Fall 2009 ♦> SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 31 (3) Island Park State Annual Meeting Recap -by Linda Johnson, Sah-Wah-Be president Sah-Wah-Be chapter is pleased that so many native plant enthusiasts participated in the State Annual Meeting, June 26-28. Over 80 people had great fun exploring and learning about the Island Park and Yellowstone areas of Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Name tags and a plant list of the area helped us get to know one another and some of the plants we could expect to see on the field trips. Some folks arrived Thursday and set up tarps and sunshades in the group campground. These proved to be great protection not only from the sun, but from the rain that drenched the area Friday night. Friday afternoon the first group activity was the Harriman Ranch Historic Tour. (More information about this 1 1,000 acre refuge can be found at http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/harriman.aspx) As we were driving to Harriman Ranch rain started pouring down and soaked everyone as we walked to the historic building area of the ranch and waited for our guide. We were glad to find the Boys’ House building open for our large wet group of people. After a video explaining the details of the ownership of the Harriman Ranch, our guide toured us through three of the historic buildings. The furnishings in these took us back in time. Thankfully, the rain stopped and the sun came out so we could take our time looking at native plants on our trip back to the parking area. Back at camp a second rainstorm blew in as we gathered under the tarp shelters for the potluck "put your choice of a can of soup in the pot" dinner. The concoction was surprisingly good! Janet Benoit furnished the S’mores ingredients for our campfire dessert. Those who stayed up late saw the stars come out, indicating it would be a near-freezing night after the cooling rains. Sure enough, Saturday morning we were greeted with a light covering of frost on everything. Gulls gave us a wake-up greeting to a day of beautiful sunshine. At 8:30 am, about 40 people left for the Mesa Falls trip and 15 for the Henry’s Lake trip. Janet Bala, state vice president and a botany instructor at Idaho State University, led the Mesa Falls adventure (see her write-up on page 5). Wendy Velman, BLM botanist and newly elected state president of INPS, led the Henry’s Lake trip. The area visited was a field on the north side of the lake to the north of a residential area. Wendy explained how the BLM was able to obtain this tract of land; their plans to keep it from further development. The plant she specifically wanted us to see there, Claytonia multiscapa, was in the fruiting and seed stage already and was difficult to locate. One of the other highlights seen on the trip was a variety of Camas lily, Camassia quamash, with a lovely blue-lavender flower. There were also at least five different varieties of Potentilla growing close together {Continued on page 3 ) In this Issue State Annual Meeting Recap 1 Letter from the President 2 Mesa Falls 5 Idaho Botanic Foray 6 INPS News 7 Chapter News 8 Sage Notes is in color on the INPS website: http ://w w w . id ahonati veplants . or g/ {Articles contributed to Sage Notes reflect the views of the authors and are not an official position of the Idaho Native Plant Society} September 2009 1 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 3 1 (3) Letter from the President Fellow Plant Enthusiasts, I humbly thank you for electing me to the position of State President of the Idaho Native Plant Society. I hope during my term that positive things will happen. First, many thanks to the Sah-Wah-Be Chapter annual meeting committee - Barbara and Mel Nichols, Janet Bala, Linda Johnson, Ruth Moorhead, Rose Lehman - and all the members who helped in various ways, for organizing a great weekend in Island Park with plenty of opportunities to botanize and socialize. If I heard correctly, this was the largest annual meeting ever. I think a wonderful time was had by all! We missed Barbara and Mel, and I am glad to hear that Barbara is doing well after her surgery. I am looking forward to the recap of the meeting and the field trips in this edition of Sage Notes . Thank you again to Janet Benoit and Lois Rohay for serving INPS as officers. Dedication like yours is hard to come by. Thank you to Ann Debolt for helping me respond to the first inquiry to INPS under my term. For those who do not know, Ann helps answer technical botanical questions that come to the society through our website. This question was in regard to an outstanding native plant for each state that does well in landscaping. Watch for a write-up in the Jan/Feb edition of Horticulture Magazine on Philadelphus lewisii. Maybe we can get permission to publish a reprint in the spring edition of Sage Notes. Now, I have a few questions for you. What kind of society do you want? Currently we are made up of seven chapters that span the state and include a wide variety of members with diverse interests. We have chapters that support community education in the use of native plants for xeric landscaping and home gardens, and