Observations by fivecreeks

What looks like dense stand of what used to be Chilean aster. Did they invent that new name to make it difficult to spell? Dense, long stand borders both sides of north end of path through Madera area meadow, beyond the goldenrod and near the creek. Check when it blooms. Jim McKissock would know the history here -- and before that, Lisa Vianni. Both fought to save natives this area.

Long-established Western goldenrod (Solidago, not Euthamia) in this spot seems to be making a good post-drought comeback near large cotoneasters. Hundreds of small plants.

Re species: "Western" was iNat's automatic response. It's not that. When I last looked into this, there was disagreement about Solidago californica, velutina, and whether one was a subspecies of the other. I am no expert, so leave this to others. Gratified that these and other stands are doing so well after long drought.

Todd Jersey photos of goldfields and arroyo lupine following winter 2022-3 seeding on area where dredged Australian tubeworms had been removed. Location approximate.

Area previously covered by tarped spoil was Lat 37.853711 Lon-122.299569 at center of north edge to lat 37.852662 lon -122.299241 at south edge, which was irregular and wider in spots, extending almost to the tree on the shoreline. Extent of seeding unknown. Seed mix as follows:
10.00 Bromus carinatus, California Brome 8.00 Elymus glaucus, Blue Wildrye 8.00 Hordeum californicum, California Barley 5.00 Festuca idahoensis, Idaho Fescue 5.00 Stipa pulchra, Purple Needlegrass 4.00 Poa secunda, Pine Bluegrass 1.50 Clarkia purpurea, Purple Clarkia
1.50 Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy 1.50 Lasthenia californica, Dwarf Goldfields
3.00 Lupinus nanus, Sky Lupine
1.50 Phacelia californica, California Bluebell
2.50 Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue Eyed Grass
4.00 Festuca microstachys, Small Fescue apply, endo miccorhyzae, tackfiller, 16-6-8 fertilizer, mulch applicant. Lots of goldfields came up, a few lupine (look like arroyo lupine), some poppies, hordeum, brome, elymus, maybe other grasses, maybe clarkia (could have bloomed later)

About a dozen Lupinus in low spot near N. end of remnant goldfields (Lasthenia californica); both seeded 2023 in large previously tarped area where Australian tubeworm sediment removed. Weeds appear to have taken over most. A few of these seed lupine also at extreme south end. There may be some near road; that area not checked. Seed mix from winter 2022-3 as follows: 10.00 Bromus carinatus, California Brome

8.00 Elymus glaucus, Blue Wildrye, 8.00 Hordeum californicum, California Barley,
5.00 Festuca idahoensis, Idaho Fescue, 5.00 Stipa pulchra, Purple Needlegrass, 4.00 Poa secunda, Pine Bluegrass, 1.50 Clarkia purpurea, Purple Clarkia, 1.50 Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy, 1.50 Lasthenia californica, Dwarf Goldfields,
3.00 Lupinus nanus, Sky Lupine,
1.50 Phacelia californica, California Bluebell, 2.50 Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue Eyed Grass, 4.00 Festuca microstachys, Small Fescue apply, endo miccorhyzae, tackfiller, 16-6-8 fertilizer, mulch applicant.

Extreme north end of patches of goldfields recurring after 2023 seeding in large area where Australian tubeworm spoil had been dumped and tarped, with seeding after removal, winter 2022-3. See other observations this date and area. A few Lupinus and poppies observed. GPS seems to indicate that this was north of the area of bare soil uncovered by removal of the dredge spoil (which had been covered by plastic for years). GPS may be off, or they may have spread. Photos show this is an area of poor soil, as indicted by grasses. Goldfields may have come back or sprouted here because competing weeds couldn't make it.

This is south end of north group of small patches of goldfields re-blooming in second spring -- compare observation from May 2023, and also other observations this date. Seeding in wet winter 2022-3 covered large area where Australian tubeworm spoil had been dumped and tarped. Patches begin approximately at south end of new tree plantings. See observation of extreme north end, this date.

