FREE PUBLIC TALK: "A Look Back" at ABDSP's 90 year history with a focus on the Paleontology and Botany Societies

Date, time, location:

Monday, January 8th 2024 at 10am at the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center (UCI Reserve)

The creation of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s first desert preserve, has a history that begins before its actual establishment in 1933. The story of this park has always been about protecting desert resources not only for future generations to enjoy but also for continuing scientific study. It is the story of visionaries that created both management systems and voluntary organizations that make the park what it is today. This presentation gives an overview of the park’s history while focusing on the efforts of two of its scientific societies that have contributed to the understanding of the resources found in the park.

ABDSP Desert Botany Certification Course

FREE PUBLIC TALK: "Up and Down California: Botanic Highlights From Two Nomadic Naturalists"

Date, time and location:

Monday, December 11th 2023 at 10am at the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center (UCI Reserve)

Trevor and Chloe Van Loon recently got the botany bug and it has blossomed into a unique lifestyle which they call Digital Nomads. They will describe their fascinating excursions around the state to photograph the wide diversity of life from the coast to the mountains and the desert. Their interests include searching for rare plants, tidepooling, nature journaling, and documenting any insects/fungi/wildlife along the way.

Their iNaturalist profile is “chloe_and_trevor”

Photo credit: Jayden Inniss

PREVIOUS BOTANY SOCIETY EVENTS - 2022

STUDY TRIPS 2 AND 3 YIELD SURPRISES

For Session #2 on December 20th, nine of us ventured forth to explore Glorietta Canyon.  Remember when, for this time of the year, the walls of the canyon would be covered with beautiful brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) growing their large winter leaves and preparing to bloom in late February?  Not this year.  We recall Naturalist Paul Johnson telling us that perennials and small shrubs “give up” after three years of drought, and that seems to be happening all over our desert. 

 One group surveyed the washes between where the hazardous rocks in the road are and the trailhead, and another group surveyed a higher area to the south.  We found 29 living species out of the 196 that Naturalist Tom Chester and his crew have identified in that area. Most of these were found along washes where you would expect them to find them, where what little water we have received this year (less than an inch) could support life.  The list includes:  lavender (Hyptis emoryi) , chuparosa (Justicia californica), cheesebush (Ambrosia salsola var. salsola), burrowweed (Ambrosia dumosa), trixis (Trixis californica var. californica), ditaxis (Ditaxis sp.), indigo (Psorothamnus schottii), catclaw (Senegalia greggii), ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens ssp. Splendens), rhatany (Krameria sp.), mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua), jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), agave (Agave deserti var. deserti), barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii), and several types of cholla.

Avenia compacta
Photo: Arie Korporaal

Three plants really got our attention.  Avenia compacta is so rare that it does not have a common name. See Arie Korporaal’s photo of the plant in bloom!   What a treat!

The second was Mammalaria dioica, a cactus that hides behind a rock or even another plant.  We decided that it was difficult to distinguish nonflowering M. dioica from M. tetrancistra even after reading about them in Jon Rebman’s book Baja California Field Guide.  The third was a plant familiar to all of you: desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum) (see Arie’s photo). None of the plants had the characteristic inflated stem. All in all a successful search.

Chuparosa sp.
Photo: Judy Kemp

For session #3 on January 3rd, one of the coldest days of the winter, eight intrepid botanists visited the upper side canyon of Plum Canyon. This small canyon is one of the favorites of the Botany group because it holds many of our desert plants plus a few high elevation ones. We did not expect to see so much life. Two of our challenges were: would there be any evidence of annuals sprouting and would we find the elusive yellow chuparosa? The answer to both is a resounding YES!  A hint of green was clearly evident under the large shrubs near the main parking area.  The largest seedling was, as you might guess, a Sahara mustard plant; and was is the right word as Pam Blake removed it. The question now is whether the seedlings will survive the next few weeks with no rain predicted. The second challenge was met near the end of our survey when Judy Kemp climbed up a small ridge and photographed the yellow blooming chuparosa. See Judy Kemp’s photo of the emerging chuparosa bloom.

Euphorbia eriantha)
Photo: Arie Korporaal

 Another plant, this one an annual herb, was a first for many of us. This annual is known as Beetle Spurge (Euphorbia eriantha). (See photo.) The plant, while native to our southwestern deserts, was one several of us could not remember ever having seen.

Thirty species were identified.  The canyon is known for its cactus collection – all five forms can be seen.  Both species of Ephedra were found. Several high elevation trees – apricot and juniper – were alive, as was one white sage.  One surprise was a trio of what looked like Dudleya.

We look forward to future trips!

 Joanne Ingwall and Arie Korporaal

RESCHEDULED: McDonald Speaking On Invasive Plants

“Chris McDonald, originally scheduled to speak January 6th, had a family matter that required him to cancel his talk. His talk has been rescheduled for MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020.”

Dr. Chris McDonald, UC Cooperative Extension

Dr Chris McDonald is the Inland and Desert Natural Resources Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension and his expertise is in managing plants in wildlands with an emphasis on managing difficult weeds, He will present a talk on Managing Invasive Weeds in Borrego Springs: Sahara Mustard and Volutaria,

Sahara mustard and Volutaria are two invasive weeds that are spreading in the Borrego region. Sahara mustard has been in Southern California for nearly a century and is a widespread problem, while Volutaria is a newer introduction and is confined to just a few locales. These two species pose a threat to desert wildlife, wildflowers and tourism.

Sam Webb, ABDSP Volunteer, holds a just-pulled sahara mustard plant

Many people have been working to contain Volutaria before it spreads across the California Desert as well as reduce local Sahara mustard populations. Learn about how to identify and manage these species, how quickly they are spreading, and how you can help make Borrego Springs a better place for yourself, your neighbors, and for the environment.

Who: Dr, Chris McDonald, University of California Cooperative Extension
Topic: Managing Invasive Weeds in Borrego Springs: Sahara Mustard and Volutaria
Where: Steele/Burnand UCI Desert Research Center, 401 Tilting T Drive, Borrego Springs
When: Monday, February 24, 2020
Time: 1:30 to 2:30 PM
Cost: Free lecture; public is invited.
Parking: Free