chapters that use field trips to educate the public about the wonderful world of Idaho native plants in the mountains and valleys around us and to further members’ ability to identify specific plants. Our membership includes professionals who work to support conservation of rare plant habitats and professors who educate the next generation of botanists that will support and be supported by this society. We also have members across the society who love to share their knowledge about native plants and related topics through lectures and demonstrations. This seems to me September 2009 a great mix of educational, professional, and everyday plant lovers ! We have many great goals being met across the state, but the issue of dues and their division between state and chapter coffers has been a debate over the years. The question I would like to ask you all is, “Why do YOU pay your dues?” I pay mine to help support a society of people dedicated to perpetuating the native plants of Idaho. The society uses all the above-mentioned ways to spread the word about the importance of native plants and their allies. So, why do some people like to attend field trips, presentations, the Rare Plant Conference, and visit our website but not want to pay dues? Is there something more we can add to how the society functions, some special perk, that will draw in paying members? Everyone should know that no state- wide organization functions well without financial backing. Another question: “How many of you read all of Sage NotesT I do. I have recently acquired some back issues that I did not have and read them. Over time our publication has changed from basically scientific articles to a more informational and chapter- oriented publication. Some members have told me that they have just recently begun reading Sage Notes', others say they simply toss it on a shelf when it comes. I feel strongly that Sage Notes is a great communication tool that helps keep the society linked over the broad distances of the state and even beyond. Did you know that we also have members from outside Idaho’s boundaries? What would you like to see added to Sage Notes to enhance your interest? I suggest adding an amusing incentive for members to read their copy: We will add a “needle in a haystack,” or more accurately, a “stamen in Sage Notes.” The first person to send an email to nativeplantlover@hotmail.com with the correct location of the “stamen” will receive a copy of The Trail to Table Mountain: A location based guide to a revered route's Flora by Kelly Coburn, a book about the flora of Teton Valley. The winner will be announced in the following issue of Sage Notes. If we make it fun, will you read? I am asking all these questions to get everyone thinking, “How can we grow?” If we could be like the plants we love, I would want to be a vine that reaches out to touch everyone. What are your native plant incentives? Thanks for your time, Wendy Velman President, Idaho Native Plant Society 2 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 31 (3) {Continued from page 1) Island Park State Annual Meeting Recap Saturday afternoon, Rose Lehman, USFS botanist for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, led a trip to Sawtell Peak (http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/intermountain/SawtellPeak/index.shtml) . About 40 people carpooled to the chilly 9,866 elevation at the top of the windswept mountain. The cold wind and the sunshine enhanced the panoramic views of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. One can reportedly see over 100 miles in any direction on such a clear day. Cushion plants and grasses were among the plants surviving at the top. About 70 people went to Harriman Ranch Saturday evening for a catered dinner, the business meeting, and a presentation about Yellowstone Park. The caterer had a problem, however, and the order of events had to be rearranged. The business meeting was held outside on the lawn near the Boy’s House building. The minutes of that meeting are on the INPS website, www.idahonativeplants.org/. Thereafter, inside the Boy’s House, the guest speaker, Yellowstone National Park botanist Jennifer Whipple, presented a narrated slide show entitled "Where the Ash Falls; from the Idaho Snake River Plains to the Yellowstone Hotspot: Rare Plants in the Yellowstone.” Jennifer was a wonderful speaker with jokes about our dinner not showing up interspersed in her talk. We got a greater understanding about the geologic history of the area and how some of the vegetation, only growing in the Yellowstone region, has adapted to the warm ground around the hot areas in Yellowstone. To the relief of the crowd, Grandpa’s Southern BBQ had dinner waiting for us outside the Boy’s House after the presentation. Many people stayed for the extra Sunday trips. The three-hour float trip down the Big Springs stretch of Henry’s Fork River was led by Ruth Moorhead and Rose Lehman. Ruth described this trip as follows: ’’What do you do when you're leading a canoe trip for 40 botanists in 1 1 boats on a perfectly lovely early-summer morning in a perfectly idyllic little stream in the mountains of eastern Idaho? When