General Meeting NOVEMBER 5, 2014 Wednesday 7:30 pm Butte County Library CONIFEROUS RICHES of Northern California NOVEMBER 2014 P . The . ipevme Newsletter of the Mount Lassen Chapter CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Presented by DYLAN BURGE, Ph.D. Assistant Curator of Botany, California Academy of Sciences G rowing up in Butte Creek Canyon, I was constantly exposed to the incredible diversity of plant life in the Sierra Nevada foothills. No wonder I ended up as a professional botanist at the California Academy of Sciences! At the Academy, I use powerful scientific tools to unravel the secrets of California’s natural plant diversity, and to help non- scientists understand how this type of science is done - a task that I love and one very compatible with the goals of the the California Native Plant Society. One part of my research deals with conifer diversity, and figuring out how climate and soil interact to influ- ence where and when we find certain species of plants. Using animations, plant habitat photos, and other media, I will discuss the remarkable diversity of conifers found in northern California, and review the best scientific information available on why they are found here, including the dramatic geological history of northern California, and subtle ecological patterns only recently discovered. I’ll briefly talk about how expanded botanical documentation, by scientists and non-scientists, is desperately needed if we are going to learn more about why plants occur where they do, and how we can use this informa- tion to protect them. This will include a “how to” session using several of the online botanical documentation tools that are currently available, for example iNaturalist. Dylan Burge is the John Thomas Howell Curato- rial Chair of Western North American Botany at the Cal Academy. His research focuses on pat- terns of plant diversity in Western North America, especially the intimate ecological and evolution- ary relationship between plants and soils. Dylan’s favorite plants to study are the jewel flowers (Streptanthus) and California lilacs (Ceanothus). Other plant groups that he studies include grapes (Vitis) and manzanitas (Arctostaphylos). W e will be electing MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER 2015 EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS at this General Meeting. See page 3. for the nominations ... and COME AND VOTE! DRAKESBAD TO DEVILS KITCHEN LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK November 1 Saturday Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot (Hwys 32/99) in time to leave at 8:30 am. Bring a light jacket, lunch, water, insect/sun protection, money for ride sharing and Park Pass. Call leader for an alternate meeting place. We drive east on Hwy 32 about 66 miles to Chester in Plu- mas County, then about 1 6 miles to the trailhead near the Drakesbad Resort in Lassen Volcanic National Park. At ele 5640 ft, the 4.2 mile roundtrip by trail to Devil’s Kitch- en begins at the Warner Valley Campground. The level of difficulty is moderate with 400 ft gain, wandering through meadows along Hot Spring Creek and under giant old growth conifers. Devils Kitchen features belching fum- eroles, mud pots, and steam vents amid rock outcrops in a dazzling array of fiery colors. Leaders: Gerry Ingco, 530-893-5123, Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293 OLD USDA PLANT INTRODUCTION STATION ARBORETUM November 16 Sunday Meet a the gate of the Mendocino Nat Forest Genetics Resource Center on Cramer Lane at 10 am (from the Skyway Take Dominic south to Morrow Lane, turn left on Morrow to Cramer, follow signs to gate). The station was established in 1904 as a research center to test plants from around the world for their use in agriculture, indus- try, and medicine. We will see some of the original pis- tachio, kiwi, tung oil, Shantung maple and Camptothe- ca (pancreatic cancer cure) trees that originated those industries. The easy nature trail is paved and the trees identified. Leaders: Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123 and Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293 Bear on Mt Harkness trail, Oct 5, 2014 by Gerry Ingco / \ Executive Board Meeting November 19 - 7 pm KarroLynn Yells 530-534-3551 Legislative Notes by David Anderson GOVERNOR APPROVES 2 MORE CNPS SUPPORTED BILLS D uring the last half of September Governor Brown ap- proved Assembly Bill No. 2104, relating to common interest developments and Assembly Bill No. 2193, relating to fish and wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement. In essence, AB 2104 provides that governing documents or guidelines of common interest developments shall be void and unenforceable if they prohibit the use of low water-using plants as a group or as a replacement of existing turf; or if they they prohibit or restrict compliance with either water efficient landscape ordinances adopted under the Government Code or regulations or restrictions on the use of water adopted under the Water Code. For good measure the new law also prohibits an association from imposing a fine or assessment against a member for reducing or eliminating the watering of vegetation or lawns during a period of Governor or locally declared drought emergency under the Government Code. AB 2193 enacts the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act and requires the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to approve a habitat or restoration project, as defined, if