Map & photos: Dr. Louis F. Henderson and Dr. Charles L. Kirtley, photographed at the 40th anniversary of the University of Idaho, in 1932. The map shows their 1895 botanical survey route. (Photo 6-6-1, SCA, Ul Library, map courtesy Pacific Northwest Quarterly) Dates to remember Jan. 1, 2013 Renew your INPS membership! June 21-24, 2013: INPS & American Penstemon Society Annual Meeting, Boise IDAHO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY September 2012 Volume 34 (3) Articles contributed to Sage Notes reflect the views of the authors and are not an official position of the Idaho Native Plant Society. A THOUSAND-MILE SUMMER: The Henderson-Kirtley 1895 Reconnaissance of Central Idaho Adapted by Harriet Hughes, with permission from the author, Rhoda M. Love (published in the Spring 2011 issue of Pacific Northwest Quarterly*) In the summer of 1895, Louis F. Henderson — the first professor of botany at the newly- established University of Idaho — and his student, Charles L. Kirtley, undertook the first botanical exploration of Idaho. Thanks to the work of historian Rhoda M. Love, we now have a better understanding of this fascinating and important expedition. What follows is a much- condensed version of an article which appeared in the Spring 2011 issue of the Pacific Northwest Quarterly, adapted here with Ms. Love’s permission. Henderson’s trip was a summer-long, thousand-mile reconnaissance of the mountainous regions of central Idaho under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was hired for the job by Frederick V. Coville, the department’s chief botanist and honorary curator of the United States National Herbarium (housed at the Smithsonian). Since Coville’s instructions are now apparently lost, our best idea of Henderson’s mission is to be found in a interview he gave to T. E. Picotte, editor of the Wood River Times of Hailey, during the journey. Picotte writes, “He comes here to study our flora, forestry possibilities and the mining outlook... He is accompanied by C. L. Kirtley, of Salmon City... As they travel they collect specimens of plants, minerals, etc., which are neatly packed and forwarded to Secretary Morton at Washington, where they will be classified and placed on exhibition in the Smithsonian Institute.” Henderson and Kirtley were well-chosen for the job. Louis Henderson endured a tough childhood in antebellum Mississippi, capped by the murder of his father shortly after the Civil War. During his education at Cornell University, Henderson discovered the joys of botany and went on to a distinguished career, first at the University of Idaho (where his initial personal herbarium was destroyed in the catastrophic Administration Building fire in 1906) and later at the University of Oregon (retiring at the ripe old age of 86). He chose Charles Kirtley to accompany him, apparently on the strength of his talents as a horseman and stockman (no doubt the legacy of his ranch-upbringing near Salmon, Idaho). They certainly were not in it for the money, as Mr. Picotte relayed: “Professor Henderson is allowed only $250 for 214 months work, and has to purchase his outfit at a cost of over $100 and will have to pay the balance, or nearly so, for two fares to get back to the starting point. Mr. Kirtley is along as a student, and gets no remuneration whatsoever.” Continued on p.4 Read Sage Notes online at www.idahonativeDlants.ora/news/Newsletters.asDx 1 IDAHO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Address: P.O. Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 Email: info3@idahonativeplants.org Web site: www.idahonativeDlants.ora INPS BOARD MEMBERS President: LaMar Orton Vice-pres.: Stephen Love Secretary: Nancy Miller Treasurer: Elaine Walker Past-president: Janet Benoit Member-at-Large: Mel Nicholls Chapter Presidents are also members of the INPS Board STANDING COMMITTEES Conservation committee chair: Justin Fulkerson (Pahove) 2013 Annual Meeting chair: Stephen Love (Sawabi) Membership chair (interim): Ardys Holte (Sawabi) ERIG chair: Janet Bala (Sawabi) Newsletter editor: Jane Rohling (Pahove) ADHOC COMMITTEES Bylaws chair: Nancy Miller (White Pine) 2013 Photo contest committee: Pahove Chapter Nominating chair: (We need members for this committee.) Rare Plant Conference chair: Beth Corbin (Pahove) 2 (^rreefchaf, the "President Dear Idaho Native Plant Society Members, Summer is getting away from us fast. I hope you are all having a great summer and that your gardens are growing well and you are enjoying the flowers and plants in your gardens and in nature. It has been such a dry year that many areas have not enjoyed the beautiful wildflower displays that we have seen other years. In spite of the drier weather, we had a wonderful annual meeting at Clark Fork. Derek Antonelli and the Calypso chapter deserve a big “thank you” for all the work they put in to make the annual meeting a great success. The Clark Fork Drift Yard was a beautiful location for camping. In the early morning hours the water around the drift yard was like glass and the reflection of the clouds, plants at the water’s edge and surrounding mountains was breathtaking. I’m sure that many wonderful photos were taken at that time. The hikes to the Pack River Delta Restoration area, Morris Creek and Scotchman Peak were informative, many wildflowers were seen and the views spectacular. The presentation after dinner at the Clark Fork Senior Center by Kathy Cousins