July News
This past June we have not had many weekend events to highlight however, we still have DONS going on every Tuesday, a team to water the Oaks around campus and the plants around the greenhouses, and a few visitors. Scroll down to read more about what we have been up to this past month! As we look forward to July it will be about the same, a few things here or there as we plan for the next school season, along with some family field trips in the works.
Upcoming Community Events
Everyone is welcome to our family-friendly FREE community events.
We provide gloves, tools, and supplies.
Sun protection, reusable water bottle, and closed-toe shoes are recommended.
We are currently in the process of planning upcoming community weekend events, keep checking our "Events Calendar" for updates or join us at DONS which runs year long!
DONS (Docents of Native Species), greenhouse native plant volunteer group
EVERY TUESDAY | Email Laura Lee Lienk at llienk@csumb.edu
10:30AM-12:30 PM
This image was taken on June 22 at Bruce Delgado’s BLM Retirement Party-truly Bruce isn’t going anywhere.
From left: Lynn Hamilton and Pat McNeill RON teacher founders in 1994, Bruce Delgado, Bruce Stewart, and Mark Silberstein presenters at first teacher workshop in 1994, Peter Nelson and Christina McKnew members of Sue’s Crew which supported our work in the field. Christina is still with HSP as our Greenhouse and Restoration Coordinator. Laura Lee Lienk started with RON in 1995 and is still here as Director, Jeni Schmedding the current AmeriCorps VIP, Dario Conti current HSP Assistant, On the ground—Luna and Shelly our latest generation of canine helpers.
Animal Friends in the Greenhouses
by Jeni Schmedding, AmeriCorps VIP
We have some special guests living, visiting, and hanging out around our greenhouses; some are furry, some are small, same are scaley, some have wings, and some have paws. When you spend enough time around the HSP greenhouses you may just get lucky enough to come across one of our special guests, however these guests are regulars so you would have a good chance of seeing one of them. We love being able to watch the nearby coyotes hunt food for their young ones or the bobcat catch some shade under one of our plant beds. The lizards like to come out to sunbathe while doing little pushups. The hawks fly around looking for their next meal, sometimes having interferences with the crows. While the little mice, bunnies, and voles try to hid away and not be seen, they like to come out at night. The bees and the bugs are like the backbone to this operation as they fly around to pollinate all of the plants, trees, and flowers that allow this habitat to be this good to have a thriving little ecosystem.
Pictured below are recent pictures taken of some of the animals around the greenhouses through a smart phone or a trail camera, in order the animals are: coyote, hare, vole, hawk, mouse or rat, fence lizard, baby hare, and western honey bees.
Climate Corps Leadership Institute visits HSP
In June, HSP had a visit from high school students in Watsonville Wetlands Watch (WWW) Climate Corps Leadership Institute. These student interns spend the year receiving training and leadership with WWW to become climate activists and habitat stewards. During their visit they had a brief introduction to our campus nursery and then helped with watering, mulching, weeding and maintaining some of the campus oak plantings at CSUMB. Many thanks to WWW and these young leaders!
Treasures Found While Hiking on FONM Trails
by Laura Lee Lienk, HSP Director
On a recent weekend hike on Ft Ord National Monument I spent a lot of time looking down at my feet as the trail had lots of ruts and bumps, and what should I see on the edge of the trail, but a tiny vista of blue and pink flowers. Wow!
The lovely blue flower is Eriastrum virgatum or Wand Wooly Star. And the small pink flower is Chorizanthe douglasii or Douglas’ Spineflower. Both are endemic (found only) to our region. Go for a hike and see what treasures you can find.
Special thanks to Aubrie Heckel and Bruce Delgado, BLM botanists for confirming the identification.
Sad/Happy Goodbye
by Laura Lee Lienk, HSP Director
Our wonderful AmeriCorps VIP, Jeni Schmedding's year with HSP ended on June 30! For all who have known Jeni, you know that she is like a ray of sunshine in your day! And, she is a super hard worker and an expert juggler of lots of HSP outreach details. She has been the glue that binds so many of our programs together. Jeni will be moving to the Bay Area with another VIP and will be sure to find a great job in environmental outreach and stewardship.