is vacuum-

cooled using field heat. The salad is

grown on 34,000 crop acres, 11,500 of

which are family-farmed acres, the rest

belonging to 45 growing partners.

The farming methods are as sustainable as possible: Drip irrigation, targeted chemical sprays, GPS precision

grading, fertility monitoring, cover cropping, composting, crop rotation, integrated pest management, harvest

automation, dry hydroponics (only roots are in water), and other innovations are used. One particularly effi-

cient new planting method is a Dutch plant tape. Starter plants are mechanically placed in a mat of com-

pressed peat, where they grow into seedlings which develop a tap root. The seedling tape is transferred to the

field by special equipment which separates the plants and places them with great precision. T&A owns the

U.S. patent for this product.

The company also addresses the problem of food waste in the U.S., both in the fields and in picked-over pro-

duce in grocery stores. To illustrate, Mike Antle showed us a French video titled “Inglorious Fruits and Vege-

tables.” To fight food waste, Intermarché, the third largest supermarket company in France, decided to sell

non-calibrated and imperfect fruits and vegetables—“The Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables”—30 percent

cheaper. Using a clever publicity campaign, they were able to create demand for vegetables that had usually

been discarded.. This topic is critically important when we consider the resources needed to produce this

food: 10 percent of the U.S. energy budget, 50 percent of U.S. land, and 80 percent of U.S. freshwater. Yet

40 percent goes uneaten.

View of Tanimura & Antle Farm

10

A simple way to cut down on such waste is to discourage “naked” lettuce. T&A’s artisan lettuce program

puts the fragile heads directly from the field into plastic clam shells so that they are protected from handling

thereafter.

Because of the low acceptance of GMOs by consumers, none of the vegetables grown by T&A are genetical-

ly modified. They have their own seed company to avoid any association with the seed business monopolies

such as Monsanto.

Mike’s wife, Cass, a member of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club, is uniquely well qualified to handle hu-

man resources for the mostly-Mexican labor force. She is passionate about her mission to empower migrant

farmworkers and their children. Cass taught English as a second language and has a B.A. in Spanish Business

and has taught English and Citizenship classes to T&A employees to help them through the challenging pro-

cess to become citizens. Their 2100 workers have health insurance and are well compensated, based upon

team productivity.

The Conservation Study Trip attendees also learned about food safety concerns and how they have affected

the growing environment at “The Farm,” an agricultural education center, demonstration farm, produce stand

and recreation destination in the Salinas Valley. It is owned by Crown Packing Company. David Bunn man-

ages “The Farm” and is in charge of the organic program launched in the 1980s under the “Bunny” brand.

Lettuce Harvest, placing varieties into plastic clam shells, Photo by R. Merrell

11

David spoke to us about some of the challenges of organic growing such as disease, pest control, and achiev-

ing adequate yield. Since fresh produce is a major cause of food-borne illness, food safety is a critical issue.

In 2006, a spinach contamination outbreak event prompted a response from private organic growers rather

than the government. After that, the state partnered in developing regulations to document every measure

taken to prevent another such event—hygienic habits and clean water among others.

The cost of compliance is heavy, especially for the small organic farmers. Record keeping requires full time

staff, including a PhD or a consultant. Livestock cannot be in proximity to produce farms. Wildlife has to be

kept out of fields to prevent fecal contamination, but organic growers need buffer strips to encourage benefi-

cial insects. Some protocols are at cross purposes with federal food safety regulations, causing tensions.

There needs to be more research so that the requirements are fact-based and practical, allowing the farmers

the best chance to succeed.

Lunch views from T&A Farm Tour

12

A Tasting in Monterey County’s Talbott Vineyards

By Michelle Hanss, Conservation Zone I Representative, Chestnut Hill Garden Club

For wine geeks, talking about Salinas Valley and Monterey County, where Talbott Vineyards resides, is like

talking about a newborn baby. Much talk that compares this to the premium regions of Napa, Sonoma, Bur-

gundy, and Bordeaux in France is just what it is though, there is potential if their vines are able to mature and

the effects of climate change in this region do not alter the growing conditions.

