Help pull thistles at beautiful Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve.

Saturday, March 28, 9:00 a.m.-noon, with optional after-lunch walk.

Join the SYVNHS for a morning of weed abatement followed by a short trek into the beautiful Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve.  We’ll join SYVNHS Field Trip Chair Tim Matthews in removing noxious Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum, and Italian Thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus, that threaten the native and rare flora of Burton Mesa.

Tim Matthews is the Scientific Aide for the 5,000-acre Reserve, which is owned by the State Lands Commission and managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  After the morning’s labors, he will lead a walk through one of the nicest areas of the Reserve for a look at its unique habitat and stunning plants.   Tim promises we will see blooming San Luis Obispo Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum var. lompocense), found in this world only on Burton Mesa. We will also see lots of Fiddleneck and at least three species of Lupine, plus many blooming shrubs of the maritime chaparral. Stars include Purisima Manzanita (Arctostaphylos purissima), Shagbark Manzanita (Arctostaphylos rudis), and Lompoc Ceanothus (Ceanothus cuneatus var. fascicularis), all shrubs found nowhere else in the world.

Bring, most importantly, LEATHER gloves (leather is the only defense against the strong prickles of Milk Thistle), as well as lunch, water, hat and sunscreen, and a shovel or hoe if you like (there will be a few provided).  While the thistles have fierce defenses, they pull out of the sandy ground of Burton Mesa quite easily, so most of our work will be simply hand-pulling.

RSVP to Membership Coordinator Rosey Bishop at synature@west.net or call 805 693-5683. Those who sign up will be sent driving directions and meeting place information.

For more information on Burton Mesa, see http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region5/burtonmesa.html

Image: San Luis Obispo Wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. lompocense
Photo: Stuart Wilson