Ulistac Natural Area

04/22/2024

Happy Earth Day! 🌎
Today, let's renew our commitment to cherish and nurture our incredible planet. Every small act of kindness towards Mother Earth makes a big difference. Let's continue to love, respect, and protect our home. 🌎💚

03/20/2024

Happy Spring Equinox! As nature awakens and the balance between day and night is restored, may this season bring renewal, growth, and harmony into your life. Embrace the beauty of new beginnings and the promise of brighter days ahead.

03/15/2024

Plant of the month: Golden current (Ribes aureum) is a shrub that is native to California but also found elsewhere in the western North America. It grows along creek sides, slope bottoms or woodlands. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees are attracted to the fragrant golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. The fruit is an important food source for many bird species as well as small mammals like squirrels and chipmunks. 🐿️ 🦋 🐝
The term current comes from Zante Current or the raisins of Corinth for the similar appearance of the fruits to grapes that are grown on the Greek island Corinth.

02/01/2024

Plant of the month: California buckeye(Aesculus californica) is a summer deciduous tree, native to California.It grows during the wet winter and spring months when its neighbors are dormant and enters dormancy in mid to late summer. The sweet, fragrant flowers, provide a rich pollen and nectar source for native bees, hummingbirds, and many species of butterflies. The tree had multiple cultural uses among native Californian. CAUTION: all parts of the tree are toxic from glycosidal compounds; ingestion of large quantities of the seeds can be fatal. 

12/23/2023

Happy Winter Solstice Season. ❄️☃️
Plant of the month: Mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia)is a flowering shrub native to California. It is most common in riparian and costal sage scrub communities.
Mule fat flowers year-round and is a great choice for butterfly gardens. The Mule fat got its name because mules would get fat by eating the leaves or perhaps because they became bloated from eating them.

12/05/2023

A lovely street side planting in Greenwich Village.

12/02/2023

Tomorrow, mostly cloudy, high of 66, perfect for a few hours volunteering from 1O am to noon at Ulistac! We need you! Meet at our tool shed straight down the trail from the South Entrance, the one near Hope Drive.
If 15 software developers can volunteer for native plant restoration, so can you!

11/24/2023

Plant of the month: Common yarrow(Achillea millefolium) is a perennial herb native to CA.
“EVERYWHERE the Yarrow grows!
Here and there the thistle blows,
Here and there the barberries,
By the brook the plumy fern;
We know where the lily is,
Where the dear wild roses burn:
But the Yarrow everywhere
Wanders on the common air.” Annie Adams Field

10/28/2023

Plant of the month: Western sweet shrub(Calycanthus occidentalis) is a deciduous shrub endemic to California. It grows in moist and shady places. The flowers are produced from late spring through early fall. The lotus-shaped flowers can resemble a small magnolia flower. Its wood was used by Indigenous people for arrows. Seeds are toxic to humans and animals.

10/12/2023

October is fundraising month for the Ulistac Natural Area Restoration and Education Project! Most of our expenses are for plants, tools, and educational materials. Donations have been down after Covid for many non-profits, including ours…Every little bit helps, even $5. UNAREP is an all volunteer, no salaried organization. We provide a great service for the folks who enjoy Ulistac with our work sessions, successful restoration efforts, tours, and programs for students. The DONATE button at ulistac.org leads you to payment options. Thank you for your support!

Ulistac Natural Area is the only dedicated natural open space in the City of Santa Clara, and a regional and cultural resource for all of us. People from all over the region come to enjoy the diverse California native plant habitats and the ecosystems they support while walking, jogging, taking phot...

10/04/2023

Our next work session is this Saturday October 7th, 10 am to noon.
We will get our watering done before it gets too hot! Meet at our tool shed at the end of the trail going straight back from the South Entrance, the one nearest Hope Drive.
Wear sturdy shoes, a hat, and long pants — gloves and tools are provided. The young plants will thank you!