How can grapes growing in Monterey County, started well over 200 years by the Franciscan Friars, not be

considered mature? Unfortunately the early vintners and wineries did not survive. Without their knowledge

and their property, unlike France, the region had to begin anew. Part of a successful wine operation is in

finding the best terroir—a set of special characteristics that the geography, geology, and climate of a certain

place, interacting with plant genetics, are expressed in a grape. As gardeners and plant lovers, we understand

this. Plants need specific types of conditions in order to grow and prosper. Wine grapes are no different.

Talbots Winery

13

In 1935, the period when the California wine industry was recovering from Prohibition, a study by two Uni-

versity of California at Davis Professors, A.J. Winkler and Maynard Amerine, developed a system of classi-

fying wine growing regions by measuring heat summation. Grapevines do not grow if the temperature is be-

low 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Days in the growing region are assigned degree days according to the amount of

average temperature that exceeds the threshold. All days in the locale are then added up with the sum deter-

mining the region’s classification.

This enabled pioneers such as Paul Masson and Peter Mirrasou to turn to the Salinas Valley in 1957, after be-

ing pushed out by urbanization in the Santa Clara and Livermore Valleys. They began anew in a climate suit-

able to the wines they were previously making. By the mid 1960’s, the quality of Monterey Rieslings and

Gewurztraminers were recorded in The Wines of America and honored as “the world’s first wine district es-

tablished as the direct result of scientific temperature research.”

Instead of heeding conventional wisdom that the mountain side was too difficult to plant, too cold, too chal-

lenging and like most of us who will do just about anything to cultivate a particular flower or look in our gar-

dens. Robb Talbott took his vision and a 12 pound sledgehammer to prepare by hand the site of his original

Diamond T Estate. He released his Chardonnay in 1982. He now has one of the Central Coast’s most es-

teemed estate programs at Diamond T Estate and Sleepy Hollow Vineyards. Participants of the Field Study

Group were treated to tastings of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines of the Talbotts.

Happy gardening and enjoy the work of human hands in whatever wine region you prefer.

Images courtesy of Talbott’s Winery

14

California Redwoods—From the Ground to the Crown

By Celie Harris, Conservation Vice-Chair, Forests and Redwoods

Winchester-Clarke Garden Club Zone VII

The last day of the Conservation and NAL Committees’ fall study trip

started with a trio of talks on the redwoods. The speakers presented mul-

tiple topics related to the redwoods. Each was interesting, informative

and provided valuable background for our trip to Pfeiffer Big Sur State

Park later in the day.

The first speaker was Emily Burns, Science Director for Save the Redwoods League and Director of the Red-

woods and Climate Change Initiative. She gave a history of the trees, the Save the Redwoods League and its

partnership with GCA and ongoing challenges of the redwoods.

To give an idea of how ancient the species is, one must go to the beginning of the formation of the redwood

forests during the Jurassic period. One hundred forty-four million years ago, during the Cretaceous period,

there were many redwood species and they were widely spread. Today’s redwoods at one time were circum-

polar. Fossils have been found in Yosemite and other parts of the northern hemisphere. The California spe-

cies ‘dendron’ and ‘sempervirens’ extended from Santa Barbara north into British Columbia. These are now

relic species and restricted to a narrow area along the coast from Big Sur into southern Oregon.

Stephen Mather, a wealthy industrialist, who was the first director of the National Park Service, invited sever-

al friends to drive up to see the Humboldt redwoods. Joining Mather were John C. Merriam, Madison Grant

and Henry Fairfield Osborn. On the trip they saw huge logging operations and perceived the threat to more

pristine areas further north. This drive led to the founding of Save the Redwoods League in 1918. The first

grove was dedicated in 1921. Ten years later the League’s partnership with the Garden Club of America

started. The GCA grove was dedicated in 1934 and consisted of four parcels. Additional land was acquired

over the years until the last purchase in 1972.

