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  Rare Grass at Point Molate
April 21, 2005
 

No, this is not an outing for pot-heads. This is the real thing. Point Molate happens to be a rare coastal prairie remnant with some of the best examples anywhere of native California grasses in the Bay Area.

On Sunday, April 24, 11:00 AM, the Marin County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society will sponsor at tour of Point Molate Grassland led by David Amme.

In association with the Yerba Buena chapter, we'll be visiting the grasslands of the Potrero Hills, a classic undisturbed postage stamp sized grassland that has not been cultivated, severely over-grazed, or developed. The Potrero Hills are an "almost-island" peninsula in the narrows of San Pablo Bay in the rain shadow of the high hills of Marin County, with a spectacular view of Mt. Tamalpais, San Francisco, and San Pablo Bay. On the knolls and swales overlooking both San Francisco and San Pablo Bays are precious coastal prairie meadows transitioning into valley grassland. California oatgrass grows with purple needlegrass and squirreltail, junegrass and red fescue adjacent to patches of California fescue and the unique robust form of creeping wildrye. Mix in large patches of Diego bentgrass and you are sure to want to lie down, eat lunch, and take a nap. Perhaps the most interesting grass is the Molate red fescue. The waxy blue forms of red fescue hop down the north coast from Patrick's Point to the Mendocino coast, Point Arena, and the Bay Area. The red fescue form on the Potrero Hills is both ornamental and drought tolerant. Where else would you find a red fescue happily hanging out with squirreltail and purple needlegrass? Molate fescue is the most winter-active red fescue on planet earth. When the soil dries out in the late spring the gray waxy coat carries it into summer dormancy with dignity; it reappears green and succulent in the spring. Bring your silver cups, wine, Camembert, and sourdough French bread, and toast the grassland! Join David Amme for a visit to this unique coastal grassland.

Directions: Point Molate is just north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Take the first Richmond exit after the bridge, then loop under the highway and rejoin the westbound bridge approach. Take the Western Drive/Point Molate exit just before the toll plaza. Proceed straight at the first three-way fork, as the hill gradually rises curving more towards the north. This road is a bustling parking area for the Caltrans Richmond Bridge retrofit project. As the road descends the hill, park at the parking lot on the right just before the "Point Molate Restricted Area" open gate. Bag lunch, sunscreen, hat, and water are essential; hand lens and camera are good options. (David 510-526-9257 or by email seed@tdl.com)

 

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