Join Chapter Rare Plant Chair Don Thomas to see the rare Western leatherwood (Dirca occidentalis) in the Crystal Springs Watershed along the Sawyer Camp Trail. This will be an easy slow-paced walk of about four miles round-trip, starting at the trailhead on Hillcrest and Highway 280, with a stop for lunch.
Dirca is one of the first plants to bloom each year, revealing its bright yellow hanging flowers from its bare winter branches. We will also have a chance to see other early blooming plants, such as hound’s tongue (Adelinia grandis) and trillium (Trillium chloropetalum).
Dirca is a rare paleoendemic plant native only to the San Francisco Bay Area, ranked by CNPS as 1B.2. (Read more about CNPS rare plant ranks at www.cnps.org/rare- plants/california-rare-plant-ranks.)
An optional additional short walk along the Sawyer Camp Trail will be to the Jepson Laurel. This was at one time the largest bay tree in California, but it has been declining for many years. Many large branches have died and broken off the tree over time, so it has been dethroned as the largest in the state.
Wear warm clothes and bring water and lunch.
Space is limited. No drop-ins please. To complete the required RSVP, please visit our Chapter’s Meetup page. Driving directions and parking tips are provided on the Meetup page.
Wed Sep 18 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Talk: CNPS SCV 2023-2024 Research Scholarship Projects |
Thu Sep 19 @ 7:00PM - 09:00PM CNPS SCV Board Meeting |
Fri Sep 20 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |
Sat Sep 21 @ 8:00AM - 10:00AM Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sat Sep 21 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Community Work Day at the Native Plant Garden in Kirk Park |
Sat Sep 21 @10:00AM - 01:00PM California Nutmeg Tree Hike at Villa Montalvo (Saratoga) |
Sun Sep 22 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Bird and Plant ID Walk at Lake Cunningham Park (San Jose) |
Sun Sep 22 @ 1:00PM - 03:00PM Seed and Cutting Exchange + Plant Sale Pickup |
Tue Sep 24 @ 7:00PM - 09:00PM Native Plant ID |
Fri Sep 27 @ 7:00PM - 08:50PM Photography Group - Photo Sharing Meeting |