of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game about the Pack River Delta restoration efforts was very informative and Kathy’s knowledge and enthusiasm revealed one of the reasons for the success of the restoration. More information about the annual meeting is found on pages 8-12 in this edition of Sage Notes. At the annual meeting two new INPS officers were introduced. We welcomed Dr. Stephen Love of the Sawabi Chapter as our new vice president and Elaine Walker of the Pahove Chapter as our new treasurer. We look forward to working with them and to the expertise they bring to the INPS Board of Directors. Special thanks go to Jody Hull for serving for three terms as our treasurer and to Juanita Lichthardt for serving as our vice president for the past year. Our 2013 annual meeting will be held June 21-24 in Boise. This will be a special opportunity to learn about our Idaho penstemons, as we will have a joint meeting with the American Penstemon Society. Several field trips as well as classes are planned for that conference. Stephen Love will chair the conference committee, working with the Pahove and Wood River chapters as hosts (Preliminary information is on page 13.) In 2013 the Rare Plant Conference will also be held. It will probably be held in October as it was last year. There will be no Rare Plant Conference held in 2012. Looking forward to 2014, INPS members will have a special opportunity that year to learn more about our native buckwheats as the Eriogonum Society will have its annual meeting in Idaho. Although the exact dates and the conference location have yet to be determined, it will most likely take place in the south central part of the State. This has not been set as a joint annual meeting of INPS and the Eriogonum Society, but is something that may be considered if there is support for a joint meeting from both societies. Have a great fall and don’t hesitate to call me at 208-734-7959 or email me at lorton1@msn.com with any comments you may have about INPS. Best wishes to you all! INPS President Have you heard? INPS is now on Facebook! Like us on Facebook Like our page to receive updates on chapter events and happenings from around the state. View our page at: httDs://www.facebook.com/ldahoNativePlants Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 INPS State News Introducing our new INPS State Officers Saae Notes, the newsletter of the Idaho Native Plant Society, is published in February, May, September, and December. Vice President: Dr. Stephen Love (Sawabi Chapter) Dr. Stephen Love is a University of Idaho Extension consumer horticulture specialist at the university’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center. He earned his bachelor’s degree in horticulture at Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. in horticulture and plant physiology at Clemson University. Beginning in 2005, Stephen directed his training and skills toward domesticating native plants for use in Intermountain landscapes. He educates homeowners about home horticulture and is Webmaster of the Idaho Landscapes and Gardens web site (www. extension.uidaho.edu/idahoaardens L He has been a member of the Sawabi Chapter of INPS since 2006. Stephen is an avid photographer and native plants are some of his favorite subjects. He is a consistent participant in the annual calendar photo contest. His wife Monaquita is also an accomplished wildflower photographer. She shares his membership in the Society and interest in native plants. Current and recent past issues of Sage Notes are posted in full color online at www. idahonativeplants.org/news/ Newsletters.asox along with a searchable index of 2006-2010 issues. We are scanning and uploading older issues as time allows. Submissions: Members and non-members may submit material for publication. Relevant articles, essays, poetry, news and announcements, photographs and artwork are welcome. Authors, artists, and photographers retain copyright to their work and are credited in Sage Notes. Send all submissions electronically to the editor at the link below. Submission guidelines are posted on the INPS web site: www.idahonativeDlants.org/news/ Treasurer: Elaine Walker (Pahove Chapter) Elaine Walker graduated from Metropolitan State College in Denver with a BS in Accounting. She spent her career preparing taxes for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses and doing bookkeeping for small and medium- sized businesses and non-profit organizations. Currently, Elaine works as a fraud examiner and private investigator for Gray Owl Investigations in Boise. She’s a Certified Fraud Examiner and a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Elaine has always been interested in flora, fauna, and the great outdoors. That’s what brought her to join the Idaho Native Plant Society in 2007. She is a Master Gardener and Master Naturalist, teaches several classes at Boise Community Education, and participates in an online mentoring program for high school students called ICouldBe.ora . In her “spare time,” Elaine enjoys gardening, reading, sewing and knitting. Newsletters.aspx . Please provide a phone number and/or email address with your submission. Submission deadlines are January 8, April 1, August 1, and November 1. Advertising: Advertisements help reach environmentally-minded, native-plant-loving customers and help support INPS. Prices: 1/8 page = $5, 1/4 page = $8, 1/2 page = $15. Submit ads to the editor electronically (JPEG, TIFF, PSD, or PDF files). Send payment to: Sage Notes Ads, PO. Box 9451, Boise ID, 83707 Sage Notes editor: Jane Rohling, saae-editor@ idahonativeplants.org Phone: (208) 938-3529 2013 INPS and American Penstemon Society joint meetings: see preliminary information on p.13 Photos of Idaho Botanical Garden and Leslie Gulch by Stephen Love; photos of the Seven Devils, penstemon and bee, and Hells Canyon by Jane Rohling; photo of Stephen Love courtesy of Stephen Love; photo of Elaine Walker by Cyndi Coulter. Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 3 A Thousand Mile Summer (continued from p.1) Top: The steep banks of the Salmon River canyon posed challenges to early travelers. Middle: Henderson and Kirtley’s journey took them through both unsettled territory and mining towns like Custer, shown here in 1904. Bottom: An abandoned gold dredge on the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River, is a testament to the destruction caused by early mining in the region. Photos: Salmon River and Yankee Fork photos by Rhoda M. Love, Custer postcard from Ms. Love’s collection The journey’s mode of travel was straight out of the Old West, with pack animals and a single saddle horse; one man walked and botanized for 10 miles while the other rode. The 10 miles, Henderson later recalled, were accurately measured by a pedometer worn by the walker. Leaving Moscow at seven in the morning on Tuesday, June 25, Henderson, Kirtley, and their horses traveled south across the rain-swollen Clearwater River, probably via a cable ferry at Lewiston, to spend the night at Fort Lapwai. From there they continued on to Grangeville and Mount Idaho. Only one of their three animals was intended as a riding horse, because, as Henderson wrote, “Even if we had to go at a slower pace, one man must be on the ground all the time, that nothing should be passed on route, either through inability to see everything from horseback, or from traveling too fast.” They continued in this fashion south past White Bird Creek along a wagon road completed only four years earlier to the mining ghost town of Florence. From there they descended to the bottom of the Salmon River canyon, crossed the river on a primitive suspension bridge, and toiled up the south side of the canyon to the hot springs now known as Burgdorf. Still headed south they passed the Payette lakes and the present site of McCall, moving toward the Payette River. After a dangerous crossing of the flooded Payette, they continued through Round Valley and Long Valley, where they encountered minor skirmishes between cattlemen and sheep herders. The Fourth of July found them soaking wet and shivering with cold in Long Valley. Still southbound, the men and horses next crossed the arid, rattlesnake- infested badlands of the Boise River canyon, finally turning east toward Idaho City. From that mining center, the two moved on to Big Camas Prairie, the site of the outbreak of the 1878 Bannock Indian war. Here they botanized on Soldier Mountain before heading north to Hailey and Ketchum on the Big Wood River, and then up and over the 8,700-foot Galena Pass. Their northerly route now took them to the headwaters of the Salmon River and to Redfish and Pettit lakes in the Sawtooth Range. Passing the hot springs near Stanley, they continued north up the Yankee Fork of the Salmon to the mining towns of Bonanza and Custer, and then higher into the Salmon River Mountains, following a mining supply trail to Challis. They arrived in mile-high Challis on August 4. Proceeding on, their route was south to Bayhorse and then southeast to Antelope Valley and Big Lost River. The imposing Lost River Range was on their left as they moved southeast toward the Lost River sinks. There the men and horses encountered blazing heat and pesky biting flies and mosquitoes. It was with relief that they finally turned north up Birch Creek, and continued to botanize in the southern and northern Lemhis of today. (Misleading maps of the time led the men to believe they were exploring the Lost River Range; Ms. Love believes that plant collections for this area are mislabeled as a result.) The last leg of their 1895 reconnaissance took the men down the Lemhi River to their final destination at Charles Kirtley’s home where the Lemhi joins the Salmon. Henderson and Kirtley ended their thousand-mile journey on August 31 at the Kirtley family ranch near Salmon. The Henderson-Kirtley survey was the only official, federally-sponsored expedition of Idaho to take place in the decade after Idaho had achieved statehood, and it occurred at a watershed moment in Idaho history. The early surface-mining boom of the 1860-70s was at an end, and yet to come was the massive exploitation of Idaho’s timber and the explosion of irrigated agriculture in Idaho’s arid regions, made possible by extensive dam building. The timing of the Henderson survey makes his hundreds of collections, carefully detailed notes, and lengthy final report of importance to present-day historians, land managers and botanists in the Intermountain West. Before Ms. Love’s research, it was assumed that both Henderson’s field notes and the final report of the trip were lost in the calamitous 1906 fire at the University of Idaho. Fortunately, Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 she uncovered his records, intact but forgotten, at the Smithsonian Institution about a decade ago. The hundreds of pressed plants are