Willow Grove

What's in a name? Sausal Creek was supposedly named after the stand of water-loving willow trees it passed by just shy of its outlet into the San Leandro Bay estuary — in Spanish, a willow grove is bosque de sauces. The original willow grove was a crucial resource for the Ohlone, who inhabited the area. They used the diverse plant life along the creek banks to craft intricate baskets, using willow branches, western redbud and bracken ferns to create vibrant patterns. This abundance of plant material allowed them to develop sophisticated weaving techniques, weaving dark red redbud branches and black rhizomes of bracken ferns into the lighter-colored willow branches. Linda Yamane, a member of the Rumsen Ohlone Tribal community, sought to revitalize this lost art through careful ethnographic research. In 1994, she wove the first traditional Ohlone basket in over a century. Today, she is a master basketweaver who shares her knowledge.