you don't know where the good places to stop are because you've never had the chance to stop before because the person in charge before had always focused on NOT stopping? If you're lucky, you can relax and let the Forest Service botanist who's with the group anyway pick out the places to stop and show everyone the great plants there. We were very lucky, and everything worked out very well. Everyone seemed to enjoy the outing, and nobody tipped over. We all thank Rose Lehman for the perfect aplomb with which she handled the float and pointed out the plants for us. That vast swath of blooming pink Alliums will stay in my mind's eye for months. I can always count on the ospreys, sapsuckers, and spotted sandpipers to appear along that stream, but just never knew what was rooted back a few feet from the shore!” The field trip into Yellowstone National Park along was attended by about 40 people. Yellowstone’s botanist, Jennifer Whipple, took us on a special hike to see mud pots and warm-ground-loving plants in the Firehole River area. After we topped a ridgeline we were urged to stay in single-file formation so as not to disturb the natural vegetation or break through the thin ground surface soil. It was a great 1 Vi hour learning experience. Some people drove further into Yellowstone Park after the guided tour to experience more of Yellowstone’s wonders. Sunday evening overnighters gathered at the group area for our last potluck meal together and shared anecdotes about the weekend’s activities. Was this a successful Native Plant Society experience? Sah-Wah-Be chapter participants feel that it was, indeed, and are grateful for the good group participation from everyone. Many people in the campground willingly shared their campsite with someone else in order to accommodate everyone. Relaxing Sunday evening and camping that one more night gave us extra time to enjoy the area and get to know our fellow campers better. Thank you, Everyone! Do consider attending next year’s annual meeting outings. September 2009 3 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 31 (3) Photos from the 2009 Annual Meeting Hiking along the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park (photo Bob McCoy) The Mesa Falls group on the porch of the Visitor’s Center (photo Ed Bala) September 2009 4 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES * A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 3 1 (3) Mesa Falls Field Trip by Janet Bala After an evening of thunderstorms, Saturday, the first full day of the 2009 annual state meetings brought a beautiful blue sky, making the field trips offered on Saturday perfect. The first trip of the day was to the Mesa Falls Recreation Area located south of Island Park off Hwy 47 and the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. Once we arrived at the area, trip leader Janet Bala sent everyone off to investigate the plants along the boardwalk leading out to Upper Mesa Falls, which are on the Henry’ s Fork of the Snake River. Many plants were found along the walkway, including native raspberries {Rubus idaeus ), Rock Clematis ( Clematis columbianum) and Mountain Ash (Sorbus scopulina ), to name a few. Across the river Engelmann Spruce ( Picea engelmanii), Douglas Fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii), Sub-alpine Fir ( Abies lasiocarpa), and Lodgepole Pine ( Pinus contorta), covered the steep hillside, while many water-loving plants adorned the misty banks of the river. After spending about Upper Mesa Falls (photo Bob McCoy) 30 minutes at Upper Mesa Falls we hiked down the one-mile trail to Lower Mesa Falls. The single-track trail was well groomed and offered many varieties of plant species, but our group of over 30 people made it hard for everyone to hear Janet talk about the plants. However, there were many people throughout the line of hikers who also were very knowledgeable about native plants and willingly identified them, answered questions, and passed along information for those who could not hear the descriptions Janet gave. There were many different varieties of forbs, shrubs, and trees, some in flower and many not quite at their peak. Some varieties in full bloom included Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Cascade Mountain-ash {Sorbus scopulina ), Scouler Willow (Salix scouleriana), False Dandelion {Agoseris glauca), Rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea), Heart-leaf Arnica {Arnica cordifolia), Rocky Mountain Helianthella {Helianthella uniflora ), Field Chickweed {Cerastium arvense), Silvery Lupine {Lupinus argenteus), Silky Lupine {L. sericeus), Fendler’s Meadow Rue {Thalictrum fendleri), and many others. Two penstemons in full bloom were Hot Rock Penstemon {Penstemon deustus ), found growing out of the cracks of the lava flow floor, and at the end of the trail the Dark Blue Penstemon {Penstemon cyaneus), which was blooming on the edge of a lava hillside. Here we also enjoyed a spectacular view of Lower Mesa Falls. After a short break with time to enjoy the views, almost everyone wanted to take the same forested trail back to the parking lot so they would not miss the afternoon trip to Sawtelle Peak