NOVEMBER 2015 Pipevine Newsletter of the Mount Lassen Chapter CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY MOUNT TAMALPAIS A Scenic and Scientific Treasure L ocated only a few miles north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Tamalpais, elevation 2,571 feet, rises majestically as a grand view visible throughout most of the San Francisco Bay area. Mount Ta- malpais is captivating, with sweeping hillsides cloaked with chaparral-covered ridges, grasslands and oak-woodlands. Deep canyons are filled with solemn redwood groves. Scat- tered pockets of the mountain’s higher elevations contain- ing deeper soils support stands of Douglas firs. More than 750 plant species have been identified upon the mountain’s slopes. The majority of the mountain is in protected public lands, in- cluding: Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which in turn adjoins the Point Reyes National Seashore, as well as several open space preserves. This provides nearly 40 miles of continuous, publicly-accessible open space. More than 50 miles of hiking trails are within the State Park, and connect to a larger, 200 mile long trail system. Since the 1880s Mount Tamalpais and its surrounding area has been treasured for outdoor recreation and as a focus for scientific learning. General Meeting NOVEMBER 4, 2015 Wednesday 7:30 pm Butte County Library, Chico Presented by GERRY INGCO Field Trip Co-chair for Mount Lassen Chapter My career in forestry began at age 16, during the WWII years. I worked two summers on the La Porte District of the Plumas National Forest. I served three years as a State Park Ranger at Tamalpais State Park, with temporary assign- ments also to Big Basin, Mount Diablo, Samuel P. Taylor, and Shell Beach State Parks. I majored in forestry and civil engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and was a California Registered Professional Forester. I served 27 years with the US Forest Service, on the Sequoia, Cleveland, and Plumas National Forests. My management positions included: Resources, Timber, Range, and Fire. I retained a fire command rating throughout my career. As a Region 5 Certified Silviculturist, I was the Regional Forester’s representative in silvicul- ture. I was assigned to locate, inventory and evaluate National Forest and privately owned giant sequoia land that was to be exchanged for land of equal value on National Forest land. In year 2000 the project resulted in the dedica- tion of the 328,000-acre Giant Sequoia National Monument. I retired from public service ini 982. My For- est and Park careers were interrupted twice to serve as a marine in two separate conflicts. 2016 NOMINEES FOR MLC BOARD Field Trips WES DEMPSEY and GERRY INGCO, Co-chairs DEER CREEK TRAIL LASSEN NATIONAL FOREST November 7 Saturday Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot (Hwys 32/99) in time to leave by 8:30 am. Wear sturdy shoes, bring lunch, water, insect/sun protection, and money for ride sharing. We’ll drive east on Hwy 32 about 38 miles to the trail- head at Deer Creek Bridge. Start at 3200 ft elev, this is a shaded gradual 1.5 mile hike downstream. We’ll lunch by a waterfall and fish ladder. See Fall colors of big leaf maple, dogwood, spice bush, Sierra mint and California fuchsia. Call for alternate meeting place. Leaders: 530- 893-5123 or 530-342 2293 OLD USDA PLANT INTRO ARBORETUM MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, CHICO November 15 Sunday Meet at the gate of Mendocino National Forest Genetics Resource Center on Cramer Lane in Chico at 1 0 am. From the Skyway take Dominic Dr south to Morrow Lane and continue on to gate on left. The station was established in 1904 as a center to test trees and plants from around the world for use in agriculture, industry, and medicine. We’ll see pistachio, kiwi, tung-oil, shantung and campotheca (cancer cure) trees that originated those industries. Level nature trails are paved and trees are identified. Ends at noon. Leaders: 530-893-5123 and 530-342-2293. TEN-MILE HOUSE TRAIL UPPER BIDWELL PARK, CHICO December 6 Sunday Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot (Hwys 32/99) in time to leave by 8:30 am. Wear sturdy shoes, bring lunch, wa- ter, insect protection, money for ride sharing. We’ll drive east 9 miles on Hwy 32 to the green gate, park on the left side (north). We’ll hike down an historic wagon road, pass buckeyes, black oaks, and lunch at old homestead site near a large spring, surrounded by old fig and per- simmon trees. Be prepared to climb 800 ft back up. Call for alternate meeting place. Leaders: 530-893-5123, 530-342-2293. bySUELLEN ROWLISON Nominating Committee Chair T hank you to the following who said YES to being nominated for the Mount Lassen Chapter Board of Directors. However, there is still one opening for a