Eva Buxton has monitored rare and endangered species on the Tiburon peninsula for the US Fish & Wildlife Service for about 20 years. During that time, she noticed a steady decline in various species, especially the Tiburon jewelflower (Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. niger) on the Middle Ridge due to the invasion of its habitat by wild oats. After much weeding by Eva herself, the Marin Chapter allocated funds for a professional weeder. Thanks to Carissa Brands great work for two years, the jewelflower population has increased in number. Eva and Carissa will discuss some problems and solutions of weed invasions along with pictures of the “before and after”.
Eva became interested in plants as a young child growing up in Sweden. She has a MA in Ecology and Systematic Biology with emphasis on botany and worked as a botanist for an environmental consulting firm for 16 years. She is the conservation chair for the Marin Chapter of CNPS and also volunteers for other environmental organizations in Marin County.
An avid plant and soil lover, Carissa Brands has a variety of experiences with ecology, botany, and habitat restoration in both the public and private sector. Currently, she is the Landscape Manager and Naturalist at the Meadow Club in Fairfax. She holds a Bachelors degree in Ecological Agriculture and continually seeks to learn more about natural and humanmade landscapes.