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| Volunteers logged over 75 hours weeding, hauling dirt, and planting natives during our three day Restoration Planting Event! |
And a great day it was! Although the weather was cloudy, there was no rain, which was perfect. Storms had loosened the soil and made it easy to dig the 200 holes in the ground, which was critical since we were on a steep slope.
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| Barbara removing invasive Pigweed from last year's planting. |
The weather held until the very end. As we were walking up the stairs for the last time - a very light mist began. This was also perfect as the new seedlings received two days of rain to nourish them and aide them in adaptation to their new surroundings.
Safety was our primary concern as we prepared the steep slope for
planting day. We dug out steps and secured logs across the hillside to act as water barriers and planting platforms. At the end of the two days of really tough work we surveyed the hillside with satisfaction that the slope was safe.
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| Bob and Lech securing the logs. |
Everyone climbed the hill with enthusiasm, found their space, and
had a fun morning planting. While most dug holes and planted seedlings, others accomplished the long overdue weeding in last year's planting beds, and still others raked leaves into bags, which were used as the final mulch layer.
We have so many people to thank for our successful restoration efforts over the past three years. Many, many thanks to the enthusiastic turn-out from the neighborhood and beyond who have volunteered hundreds of hours eradicating invasive weeds, and then joining with us in restoring the unique and valuable native oak woodland habitat. We couldn't have done it without you.
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| Looking at the fireplace from the trail at the Evergreen Lane Entrance |
Also, many thanks to the City of Oakland for their approval and support, and to Claremont Canyon Conservancy for both their financial support and volunteers.
It's hard to believe that three years ago the Garber Park Stewards first began restoration of the Evergreen Lane entrance by removing a small section of Cape ivy that blanketed the slope. Throughout the following year volunteers logged over 150 hours hauling debris and removing invasives. By December the hillside had been transformed into the palette for which the first restoration plan was developed by Lech. Five beds were created and planted with a variety of native plants and grasses that grow naturally in other parts of Garber Park. Last year we expanded the successful restoration planting further down the hillside. We expect this year's groupings of shrubs and grasses, chosen for their ability for soil retention and to prevent erosion, to thrive as well.
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| Clyde, one of the East Bay's premier broom bashers, traded his weed wrench for a trowel. |
Restoration activities will resume in Garber on on Saturday, January 19, from 10AM-Noon. Lech will guide us in a
Passive Restoration Workshop and Planting event near Harwood Creek (Restoration Site 2) where the City of Oakland has invested Measure DD funding. In contrast to our planting at the Evergreen Lane entrance hillside all materials for Restoration Site 2 will originate from onsite. Come learn about in situ propogation techniques for a number of native plants. We hope you can join us for another day of restoration in Garber Park.
To see more pictures of our three-day Restoration Planting event click here.
