Since trees were cut a few years ago, mayten has spread rapidly up the road -- now occupying about 40 feet of bank along S. side of rd -- and across road, heading into creek canyon. This bank was full of natives. When cut, mayten spreads rapidly by roots. It is almost impossible to get rid of.
Another of the large wavy-leaf Pittosporums in canyon of creek downstream from N. end of Regency Court, with willows. This one almost to bend in road.
Small and large pyracantha invading or spreading in curve of service road uphill from Schmidt, with sugar bush.
Crescent of more than a dozen katoni esters of different sizes surrounding old stump, with a couple of smaller seedling toyons. It would be great if these could be removed and toyon's. Cultivated. Cotoneaster has been a disaster in this area.
Cotoneasters more or less taking over under pines downslope, all sizes, at least 50 visible from wherephotos taken. Also seedling toyons in grass, but they get mowed.
Cotoneasters taking over, becoming close to continuous for about 100 ft. on slope leading down to Schmidt, east of magnificent toyon (see observation). There are several hundred cotoneasters. It was not like this when I began removing broom here about 15 years go. This was one of the best wildflower meadows. These are the result of seeds from birds roosting in the pine branches, and no control. The result is a highly flammable understory.
Several pyracanthas have berries despite mowing pretty low. One very large shrub downhill at Schmidt. These and cotoneasters and toyons come from birds nesting in planted pines.
Non-native vetches, not yet identifiable, coming up although this is the winter solstice and the first heavy rain hs just fallen. These are not new in this part of the HNA; observtion is for phenology.
GPS was wildly displaced south, to above SeaView Place. Point has been moved, but exact location unimportant. This is the area between Schmidt and the service road.
Cotoneasters becoming a tall monoculture at least 50 feet west from fence above recycling center, above Schmidt Lane. Gordon and Chief Goines at least kept these mowed short and prevented spread. Why doesn't El Cerrito keep written records of fire-prone dense invasives that need mowing?
Cotoneasters becoming a tall monoculture at least 50 feet west from fence above recycling center, above Schmidt Lane. Gordon and Chief Goines at least kept these mowed short and prevented spread. Why doesn't El Cerrito keep written records of fire-prone dense invasives that need mowing?
Dense pyrocantha sugar bush and cotoneaster continue from just south of struggling, planted redwood to Schmidt, along west border of Hillside Natural area. The pyracantha and cotoneaster berries are invasive throughout the area. See other observations this area.
Pacific cynical just coming up in near South edge of Oak Grove with many large tangled honeysuckles extending to hear where land drops steeply to creek
Tree size Toyota at top of road cut above service road above wildcat Wildwood Creek. Taking this out, would destabilize bank also abundant seedlings nearby in woods?
Toyon at base of large eucalyptus above Wildwood Creek with honeysuckle, native blackberry and Live Oak. Shows eucalyptus can nurse native understory -- no such undergrowth elsewhere around it.
Abundant honeysuckle at base of large eucalyptus above Wildwood Creek with native blackberry toyon Coast Live Oak
Abundant pink honeysuckle under oaks near eucalyptus, above Navellier entrance north of meadow
Just coming up January 2nd foot of oak above cut bank.
Several coming up close to trail under eucalyptus and nearby at edge of oak canopy where meadow begins. Deep shade below is less vegetated
Several smal bushes at foot of large eucalyptus in abundant bark and leaves. These are immediately above the trail and would not survive mowing
Abundant honeysuckle with native blackberry and seedling toyons on cut above trail in eucalyptus litter
Just above hairpin turn in foottrail, with melic grass, yuong live oak. Several smaller toyons just dowhilll, probably seedlings from this one. They probably contribute to holding the trail.
Monterey pine just above trail. Typical bark, needles in bundles of three.
Stachys just sprouting, with soaproot, but Bermuda buttercup taking over sunny areras. This is just below pine, just past hair pin turn in foottrail. places just below pine and past hairpin turn in trail.
Trailing blackberry with large wood ferns, abundant honeysuckle, Ribes, seedling bays, much more growing densely on west-facing, oak-shaded gentle slope above steep road cut.
This observation intended to show nature of understory in the woods here (north of Regency South, east of main north--sound fire road, south of creek). It is low, denses, and I believe the most varied I have seen in the Hillside Natural Area.