Seed mix was same as University Avenue same date: 10.00 Bromus carinatus, California Brome 8.00 Elymus glaucus, Blue Wildrye
8.00 Hordeum californicum, California Barley 5.00 Festuca idahoensis, Idaho Fescue
5.00 Stipa pulchra, Purple Needlegrass 4.00 Poa secunda, Pine Bluegrass 1.50 Clarkia purpurea, Purple Clarkia
1.50 Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy 1.50 Lasthenia californica, Dwarf Goldfields 3.00 Lupinus nanus, Sky Lupine
1.50 Phacelia californica, California Bluebell,
2.50 Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue Eyed Grass 4.00 Festuca microstachys, Small Fescue apply, endo miccorhyzae, tackfiller, 16-6-8 fertilizer, mulch applicant.

Compare observation of photos from May 16 2023 of this area, seeded with wildflower mix in winter 2022-3 after removal of Australian tubeworm soil. This is north end of narrow strip of goldfields extending (not continuously) south toward rowers boathouse, blooming in second spring. Appear generally overtaken by clover and Italian wildrye, though some wildflowers may bloom later.
Seed mix was same as University Avenue same date: 10.00 Bromus carinatus, California Brome 8.00 Elymus glaucus, Blue Wildrye
8.00 Hordeum californicum, California Barley 5.00 Festuca idahoensis, Idaho Fescue
5.00 Stipa pulchra, Purple Needlegrass 4.00 Poa secunda, Pine Bluegrass 1.50 Clarkia purpurea, Purple Clarkia
1.50 Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy 1.50 Lasthenia californica, Dwarf Goldfields 3.00 Lupinus nanus, Sky Lupine
1.50 Phacelia californica, California Bluebell,
2.50 Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue Eyed Grass 4.00 Festuca microstachys, Small Fescue apply, endo miccorhyzae, tackfiller, 16-6-8 fertilizer, mulch applicant.

Looking north from extreme south end of second year recurrence of goldfields seeded in wet winter 2022-3 where large area of Australian tube worm spoil had been removed. Compare observation from May 2023. Weeds have largely taken over . Reblooming seem to follow a low area. A couple of annual lupines also seen. No other seeded flowers, but could bloom later. Other observations give seed mix.

Closeups of small part of extreme algae bloom of various filamentous slimy algae, submerged and on surface, in Model Yacht Basin/middle lagoon of Berkeley's Aquatic Park. These taken to show apparent species variations. May not all be green algae. Early April date is remarkable, and so far, no one remembers seeing such a bloom in this lagoon. There is not yet any algae in the main lagoon, which had extensive similar blooms last spring and summer. This photo taken near concrete pad for blocked pipe. .

Major growth of mainly reddish-brown algae on Aquatic Park Model Yacht Basin/middle pond, remarkable because of early April date, and no one so far remembers seeing these blooms in this lagoon at all. (Major blooms in main lagoon have been common for many years). These are heaviest on north shore, extending well out over center toward west end of pond -- not sure whether this is actually over the deepest remaining part of the pond, which is filling in rapidly due to sediment washing from South Berkeley via Potter storm drain. South shore almost entirely clear. Relatively little on West shore. Photos taken at high tide, with flows fountaining out of drain. Algae looks similar but browner than most in main lagoon last year. Shallowing and resulting sun penetration, plus huge amounts of nutrients from Potter drain, may have created a tipping point, hastening death and filling of this lagoon.

Coastal woodfern at west edge of highest part of newly sunny meadow, near poison oak, seedling elderberry, and Coast Live Oak. This new clearing recently created by fall and removal of huge old oaks. My memory is of many more natives before. New cover is heavy bermuda buttercup, with erharta. These were present before, with some Italian thistle. The future will be interesting, as increasing numbers of oaks seem to be falling.