with USFS botanist Rose Lehman. September 2009 5 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES * A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 3 1 (3) Idaho Botanical Foray 2009 by Elaine Walker On Thursday, July 9, a group of botanists and other volunteers met at the Wildhorse Campground in Custer County. The purpose was to camp, hike and gather some wildflowers along the way. The botanists in attendance were Dr. Jim Smith of BSU, Dr. Don Mansfield of College of Idaho, David Tank of U of I, Moscow, Dr. Barbara Ertter of UC Berkeley and Michael Mancuso. Several botanists from the Challis office of the BLM joined us on Friday and Saturday. There were also some botany students and even a few non-botanists in attendance. In all, eighteen individuals and one dog joined the fun. On Thursday evening, we went on an easy hike up Wildhorse Creek and saw a beaver and spectacular scenery. One morning, there was a deer in the campground and moose were seen in a couple of the plant collection areas. We even saw a cattle drive on our way to one collection area. And of course, the area was a great place for bird watching. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we split into groups with each group collecting in a different area. One group gathered plants around the waterfalls of Fall Creek, another group collected in Chilly Slough and one Foray participants smile at the fruits (& flowers) of their labor - a pile of full plant presses, brave group climbed part way up Mt. Borah to gather specimens. There were collections in many other areas as well. As a side note, the bitterroot were in full bloom at the time. The purpose of the foray was to catalog plants in an area that has not received a lot of botanical attention in the past. Around 400 numbered collections (generally triplicates of each plant species) were collected and pressed each afternoon. A tent was set up to house the pressing supplies and operation but most of the pressing was done al fresco at the picnic tables. The collected specimens are being kept at the Snake River Plain Herbarium at Boise State University. Each evening, Dr. Smith provided a warm campfire for the group. On Saturday evening we had a delicious and well-balanced pot-luck dinner. Several of the dishes were made from vegetables grown in the cooks’ own gardens. On Monday, we parted ways and went home with a better knowledge of the flora in areas we usually drive by without notice. This year, the Foray was hosted by BSU. Next year the foray will be hosted by the College of Idaho and will be held in the Yankee Fork area (near Stanley). September 2009 6 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 31 (3) INPS NEWS ANNUAL MEETING June 27, 2009 by Lois Rohay, INPS Secretary The Annual meeting was opened by President Janet Benoit at 6:30 p.m. Saturday June 27 on the lawn at Boys House, a historical building in Harriman State Park, near Island Park, Idaho. There were approximately 70 members present representing all chapters of INPS. The minutes of the Annual Meeting June 21, 2008 were read and accepted. The Treasurer’s Report was distributed. It listed a comparison of 2008 Income and Expenses as well as 2009 projected and 2008 actual figures. The figures were current through June 10, 2009 Income $ 6,048.69 Expenses $3,194.93 Net $ 2,853.76 INPS Assets: Key Bank of Idaho, 6/10/09 $9,981.27 Key Bank of Idaho 6 mo CD, 2/22/09 $2,901.50 Total $12,882.77 ERIG committee summary for 2009 ERIG money provided funding for three projects in 2009. Based on guidance from the INPS Board, the ERIG budget was limited to a total of $1000 for 2009, more than 50% less than any previous year. The ERIG committee opted to partially fund three projects instead of fully funding a single entity. Project: Native Plant Riparian Buffer Demonstration Site Recipient: Gail Bohn (a graduate student at the University of Idaho) Project Objective: To establish a native plant riparian buffer demonstration site on the Pend Oreille River at a public access area owned by the city of Dover, located in Bonner County, Idaho. This project will serve as an outreach and educational forum to enhance the appreciation, knowledge, and conservation of northern Idaho’s native plants. It will encourage the safeguarding of existing native vegetation, promote the use of native plants in home landscapes, and illustrate an action landowners can utilize to protect water quality. Funding: Amount requested = $1000; amount funded by ERIG = $400 Project: Restoration of 1/2 Acre of Palouse Prairie along the Latah Trail Recipient: John Crock Project Objective: To restore one-half acre of Palouse Prairie along the Latah Trail, east of Moscow, Idaho. This strip of land is a public right-of-way between State Highway 8 and the Latah Trail. Most Palouse Prairie remnants occur on private land with limited opportunity for visits by local area residents. The Latah Trail provides an excellent venue for a prairie restoration project in an area open to the public that will conserve biodiversity and provide educational opportunities about the Palouse Prairie. Funding: Amount requested = $1000; amount funded by ERIG = $400 Project: Exploring