housed at the National Herbarium, while his annotated plant lists, daily journal, and comprehensive final (but still-unpublished) report are to be found at the Botany Department Library. The 143-page handwritten report, entitled “Report on the Botany and Forest Conditions of a part of the Central and Eastern Regions of the State of Idaho” is a tangible reminder of Idaho’s legacy of resources prior to the destructive large-scale mining, timber and agricultural activities of the twentieth century. As such it provides an invaluable baseline for state and federal agencies seeking to restore Idaho lands. We owe a great debt of thanks to Henderson and Kirtley for the dedication, courage and sheer hard work of this pioneering undertaking, and to Ms. Love for bringing this invaluable and fascinating record of Idaho’s early environment to our attention. We thank Ms. Love and the Pacific Northwest Quarterly for allowing us to adapt this article and share the map and photos in Sage Notes! ‘Originally published as: A Thousand Mile Summer: The Henderson-Kirtley 1895 Reconnaissance of Central Idaho. Rhoda M. Love, PNQ.Vol.102 (2011), pp. 55-56 Gtitflryille T , T'Mtidaha ' . I- ♦ VVW&fdp. tflulhJltoffcy f\ ial.TKjn 'SfltiFWi ft/vtr AitflJ, ■ W: v / f “STJ ■' t 'OT' ' ^ - -- ■> ■ V 1 - [;> krwuwtj. Ka, ' { h y* yA w . Lost ftw Birth Crvefc I GO km Six of the seven 1899 University of Idaho faculty members are pictured here. Louis F. Henderson is believed to be in the center of the back row. (1-51 -24a, SCA, Ul Library, Moscow) 1 h. v t ^ n Above & left: Those who are familiar with central Idaho’s rugged terrain will appreciate the incredibly arduous journey it must have been to make this trek in 1895 collecting specimens along the way! Map created by William L. Nelson for Pacific Northwest Quarterly. Right: Rhoda Love near the Wood River in 2002 when she and her husband retraced the route taken by Henderson and Kirtley. Photo courtesy of Rhoda M. Love Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 5 2010 ERIG GRANT REPORT: Palouse Prairie School of Expeditionary Learning, Moscow By Stephan Flint ERIG needs YOU! Want to help INPS support more great projects? The Education, Research, and Inventory Grant (ERIG) program relies on funding from various sources such as Rare Plant Conferences, workshops, and private donations. If you, your business, or your employer would like to make a donation to INPS to help fund these worthwhile ERIG projects, send your tax deductible donations to: ERIG Program, INPS P.O. Box 9451 Boise, Idaho 83707 Checks should be made out to INPS. Please be sure to specify that your donation is to be used for ERIG projects. Thank you for your help! Janet Bala ERIG Committee Chair balaiane at isu dot edu Interested in applying for an ERIG grant? Details and an application form are available at http:// www.idahonativeplants. ora/eria/Eria.aspx . A list of past ERIG recipients is also posted here. 6 Students in Moscow’s Palouse Prairie School of Expeditionary Learning now have more tools for studying the Palouse Prairie after which their school was named. Thanks to ERIG funds, students have reproductions of specimens from the U of I’s Stillinger herbarium, Rocky Mountain Tree Finders, and a small native plant garden adjacent to the school. As weather improved, activities moved outside. We planted over a dozen native species in a narrow strip of ground between the school building and the street. There were two trips to view native plants, one to the native plant section of the U of I Arboretum and one to a prairie remnant on Paradise Ridge, owned by Wayne and Jacie Jensen of Thorn Creek Native Seed Farm. Here we saw many of the species we had talked about in the classroom — balsamroot, shooting stars, Idaho fescue — growing in an undisturbed community where cryptogamic crusts protect the soil. Because this prairie remnant is on private land few people in Moscow know about it. The view was spectacular — we could see clear to Oregon’s Blue Mountains! Spring often comes late on the Palouse Prairie, so we started our program “Shooting stars, skunk cabbage, cow parsnip and glacier lilies — do these grow on the Palouse?” in the classroom. This gave us a chance to introduce a group of students to some of the local flora and tell stories about what their common names reflect — their appearance, toxicity, food uses, etc. The concept of dichotomous keys was introduced with the Rocky Mountain Tree Finder. We initially projected the key onto a screen. Students enjoyed identifying trees with this simple key, so a set of tree finders was later purchased for classroom use. Students study reproductions of specimens from the U of I’s Stillinger herbarium (above) and learn to use Rocky Mountain Tree Finders (below) purchased with 2010 ERIG funds. Photos by Stephan Flint The planting outside the school showed remarkable vigor in its second season of growth. This ground had been thought of as a “wasteland” with poor soil; it had been covered with woodchip mulch and left barren. This year the 7th and 8th grade class, as part of their study of Palouse native plants (titled Loose on the Palouse), worked with the Rocky Mountain Tree Finders, the reproductions of herbarium specimens, and the outdoor planting. These resources have made it much easier to incorporate the study of native plants into the curriculum. Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 2012 ERIG Grants Awarded By Janet Bala The INPS Education, Research and Inventory Grant (ERIG) Program for 2012 awarded a total of $1,000.00 to three recipients. The three projects receiving ERIG money are the following, summarized from their grant applications. Continued from p. 6: More photos of Palouse Prairie School’s ERIG project by Stephan Flint. Above: Palouse Prairie School students took a field trip to a prairie remnant on Paradise Ridge where they saw many of the species they had discussed in the classroom— balsamroot, shooting stars, Idaho fescue— growing in an undisturbed community. The land is owned by the Jensen’s of Thorn Creek Native Seed Farm. Below: Students planted over a dozen native species in a narrow strip of ground between the school building and the street. Panhandle Animal Shelter, Ponderay, Idaho Mandy G. Evans, Executive Director: Native Plant Project The Panhandle Animal Shelter is located in Ponderay, Idaho in the Northern Panhandle. The facility is considered a “high-traffic area” and has superb exposure in the community. The objective of this project is to create a native plant landscape that will foster an inviting place for patrons and passerbys to walk the grounds and learn about local native plants by reading the plant markers. At the completion of the project, a self-sustaining, eco-friendly native garden will welcome patrons to the animal shelter. In addition, the project will create a habitat for birds and butterflies. The money they receive from ERIG will be used to purchase native grasses and shrubs for the garden. All of these projects foster native plant awareness and have strong educational components that reflect the INPS mission statement. All projects funded are responsible for submitting an article to Sage Notes describing the purpose and results of the projects. Rockford Elementary, Blackfoot, Idaho Julie Wada, Rockford PTA President: Outdoor Classroom Roosevelt Elementary, Boise, Idaho Holly Beck, INPS member and Parent: Outdoor Classroom Roosevelt Elementary is a public school located east of downtown Boise. Approximately 300 students attend grades kindergarten through sixth. The school building, nearly 100 years old, was recently remodeled. The remodeling included increasing energy efficiencies, new classroom technologies, and improvements to the outdoor spaces. This overhaul has inspired the staff and parent community to strive towards overall school sustainability. Roosevelt Elementary will create an outdoor classroom that features Idaho native plants and regional geology. Plants will be featured that have a place in Idaho’s history, such as syringa (Philadelphus lewisii) or have traditional uses such as basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus) or serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). A berm to quiet the street noise will be planted with native Idaho trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers found locally. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has donated a kiosk with a whiteboard for instruction, a compass rose for orienteering, a weather station, and a bulletin board. Boulders and benches will be placed in the open interior for seating. Plants and rock samples will be labeled to educate both students and the local community. The money they receive from ERIG will be used to purchase native plants for the outdoor classroom. Rockford Elementary is the 4th grade only complex in the Snake River School District. There are about 140 students at this school and they spend the entire year learning about Idaho’s history. Because the school’s PTA officers wanted to create an environment where students could experience the flora and fauna of Idaho that they were learning about, they have started construction of an outdoor classroom. The outdoor classroom will provide learning opportunities in science, social studies, and Idaho history curriculum. They also hope to teach their students the importance of stewardship by keeping the grounds clean and caring for the plants. The money they receive from ERIG will be used to purchase native plants for the outdoor classroom. Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 2012 Annual Meeting at Clark Fork By Derek Antonelli, Calypso Chapter The 2012 Annual Meeting of the Idaho Native Plant Society (INPS) was held at Clark Fork, Idaho, from June 22-24. It was hosted by the Calypso Chapter from Coeur dAlene. The event featured camping at the Clark Fork Drift Yard on the banks of the Clark Fork River Delta on Lake Pend Oreille. The event was focused on protecting and restoring habitats in northern Idaho. Activities took place on the Pack River Delta Restoration Project and in the Cabinet Mountains around proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Area. The photos of the event speak for themselves. Left: Bob McCoy, Chris McCoy, Ben Dicus, Janet Campbell, Connie Antonelli, and Diana Dicus listen intently as Phil Hough (not shown), Executive Director of the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, explains what his organization is doing to protect the Scotchman Peaks area and get it designated as an official wilderness. Photo by Derek Antonelli Below: Idaho Department of Fish and Game boats set off with INPS members on a tour to explore the restoration project that is rebuilding wetlands within the Pack River Delta. A total of eight islands were created or expanded in the delta creating 24 acres of new wetlands. Photo by Nancy