It’s that time of year again, thanks to our reliable groundhog for ushering in the springtime. Los Medanos Nature Preserve received lots of love from LMC’s Hyphae Club. Hyphae Club Adviser Ricardo Black has been working on the Nature Preserve since 2014, and it is no easy feat.
“We want to plant as many plants as possible in the preserve, with the long term goal of expanding to [the whole campus] and fill in the spots without plants,” Black said of his goals for the preserve.
The work is never-ending, with those in Hyphae Club working alongside Black to replace and replenish the plants. Black has lots of support from Hyphae Club President Jenica Perez, an LMC student who’s passionate about nature.
Black works hard to make sure the nature preserve is accessible to anyone wanting to explore. “I would say to visitors to be curious when coming out to the preserve as there are close to 80 different species of plants at our fingertips to study, observe and appreciate,” Black said. He urges students to become more in tune with our connection to plants, and educate ourselves as much as possible on the importance of plants to our ecosystem, and to ourselves.
“We would love to have more people pull out these invasives. The more we get rid of now, the less we will see in the following year,” President Perez mentioned.
While some plants are still in the midst of blooming, Black said the timeline of every plant varies, with those that bloom now finishing up their cycle in mid-to-late spring.
“Plants are very special and useful for us, so using this garden as a catalyst to reconnect with plants is something unique and amazing,” Black shared, wanting to remind visitors to be aware of their surroundings and be sure not to disrupt the plants and animals in the space.
“Any help is needed. Hyphae Club meets on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. in the Nature Preserve,” Perez shared.
Western rebud flower:
Primarily found in Northern California, this native plant is a perfect addition to our LMC nature preserve. It starts to bloom in March and concludes towards the end of spring. It is easily recognizable as it is tall and sports bright pink flowers.
Miner’s lettuce:
This bountiful bush with deep green leaves might look as tasty as it does because it’s almost entirely edible. Commonly found throughout California, it’s no question why the Hyphae club found this to be the perfect addition to the nature preserve. Not fully bloomed yet, we can expect to see flowering sometime in April, lasting into summertime.
Salvia leucophylla:
Found in the coasts of California and Northern Mexico, this trooper can withstand intensely dry California climates thanks to its fuzzy, protected leaves. Purple sage is a popular plant used medicinally, with roots in Native American, Ancient Grecian and Roman cultures. While white sage is more commonly used in smudging rituals, purple sage is also somewhat used.
Alexandra monkeyflower:
Native to most of California and some of Oregon, these sticky little guys boast vibrant red and yellow flowers. Black mentioned these being a hybrid of the traditional monkeyflower, which would explain its yellow adornments. These little ones stay in bloom from spring to fall. They are small but mighty and hard to miss.