Potential Hybridization in a Rare Endemic Species of Indian Paintbrush ( Castilleja christii, Orobanchaeae) Using Molecular and Morphological Techniques Recipient: Danielle L. Clay (a graduate student at Boise State University) Project Objective: Castilleja christii (Christ’s Indian paintbrush) is known from only one population in the world, atop Mt. Harrison, in Cassia County, Idaho. Hybridization is suspected to be occurring with other Indian paintbrush species. This study is important to obtain information regarding this putative hybridization, and will benefit local Idaho botanical groups, and the greater scientific and management communities by determining the extent of hybridization and genetic swamping within the Christ’s Indian paintbrush population. Funding: Amount requested = $1000; amount funded by ERIG = $200 Calendar Committee continues with gathering photos, interviewing printers, checking costs. More pictures are needed and will be displayed on INPS website at the end of July and judging will follow. NEW BUSINESS The Annual INPS State Conference for 2010 will be at Heybum State Park (south end of lake) Coeur d’Alene , Idaho. The Loasa chapter will host the 2011 INPS State Meeting. September 2009 7 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 31 (3) Election of Officers 2009-2010 Wendy Velman, President Janet Bala, Vice-president Nancy Miller, Secretary Jody Hull, Treasurer Janet Benoit, Past President Open - Member at Large Dylan Levy-Boyd, Editor SAGE NOTES No additional no min ees from the floor. Motion for nominees as officers for INPS, 2009-2010 were made, seconded and adopted. There being no further business, the 2009 INPS State Conference was adjourned at about 8:00 p.m. President Velman presented Thank You cards and gifts to Janet Benoit, President and Lois Rohay, Secretary. CHAPTER NEWS Calypso Chapter PREVIOUS EVENTS Tubbs Hill, Approximately 25 people met at the 1 1th Street parking lot of Tubbs Hill in April. There were a number of newcomers. Several members of Wildlife Research Education Nexus (WREN) came, four members of Kinnikinnick Chapter and a member from the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS). The cold spring this year had made the native plants the latest blooming that Calypso Chapter had seen for a good many years. The predominant plant in bloom was the glacier lily ( Erythronium grandiflorum). A number of spring beauty ( Claytonia lanceolata ), and several yellow bells ( Fritillaria pudica ) were seen. After the walk the Calypso, Kinn ikinnick and WNPS members went to lunch together. All in all, it was a very enjoyable walk and day. Liberty Lake, As part of Native Plant Appreciation Week, Calypso Chapter had a plant walk in a nature area of Liberty Lake. This area was once a farm, but has been donated as a conservation area with a number of hiking trails and some delightful natural features. The most outstanding memory of that day is the number of purple or round leafed trillium (Trillium petiolatum ) that members saw. Creek on June 14, 2009. This is an area the chapter has visited a number of times. Each time there are different or new plants that we find to add to our plant list. The outstanding plant of this hike is the phantom orchid (Cephalanthera austiniae (A. Gray) A. Heller or Eburophyton austiniae). The chapter originally found this plant in 2003 and has been monitoring it since then. On this particular hike four specimens were found. Mt. Spokane State Park, Calypso Chapter partnered with the Spokane chapter of WNPS for a hike on Mt. Spokane on June 12, 2009. Members car-pooled for the journey to the top of the mountain. We visited a rock building that was built as an observation center in the 1930’ s then went to look-out deck that gave views of the local lakes. We then hiked a trail to a cabin that is now used as a center for snowmobiles in the winter. A number of plants were added to the plant list. Kinnikinnick Chapter Meetings are at the Community Hall (Log Building), First Avenue - across from County Courthouse, Sandpoint at 9:45 AM. UPCOMING EVENTS September 26, 2009 - September's program will be a presentation by Kathy Hutton, Manager of Plants of the Wild in Tekoa, Washington, entitled ‘Native Plants in your Landscape’. Kathy will give us information on how various native plants behave in the landscape and share techniques that Plants of the Wild uses to propagate their nursery stock. October 24, 2009 - October’s program will be a look at David Thompson’s trek into the Northwest looking for the headwaters to the Columbia River and for fur trading opportunities in our area. Mark Weadick of Coeur d’Alene will be portraying David Thompson in the first person, at the age of 71, looking back some 29 years as he brought the fur trade over the Rocky Mountains into the Columbia River drainage. He will speak to his relations with the Native Peoples and to the flora and fauna of this area. Loasa Chapter All INPS members and the public are welcome to attend Loasa’ s events. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month in room 258 of the Taylor Marie Creek, Calypso Chapter hiked a trail at Marie September 2009 8 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 31 (3) Building at CSI. If interested or for further details, contact Kelvin Jones at (208) 886-7051. Pahove Chapter PREVIOUS EVENTS INPS Annual Meeting: All of the Pahove Chapter members who attended the meeting in Island Park would like to give a special thanks to the Sah-Wah- Be Chapter for organizing this wonderful and interesting event. The field trips were as diverse as the Island Park area is! Nice job Sah-Wah-Be! Idaho Green Expo: July 18 th and 19 th : Our chapter manned a booth to spread the word about INPS to some “green-minded” folks and hopefully, recruit some more members. UPCOMING EVENTS Annual Presentation Series: Beginning with our season kick-off pizza party on September 17 th (details TBA), the Pahove Chapter hosts monthly presentations from September through April on the 3 rd Thursdays at the MK Nature Center Auditorium (with few exceptions), 601 South Walnut in Boise. We will be sending postcards to members announcing the upcoming line-up of presentations that will begin in October. For more information please visit the website, http://www.idahonativeplants.org/ or contact Susan Ziebarth susan.ziebarth @ idf g.idaho. gov . Sah-Wah-Be Chapter From May through September our chapter hosts at least one Monday evening field trip and one Saturday/weekend field trip a month for our members and the general public. PROGRAM SCHEDULE All meetings are held at 7:00 PM in the classroom of the Idaho Museum of Natural History, ISU, unless otherwise specified. Public invited. For more information, call 208-233-0714. PREVIOUS EVENTS Sah-Wah-Be has had a very busy May, June, and July schedule. We send over 100 e-mail notices out about each upcoming event, usually with a write-up about the previous trip or a current photo of a native plant. Also, once a month a postal letter outlining the September 2009 trip schedule is sent to the 25 or so people who do not have e-mail. In addition we submit a short notice to the local newspapers’ calendar of events with the date, location, and a few details of each native plant walk. This advertising often brings two or three new people interested in learning more about native plants. Averaging about 15 people on our walks, we have had upwards of 40 on some trips. In May, we had a large attendance on the trips led by Karl Holte to University Pond south of McCammon, and City of the Rocks south of Burley. Fields of iris and baby owls were highlights at City of the Rocks. In June we made our annual visit to Hurricane Hill, the home of Linda and Wendell Johnson. High on a hill, it has an abundance of sagebrush steppe plants, including penstemon, arrowleaf balsamroot, mule’s ears, Indian paintbrush, foothills arnica, rose, ballhead waterleaf, prairie star, currants, serviceberry, snowberry, chokecherry, big sage, silver sage, gray rabbitbrush, white evening primrose, and more. On Scout Mountain, 15 miles south of Pocatello, were more high elevation plants, meadow rue, and most of the sagebrush steppe plants we had seen earlier at Hurricane Hill. Our extended trip for the year was the State Annual Meeting our chapter hosted in Island Park, June 26- 28. About 25 members from Sah-Wah-Be and 55 members from across the state camped at Buffalo Campground. A new appreciation of plants, birds, and people gave us no time to rest. The Thursday to Monday morning stay helped us enjoy Harriman State Park, Mesa Falls, Henry’s Lake, Sawtelle Peak, and Yellowstone National Park. In July we visited areas within 15 miles of Pocatello. On July 1 1, we went to the South Fork of Mink Creek. On July 20, we walked under the trees along Inman Creek to see over 100 different mountain native plants. On July 25, we went to an elevation of over 6,000 ft east of Pocatello to be able to see western larkspur, coneflower, thimbleberry, burdock, and many other native plants on Jill Smith’s property. Family vacations and other events took the place of some tentatively scheduled field trips in August, but we did get back to Justice Park on Scout Mountain to see the plants in fruit that we saw blooming in June, plus late summer flowers and wet meadow 9 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 31 (3) favorites. UPCOMING EVENTS September 14, 2009 - Members’ home native plant gardens in Pocatello. September 12 or 19, 2009 - depending on seasonal changes: Fall Colors and end-of- season chili feed at Goodenough Campground near McCammon. October 5, 2009 - Beginning of fall/winter classroom meetings, topic to be determined. October 31, 2009 - Halloween potluck at Holtes’ home with costumes on a botanical theme? White Pine Chapter Please see White Pine chapter website at www.whitepineinps.org for current schedule of events. PREVIOUS EVENTS Many participants experienced a wonderful and informative field trip to the Salmon River Canyon with geologist Dr. Bill Rember and botanist Pam Brunsfeld on Saturday, April 25. We visited Tolo Lake just outside Grangeville, where many fossil mammoth and bison bones have been found, followed by a survey of a field of botanical beauty just beyond the lake. We visited the magical limestone caves along the Salmon River, which most