Our inspiration
At the top of Bernal Hill lies a remarkable urban ecosystem, 20 acres of open space that is home to many native plants and animals that are still surviving in the heart of San Francisco.
The hill starts to bloom in early spring: clumps of hummingbird sage and checkerbloom on the far west corner and goldfields near the peak. Lomatium, buttercups, violets, and lupines emerge along the trails. Soap plants open late afternoons for night-flying insects. In summer, a large patch of clarkia thrives along Bernal Boulevard; tarweed survives in rocky gravel along the road, as do the yarrow and the buckwheat on the bare rock faces. Ceanothus, willows, and coyote bush neighbor the toyon that offers flowers for bees and winter berries for birds. Needle grass survives on the paths we tread. These local native plants are the foundation for the insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals that have evolved together over thousands of years. Historically, before cattle grazing was introduced, these native plants and others would have been much more abundant. In July, the hill that turns brown would be green with native grasses into the fall and covered with wildflowers and many more.
About us
We are a group of friends who share a passion for this fragment of wild and are working to recreate some of this habitat on neglected land surrounding Bernal Hill. We began in the spring of 2021 after one of us noticed a coast live oak surrounded by scotch broom. What began with freeing this oak and a neighboring toyon has become an ever-growing habitat restoration project. In just two years, the newly planted natives and the butterflies, moths, bugs, and birds that depend on them are thriving.
Our work
We’ve removed over 400 square feet of scotch broom this year alone. Growing over 12 feet tall, it has produced thousands of viable seeds for over 30 years, choking out the plants that have evolved to live here, giving insects and birds nothing to eat, and creating both a sterile environment and a fire hazard. We’ve also been attacking the oxalis, which spreads via tiny bulblets, the towering pride of Madeira (echium), and the pervasive verbena. We aim to restore as much as possible by pulling these invasives, covering the ground with cardboard and chips, and replanting natives that should grow in our local environment.
We’ve already planted lupines, clarkia, varieties of buckwheat, soap plant, yarrow, monkeyflower, phacelia, several kinds of grasses, native blackberry, elderberry, snowberry, coffeeberry, coyote bush, sages, Ribes, mugwort, ceanothus, toyon, and oaks.
As we continue to expand our efforts, we need funding for tools, many more plants, and volunteers to help with weed pulling, hauling chips, and planting. Our goal is to restore as much as possible and restore the habitat that once covered Bernal Hill for the insects, birds, and animals that depend on them.
All photos on BernalWild.org by Sharon Beals or Lori Eanes