We are so happy to tell you that the CCAG's Atlas Sanctuary will be re-greened in the next few months. First with the Toyon Berries, and then with some Arroyo Willow Cuttings that rooted today.
The Atlas Garden once was very green. Before I moved in, it was full of bamboo and Morning Glory vines. I remember seeing a bunch of bees and hummingbirds there. The vines took over the bamboo over a few years and eventually killed it off. Although the flower of the vine may look pretty, it's an invasive species that came overseas. The bamboo species was originally planted at the Atlas Garden was neither native or invasive. It was just growing how it is. The Morning Glory is a plant that not only vines profusely, but produces roots as it trails along the ground. That way, if a part of the plant is severed from the original plant, it can grow into a whole other plant.
After the weeds took down the bamboo in the summer of 2020, the hot season came around, quickly drying out the Morning Glories. And then, the desert-like habitat became dry. When the rainy seasons of 2020 came around, the soil was too dry for the soil to sink in. The bees, hummingbirds and other wildlife disappeared. Even the weeds, which were growing everywhere, seemed to disappear too.
I kind of neglected the whole backspace until 2023. One day in March, I went down there to fetch a basketball. I noticed how dusty the place was and how many dead bamboo sticks there were strewn across the ground. I couldn't quite remember the bees and the butterflies, but I wanted them to come back. I didn't just want to see bees or butterflies, but also other animals I've never seen in my backyard before like frogs and native rodents. So I had a plan. I would make a pond and the animals would come. I spent the next days digging out a hole near one of the fences. I also thought it would be nice to get some pond liner and some native plants. But then I neglected the project to work on something else. Later, in November, I came back to the "pond" and saw this:
The pond was littered with a bunch of leaves because I ignored it for a long time. The bamboo surviors of the '20 Morning Glory Attack still grew in the backround
At once I got started working on it. I dug it a little deeper and cleared out the leaves and flowers. I killed all the invasive clovers and grasses living there. Each day, I turned the soil to make sure it wasn't too firm. I looked up how to make a backyard pond. Most of the amateur YouTubers used something called "pond liner." Apparently, it is a big piece of plastic wrap that keeps the water in the pond from draining into the soil. I asked for that for Christmas. Later, I decided to raise native plants to plant here to bring back the wildlife. On a previous blog post, people voted for the backspace to be modeled after one magical place. Can you guess where this is?
It's the Marin Headlands. See the rock formations and the dusty chapparel bushes? that's what I wanted to be in the Atlas Sanctuary. So I went to the a Marin Headland beach called Kirby Cove to collect plants. There, I was met with the fluffy coyote brush flowers. I took some home, and it is still growing in my room. I went down the path and saw a thick Arroyo Willow Tree.
I looked closer, and a redwinged blackbird appeared on one of the branches. Below the tree, a shady, rustling creek was the only noise that interrupted the pure silence. I read somewhere that Arroyo Willows and Willows in general were good for pond environments. I also read that Arroyo willows can be propogated by cutting. Most plants require root hormone to be propogated, which I had none of. After taking some cuttings and growing them for a few months, I got this:
They rooted. In addition to the willows, I also sucessfully grew Toyon, Coyote Brush, Monterey Pine and California Bay Laurel, all which are native to California. The plants will be transplanted into the Atlas Nature Sanctuary in a few months. Heres what you can do to conserve the plants in your local forest or beach:
If you live near a forest or beach, don't litter. It could harm the animals living around it. Even if the plastic is biodegradeable, it could enter an animal's body quickly. Who knows? So pick up trash y'all!
Leave organisms where they are. Even though if you remove a small tree, it may ruin the whole ecosystems for many generations.
While hiking, walk on the paths. Those hiking signs are there for a reason.
Try not to touch that many marine life. Take videos of them and turn them into a film instead, like I did.
No pets. They are important animals, but can disturb the ecosystems. Dog + coyote= no fun.
Plant trees where forests used to be. That way, animals can move back in.
Think about your impact. Imagine if animals destroyed your home and planted in more trees.
Plant a native garden. This, like 6) will also attract more nature.
Take photos of nature. Always a good thing to do. Share them with others so more people can be involved.
Walk places whenever you can. Gas from cars affects small ecosystems living on the side of highways.
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