specified conditions are met as determined by the director. The Act also creates the Habitat Restoration and Enhance- ment Account within the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. The Department is authorized to accept funds and to assess fees for the account. Monies in the account will be available for the purposes of administering the Habitat and Restoration Act. The new law will be automatically repealed on January 1 , 2022. A habitat restoration project is defined in the law as “a project with the primary purpose of improving fish and wildlife habitat.” Notwithstanding this rather narrow definition, the legislative findings preceding the operative provisions of the law recognize the need for protection and restoration of plants and ecosystems as well as fish and wildlife. In any event, the restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat will have a beneficial effect on native plants and ecosystems. The law is designed to provide an expedited and coordinated agency permitting process for small scale restoration projects. 2 . The Pipevine November 2014 President’s Message by Catie Bishop, President CALIFORNIA BOTANIST CERTIFICATION PROGRAM N ot many people think about the safeguards that are in place to protect the environment. Even though they may have heard about a developer being required to put to- gether an Environmental Impact Statement or EIS, how many people know what goes into that document? As CNPS is inter- ested in protecting native plants and habitats, we often comment on the native plant survey portion of a developer’s EIS. You may think, as I naively did, that when a developer did an EIS on a parcel of land, they were required to hire a competent botanist to survey for rare plants, and assess impacts to those plants by the proposed development. I also thought the results of that survey were made available to the public for comment along with the rest of the EIS. Many botanical surveys are never seen by the public or even agency personnel. This is because consulting botanists have been re- quired to sign a Confidentiality Agreement. This egregious docu- ment effectively puts a gag order on a botanist not to reveal their findings of rare plants to anyone but the developer. I learned about this while attending the last Chapter Council meeting, and some of the material that follows is taken from writ- ings by Dave Magney, Chapter Council Chair and a consulting botanist himself. Developers often hire untrained or unethical personnel to conduct plant surveys and impact assessments. No formal standards exist to define what a professional consult- ing or agency botanist is, nor are there any guidelines on ap- propriate or minimum professional standards. Lack of guidance, a code of ethics, and/or standards from a professional organiza- tion supporting the professional botanist has led to countless oc- casions of misidentifications, substandard work, and inaccurate to even fraudulent reports. That has led to poor, inadequate, and unsuccessful mitigation, and the validation and perpetua- tion of substandard-quality work, leading to significant losses to the California native flora. So the State CNPS is proposing a Botanist Certification Program. Many professional organizations use standards of certification. As with these other professions, a robust Botanist Certification program will provide a clear and consistent mechanism to rec- ognize, standardize, and promote minimum requirements for consulting and agency botanists. This will improve the quality of field work and impact assessments, resulting in higher quality floristic studies and improve the protection of California native plants. The California Botanist Certification Program will provide: - Minimum standards and experience to identify those who are qualified to work as a botanist - Educational support in the form of workshops and training courses -A mechanism to keep standards of professionals high by means of certification and decertification - A mechanism for the public (including regulatory agencies) to clearly identify who is considered qualified, as recognized by (botanist) peers - Support the professional botanist by establishing a Code of Ethics (including non-acceptance of Confidentiality Agreements). The California Botanist Certification Program is designed to be financially self-sustaining with minimal staff requirements cov- ered primarily through application and testing fees, and periodic certification renewal fees. However, modest funds are needed to support the focused staff time that is required to compile ma- terials, coordinate partners, and initiate the program. That’s why I will be asking our Board to approve a donation to help get the Botanist Certification Program off the ground. MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER Nominations 2015 Elected Officers Candidates were nominated by the Nominating Committee consisting of Jim Bishop and Woody Elliott. Elections will be held at the upcoming General Meeting of the Chapter: Wednesday, November 5, 2014. Nominations may also be made from the floor at this meeting, provided that consent has been obtained from the nominee(s). MEMBERS SHOULD ATTEND AND VOTE President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Members-at-Large Vote! CATIE BISHOP JANNALATHROP ANN ELLIOTT JOHN MEEHAN RON COLEY PAUL MOORE NANCY PRAIZLER KARROLYNN YELLS The Pipevine November 2014 3. BLOCK PARTIES WITH A PURPOSE PLEASE JOIN US MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER at the HARVEST FESTIVAL FARM CITY CELEBRATION November 8, 2014 10am - 2pm Bidwell Mansion Historic State Park FREE FAMILY EVENT with arts & crafts, animal displays antique farm equipment, food booths and much more. VISIT OUR BOOTH NEW MEMBERS 2014 Brian Anderson Clark Austin Paula Cunningham Floral Native Nursery & Restoration Elizabeth Gibbs Margaret Grover Monte Johnson Rae Lynn Kirk Jessica Kolstad Jennifer Lara Peter Laughton Thomas Resk Patti Tauscher Grant Thorton Terri Wolt For information about becoming a member of MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY contact Membership Chair KarroLynn Yells 530-534-3551, KarroLynnY@att.net or use the application on last page of this newletter by NANI TEVES, Watershed Coordinator, Butte Environmental Council T he Mount Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant So- ciety and Butte Environmental Council are pleased to an- nounce a new project called Block Parties with a Purpose. The project is free and supports residents joining together to clean up sections of Chico’s urban creeks of weeds and garbage. Over the years, local urban creeks have become choked with in- vasive plant species as well as increases in garbage. Invasive plant species out-compete beneficial native plants and provide fuel for fires, while excessive garbage pollutes the water and leaves neighborhoods looking neglected. Tackling this problem is intimidating for everyone: neighbors, the city, businesses, and advocacy and environmental groups. But when we get together and boost combined efforts, urban waterways can once again be the beautiful little neighborhood creeks and healthy wildlife habitat corridors that they once were. HOW THIS PROJECT WORKS • An interested neighbor steps forward and gathers 20 volunteers, sign-up on the BEC website, choose a block party date (Oct 25, Nov 8 or 22). • CNPS and BEC match their efforts the day of the event with $1 ,500 in tools, dump- sters, equipment, food, expertise, and people power. A LITTLE BACKGROUND In the spring of 2014 the Mount Las- sen Chapter of CNPS was awarded a Waste Management Think Green® grant to remove invasive weeds and organize creek clean-ups. With CNPS’ significant work to restore biodiversity along Chico’s creeks through invasive plant removal, and BEC’s long history of organizing the community for Creek Clean-up’s, the two organization decided to team up and take these efforts even further by empowering and supporting those who care most to take action - the people living adjacent to urban streams. 4. The Pipevine November 2014 SUCCESSFUL HORTICULTURE SYMPOSIUM by CAT IE BISHOP, Symposium Coordinator F or a whole year the Chapter has been planning for and working on our first ever Horticulture Symposium. On September 14, 2014 we welcomed 83 people into the Chico Women’s Club to learn how to Succeed with Natives. There were 4 speakers and a panel discussion. The first speaker, all the way from San Diego, our State Horticulture Pro- gram Director Susan Krzywicki revved up the crowd by promoting the benefits of using natives in the home landscape. Next was Bernadette Balics a professional landscape designer from Davis. She talked about garden planning and layout, and also brought various paving products for people to see what’s available. Glenn Keator, author, naturalist and teacher, who lives in Berkeley, showed pictures and talked about native plants that would fit into various home habitat niches. John Whittlesey, a well-known local landscaper, who is also an author of a new book about Salvias, taught us how we can make our yard pollinator friendly. The last session was a panel discussion for the audience to ask specific questions of all the speakers. Participants enjoyed morning coffee fruit and muffins, and lunch with homemade cookies around outdoor tables. There was a plant sale, CNPS sale table, and handouts with more specific information about planting natives under oaks, deer resistant varieties, or growing natives in con- tainers. Master Gardeners had a table promoting pollinator gardening, and Altacal Audubon had a table with information on bird-friendly garden- ing. All that and door prizes too! Opening presentation “Native Plant Gardening for a Water-Challenged Future” by Susan Krzywicki, CNPS Horticulture Program Director, at Chico Womens Club. Top - Panel discussion for the audience to ask questions of all the speakers, l-r Susan Krzywicki, Glenn Keator, John Whittlesey, Bernadette Balics, and our own Horticulture Chair, Paula Shapiro. Photos by Woody Elliott I’d like to again thank our financial sponsors: Sierra Ne- vada Brewing Company, Floral Native Nursery, River Partners, Butte Environmental Council, Chico UPS Stores #1244; and our prize donors: Home Depot, Lundberg Family Farms, Ron Ginochio, Collier’s Hard- ware, and Northern Star Mills. This Symposium wouldn’t have happened without the efforts of many of our members. We had a group of members who came the day of the Symposium to pitch in and help with whatever needed to be done. They helped with setting up the room the day before, setting out food, helping at the sales and plant tables, and that very important, but not so glamorous job, of clean up. Thanks to all of you: Marjorie McNairn, Anne Ferry, Syb Blythe, Dody Domish, Nancy Groshong, Susan Mason, Hesh Kaplan, Nancy Shanks, and Susie Cunningham. You all have great community spirit, and your helping hands are much appreciated. It would have been impossible to pull something like this off without a