Although much has been done to protect the redwoods, some current numbers are disturbing:

--In the last 20 years one fourth of the redwood footprint has been lost through conversion to other uses such

as agriculture, roads, development and logging.

--Twenty nine percent of redwoods are protected (only 6 percent of the old growth forest remains), and over a

million acres remain in private hands, unprotected.

Save the Redwoods League’s goals are to restore and rehabilitate where needed, to continue to acquire and

protect redwood tracts, and to work to connect people with the redwoods, fostering appreciation and under-

standing of their importance.

Photo from Save the Redwoods League

15

Challenges to the forest ecosystem are posed by

denizens of the forest and human visitors alike.

One example of the former is the practice of black

bear mothers teaching their cubs to strip bark from

the trees so they can dine on the sugar underneath.

Another is the incursion by the barred owls into

the native habitat of the spotted owl. The eastern

barred owls are larger and more aggressive and

are competing more successfully for habitat than

the spotted owls. The threat to marbled murrelets

has been caused by humans. Hikers and picnick-

ers leave crumbs, which attract crows and Steller’s

Jays which in turn eat the murrelet eggs and attack

the young

chicks.

The redwood forests have many aspects. It is important to understand how they fit together as a whole (trees,

birds, wildlife, recreation and logging) to ensure a balanced system.

Murrelet swiming

Stellar’s Jay

Bear Scratch Marks on Redwood

Photo supplied by

the Redwood League

16

“A View From the Top” was the perspective of Anthony Ambrose, a research scientist in the Department of

Integrative Biology at The University of California Berkeley. He is one of four principal investigators of the

Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative. He and those working with him have gone into the redwood cano-

pies as a part of their research.

The redwoods’ leaves vary according to height. At lower levels they are broad to maximize sunlight expo-

sure. At the top, they are smaller and tighter. High in old growth trees an interesting feature can be found.

Large fern mats have developed on large limbs and crotches where leaves and bark have collected and be-

come an organic medium to support them. Not only do the ferns thrive, the mats serve as habitat for worms,

mollusks and wandering salamanders. The mats also provide the benefit of retaining a great deal of water.

Not all redwoods

are the same. Those

in Big Sur differ

from the ones found

in Humboldt.

Some of the varia-

bles affecting the

trees include light,

temperature, humid-

ity and wind. Typi-

cally, at the crown,

conditions are light-

er, drier and windier

than lower down the

tree. Research is

being done to track

the effects of clima-

tological conditions

on trees in the vari-

ous ranges.

Fern Mats

Photo from

Humbolt State

17

In thirteen plots, ongoing studies are: measuring the stand structure, monitoring the microclimate and devel-

oping crown models by measuring the trees within the plot. The results of studies conducted previously have

contributed to the body of knowledge about redwoods including:

-Studies done over time show that the older trees are growing fastest and that the rate has increased since the

1970s.

-In looking at data from 1895-2010 it was shown that precipitation patterns haven’t changed much but that

temperatures have risen, particularly in the past decade.

--One way by which redwoods gain water is through foliage and fog is a source of moisture. A study in

2010 by Johnson and Dawson showed a 25-30 percent reduction of fog since 1951.

There is a close correlation between drought periods and the growth rate of the trees. Because they are so

large and have a lot of leaves, redwoods absorb a great deal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but in the

process lose water which needs to be replaced. It is estimated that a large 100 meter tall redwood needs at

least 1-2 thousand liters of water a day to continue this process. Stress caused by a lack of water can create

air embolisms which block the water flow within the tree. Another source of stress is caused by an increase

in temperature created by Climate change. One projection is a 2-5 Fahrenheit degree rise by 2084, while

another is for a 4-6 degree increase.