Miller Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 Right: LaMar Orton and other members of the Idaho Native Plant Society explore one of the new islands in the Pack River Delta. Photo by Nancy Miller Above: As part of the Pack River Delta Restoration Project, root wad roughness structures (such as the one shown here) were constructed to slow annual flood waters from the Pack River and to trap the sediments the flood waters carry before they can be carried into Lake Pend Oreille. Pilings were driven into the delta bed. Large logs with their root wad facing into the projected current were securely fastened to the pilings. Photo by Nancy Miller Left This is an image of woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus). It is one of over 50 different species of native plants that were used to reestablish the native vegetation on the new islands of the Restoration Project. A total of 3,600 woody plants, 10,000 herbaceous plants, and 400 pounds of grass seed were used in the restoration effort. Photo by Nancy Miller Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 Left The Regal Creek trail exposed IN PS members to a variety of habitats. The two fern species shown here— American rockbrake (Cryptogramma acrostichoides) and brittle bladderfern (Cystopteris fragilis)— were found among the rocks on a talus slope overlooking Lightning Creek far below. Photo by Nancy Miller Above: Another of the main activities of the Annual Meeting was a half day hike up Morris and Regal Creeks at the edge of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. Here LaMar Orton, Rosalie Orton, and Kelvin Jones enjoy some of the spectacular views from the bridge over Morris Creek. Photo by Nancy Miller Right: The hike up Morris Creek provided IN PS members an appreciation of the flora found in the rain forests of northern Idaho. The claspleaf twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius) shown here is an excellent example of that flora. Photo by Nancy Miller Above: Due to the large change in elevation during the Scotchman Peak hike, IN PS members started in conditions of early summer and finished in conditions more commonly associated with winter. Wilcox’s penstemon (Penstemon wilcoxii) shown here is an early summer flower. Photo by Bob McCoy Above: The spotted coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata) is a saprophytic orchid that was found on the trail up Scotchman Peak. Photo by Susan Lee Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 Above: An optional activity at the 2012 Annual Meeting was an all-day hike to the top of Scotchman Peak. The hike was a mere four miles one way, but the 4,000-foot elevation gain added to the challenge. Eleven adventurous INPS members took on this challenge. Shown here from the left are Bob McCoy, Janet Campbell, Juanita Lichthardt, Sousan Moslemi, Brent Knapp, and Sue Braastad. Right: INPS members enjoyed a traditional fried chicken dinner with all the trimmings including fresh, homemade pie— all prepared by the Clark Fork Senior Center staff. Shown here are Mel Nicholls, Ardys Holte, Carl Holte, Marilyn McIntyre, Marilyn George, and Barbara Nicholls. Photo by Nancy Miller Left: Kathy Cousins of Idaho Department of Fish and Game gave an impassioned presentation to the INPS membership following the Annual Meeting. She talked about applying the lessons learned from Pack River Delta Restoration Project to the future efforts to restore the much larger Clark Fork River Delta. Photo by Nancy Miller Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 Left: Sunday’s activity involved a caravan to visit the giant western red cedar (Thuja plicata) grove in nearby Montana. By standing next to the trees, John Lee gives perspective to the enormous size of these cedars. Photo by Susan Lee Below: The Ross Creek Cedar Gove has it share of flora. Shown here are the flowers of wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), foliage and flowers of starry false lily of the valley (Maianthemum stellatum), leaves of Idaho goldthread (Coptis occidentalis), and leaves of bride’s bonnet (Clintonia uniflora). Photo by Susan Lee Above: Sylvia Chatburn, Brent Knapp, and John Lee are crossing Ross Creek to visit the giant cedars. Photo by Susan Lee INPS NEWS (continued from p.3) INPS & American Penstemon Society Meetings Save the date: June 21-24, 2013, Boise By Stephen Love, INPS Vice-President It may seem a little early to start thinking about a meeting that won’t come around until June 2013. But this next meeting will be a unique opportunity to join with a sister organization, the American Penstemon Society, and to see and show off the remarkable botanical treasures of southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. Because the American Penstemon Society is taking the lead in organizing the meeting, the format will be a little different than past INPS meetings. Presentations and meals for the meeting will be held at the historic Owyhee Plaza Hotel in Boise. This will be a wonderful setting, although registration costs will likely be a little higher than our usual INPS meetings. So, plan ahead for four remarkable days of learning and enjoyment, expect some differences, and the meeting will be well worth the time and expense. Friday The annual meeting will be held June 21-24. We will gather on Friday afternoon (June 21), complete registration, and schedule some time for business meetings of both organizations. That