An American Bullfrog at Felt Lake

           The greyish brown frog with large dark spots floating at the edge of Felt Lake on Sunday morning, April 8, 2018, looked so calm and peaceful. As I edged closer to it, I realized that the amphibian was actually dead. Had I known much about bullfrogs, I might have realized that as a nocturnal predator, it would have been unusual for such a large frog to be hanging around on the edge of a lake on a bright and sunny morning. But then again, as an ectothermic (cold-blooded) animal, it would not be unusual for a frog to lie in the sun to help maintain its body temperature. Cold-blooded animals have to rely on outside elements to stay the right temperature. Regardless of its condition, I was intrigued. The frog looked quite perfect except for the fact that it was also quite dead. Nonetheless, I proceeded to take several close-ups of it. I even fished it out of the lake with the help of a friend, so that I could examine it up close.

As is typical of bullfrogs, my little friend had big eyes, now tightly shut, and long hind legs. Although its body was slimy, it was quite smooth. I had expected to see bumps and warts – which I later learned are more typical of toads than frogs. As I researched my little bullfrog friend, I learned a number of interesting facts: the bullfrog is the larges frog in North America, measuring up to six inches when fully stretched; the frog earned its unique name from its loud call, which sounds like the roar of a bull. In fact, the sound a bullfrog makes is so loud that it could damage its eardrums, expect for the fact that a bullfrog’s eardrums are connected to its lungs – this unique adaptation allows the frog to make really loud sounds without bursting its own eardrums!

            Bullfrogs are relatively new to the Pacific Northwest, having been brought over from the East Coast in the 1930’s as a food source. Apparently, bullfrogs have big, meaty legs, which are supposed to be highly nutritious and low in calories – a real “health” food. Although I have no intention of ever trying one!

            Through my research, I also learned that bullfrogs are cannibals! Not only will they eat just about anything that fits in their large mouths, including insects, mice, birds, snakes. But they will also eat their own species – in our world, that’s called cannibalism!

            I’ve seen a number of pictures of bullfrogs with prey in their mouth that is twice its own size, and have wondered how it could possibly swallow such a large “portion”. Well, it turns out that frogs eat their prey whole and they use their eyeballs, which sink down into their mouth, to help push the food down into their throat. Now that’s quite a party trick!

            My research on the American Bullfrog made me realize that my little grey friend, although calm and peaceful when I chanced upon him on Felt Lake, could not have been that calm and peaceful when alive. Not only are bullfrogs loud and aggressive predators, but with female bullfrogs laying twenty thousand eggs a season, these frogs are multiplying rapidly. I am certain I would have come across an entire army of them had I walked the lake at dusk. That said, I am quite satisfied with my first, and hopefully only, encounter with a bullfrog.

Sara A.

           

Encountering an Eschscholzia Californica at Jasper Ridge Preserve

            On our walk on Saturday morning, April 7, 2018, at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in Woodside, California, I came across the vibrant California poppy, aka the Golden poppy, and officially known as Eschscholzia Californica. I was struck by its elegance and simplicity: the bright yellow flower stood out among the wild grass with its tall and slender stem and four perfect petals. The poppy reminded me of its cousin, the Papaver somniferum, also known as Opium poppy. I used to play with the bright red poppies as a child – manipulating the petals and turning the flower into red-skirted dolls. I had no idea then of the opium poppy’s potency.

While the California poppy looks identical to the red opium poppy, the former does not have the same level of alkaloids (chemicals that produce psychological affects on humans). The California poppy is milder than its red petal cousin and has been used as a form of holistic medicine in the treatment of muscle aches, abdominal cramping, and headaches. In fact, the flower has a long medicinal history: it was popular among Native Americans, who used the leaves to treat muscle aches and tooth pain. They also used the pollen from the flower in their cosmetics. Today, the flower can be purchased in liquid or dry form and used as medicinal tea for anxiety or restlessness. And of course, many of us have had treats with poppy seeds: they are popular throughout the world as flavoring and add a little extra pep to baked treats.

The entire plant is about 6-12 inches tall, and comes in a range of colors from pale yellow, to orange to cream, in the wild. It is considered to be the “perfect flower” because it contains both the male and female parts in each flower. Each poppy flower has multiple male stamens and multiple female carpels.

