San Bruno Mountain Watch

20 years ago, this was the beginnings of the original San Bruno Mountain Botanical Garden. Help us revive this garden tomorrow as we prepare the grounds for planting later this year! 9am-12pm at the county park entrance; sign up at www.mountainwatch.org/mountain-volunteer

This mission blue was holding on tight to one of the silver lupine seedlings in a planting area! This particular plot in Buckeye Canyon was planted with the help of volunteers in Februaryit is so nice to see the new habitat already being used!

We are delighted to share this magical photo taken last night by Mark Murray! Lunar Eclipse over San Bruno Mountain

From former Board Member and ongoing Volunteer, Miranda Sulley: Living in Brisbane, I drove by this hill off of Guadalupe hundreds of times, never knowing it’s actually an ancient sand dune! Had a blast volunteering with San Bruno Mountain Watch this weekend, removing ice plant from the dune so that native plants can flourish again. There were folks from ages 7 to 70 all working on their own patches, socially distanced and masked. After 2 hours, our section was basically clear. Such a great feeling of accomplishment, but there’s more work to be done and we need your help! And don’t we all need a little time outdoors? Sharing to encourage others to join the next volunteer event on the dunes, 6/5/21. Sign up at mountainwatch.org/mountain-volunteer

Virtual talk at 7pm today! "San Bruno Mountain Rare Plants & Unique Geology" Learn why the mountain's rare plants are often associated with unique geology.... "The talk is presented by Dr. David Nelson, an orthopedic hand surgeon who pretends to be a botanist on the weekends." https://www.facebook.com/events/206564724304694/?ref=newsfeed Hosted by the San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society

We found numerous chrysalises of the variable checkerspot butterfly and were surrounded throughout the day by the flying and mating adults! Grateful to share these beautiful observations and moments while tending to the mountain together. Thank you to the 24 people who joined the weeding programs at Buckeye Canyon yesterday! #sanbrunomountain #variablecheckerspotbutterfly #chalcedoncheckerspot #chrysalis

Variable checkerspot butterflies are all over the flowering narrow leaf mule ears at Owl Canyon! Thanks to Margo Bors, one of our dedicated Mission Blue Nursery volunteers, for sharing this photo!

As we celebrate Mother Earth today, we're also celebrating one of the many mothers who saved San Bruno MountainBette Higgins, founding member of the Committee to Save San Bruno Mountain in 1971. Today we're releasing Part One of a digital children's book, Bette and the Mountain Mama! Read it out loud with your kids, students, friends, and family. Part Two, and other books in our new Mountain Tales children's book series, will be out soon! https://www.mountainwatch.org/e/bette-and-the-mountain-mama

So exciting to see the green hairstreak butterfly on San Bruno Mountain today! Seen here resting on the lavender blossoms of California phacelia. This hillside has an abundance of the butterfly’s host plant, coast buckwheat. #greenhairstreakbutterfly

You might see this beautiful plant blooming on San Bruno Mountain and in your neighbor’s garden! Here’s a few words from Carly Feldman, our Mission Blue Nursery Manager on the plant of the month at our nursery and on the mountain: Happy April! For this month I picked Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, or Blue blossom ceanothus. All species in the genus Ceanothus are endemic to California, and produce bright clusters of flowers that range in color, but are typically some shade of blue o...r purple. They are very popular for CA native gardens all over the state, and are loved for their attractive growth habits, bright and abundant flowers, and how well they attract pollinators, like bees and butterflies. They are also drought tolerant and don't require a lot of water once established. The blue blossom ceanothus can vary in size and shape depending on the conditions in which it is growing, but can sometimes reach heights of 30ft. It produces beautiful blue flower clusters that have a faint, pleasant fragrance. Our blue blossom growing in the nursery's garden is actually 2-3 individuals planted together, which have now formed a massive shrub that is currently covered in blue flowers, and lots of happy bees. We are growing blue blossom ceanothus and will hopefully have some available for retail sale later this year. Check our website for availability!

Join this #EarthDay celebration & discussion! SMC Open Spaces & Natural Places, curated by Thrive Alliance. With 11 local orgs, we’ll explore preservation and equitable access to amazing regional lands. (Thurs, 4/22, 3:30pm) https://tinyurl.com/5j7wxbjc

Check out all the amazing presentations from last year’s San Bruno Mountain Conference! 15 superb talks about the natural and cultural history of the mountain. See them all at www.mountainwatch.org/curriculum Yerba Buena Chapter of the California Native Plant Society San Mateo County Parks South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department Golden Hour Restoration Institute San Mateo County Parks Foundation

We recently had the opportunity to introduce native San Bruno Mountain plants with an accompanying educational booklet to the Florence Fang Community Farm whose community warmly welcomed us to their beautifully tended space!

