November 2011 Chapter meetings are free and open to the public. CHAPTER MEETING They are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month, except Tuesday, November 15; 7 p.m. August, in the Casa del Prado Room 104, just west of the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Room 104, Casa del Prado Park. Balboa Park 6:30 Natives for Novices: Pre-meeting presentation on Irrigating Native Landscapes by Greg Rubin. Adventures with the Popcorn Flowers: 7:00 p.m. – refreshments, book browsing, Cryptantha (Boraginaceae) socializing. by Dr. Michael Simpson 7:30 p.m. – presentation. Dr. Simpson will present the results of recent studies summarizing aspects of taxonomy and phylogenetic PREZ SEZ relationships of the genus Cryptantha and close relatives. The methodology, evidence, and rationale My deep, wide, and heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers for splitting the genus into five separate genera, all whose combined efforts made our annual plant sale a huge named by previous workers decades ago, will be success, both financially and educationally. I am especially explained. Current studies and some preliminary grateful to Carolyn Martus, whose leadership of the Fall results with regard to species and intraspecies Plant Sale Committee is so level-headed and dependable. definition, including some recent discoveries, will be Our chapter will once again have funds to support activities presented. we hope to carry out in the upcoming year to increase understanding, appreciation, and conservation of our native flora. Michael Simpson, PhD (Duke University), is a ~ Kay Stewart Professor of Biology at San Diego State University. His expertise is plant systematics, including phylogenetic relationships of flowering plants, taxonomy related to species and infraspecies BOARD OF DIRECTORS delimitation, and floristic studies. Wednesday, November 2, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., monthly CNPS San Diego Chapter board meeting to be held at 4010 Morena Blvd, Suite 100, San Diego (Thomas Guide 1248 C4). Exit I-5 to Balboa Dr. east and turn north on Morena Drive. Proceed 1/2 mile and make a u-turn at the Avati Street signal and turn into the driveway for 4010. Drive to the parking lot on the west side (away from Morena). Members are welcome to attend as observers. If you want to discuss an issue, please ask to get on the agenda, by sending an email to [email protected]. Canyon, a group which is trying to help preserve native Election habitat in an urban canyon in San Diego. Wes, a native of NYC, came to San Diego in 1989 after having earned a The Chapter Executive Board consists of 11 members, each doctorate at USC. As a result of years of exploring the selected for a two year term. This year we need to elect five county’s backcountry, his love of native plants came to members of the Board, and next year we will elect six. fruition when he decided to replace his lawn and backyard This year we have 6 candidates running for 5 positions. with natives in 2002. His interest in native gardens led to Please mail your ballot before November 15 or bring it to the decision to go completely native, professionally the next chapter meeting on November 15. speaking; in 2006, he started a native garden design business, North Park Native Plants. The basic approach of Connie Di Girolamo: A little over a year and a half ago, Wes’s native garden business is the use of local native when one of the CNPS-SD Directors left the Board, I was plants in gardens that can flourish without irrigation. appointed to the Board of Directors and asked to be the Treasurer. Prior to this appointment, I was a volunteer Frank Landis has been a CNPS member for over 20 cashier at several annual Fall Plant Sales. My husband, years. His mother (Betsey Landis, active in the Santa Pete, is an enthusiastic native plant gardener, and our Monica Mountains chapter) gave him a gift membership home is surrounded by beautiful maturing native plants. soon after he graduated from college in 1990. From there, While I bring no botanical background to this position, I do his interest in native plants grew, and he went on to obtain bring a background of corporate planning and budgeting, two graduate degrees in botany (MA from Humboldt under volunteer organizational leadership, and organizational John Sawyer, PhD from UW-Madison). Over the last two skills. During my time on the Board I have simplified our decades, he has belonged to four chapters (East Bay, North Chapter’s annual budgeting and reporting. My hope is that Coast, Santa Monica Mountains, and San Diego), and been this enhances our ability to make sound financial decisions active in three. As a CNPS member, he has given talks, led in support of our CNPS mission. hikes, pulled weeds, commented on environmental documents and policies, surveyed rare plants and Michael U. Evans. I grew up in various places in the vegetation, sold plants and seeds, run an art contest, given U.S., as a son of an Air Force officer, ending up in the testimony in front of the San Diego City Council and Inland Empire region of Southern California. I was always County Board of Supervisors and yes, served on the chapter fascinated by natural history wherever I lived. I have a long Board of Directors (since 2010) and as the chair of the Rare history in San Diego’s environment through my education Plant Survey Committee. Next year, if elected, he will also at San Diego State University where I received a Master’s serve as chair of the Conservation Committee. Frank sees degree in biology/zoology and as an avid native plant himself as a somewhat extreme example of how most advocate. I have been involved with many aspects of the native plant enthusiasts are made, not born, through San Diego chapter of the California Native Plant Society exposure to enthusiastic, knowledgeable teachers who turn since the late 1970’s and have participated with many field the world from a gray-green blur into a beautiful landscape trips and events over the years. I have worked as an of familiar species. As a director, he is interested in helping environmental planner, specializing in conservation of run the Chapter's day-to-day activities, in reaching out to sensitive species, for public agencies including the U.S. Fish new members and educating existing members, and in and Wildlife Service, as well as with biological consulting furthering plant conservation efforts throughout our city, companies in the region. My interests include photography county, and state. of native plants and their landscapes and overall conservation of southern California’s unique native Greg Rubin: I have been involved with California native biological resources. I currently work as a biological horticulture since 1985, when I decided to landscape my consultant in the San Diego area and volunteer with parents’ house with natives as part of a complete conservation/education activities. I have a thorough home renovation project. I was hooked instantly, and understanding of most of the laws and regulations that continued to develop my interest even while working my protect and enhance natural resources in our region. I day job as an aerospace engineer. I later became a licensed would like to assist the chapter in participating in contractor and currently have over 600 clients in southern furthering our conservation concerns. My goal in California. As many of you know, my passion and love for participating on the Board of the San Diego chapter of native horticulture is boundless (they call me 'Reverend CNPS would be to provide thoughtful review and assistance Rubin' sometimes!) and I continue to spread the word in raising the awareness of the value of native plants and every day of my life through all types of media. I have a their habitats in the San Diego region and providing for particularly keen interest in the underlying ecology that their protection. supports native plant communities and applying it to landscapes, which often means that conventional Wes Hudson became a member of the San Diego CNPS in wisdom flies out the window. Having a number of clients 2002 and is currently on the Board of our chapter. He has involved in many fire events with positive results has also led Society sponsored native-plant-hikes in local canyons driven me to understand better the interaction between for the general public. In 2005, he organized a native fire, landscape, and structures, hoping to reduce wildfire garden tour in the San Diego metro area. He is currently a risk for my customers while saving and promoting native member of the San Diego Chapter’s Gardening Committee, habitat. I have volunteered for and participated in many which is planning a county wide native garden tour. Wes is activities with CNPS-SD over the years and have made a also one of the founding members of Friends of Juniper number of presentations at meetings. I believe my 2 experience, enthusiasm, and knowledge can be applied constructively as a Board Member for this organization and I would relish the opportunity to serve. Kay Stewart: I became a CNPS member in 1984, when I wanted to learn about the wild places in our region by going on field trips. Since then I have enjoyed serving our chapter on various committees, including Plant Sale, Field Trips, Poster Sales, Gardening, and Public Outreach, and as Secretary on the board in the 1990's and Vice President in 2010. Currently I am serving as 2011 CNPS Conservation Conference chapter President. I would be pleased to continue to serve on the Board in any other capacity.