            Although the flower was first “discovered” by Dr. Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz along the Pacific Coast in 1815, it did not became California’s official state flower until April 6, 1903. Every year on April 6, all public schools are encouraged to teach students about the flower and other native plants; promote responsible behavior towards the environment; and emphasize the value of natural resources.

            Aside from being the state flower of California, the poppy also holds another special honor: it is featured on the back of the Canada’s twenty-dollar bill.

While the California poppy looks simple and elegant, it most definitely is a powerful flower – perhaps the only flower with its own state and currency!

Sara A.

(re)Instated: Land Acquisition and Use, The Leland Stanford Estate

Felt Lake

Palo Alto Stock Farm

       During this class, I find myself seeking the wide-angle view of nature. Not the macro or zoomed view many classmates capture, but larger land patterns which define our surroundings. From our last field trip to Felt Lake, I became interested in the vast land holdings of Leland Stanford, I will address these first. Secondly, I am interested in the remnants of the Stanford estate which remain visible on the campus today. In this respect, I will address one remnant, the Palo Alto Stock Farm.
Jasper Ridge, Felt Lake, and the main campus are connected by nearby creeks, flumes, pipes, and artificial lakes. Leland Stanford began amassing the land that became Stanford University in 1876 when he acquired property which is now considered the main campus. In 1887 and 1892 respectively Stanford acquired Felt Lake and the Jasper Ridge tract. Soon after acquiring the estate, in 1885, Stanford began transferring his land to what was to become the university. It is important to note that the acquisition of both Felt Lake and Jasper Ridge post-dated this transfer of land. The total amount of land transferred to Stanford University included the estate and the outlying, but contiguous, tracts. In total, the land transferred for the university totaled just over 8,000 acres. It is important to note that today Stanford University maintains over 60% of this land as open space. Research indicates that among colleges and universities around the United States, Stanford ranks #6 in overall acreage. Sitting at #1 is Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia with 27,000 acres.
FELT LAKE
Constructed in 1876 by Job Johnston Felt to service his adjacent farm and ranch, Felt Lake was acquired by Stanford in 1887 and today irrigates the university golf course and athletic fields. Most of the visible historic layers relate to site after it was acquired by Leland Stanford. Fed by Los Trancos Creek, Felt Lake is home to a variety of large-mouthed bass, sun fish and bluegill. Steelhead trout may also be found in the lake and a fish ladder assisting their movement into the lake is located nearby. A desilting project sponsored by the university restored the lake to its full capacity of 518 Olympic swimming pools.
There is a mystery surrounding Felt Lake. In 1907, Chester Silent, a student at Stanford University, was found dead in the lake. Speculation surrounded the death. Was it murder, suicide, or accident? Investigations proved that Silent’s gun had accidently gone off while he was hunting duck in the lake.
PALO ALTO STOCK FARM
Tucked away off of Electioneer Road behind the golf course and tennis courts, is a one of the few remnants of the Stanford estate—the Palo Alto Stock Farm. Purchased by Leland Stanford in 1876, the tract contained 650 acres of had been Rancho San Francisquito. At the time, the Palo Alto Stock Farm was one of the finest farms breeding trotting horses in the world and Electioneer was one of the most sought-after stallions. Historic photos dating to the late 19th century show the Red Barn, a centerpiece in the contemporary landscape, surrounded by California coast oak. The landscape today is dotted with many palm trees, probably added after the establishment of the university. The second building remaining from the Palo Alto Stock Farm is the red brick stable.
A monument to English photographer Eadweard Muybridge may also be found on the property. Muybridge pioneered work with movement and photography capturing the “horse in motion” on the Palo Alto Stock Farm. At a Stanford Founder’s Day ceremony in 1918, university President David Starr Jordan claimed that it was horses which saved the university.

Gina Haney

Palo Alto Stock Farm and Edweard Muybridge

Tucked away off Electioneer Road behind tennis courts and the golf course, stands one of the few remaining pieces of the Stanford Estate--Palo Alto Stock Farm. Here, in 1876, Leland Stanford bred trotting horses. Electioneer was one of his prize stallions.