Students from the Sterne School helped with ice plant removal this week on the San Bruno Mountain dunesopening up habitat for the endangered San Francisco Lessingia and other dune wildflowers!

Please support San Bruno Mountain Watch today on #GivingTuesday . Your gifts make it possible for us to: Restore habitat for rare and endangered butterflies and plants on San Bruno Mountain Grow the native plants of San Bruno Mountain at our Mission Blue Nursery Provide educational opportunities about the mountain’s ecology and history for all ages Advocate for open space opportunities on San Bruno Mountain

Thank you to all who donated through our website, newsletter, or on Facebook! We are so grateful to have raised over $8500 on #givingtuesday for our programs!

Thanks to all who help tend the landscapes of San Bruno Mountain and cultivate its flora at @missionbluenursery Together we heal the mountain!

November and December are the best months for planting! See what's available now at our Mission Blue Nursery

A mountain full of memorable field trips! #givingtuesday #environmentaleducation #outdoors #natureexplorers #kidsinparks #servicelearning #youth

This morning's full moon setting over San Bruno Mountain. Thank you, David Smugar for sharing this great capture with us!

San Bruno Mountain has been protected by more than 50 years of community efforts. There is still mountain land to save for public open space purposes! Nearby and accessible nature is so important. Thank you for supporting our #givingtuesday by donating at bit.ly/givtueSBMW #urbannature #thepeoplesmountain #savesanbrunomountain #conservation #advocacy #openspace

The mountain brings every color to life! Our community-based planting and weeding efforts help the mountain retain its native blossoms #givingtuesday #ecologicalrestoration #volunteers #nativewildflowers #blooming #stewardship

David Schooley reflects on the newly released book of Mt poetry, art, and history in this lovely video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHiWD4KaafU&feature=youtu.be

San Bruno Mountain means so much to many. We’ll be sharing what San Bruno Mountain is throughout the day! We are so lucky to work on behalf of this beautiful place and appreciate your support! #givingtuesday Make a gift today at bit.ly/givtueSBMW

Please join us next week in celebrating the release of a newly published book, Earth’s Own Animal. Authored by David Schooley, San Bruno Mountain Watch’s founder, Earth’s Own Animal abounds with more than 250 pages of San Bruno Mountain art and poetry plus historical essays about the people’s movement to save the mountain. Our Mountain Bookfest Fundraiser will begin on Saturday, September 12th and continue through Saturday, September 19th, as we begin the joyful distribution ...of the book to our supporters through home delivery or pick up at our Mission Blue Nursery. The book will take readers on a thoughtful and exciting journey through the landscapes and stories of San Bruno Mountain, intimately guided by someone whose heart has been beating in rhythm with the life of mountain for 50 years! Get your signed copy of the book at www.mountainwatch.org/bookfest

Taken yesterday by photographer and SBM supporter, Scott Wall

For those of you who aren't already signed up to receive it, here's our latest newsletter! Enjoy! https://conta.cc/3kzyAiR

Please donate today in support of Mission Blue Nursery's Environmental Justice Fund! https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/sbmw-ejfund-mbn

We’re thrilled to see how well some of our butterfly habitat plots are doing! Thanks to our volunteers at @missionbluenursery for growing such healthy plants and to the middle, high school, and college students (@skylineenvironmental ) plus community volunteers who helped plant and tend to these areas! The #missionbluebutterflies and #callippesilverspot are going to find so much nourishment here. Photos above: July 2020 / Photos below: January 2020

Good morning from San Bruno Mountain! Photo by Mountain Supporter Beth Ernest on her early morning walk today!

It was very windy yesterday on San Bruno Mountain. Thank you, Daniel H. Carter, for sharing the adventure!

We now offer "Yorkia" rather than "Clarkia" and urge other nurseries to join us.

San Bruno Mountain is not just butterflies and wildflowers. Over time it has been the site of much brutality, including murders, gun violence, sexual assault and violence against women, dispossession of indigenous people, and more. We unfortunately have a large collection in our San Bruno Mountain Archives dedicated to tragedies. The mountain, like all other parks, is not an island of nature untouched by society and its ills. It is not separate from issues of justice; it became public land due to a people’s movement marching for equitable park access. We support the democratic right to protest, demand justice, and affirm that #blacklivesmatter

Our Mission Blue Nursery has re-opened for plant pick ups!

We know many of you are really missing San Bruno Mountain. Here is a photo taken this week by local photographer and environmentalist, Lise Dumont. Enjoy and stay safe!

Get your copy of this lovely book about Colma Creek! It beautifully shares a vision for a healthier future for this waterway, from the Mountain to the Bay. Great reading for the whole family! Thank you to the team at Colma Creek Connector; reach out to them below for a free hard copy or digital download! See South San Francisco City Councilmember Mark Nagales reading the book to his family, linked below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX9OFylEnWc