One of the pure pleasures of ecological restoration and stewardship comes with the winter rains. While some folks lament the cold and dampness, restorationists, volunteers, and native plant gardeners relish in the opportunity to dig in and plant natives to help heal the earth and create wildlife habitat. When you've been pulling out invasive weeds all year long, it's nice for a change of activity, and planting is at least as communally rewarding as weeding.
CNPS Fall Plant Sale ... Haight-Ashbury Native Plant Nursery ... Green Hairstreak Propagation ... Volunteer Opportunities ... Presidio Restoration Projects ...
ENDANGERED SPECIES BIG YEAR EVENTS
CNPS Fall Plant Sale
Thursday, November 6
7:30 pm
San Francisco County Fair Building
9th and Lincoln, Golden Gate Park
Checkerbloom at
Glen Canyon
Check out the California Native Plant Society's native plant sale! This sale will include hundreds of different California native plants, adapted to our San Francisco climate. Many require little water or maintenance, and all will create healthy wildlife habitat and beautiful garden color. For more information check out the CNPS plant sale website!
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Greg Gaar@ HANC |
And ALL YEAR LONG you can get SF native plants at the Haight-Ashbury Native Plant Nursery, located inside the HANC recycling center. Our good friend, Greg Gaar, has native plants year round in case you miss the CNPS sale. Greg grows over 40 species from seeds sustainably gathered right here in San Francisco - making each species well adapted to your backyard!
Nature in the City and the California Native Plant Society have also been preparing for the fall planting fest by propagating host plants for the Green Hairstreak Corridor Project.
Green Hairstreak on Sea Thrift
Check out the list of Green Hairstreak host and nectar plants, and email us if you live along the corridor and would like to get involved! Stay tuned for upcoming planting days!
Nursery/Planting Volunteer Opportunities
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Heron's Head Park |
If you're in the Bayview Hunter's Point area of town check out the Plants Gone Wild Native Plants Nursery with Literacy for Environmental Justice! Volunteers are needed the first Saturday of every month, from 10 am – 2 pm. For more info contact Patrick Rump.
The San Francisco Natural Areas Program is always in need of volunteers, both for planting days and their nursery!
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SF NAP Volunteer Gardeners |
Their annual Help Bring in the New Year Habitat Planting will begin December 6!Go to the SFNAP website for more volunteer information.
The Presidio Native Plant Nursery has volunteer days every Wednesday and Saturday from 1 - 4 pm. They grow nearly 60,000 plants each year and need your help to do it!
Go to the Parks Conservancy calendar for more information.
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Volunteers @ Fort Funston Nursery |
Don't forget about the Fort Funston Native Plant Nursery! They grow an impressive 25,000 plants a year, largely due to a dedicated volunteer base. Volunteer days are Saturdays from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. Go to the Parks Conservancy calendar for more information.
For more upcoming volunteer opportunites check out the Nature in the City web calendar!
Current Presidio Restoration Projects
Restoration of the Tennessee Hollow watershed is now continuing at El Polin Springs, a place remarkable for nature and wildlife as well as for its extraordinary human history.
Beginning in September 2008, 60 trees were removed from around El Polin Loop to reduce the shading and leaf litter that can be harmful to native plants. Habitat will now be restored with plants and trees grown in the Presidio Nursery. A rich diversity of species will be planted, including large woody trees such as coast live oak and California buckeye, as well as wax myrtle, toyon, willows, and native grasses. A volunteer planting day will be held on November 22, for more information contact the Presidio Trust.
Inspiration Point will undergo big fall plantings this year as well.
In 2001, the Inspiration Point transformation began with the restoration of the famous bay view, creation of an impressive stone scenic overlook, and planting of serpentine grassland habitat on the summit slopes. Since then, an additional 8,000 plants were planted below Inspiration Point, 6,700 grasses and wildflowers in the grassland, and 1,300 native shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers in the Inspiration Point Overlook landscaped area! For more information about Inspiration Point or to locate volunteer days contact the Presidio Trust.
GGNRA BIG YEAR
Heal Your Relationship With Our Local Endangered Species
Saturday, November 8
8 am - 2 pm
Join local naturalist Matt Zlatunich on a 5-mile hike through the Presidio's diverse habitats in search of endangered species including Brown Pelican, Western Snowy Plover, San Francisco Lessingia and Southern Sea Otter. Bring food and water. RSVP required: e-mail mbzlat@yahoo.com.
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Endangered Southern Sea Otter |
Sunday, November 9
9 am - 12 pm
Help prepare habitat for the California Least Tern nesting season with Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge. Meet at main refuge gate, northwest corner of former Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda. RSVP required: Call 510-522-0601 or e-mail leoraalameda@att.net.
Go to the GGNRA Big Year website for more calendar dates and info on how to sign up!