evening, we’ll share a meal at the Idaho Botanical Garden, take time to tour the Lewis and Clark Gardens, and inspect the new penstemon evaluation plantings. Saturday morning, we will begin three days of field trips and botanical presentations. Here are some highlights of the weekend: Saturday Participate in one of these three botanical field trips: • Travel to the Reynolds Creek drainage to see some of the unique and rare flora of the Owyhee Front. • Take a trip into eastern Oregon to explore the fascinating flora and geology of Succor Creek and Leslie Gulch. • Drive north into the Boise Mountains to see a fabulous spring floral display at Bogus Basin. Return to the Owyhee Plaza Hotel in the evening for a meal and a presentation by prominent botanist and INPS member Don Mansfield, recognized expert on the flora of the Owyhee region and author of Flora of Steens Mountain. Sunday Participate in a second field trip from the three options described for Saturday, then return to the Owyhee Plaza Hotel for a meal and an opportunity to share your favorite botanical (or meeting) photographs. Monday The meeting will officially end on Sunday evening and this may be the last day of participation by many of our members. However, you might want to schedule a day of vacation time and go on a post-meeting expedition into Hells Canyon and on into the southern slopes of the Seven Devils Mountains. This trip will definitely be one of the highlights of the meeting and will feature an area of diverse ecology and geology. We have a great line-up of locally knowledgeable field trip leaders (most are members of INPS) prepared to share their favorite places and plants. Plan to come, participate, learn, meet new people, and have fun! Traditionally, we camp out at our annual meetings but the APS prefers hotel accommodations, so the actual meeting and dinner will be held at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel in downtown Boise (subject to change). As a prospective attendee, would you prefer to camp at a campground in the nearby mountains, an RV Park in town on the Boise River, or in a member’s back yard? Or would you prefer to stay in the Owyhee Plaza Hotel or at a nearby motel? Elaine Walker has been tasked with finding accommodations for the meeting. Let her know your preferences: call 208-336-3983 or email bat hareeml at hotmail dot com. Photo by Jane Rohling Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 INPS Chapter News INPS CHAPTERS CALYPSO CHAPTER MK Nature Center Auditorium. CALYPSO CHAPTER 821 W. Mustang Ave. Hayden, ID 83835 President: Derek Antonelli Vice President: Vacant Secretary: Karen Williams Treasurer: Janet Benoit Newsletter: Vacant LOASA CHAPTER 340 E 520 N. Shoshone, ID 83352 President: Kelvin Jones Vice President: LaMar Orton Secretary/Treasurer: Lois Rohay PAHOVE CHAPTER PO. Box 9451 Boise, ID 83707 Pahove.chaDter@amail.com President: Karie Pappani Vice Pres.: Elaine Walker Secretary: Susan Ziebarth Treasurer: Caroline Morris Conservation: Justin Fulkerson Members at Large: Cyndi Coulter, Karen Colson, Chris Colson, Jody Hull SAWABI CHAPTER 146 South 17th Ave. Pocatello, ID 83201 President: Bob McCoy Vice Pres.: Dick Anderson & LaRue Gregersen Secretary: Barbara Nicholls Treasurer: Cathy Frischmann News to members: Linda Johnson Chapter News: Ardys Holte Web site: Catalina Steckbauer Hospitality chair: Pauline Havens Conservation/Education chair: Janet Bala Members-at-large: Janet Bala, Pauline Havens, Ardys & Karl Holte, Linda Johnson, Chris McCoy, Mel Nicholls, & Shirley Rodgers. 14 When: Meetings are the first Wednesdays of March, April, May and October at 7:00 p.m. Field trips are during the spring and fall and we do not meet from November to February. Where: Conference room of Idaho Department Fish and Game, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur dAlene, ID 83815 Contact: Derek Antonelli for more information: antonelli8 at frontier dot com LOASA CHAPTER All INPS members and the public are welcome to attend chapter events. When: Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month Where: Taylor Building, Room 258, College of Southern Idaho Contact: Kelvin Jones at (208) 886-7051 for more information PAHOVE CHAPTER When: Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month from September- April, 6:30 p.m. The dates and topics below are tentative. More current information will be sent to members via postcard and email. Events are also posted on the Pahove Chapter page of the INPS website: htto://www. idahonativeplants.org/inps/chapter. aspx?Chapterld=4 Please join us for another great season filled with interesting presentations and excellent opportunities for camaraderie. Where: Meetings are usually held at the Contact: For more information about Pahove Chapter activities visit the website: www.idahonativeplants.ora or email Karie Pappani at pahove.chaoter. president at amail dot com UPCOMING EVENTS September 12: Kick off pizza party We will be hosting our scrumptious pizza party held in the Idaho Botanical Garden’s wooded picnic area again this year. Great food and fun happen here as well as officer elections. Pahove Chapter Secretary needed! Primary duties for this position include generating and submitting the meeting minutes and compiling the chapter’s news for Sage Notes. The Secretary may also help with posting information to the website and sending out email blasts about chapter activities and announcements. Other duties