Ulistac Natural Area (Blogpost the Fourth)

Oak Woodland in Ulistac Natural Area, Santa Clara

   I entered this urban open space from Lick Mill Boulevard and looked skyward over the grasslands at the opera of contending hawks. Soon my path weaved into Ulistac Natural Area's Bird and Butterfly Garden and I began gathering seeds from shrubs, native grasses, and wildflowers for a local school visit the Site Director, Dennis Dowling, and volunteers are hosting this month. Sample gathering is not permitted except by agreement with professors, classroom teachers and when carried out by volunteers for the nonprofit UNAREP's scheduled events. I will be helping out with an introductory activity about plant adaptations for seed dispersal. I had some seeds on my bureau but still needed to add fresh ones and take a closer look at varieties of plant adaptation featured by the many California natives at this restoration and education project.
   The Christmas Berry, or Toyon, is in full fruit in December and January (http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/339--heteromeles-arbutifolia). This California native shrub is integral to the survival of winter bird populations and vice versa (http://baynature.org/article/ask-the-naturalist-how-important-are-all-those-red-berries-we-see-to-the-winter-food-chain/). Let their shining bundles of red berries draw you in for some close up bird watching. The Bay Nature article has a lovely close-up of a Cedar Waxwing relishing a berry.

Fruit of the Toyon

I started with these robust and ripe bundles growing just below the Guadalupe River Trail's levee while a Mockingbird monitored my collecting. Some of the birds here are accustomed to visitors and when we weed out nonnatives long enough to blend into the Coyote Brush, Big Saltbush and other brambles, the Scrub Jays, California Towhee, Sparrows, Mockingbirds and others venture rather close as they carry on their daily  routines heedless of our presence. Certain birds like the Towhee seem to recognize that weeding = seeds and as soon as I stand and back away from the spot, in they come to throw dirt around and feed. They're sociable until you aim a camera at them. The hummingbirds, too, will zoom in especially if you are near their California Fuchsia or spraying with the hose (recycled water). These tiny yet bold birds frolic in a water spray as children do at city fountains. I have been eye to eye with hummingbirds while watering their territories. Fence lizards also seem to have adjusted to our presence. One can play the Freeze Game with them on sunny summer afternoons

Fan of the Fruit of the Toyon

  As I gathered a few rosehips from California Wildrose, its foliage drew my eye with its apricot and yellow jagged leaves . . . Some of the red rosehips still shine on the tangled rosebushes
providing wildlife forage through winter.

California Rose Leaves with Ceanothus

   There were sparrows and California Towhees all around me. The sparrows appeared larger and rounder than they do in summer puffed up with winter down. The Towhees lost themselves in the arms of bare buckeye limbs or skipped and ducked under large mounds of Purple and Cleveland Sage. They have made secret bird tunnels into the sages which hide them entirely from people and assure them quick cover from predators. During springtime the shrubbery sings and whistles. Small areas wiggle with motions of bird family life.
   Ceanothus is a violet evergreen with a subtle show of autumn blossom. I gathered a handful of Narrow-leafed Milkweed from the last of the pods. Bright white hairs with their seed at the tips were plastered to the ground after a night of rain. The plants stood shaggily with stiff white fluff sticking to the stems. It has been wonderful and restorative for me to be able to grow with this inspired and inspirational place through many seasons. The native grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees are all telling the story of life out there in beautiful shapes, textures, fragrances and colors.