It is difficult to accurately predict the long term future of the redwoods. It would seem that the trees in the

southern part of the range may be more vulnerable. The final slide in the presentation is a good summation.

Structural diversity promotes biological diversity in Redwoods

Climate is changing in the range of the redwoods

Redwoods in old-growth forests currently appear to be doing well

The future for red wood trees and forests is uncertain

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The third speaker was Nadia Hamey, a California Registered Professional Forester and consultant. Her focus

is on restoration and native habitat enhancement. She spoke on “Restoration Forestry in the Coastal Red-

woods”. Her focus was on early timber operations and the steps necessary to bring the forests damaged by

them back to health.

In areas, such as the Santa Cruz Moun-

tains, logging activity during the nine-

teenth century involved large areas of

clear cutting the redwoods. Afterward,

the land often was burned to remove

brush and debris, enabling easier trans-

portation of logs to the sawmills. In

these areas now are second growth

trees. These sprang from the stumps of

the logged trees. One stump will gener-

ate many sprouts which compete for the

same nutrients. If unmanaged, second

growth areas typically have hundreds of

trees per acre. A means of managing

restoration is to identify the trees with

more growth potential (those with de-

veloped crowns) and then to thin them.

This allows the middle strata of the

trees to develop. The goal is to reduce

the number of trees per acre from hun-

dreds to thirty two.

Invasive plants are a significant prob-

lem in these forests. Broom, ivies and

clematis are among the culprits. In Big

Sur a removal project is being carried

out in an area where six eucalyptus

trees were planted and have spread to

over nineteen acres.

The use of fire in forests has typically

been suppressed, but is has been shown

that fires can be useful to allow plant life to

reappear or come back larger. To promote the health of second growth redwood forests, proper management

is necessary. As Ms. Hamey pointed out, “If natives are given a chance, they will come back.”

“Fairy Ring of Young Redwood Trees", Photo by Hannah Swithinbank

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A Hike in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

By Julia Burke, NAL Vice Chair for Forests and Redwoods

Piedmont Garden Club, Zone XII

We couldn’t have picked a more perfect day to visit “the crown jewel of the California State Park System”,

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. A reserve since 1933, Point Lobos is famous for sightseeing, photog-

raphy, painting, nature study, picnicking, SCUBA diving and jogging. Offering spectacular beauty, it is also

of great scientific interest. We passed by rare plant and tree communities, archeological sites, and remarkable

geological formations. The ocean below the surface is one of the richest underwater habitats in the world. The

reserve is named after the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos, Point of the Sea Wolves, filled with

barking sea lions that can be heard onshore.

Our walk took us through headlands above coves, under rare Cypress forests and through meadows of native

scrub. We saw seals, sea lions and sea otters. From December to May migrating whales can be seen as well.

Seabirds and land birds were there in abundance. The Marine Canyon in Monterey Bay, as deep and big as

the Grand Canyon, is just offshore providing a nutrient rich ocean ecosystem. The area is a mixed environ-

ment geologically and ecologically where different microclimates, soils and geological formations all con-

verge. Millions of years ago , the area was a part of southern California and is moving slowly

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northward on the Pacific plate, grating against the American Plate along the San Andreas Fault. The

amazing rock formations seen along the shore are part of that battleground between the plates and upheav-

als bringing deposits of sediment to the surface. The powerful waves have sculpted a truly breathtaking

shoreline.

The native gray green coastal scrub along the bluffs grow low to the ground near the ocean, where strong

winds prevail and the soil is rocky. The plants have developed in this way to reduce moisture loss. We

saw native buckwheat, coastal sage, California sagebush, coyote bush, seaside daisy, mock heater, native

salvia and sagewort. Further from the shore where it was more protected, the plants grew taller and we

also saw giant wild rye. Clinging to the rocky cliff walls were native succulent white flowered dudleya.

Also on the cliff and all over Monterey were the nonnative and invasive iceplant (carpobrotus edulis).

