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Written by Haley Sutton, Land Stewardship Associate and Frenchy Hendryx, Education & Outreach Associate

In the Weeds

Staff have been busy tackling certain weeds that pop up this time of year. The goal is to remove the plants before they flower and subsequently release seeds into the environment, which will give us the upper hand in managing populations.

So far, the main focus has been on stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens) and artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus).

Stinkwort is sticky and aromatic, with a look that resembles the shape of a miniature pine tree. Stinkwort likes disturbed soils, so the plants are found on creek banks and other drainages across Save Mount Diablo properties.

Luckily, stinkwort is a relatively easy plant to remove, and it just takes a tug for it to pop out of the soil. The plants are found in big masses, and after you pull one and look up, there’s another one just a few feet away.

Usually, staff and volunteers walk the dry creeks to locate and remove plants, but considering that Marsh Creek is still flowing after the wet winter, we will be removing the plant later into the year than usual.

We’ve removed many plants from Curry Canyon Ranch and Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve, but stinkwort is also present at many other properties.

Artichoke thistle looks like the cultivated plant many people grow in their gardens to have artichokes during their summertime meals, however, every single part of the plant is covered in sharp spikes.

The whole plant is harder to remove than stinkwort and usually requires tools and chemical aids to completely get rid of the plant. Individual artichoke thistle plants dot hillsides, but can grow into massive groves if they go undetected.

The short-term management plan is to cut and remove flowers to keep the plants from going to seed, while the long-term strategy is to remove the plants entirely.

Stewards in the Field

Property stewards at Curry Canyon Ranch tackled a big population of stinkwort in the lower 200 acres of the property, and stewards at Thomas Home Ranch and Thomas Kirker Creek picked up several bags of trash.

The Trail Dogs removed artichoke thistle at Lime Ridge Open Space, removed old barbed wire fencing in Deer Valley Regional Park, removed brush along Back Creek and Middle Trails of Mount Diablo State Park, and removed fallen trees blocking the Mollock Trail in Morgan Territory Regional Preserve.

Water crew volunteers watered plants at Curry Canyon Ranch and Marsh Creek 7. Staff also supported a trash cleanup led by Save Del Puerto Canyon located in Del Puerto Canyon.

Making a Difference Together

At the beginning of the month, students at The Athenian School helped us with trail work at Big Bend.

The students worked in teams to fill trash bags to the brim with perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), revealing the mulch trail below. Together, they filled 21 bags full of perennial pepperweed!

Innersense volunteers contributed to our 10,000 Trees and Plants project at Curry Canyon Ranch.

Volunteers trekked across the hillsides behind the ranch house, and identified oak seedlings and installed protective tubes around them. They also checked on previously protected trees to weed around them and replace materials as needed.

Innersense protected an additional 126 tree seedlings and checked on hundreds more!

A scout installed a wood duck box above one of the ponds at Curry Canyon Ranch to earn his Eagle Scout rank. The box was built out of redwood and will hopefully become some bird’s future home.

Discover Diablo Program

Mangini Ranch Meditation Hike, Saturday, August 5. Led by Haley Sutton and Frenchy Hendryx.

Participants beat the summer heat on this early morning outing at Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve, a 208-acre property that includes the headwaters of Galindo Creek with rolling grasslands, oaks, buckeyes, and a rare desert olive grove.

Participants practiced a few meditation exercises throughout the hike and were rewarded with multiple wildlife sightings.

Plein Air Painting Hike, Friday, August 11. Led by Roxana Lucero, Haley Sutton, and Frenchy Hendryx.

Participants joined Save Mount Diablo staff for a beautiful evening of plein air painting and hiking at Wright Canyon, Save Mount Diablo’s 76-acre protected property.

Other Education Happenings

Save Mount Diablo’s Education Committee Meeting. The Education Committee met on Tuesday, August 8 to further discuss the new Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve third to fifth grade curriculum.

The Education Committee is excited to have two pilot schools in the fall and one in the spring to test out the outdoor curriculum.