participants were able to experience, despite the steep and tactical climb and the abundant poison oak. There were many spring flowers in bloom to admire and enjoy. We benefited also from the knowledge of Mike Hays of the Nez Perce National Forest. Our next stop was at the time zone bridge, which is a location to find Penstemon tryphyllus (although it was not in bloom for our visit) and soapstone rock. On our return, we stopped along the highway to visit a site where Mirabilis macfarlaneii can be found, but sadly none were showing yet. We then took the hair- pinned old road from White Bird town to the summit in order to search for and collect plant fossils. Finally, the hardiest among us braved 50 mile per hr. winds and subzero temperatures to view the lava tubes near the top of White Bird hill. On June 6 we were fortunate to once again have Pam Brunsfeld of the UI Stillinger Herbarium as our leader for a glorious day of botanizing along the Selway and Lochsa Rivers in the Nez Perce National Forest. This region is noted for the presence of many coastal disjunct species, such as Cornus nuttallii, (Pacific dogwood), Acer glabrum (Rocky Mountain maple), Cardamine constancei (Constance’s bittercress), Cephalanthera austiniae (ghost orchid), and Lonicera ciliosa (honeysuckle). Theories of how this coastal disjunct ecosystem arose include interglacial migration and uplifting of the northern Rockies. It should also be noted that a new species of Lomatium was found a few years ago in this area by Steve Brunsfeld, botanist and former professor of Forest Resources at the University of Idaho, and is to be named L. brunsfeldianum in his honor. White Pine members enjoyed a field trip on June 20 th to the Mary McCroskey State Park, about 30 miles north of Moscow. We first identified trees, shrubs and forbs in the forested sections, with giant hemlocks being the tree of note. There was quite a variety of forbs blooming in addition to a number of invasive plants to identify. We were especially surprised at the number of seed pods of Fritillaria meleagris (checkered lily) which we found in several areas of the park, as well as the many colors of Penstemon attenuatus (purple, blue, pink, white) and the many shades of blue and purple of the native delphinium. We paused for a picnic at the park shelter area and then proceeded to the drier, western portion of the park along Skyline Drive, where we enjoyed seeing many blooming plants, especially the white version of the gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata ) and the little sunflowers ( Helianthella uniflora ). A species list is posted on our website www.whitepineinps.org and will be updated with plants identified on this trip. Calochortus macrocarpus var. maculosus 10 September 2009 Fall 2009 ❖ SAGE NOTES ❖ A Publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 31 (3) On Saturday, July 25 White Pine members met Janice Hill and others at Chief Looking Glass Park in Asotin. Janice and others associated with Smoothing Iron Ridge research and prior collection efforts discussed the species we would hope to see and the current research being carried out on the Ridge. This area is Canyon Grasslands dominated by Pacific Northwest bunchgrasses (Pseudoroe gneria spicata and Festuca Idahoensis ). The major bloom period is in June and early July, however we were hoping to see mid-summer blooming endemics including Silene Spaldingii, Calochortus macrocarpus var. maculosus, among others. We were met up on the Ridge by Taryn, a student who is monitoring Silene as part of the research project being conducted by Dr. Linda Hardesty’s group from WSU. The Silene spaldingii were blooming and not difficult to find amidst the grass once shown what to look for. We saw some Calochortus (most had round holes possibly cut by leaf-cutter bees) but clearly the season was coming to a close. The Grasslands will definitely be a good site to visit earlier in the summer in the future as we saw many spent flowers of Fritillarias, Geums, Heucheras, Hieraciums, Besseyas, and Penstemons. A few owl clover ( Orthocarpus sp.), Clarkia pulchella and Erigeron corymbosus Nutt, were still in bloom. We were fortunate to see a rare Ribes cereum var colubrinum which is an endemic and on the State endangered list. From the gulch we drove to Smoothing Iron ridge top for lunch and to check for more flowers. As this was a more open environment there were different species, however the Calachortus was also blooming in this site as was the Grindelia squarrosa. It would have been a spectacular view earlier of the white mules’ ears. We ate lunch at the canyon edge and enjoyed the view of the canyon below. We were fortunate that a few clouds were overhead to keep the temperature cooler than the 99 degrees that we returned to in Lewiston. UPCOMING EVENTS September 26, 2009 - White Pine Chapter annual potluck at Heyburn State Park, Plummer, ID (approximately 1 hour north of Moscow). Please see the chapter website for directions to the Chatcolet picnic shelter in the park. Meet at 1 1 AM at the Moscow Rosauer’s store for carpooling, or meet at Chatcolet at noon. Bring a dish to share, beverage, and tableware. After