dedicated planning committee work- ing for months to get every detail just right, and provide a quality experience for the participants. So let’s give a big Thank You to: Catie and Jim Bishop, Janna Lathrop, Cindy Weiner, John Meehan, KarroLynn Yells, Paula Shapiro, Suellen Rowlison, Ann Elliott, and Woody El- liott, and Denise Devine. Each of you helped not only during the planning stages, but on the day of the event to set up, take down, and doing your respective jobs all day, going the extra mile to make it all go so smoothly. I heard so many good comments from the participants about how well organized everything was. The Symposium offered varied information to a large number of people interested in having a more sustain- able and water-conserving garden. We all learned that our gardens can provide habitat for the birds and bees, beauty and diversity for the homeowner, and a health- ier environment. All in all I’d say we had an enjoyable and productive day. The Pipevine November 2014 5. Kristina Schierenbeck presents the finer points of locally derived native plants. Alice B. Heckert Native Plant Garden at Chico Creek Nature Center, described by Judi Maxfield, former garden manager for Mount Lassen Chapter. Eve Werner, Landscape Architect, describing a front yard she designed and installed over a lawn to reduce maintenance. W oody Elliott reports, “Twenty native plant af- ficionados spent September 13, 2014 visiting gardens in north-central Chico. The trials and tribulations of establishing these urban landscapes were described by their designers and installers. Participants had a fine time peppering the local “experts’ with questions of what might work installing native plants in their gardens. All agreed that much was gained from seeing what works in the ground. More such opportunities will be scheduled by Mount Lassen Chapter.” Emilie White’s multipurpose garden Photos by Woody Elliott THESE BUSINESSES support the goals of the California Native Plant Society and offer its members a 10% discount. THANK YOU John Whittlesey Lie. #946191 Garden Design Installation Consultation 530.774.4955 johncaid@ginail.com discount applies only to plants 1 367 EqjI Ave, Chico | 530.894.5410 | www.MagrioliQGarden-ing.com FLORAL NATIVE NURSERY 2511 Floral Avenue Chico, California 95973-2511 Telephone/Fax: (530) 892-251 1 E-mail: canalivetfl’shocking.com 6 The Pipevine November 2014 Officers & Chairs lENDS.of the HERBARIUM California State University, Chico November 8 FALL PHOTO CONTEST & ANNUAL MEETING of the Friends of the Chico State Herbarium. Special Guest Lecture “Exploring the Conifer Diversity of the Klamath Mountains and Beyond” by MICHAEL KAUFMAN. Over the past 1 0 years Michael has walked over and around the Klam- ath Mountains in an attempt to better understand the region’s ecol- ogy through the eyes of the conifers. More details on Chico State Herbarium website at csuchico.edu/biol/Herb/Friends.html November 15 INTRODUCTION TO KEYING CAREX Carex is the largest genus in California with about 140 native species. LAWRENCE JANEWAY is currently the curator at the Chico State Herbarium and also the acting District Botanist on the Feather River Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest. Contact ljaneway@csuchico.edu More details on Chico State Herbarium website at csuchico.edu/biol/Herb/Friends.html MEMBERSHIP If you have changed your . . . address, phone number or e-mail 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 Past President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Members-at-Large CHAIRS Conservation Education Invasive Plants Field Trips Co-chairs CAT IE BISHOP cjbishop1991@sbcglobal.net SUELLEN ROWLISON 897-0226 suellen@garlic.com JANNA LATHROP 228 0010 jlathrop4mlc@comcast.net ANN ELLIOTT 521-4402 secretary@mountlassen.cnps.org JOHN MEEHAN 894-5339 johnmeehan64@gmail.com HESH KAPLAN 961-9407 heshelak@gmail.com PAUL MOORE 343-4287 pmoore@csuchico.edu KARROLYNN YELLS 534-3551 KarroLynnY@att.net RON COLEY 533-1238 rcoley64@comcast.net WOODY ELLIOTT 588-2555 woodyelliott@gmail.com OPEN SUSAN MASON 892-1666 smason908@gmail.com WES DEMPSEY 342-2293 wdempsey@csuchico.edu 893-5123 Horticulture Newsletter Editor 534-3551 343-7440 Mailing Programs Co-chairs GERRY INGCO genaroingco@aol.com Membership / Hospitality KARROLYNN YELLS karrolynny@att.net PAULA SHAPIRO paulashapiro49@gmail.com DENISE DEVINE 345-8444 dsrdevine@hotmail.com MARJORIE MCNAIRN 343-2397 mlmcnairn@aol.com JIM BISHOP 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 cj bishop 1 991 @sbcg lobal.net Events JANNA LATHROP 228 0010 jlathrop4mlc@comcast.net Yahi Trail STEPHEN OVERLOCK 892-0635 stephenoverlock@sbcglobal.net CCNC Gardens CLAIRE MEEHAN meehanclairel @g mail, com The Pipevine November 2014 7. MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY P O. BOX 3212 CHICO, CA 95927-3212 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Chico, CA Permit No. 553 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Time Value NOVEMBER 2014 issue Pipevine Phyllis would say Join Today ! MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY I wish to affiliate with the Mount Lassen Chapter Calendar new renew October 25 - BEC Block Party 25-26 - Chico Home & Garden Show 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 November 1 - Drakesbad Lassen VNP 5 - General Meeting - VOTE 8 - Harvest Festival 8 - BEC Block Party 16 - Old Plant Station Walk 19 - Ex Board Meeting 22 - BEC Block Party December 3 - General Meeting NO Ex Board Meeting