Originally brought to California by the Spanish in the sand used as ship ballast, this plant loves California

and also crowds out native plants along the shorelines for miles. There was also lots of poison oak

(Toxicodendron), an important native for wildlife but to be avoided by humans.

Photo by R Merrell

21

There are only two locations on the coast where Monterey Cypress trees are endemic--Point Lobos and Peb-

ble Beach. These rare trees grow where the interplay of soil types and climate, particularly fog, make it pos-

sible. Fog is key to increasing the moisture in the ground and can add up to 20 inches a year. We walked

through the Allan Grove, admiring the pyramid and windswept shapes of Monterey Cypress. Growing on

rocky headlands with limited space, the trees get nourishment from cracks and crevasses in the rocks. Their

efficient canopy only produces needles where the sun shines but provides a shady area underneath where little

else besides native grass grows to compete with the trees. A red-orange, velvety algae (trentapohlia) mysteri-

ously grows on trees and rocks of the shadowed north-facing slope. It is green algae colored by carotene and

does not harm the trees.

Succulents growing among the rocks

Invasive Ice plant, photo by R Merrell

trentapohlia

Cypress clinging to the rocks in Point Lobos

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Before being designated as a nature reserve, Point Lobos used to be the home of a turn-of -the-century whal-

ing and abalone industry. There were also Chinese fishing communities and Portuguese Dairy operations.

The land was grazing land for dairy and cattle. The iconic California cheese, Monterey Jack, was first pro-

duced there from a Portuguese family recipe. A century ago, the land looked nothing like it does today. Over

the years the land has been allowed to revert to its natural ecosystem. It takes 7 or 8 years for coastal scrub to

regenerate. Monterey Pines are relatively short lived for trees – 100 year maximum. They regenerate easily

when the pinecones are popped open by fire (or as witnessed by Missy Jensen, on unusually hot days). Mon-

terey pines are planted worldwide for timber but there are only 5 native stands—three in Monterey and two in

Baja California. Point Lobos has the largest stands of endemic Monterey Pines. They provide a canopy tree

for other native plants, many of which are endangered or under federal threat. Point Lobos shows us how

land, properly protected, preserved and managed, can regenerate to its natural environment over time.

Cypress Cone

23

A Garden by the Sea

By Diana Fish, Conservation Vice Chair, Partners for Plants

Carmel by the Sea Garden Club, Zone XII

Diana Fish’s Cactus and Succulent garden

Living in California, with its drought problems, I had long wanted a garden that was appropriate for this cli-

mate and sustainable. About 15 years ago, I replaced the lawn on the front and back sides of the house and

started a large native plant garden which is deliberately left natural for birds, wildlife and pollinators. It didn't

take long to need additional space for native succulents, and luckily there was an old cactus and succulent

garden dating from the 1930's and 40's which my late mother-in-law had begun. When I became interested in

plants, there was little left except a stray cactus or two. Gradually, as gardeners know will happen, I have

filled the space with succulents and enlarged the area several times, moving southward into the sun.

The core of the succulent garden is a collection of dudleyas, a type of succulent native to California and Baja

and a few adjoining states. My favorite is Dudleya pulverulenta (chalk dudleya), one of the most spectacular

of any plant anywhere. It is large (1-2 ft), with silvery leaves covered with a whitish powder or bluish-white

wax. Stunning, brilliant vermillion-red blooms hang downwards and attract hummingbirds. Many native bees,

bumblebees and hover flies flock to the flowers of other dudleya.

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As more drought-tolerant plants found a home here, the

variety of species grew and now includes many from

Mediterranean climates elsewhere. Possibly the best pol-

linator plant I have is Aeonium nobile (noble aeonium),

endemic to the Canary Islands. I have planted several,

and literally hundreds of bees swarmed over the brilliant

red blooms on each flower head last summer and

fall. The flower heads are huge, and each plant was a

statuesque 3 ft. tall. The species dies after blooming (is

monocarpic), and smaller plants are waiting in the wings.