Member- at-Large which is a good place to get acquainted with the inter workings of your Board. We meet monthly on the third Wednesday, 7 pm at members’ homes, usually preceded with a tour of their garden - a fun perk. Meanwhile, there are committees which need help and even a chairperson. So, please volunteer. You may contact a current officer or chair, or the Nominating Committee - Suellen Rowlison, Woody Elliott, Paul Moore. President WOODY ELLIOTT Vice President JIM BISHOP Treasurer NANCY PRAIZLER Secretary JIM DEMPSEY Members-at-Large MERYL BOND LETHA ALBRIGHT JOHN WHITTLESEY CINDY WEINER Elections will be held December 2, 2015, 7:30 pm at the regular MLC General Meeting. Other nominations may be made from the floor on Nov 7 or on Dec 2. PLEASE, BE THERE TO VOTE IN YOUR NEW 2016 OFFICERS. 2 . The Pipevine November 2015 Executive Board Meeting November 18 - 7 pm JANNA LATHROP’S President’s Message by CAT IE BISHOP, President W e go to the house of a friend. We have gathered in the evening, but often there is still some daylight. We sometimes wander around the yard looking at the garden. After moving indoors, we get a plate of snacks and a drink, greet one and all, and settle in comfort- able chairs and couches. After small talk settles down, we get down to the reason we are here, a CNPS Board Meeting. Yes, it is just that pleasant and casual, and in a couple of hours, we are headed home. The Board is the leadership of the Chapter. It decides the direction the Chapter should go, what events or workshops we should plan or join in on, how to tackle local conservation issues, and how our money should be spent. The Board is also the contact point between our local members and the statewide organization in terms of na- tive plant advocacy. All Chapter Boards are asked to give input on important policies. So you can see there are a lot of issues that need thoughtful discussion, and wise decisions. It is election time for the Chapter Board. We need people to step up and take some vacant positions, officers and committee chairs. Some of you may think going to a Board meeting is boring, or that your commitment to the Board would take too much of your time. I hope your realize by now that it is pleasant and rewarding. We meet monthly, except for June, July, or December, and the time commitment is a couple of hours each time. Sometimes we dis- agree, but in the end, we come together to do what is best for the cause. It is a great bunch of dedicated people who have become friends. We have managed to get some current Board members to agree to take new positions. However any of them would be happy to have a new person fill that Board position. And there are several important committee chair positions open also. So don’t feel like it would be a waste of time to throw your hat in the ring right now. So if you ever thought you might be interested in doing just a little bit more for this organization that you clearly care about, now is the time to say so. Legislative Notes by DAVID ANDERSON GOOD SCORECARD D uring the 2015 session of the California Legislature CNPS reviewed and monitored many bills affecting the environment. It opposed 6 bills and supported 8 bills and 1 Assembly/Senate Joint Resolution. No bills opposed by CNPS were passed. AB 327 was passed and approved by Governor Brown during the regular session of the Legislature. It extended until Janu- ary 1 , 2024 the exemption of work performed by a volunteer, a volunteer coordinator, a member of the California Conserva- tion Corps or a community CCC from the requirement of pay not less than the general (i.e., union) prevailing rate. AJR 4 is the resolution urging President Obama to desig- nate the Lake Berryessa Snow Mountain Area as a national monument. Three of the bills supported by CNPS were passed by the September 11 deadline and as of this writing (Oct 4) are awaiting approval or veto by the Governor’s October 11 deadline. AB 559 authorizes the Department of Fish & Wildlife to take feasible actions to conserve Monarch butterflies and the unique habitats they depend upon for successful migration. AB 606 would require state agencies to employ measures to reduce water consumption and increase water efficiencies when building upon, purchasing or replacing landscaping on state owned property. State property leased for agricultural purposes would be exempt. SB 350 would require that the amount of electricity generated and sold to retail customers from renewable energy sources be increased to 50% per year by December 31 , 2030. Further analysis of the bills the Governor approves will follow. There are so many threats to our native plants today with the drought, climate change, development, and population growth. It would be a shame if we lost any more of our na- tive plants and habitats. But without everyone