Plant street trees in El Cerrito: At 9 am Saturday, Oct. 17

The weekend promises good weather, and the early storm have begun softening the ground.
It's time to plant! Here are some opportunities for this Saturday, Oct. 17:

Plant street trees in El Cerrito: At 9 am Saturday, Oct. 17, meet on Clayton Avenue between Central and Lincoln to join in El Cerrito’s big volunteer street-tree-planting day. More than 120 trees need to go into the ground! Teams will get instructions and then fan out to locations around the city. Wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Bring water, and shovel and gloves if you have them. Walk or bike if practical. Planting ends at noon, followed by a 12 – 2 PM celebration at City Hall, with music, food, and activities for children.

Plant natives at Mortar Rock Park: Join Friends of Five Creeks 10 AM – noon Saturday, Oct. 17, to plant natives and spread mulch at historic Mortar Rock Park, 901 Indian Rock Ave. (one block above Indian Rock Park, just east of the north end of Oxford St., across from the south end of San Diego). We have transformed this formerly ivy-choked park since we started this project in 2007, and similar projects are making big changes at neighboring parks! After work and refreshments, we can take a walk to see exciting progress at Grotto Rock, Indian Rock, and John Hinkel Parks.

Help endangered Coho In Marin: SPAWN will hold a “restoration extravanga” removing invasives and planting natives to help endangered Coho salmon on Lagunitas Creek, 10 AM - 2 PM Sat., Oct. 17. The event includes free breakfast, lunch, and music! Meet at the SPAWN Tocaloma Stone House, 9255 Sir Frances Drake Blvd. (Take SFD Blvd, past Samuel P. Taylor Park/ Devil's Gulch Park. Property is to your left, marked with orange cones.) Info at andrew@tirn.net.

If you’re tending your own garden, Friends of Sausal Creek’s fall Native Plant Sale is this weekend at the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery in Oakland. Native-polant experts will be on hand to advise you. Information and directions at www.sausalcreek.org/plantsale.html.

LOOKING AHEAD
Oct. 24 Cerrito Ck. Planting Day: We'll be planting lots more natives 10 AM - 2 PM Sat., Oct. 24 at our main October work party, on Cerrito Creek at Albany Hill. Meet at 10 am at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara Ave., El Cerrito (Internet maps 3499 Santa Clara; AC Transit 72, 52L; BART El Cerrito Plaza).

Wear closed-toed shoes with good traction and clothes that can get dirty. We supply tools, gloves, and snacks, but bring gloves and a favorite digging or cutting tool if you have them. Groups will be working in different places on the other side of the creek, so it will be helpful if folks can come on time.

Oct. 31 Kenney Cottage Garden Groundbreaking: Saturday, Oct. 31, will be groundbreaking day of the Kenney Cottage Community Garden, 1631 Fifth St., (between Virginia and Cedar) in Berkeley’s Oceanview District. The event will begin at 10 am with spreading topsoil, followed by building garden beds, planting, sowing wildflower seeds (about noon), and a fundraising Black and White Yard Sale to 5 pm. Music and refreshments, too, plus the chance to sign up if you might be interested in a plot in future. Information at redbud53@juno.com, 510 526 7828.