What began as a site for native succulents is also a wel-

come place for lizards as this garden becomes a

"backyard habitat”.

Dudleya pulverulenta

Aeonium nobile

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Partners for Plants (P4P) Project Requests for July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016 Diana Fish, Conservation Vice Chair, Partners for Plants

Carmel-by-the Sea Garden Club, Zone XII,

P4P is a program of the GCA Conservation and Horticulture Committees to conserve native plants and their

habitats on federal, state and local public lands. There have been over 375 projects across the United States

since P4P started in 1992.

Picture Yourself in a P4P Project:

If your club does not have a current P4P project, consider developing one and being a P4P Project Coordina-

tor or Team Member. P4P programs make excellent club conservation or community service projects. Some

may last 1-2 days, while others may extend over several weeks or months.

*Experience a sense of achievement making a difference in our national parks, forests, historic sites, wildlife

refuges, and state, county and local public lands as you protect rare plants, restore habitat and increase biodi-

versity.

*Work with botanists/ professional experts and land managers, who supervise projects and share their

knowledge and expertise.

*Propagate to help reestablish native plant communities.

*Gain knowledge of native plants and ecosystems, from ocean dunes and coastal wetlands to mountains, for-

ests and prairies.

*Involve young students in projects to protect and learn more about native species.

*Expand plantings for bees, monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

Yellow ladyslipper orchids (Cypripedium calceolus) monitored by the Broadmoor GC, Zone XII at Pike National Forest, CO

26

P4P Project Requirements:

*Must be on federal, state, county or local public lands of 150 acres or more.

*Partner with a public land manager, and include a botanist or professional expert.

*Have a project coordinator who is a GCA member. Other participants can be from GCA clubs or not, and

can include friends, students, community groups and non-profit organizations.

Forms and Planning a Project:

The project proposal form and further information about starting, continuing and completing projects can be

found on the GCA website (www.gcamerica.org) on either the Conservation or Horticulture Committee pages

by clicking on the link to the P4P webpage. All forms are easy to fill out online.

Many projects do not require funding, but limited funding may be available for botanists or other essentials

(requests for funding must be submitted on an online form on the P4P webpage by March 1). The P4P

webpage also has details on Planning a Project - 6 Simple Steps. For additional questions, email

P4P@gcamerica.org.

P4P Monitoring in Pike National Forest by the Broadmoor Garden Club, Zone XII

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California Dreaming—Remembering the Conservation Study Trip

Succulents

Dan Freyberg

Anthony Ambrose

Emily Burns

Tired hikers relaxing over dinner

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GCA President, Katie Heins with Mr. and Mrs Cameron Wolfe

In their garden with bear

Conservation Study Group

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CONSERVATION WATCH | Winter 2015 CONTACTS

Jennifer Fain, Chairwoman Marsha Merrell, Editor

GCA Conservation Committee GCA Conservation Committee

Hancock Park Garden Club (CA)—Zone XII James River Garden Club (VA)—Zone VII

425 S. Windsor Boulevard P.O. Box 165

Los Angeles, CA Mentone, AL 36984

(323) 857-0931 (256) 634-0206

Wfain4@aol.com mr65merrell@gmail.com

Lindsay Marshall, Chairwoman Anne O’Brien, Assistant Editor

GCA National Affairs and Legislation GCA Conservation Committee

Cherokee Garden Club (GA)—Zone VIII Columbine Garden Club (AZ)—Zone XII

3656 Cloudland Drive NW 6018 East Cholla Lane

Atlanta, GA 30327 Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

(404) 949-0020 (480) 874-3323

lindsaywmarshall@gmail.com annie39ob@gmail.com

Conservation Watch, a publication of The Garden Club of America,

is produced by the GCA Conservation Committee. Readers’ ideas,

contributions, and suggestions are welcome, as are requests for

additional information on any of the subjects presented, and may

be emailed to the Editor.

Marsha Merrell , Editor