the potluck and a brief chapter meeting and elections for officials for the upcoming year, there will be opportunities to hike, botanize, and bike (along the Trail of the Coeur d’ Alenes). Note: this is the site of the INPS 2010 annual meeting next June. Wood River Chapter Future Activities TBD: Contact chapter president Carol Blackburn for updates. Conservation Seeding & Restoration, Inc. 506 Center St. West Kimberly, ID 83341 (877) 423-4835 www.csr-inc.com Your landscape doesn't have to look like everyone else's or cost you hours each week to maintain. With expertise from Conservation Seeding & Restoration, Inc., you can achieve individuality while saving water and expanding our beautiful high desert environment with a native landscape. CSR, Inc. can assist you with: Do you want to: Native landscape, irrigation. Si hardscape design and installation Water saving native landscape methods Native trees, shrubs, grasses, & flowers Custom seed collection & propagation Planning & development Biological studies & monitoring Stewardship & weed management And more! Call us to find out current pricing, plant availability, and further information! ( 208 ) 423-4835 September 2009 11 1 Idaho k Native ; Plant .Society Idaho Native Plant Society P.O.Box 9451 Boise, ID 83707 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Boise, ID Permit No. 679 Sage Notes is published four times a year in February, May, September, and December by the Idaho Native Plant Society, incorporated since 1977, under the laws of the State of Idaho. Editor, Dylan Levy-Boyd. Newsletter ads: personal ads $2; commercial ads $5 for 1/8 page, $8 for 1/4 page, $15 for 1/2 page, and $25 for full page. Ads should be sent with payment. Submissions: members and others are invited to submit material for publication. Articles in any form, even hand-written, are welcome, as is art work. Please provide a phone number in case there are questions. Material will not be returned. Send submissions directly to the editor, Dylan Levy- Boyd, 506 Center St. West, Kimberly, ID 83341, or . Submission deadlines are January 8, April 1, August 1, and November 1. Officers: President, Wendy Velman; Vice President, Janet Bala; Secretary, Nancy Miller; Treasurer, Jody Hull. Calypso Chapter, P.O. Box 331, Careywood, ID 83809. President, Bob Lee; Vice President, Roland Craft; Secretary, Gloria Wurm; Treasurer, Janet Benoit; Newsletter, Phil Hruskocy. Kinnikinnick Chapter, 206 N. 4 th Ave., PMB 162, Sandpoint, ID 83864. President, Carol Jenkins; Vice President, Jim Stem; Secretary, Konrad Dahlstrom; Treasurer, Ken Haag; Conservation, Carol Jenkins; Programs, Don Childress; Newsletter, Adrienne Lilly; Lield Trips, Molly O’ Reilly; Education, Nancy Lontaine. Loasa Chapter, 340 E 520 N, Shoshone, ID 83352. President, Kelvin Jones; Vice President, LaMar Orton; Secretary, Lois Rohay; Treasurer, Steve Paulsen. Pahove Chapter, PO Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707. President, Susan Ziebarth; Vice President, Karen Colson; Secretary, Karie Pappani; Treasurer, Jody Hull; Conservation, Chris Colson; Member-at-large, Cyndi Coulter, Ann DeBolt. Sah-Wah-Be Chapter, 146 South 17 th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83201. President, Linda Johnson; Vice Presidents, Penny Lazio and Pauline Havens; Secretary, Shirley Rodgers; Treasurer, Catalina Steckbauer; News, Linda Johnson and Ardys Holte; Members-at-Large, Mel Nicholls, Karl Holte, Dick Anderson; Past-President, Barbara Nicholls. White Pine Chapter, PO Box 8481, Moscow, ID 83843. President, Janet Campbell & Nancy Miller; Vice President, David Pierce; Secretary, OPEN; Treasurer, Nancy Sprague; Conservation, Juanita Lichthardt. Wood River Chapter, PO Box 3093, Hailey, ID 83333. President, Carol Blackburn; Vice President, VACANT; Secretary, VACANT; Treasurer, VACANT. The Idaho Native Plant Society (INPS) is dedicated to promoting interest in native plants and plant communities and to collecting and sharing information on all phases of the botany of native plants in Idaho, including educating the public to the values of the native flora and its habitats. In keeping with our mission, it is the intent of the INPS to educate its membership and the public about current conservation issues that affect Idaho’s native flora and habitats. Membership is open to anyone interested in our native flora. Send dues to Jody Hull, INPS Treasurer, Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707. Website address: IdahoNativePlants.org. Category 2009 Annual Du Patron $100 Sustaining $35 Individual $17 Household * $22 Student $10 Senior Citizen $10 Name Address City/State Zip Telephone E-mail Chapter affiliation? (check one) Calypso (Coeur d’Alene; please include $6 newsletter dues) Kinnikinnick (Sandpoint; please include $10 for Kinnikinnick Journal) Pahove (Boise) Sah-Wah-Be (SE Idaho) White Pine (Moscow) Loasa (Twin Tails) Wood River (Ketchum-Sun Valley) None. Those who do not live near a chapter are encouraged to join. We can put you in touch with other members in your area, and can coordinate with you on any state level activities you may wish to be involved in. * Household memberships are allocated two votes