Stanford, along with English photographer Edweard Muybridge, undertook pioneering photographic experiments as well. A monument to Muybridge and his imagery stands on the former Stock Farm.

Today, the Palo Alto Stock Farm is home to Stanford University's Red Barn Equestrian Center.

Gina Haney

Felt Lake: Leland Stanford Land Acquisition

Acquired by Leland Stanford circa 1887, Felt Lake was originally constructed by Job Johnston Felt in 1876 as part of his adjacent working ranch and farm. When purchased by Stanford, it became part of his vast land holdings. Thanks to the Stanford family, Stanford University today contains over 8,000 acres. Approximately 60% of this land remains as open space. Felt Lake demonstrates this land use.
Gina Haney

Jasper Ridge: Biological Preserve vs. Cultural Landscape

     My interest in how properties are defined, demarcated, and buffered stems from my professional work developing a site management plan and a subsequent World Heritage nomination. The site on which I work is known for its universal cultural values but unknown for its substantial regional biodiversity. Therefore, defining the site was tricky. It is a magnificent archaeological relic mentioned in three religious texts. It also is the habitat for a critically-threatened regional duck. It is inhabited by an incredible number of birds and no less than five villages are contained within its boundary. The World Heritage Centre (a body of the United Nations and based in Paris) defines a cultural landscape as a property representing “the combined works of nature and man.” The United States has only one cultural landscape listed as a World Heritage site. Listed in 2010, Papahanaumokuakea in Hawaii is this site.

            California State Parks defines cultural landscapes as portraying “how humans have used and adapted natural resources over time, whether through agricultural, mining, ranching and settlement activities, or traditional Native American cultural practices.” I believe Jasper Ridge to fall into this category. Categorized as a biological preserve, Jasper Ridge endeavors to preserve the components of certain ecosystems. Jasper Ridge contains 483 hectares (1193 acres) and is found within the San Francisquito Creek Watershed. The location of Jasper Ridge within the watershed is key to the understanding of this place as a cultural landscape. Legible on the site, the cultural layers of Jasper Ridge demonstrate the significance of the watershed.

            The Muwekma Ohlone first settled the site known as Jasper Ridge. Possibly drawn to the waterway, abundance of native plant material and chert, Muwekma Ohlone harvested the land and fish from nearby sources. Unworked chert as well as soap root (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) was found during our field study. Soap root was used as soap, for stupefying fish, and the bulb could be eaten.

            In the 1850s extractive industries such as the harvesting of lumber and mining changed the landscape once again. Various miner’s pits left in the landscape verify this layer of history. One largish pit is connected with Domenico Grosso, an itinerant miner who first settled in Portola Valley in the 1870s. By 1891 he had settled in Jasper Ridge where he maintained squatter’s rights by occasionally mining the land. Although he never became rich, Domenico was a local legend, even entertaining Ms. Jane Stanford at his home in Jasper Ridge. Domenico died in 1915.

            In his lifetime Domenico saw the land change once again. As lumber became profitable, sawmills sprung up in the watershed. The Searsville Dam, named after the town it replaced, took advantage of the undulating landscape and sharp ravines of Jasper Ridge. Constructed in the 1890s this industry brought a new use to Jasper Ridge until its purchase by Leland Stanford. During Stanford’s tenure the land may have remained open space.

          After a field visit and study, I conclude that the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve is a layered, complex cultural landscape shaped by natural and human interactions and defined by boundaries, buffers, interstitial spaces, and surrounding view sheds. 
Gina Haney

Why is the Indian Warrior known by that name? by Ulick Malone

Why is the Indian Warrior known by that name?

One question that remained unresolved after my Indian Warrior presentation yesterday is: why is the Indian Warrior known by that name? I found a good, though speculative, answer to that in the meantime: "Apparently the bright red, club-shaped raceme (unbranched flower cluster) of Indian warrior resembles the headdress of an Indian brave – hence the common names (source: https://thenatureniche.com/2013/04/24/indian-warrior/)." Here "common names" refers to the fact that the Indian Warrior is also known as the Warrior’s Plume.

Ulick Malone