who cares going that extra distance by helping work on important is- sues of education, conservation, and horticulture, those lovely places we treasure won’t be there for future genera- tions. The Pipevine November 2015 3. PLEASE JOIN US VISIT OUR BOOTH MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER at the HARVEST FESTIVAL FARM CITY CELEBRATION November 7, 2015 10-2 Bidwell Mansion Historic State Park FREE FAMILY EVENT with arts & crafts, animal displays antique farm equipment, food booths and much more. NEW PLANT LABELS at NATURE CENTER GARDEN by ANN ELLIOTT, CCNC Gardens Chair H ave you visited the native plant garden at the Chico Creek Nature Center (CCNC) recently? Claire Meehan installed new plant labels for most plants, vastly improving the experience for garden visitors. The garden is an important tool for CCNC staff and oth- ers in teaching local natural history. An update of the self-guided nature trail brochure will follow the new plant labels. THANK YOU CLAIRE!!. She has decided to devote more time to her studies, so I have taken over as coordinator of the garden for Mount. Lassen Chapter, whose members have maintained the garden since it was first planted in the 1980’s. Garden projects which chapter members can join include: regular weeding; seasonal or occasional pruning, shaping, and controlling native plants; smoothing the paths this winter. Dates scheduled for November are Thurs. 11/5 and Friday 11/20 from 8 to 10 am. The hope is to have two regular days a month to keep things ship shape and a garden we can be proud of. HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE GARDEN! 4. The Pipevine November 2015 WATER-WISE and HABITAT-FRIENDLY GARDEN TOUR IN CHICO by ANN ELLIOTT A bout 200 gardeners and landscapers took the opportunity to visit several home and public gardens during this free garden tour on September 27. The private gar- dens are all part of Altacal Audubon Society’s Neighborhood Habitat Certification Program. Each garden has a different flavor and uses a variety of techniques for conserving water and creating wildlife-friendly habitat. Native plants are a foundation aiding both those goals. Cooperating non-profits made the event a success. Melinda Teves of the Neighborhood Habitat Certification Program recruited the garden owners. Butte Environmental Council handled the online registration and much of the publicity. Mount Lassen Chapter volunteers did much of the legwork and co-hosted gardens. In addition, Cindy Weiner, UC Master Gardener and native plant enthusiast, and webmaster Woody Elliott gathered many online resources for native plant gardening. Find them on the Horticulture tab of the website - mountlassen.cnps.org. Tours like this give northstate citizens ideas for and visual examples of alternatives to tradi- tional lawn-dominated landscapes. This fall tour was timed to inspire people for fall planting. We hope to offer another tour in spring to highlight native plants in bloom. A modest charge for that tour will fund development, printing, and dissemination of tips and resources for native plant gardening. Please contact a Chapter Executive Board member to of- fer your garden or to help coordinate the spring tour. Gardens in a wider variety of locations would add value to visitors. The Pipevine November 2015 5. These businesses support the goals of the CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY MEMBERS GET 10% DISCOUNT BOOK SALE ... FOR YOU! by JOHN MEEHAN, Sales Co-chair T here is nothing like a book for enjoyment and information ... despite all the electronic stuff in the world. Never need batteries, wifis, cell connections, clouds, or data plans. Completely recyclable. Think of the fun of reading a fine book these coming winter days or nights. Don’t miss this great chance to get a book, maybe for a gift, and to help our chapter. Over the last several years there has been a steady decline in the number of books that we have sold at monthly sales events. In some cases we have had no sales. This reflects the trend for all retailers. More information is available today on the Web, and for most books, the prices are cheaper when purchased from internet vendors. We have decided to stop selling most books at meetings. We would like to reduce our existing inventory and we will be selling these new books at drastically reduced prices which will be just a few dollars above the wholesale price. Please come to the November and December General Meetings and get some great bargains at our going out-of-the-book-business sale ... be part of this passing of an era. AMAZON DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN HELP CNPS while shopping at Amazon? The online retailer has a new program which donates to selected charities through AmazonSmile, but you must begin your shopping excursion at http://smile.amazon.com. On the first visit you’ll be asked to sign into your existing account and to select a charitable organization to support. Select CNPS and then shop as usual. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Eligible products are marked “eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. This is an easy way to support a cause we all care about. j0 FLORAL NATIVE NURSERY 251 1 Floral Avenue Chico, California 95973-251 1 Telephone/Fax: (530) 892-251 ! E-matl: CtwntivLHfishocking.com .AJ j\j ttWA^ Perennials, Herbs Mill Ivc Tree- sntf Shnibs ■Nancy Schieiger Certified ramuculture Designer By appointment i]avivos^iog^nuTScr>!J3 ; gmsLl.rpiTi 'tn i * tj-Ti T lSTi Cunt nings Lotto l>urfffiffl 1 CA9j93S V twit vesp ri nurs cn ■. co m UTTL5 KED HEN NtDSSRY SWri rig Children and Adults with DmMUtie $ Cum « of fit h & Wj II Stmet ■ C hico ■ m -EH DC Unique Perennials, Annuals, Garden Art & Ate! LittleRedHeo.org ^.magnolia >^GIFT & GARDEN discount applies only to plants 1 367 Etui Ave, Chico | 530.894.5410 | www.MagnoliaGardening.cotn 6 . The Pipevine November 2015 Officers & Chairs FRIENDS of the HERBARIUM November 13, 2015 FALL PHOTO CONTEST & ANNUAL MEETING of the Friends of the Chico State Herbarium There will be food, photos and people to visit with at the Reception in 129 Holt at 3pm. The Chico State Friends of the Herbarium 5th Annual Fall Photo contest will be on display. Then our Special Guest Speaker will be DR. SHANNON DATWYLER from CSU, Sacramento on “Untangling the web of polyploidy in Penstemon” in 170 Holt. Shannon was on the American Penstemon Society field trips this past summer in Northern California. And finally, the Chico State Friends of the Herbarium Annual Meeting will follow at 5pm in 129 Holt. Please come and enjoy the afternoon with us! For more information visit the Friends of the Herbarium: http://www.csuchico.edU/biol//Herb/Friends.html MEMBERSHIP MLC If you have changed your . . . address, phone number or e-mail or leave temporarily please notify Mount Lassen Chapter CNPS Membership Chair, KarroLynn Yells at 530 534-3551 or karrolynny@att.net This will help eliminate returned Pipevines from the Post Office. Thank You, KarroLynn Keep up with MLC Activities on our website and Facebook California Native Plant Society, Mount Lassen Chapter and LIKE US facebook. mountlassen.cnps.org ELECTED OFFICERS (530) President CAT IE BISHOP cjbishop1991@sbcglobal.net Past President SUELLEN ROWLISON 897-0226 suellen@garlic.com Vice-President JANNALATHROP 228 0010 jlathrop4mlc@comcast.net Secretary ANN ELLIOTT 521-4402 secretary@mountlassen.cnps.org Treasurer JOHN MEEHAN 894-5339 johnmeehan64@gmail.com Members-at-Large NANCY PRAIZLER 899-1333 praizlermom@gmail.com PAUL MOORE 343-4287 pmoore@csuchico.edu KARROLYNN YELLS 534-3551 KarroLynnY@att.net RON COLEY 533-1238 rcoley64@comcast.net CHAIRS Conservation / Web Administrator WOODY ELLIOTT 588-2555 woodyelliott@gmail.com Education OPEN Invasive Plants OPEN Field Trips WES DEMPSEY 342-2293 Co-chairs wdempsey@csuchico.edu GERRY INGCO 893-5123 genaroingco@aol.com Membership / Hospitality KARROLYNN YELLS 534-3551 karrolynny@att.net Horticulture OPEN Newsletter Editor DENISE DEVINE 345-8444 dsrdevine@hotmail.com Mailing MARJORIE MCNAIRN 343-2397 mlmcnairn@aol.com Programs JIM BISHOP Co-chairs cj bishop 1 991 @sbcg lobal.net WOODY ELLIOTT 588-2555 woodyelliott@gmail.com Rare Plants OPEN Publicity CINDY WEINER 342-7645 wildflowermaven@comcast.net Sales JOHN MEEHAN 894-5339 Co-chairs johnmeehan64@gmail.com ELLEN COPELAND copelande12@yahoo.com Vol. Recognition / Chapter Council Delegate CAT IE BISHOP cjbishop1991@sbcglobal.net Events JANNALATHROP 228 0010 jlathrop4mlc@comcast.net Yahi Trail STEPHEN OVERLOCK 892-0635 stephenoverlock@sbcglobal.net CCNC Gardens ANN ELLIOTT 521-4402 secretary@mountlassen.cnps.org The Pipevine November 2015 7. MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY P O. BOX 3212 CHICO, CA 95927-3212 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Chico, CA Permit No. 553 Time Value NOVEMBER 2015 issue Pipevine Phyllis would say Join Today ! MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY I wish to affiliate with the Mount Lassen Chapter new renew Name Address City State Zip Phone Email Send Membership Application to: CNPS 2707 K STREET, SUITE 1 SACRAMENTO, CA 95816-5113 mountlassen.cnps.org Student / Limited Income $25 Individual $45 Family / Library $75 Plant Lover $100 Patron $300 Benefactor $600 Calendar October 21 - Executive Board Meeting 24 - Forest Lake Lassen VNP November 4 - General Meeting CHICO 5 - CCNC Garden Workday 7 - Harvest Festival PLANT SALE 7 - Deer Creek Trail Hike 15 - Old Plant Station Walk 18 - Executive Board Meeting 20 - CCNC Garden Workday December 2 - General Meeting ELECTION NO Ex Board Meeting