may involve preparation of word processing and excel spreadsheet documents. October 11: Bare root, bulbs, and seeds We will have various bare root stock, bulbs, and seeds available for purchase and/or exchange. We will also hear about the Seeds of Success Program from Susan Filkins. November 8: Ethnobotany During Kimi Slayton and Danielle Clay’s dual presentation on ethnobotany we’ll learn about fascinating relationships between cultures and their uses of plants for clothing, food, dyes, aesthetics and more. December 6: Annual Holiday Party December for the Pahove Chapter means our traditional holiday party, potluck, and gift exchange. Members enjoy the season with food, gifts, and a visit from Salmon Claus. Location to be announced. The Pahove Chapter’s annual native plant sale brought many area gardeners to the MK Nature Center to browse through the tremendous selection of plants. Photo by Jane Rohling Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 SAWABI CHAPTER Meetings: We welcome the public to our chapter’s informative programs. When: First Monday of each month, October through March, 7:00 p.m. Where: Pond Student Union Building, Room 308, ISU Campus, Pocatello. Contact: For more information call 208-241-5851 or email desertflwrs@amail.com . Marijana Dolsen, Janet Bala, Judy Minshall, and Cathy Frischmann INPS CHAPTERS UPPER SNAKE CHAPTER President: Allen Perkins Vice President: Sue Braastad Secretary: Alan Crockett Treasurer: Dave Godfrey Members at Large: Mark & Donna Whitman WHITE PINE CHAPTER whitepine.chaDter@amail.com President: James Riser Vice President: VACANT Secretary: Pat Fuerst RECENT EVENTS discuss plants found along City Creek near Pocatello. Photo by Bob McCoy Treasurer: Elisabeth Brackney Past President: Helen Yost Rainfall was scarce in the southwest deserts Landscaping & Restoration last winter and spring but Joshua Tree was an exception and the Sawabi spring field trip found abundant blooms park-wide. Ruth Moorhead led a mid-May trip to Scout Mountain to start the local season. Subsequent field trips included, among others, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Knox Canyon, Goodenough Canyon, the Aberdeen Research Station, a weekend at Big Springs with star-gazing, Formation Springs, City Creek, and Inman Canyon. Dr. Steve Love led a Saturday trip to Mt. Harrison where the abnormally warm weather resulted in a mix of late spring and mid-summer blossoms. Astragalus coccineus, scarlet milkvetch, Lost Palms Oasis, Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Bob McCoy Plants: Juanita Lichthardt Publicity Chair: VACANT Web: Nancy Miller, Patricia Hine www.whitepineinps.ora WOOD RIVER CHAPTER PO. Box 3093 Hailey, ID 83333 President: Carol Blackburn Vice President: VACANT Secretary: VACANT Treasurer: VACANT In mid-July, several of the Sawabi members participated in a botanical collecting foray in the Montpelier area. The event was organized and led by Dr. Rick Williams and Janet Bala of Idaho State University and included groups from the College of Idaho, Boise State University and Utah State University. Look for an article on the Botanical Foray in the next issue of Sage Notes. UPPER SNAKE CHAPTER When: Meetings are usually held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Field Trips are scheduled in the spring and summer. Where: Idaho Fish & Game office, Idaho Falls Contact: Sue Braastad, braastads at vahoo dot com Castilleja christii, Christ’s paintbrush, a species found only on Mt Harrison, Albion Mountains, south central Idaho. Photo by Dick Anderson Dr. Steve Love, far right, answers question on the flora of Mt Harrison for, left to right, Ed Bala, Stephanie Herrera, Wayne Minshall and Marijana Dolsen. Photo by Dick Anderson Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 15 IN PS Chapter News WHITE PINE CHAPTER Meetings: During the spring and fall, meetings are held once a month. Field trips occur regularly whenever the weather allows. Please check the chapter website for events which may be scheduled or finalized after this issue is printed: www.whiteDineinDS.ora or email the chapter officers at whiteDine.chaDter@amail.com . Contact: Pat Fuerst at eofuerst at frontier dot com or White Pine Chapter, PO Box 8481, Moscow, ID 83843. RECENT EVENTS See Nancy Miller’s account of recent events below. Above: Naked broomrape (Orobanche uniflora) Left: Big-head clover (Trifolium macrocephalum) Both photos by Gerry Queener WOOD RIVER CHAPTER Contact: Carol Blackburn at blackburncrl at vahoo dot com for information on activities and gatherings. Right: White Pine members on Parker Butte field trip. Photo by Terry Gray Below: Thick-leaf thelypody (Thelypodium laciniatum) Photo by Nancy Miller White Pine Chapter’s Spring and Summer Events By Nancy Miller On April 28, our destination was the Grande Ronde River canyon. The chapter celebrated Native Plant Appreciation week by viewing the diversity of flora along this significant elevation gradient as we progressed from Field Springs State Park down Rattlesnake grade to the Grande Ronde River and then up the other side to Flora, Oregon. This is always a favorite field trip for members and the species list continues to grow with each successive trip. Unfortunately only a few special plants can be mentioned here. A stop midway down the canyon presented an opportunity to wander the steep canyon breaks and see many of the usual spring blooming plants. The photographers delighted in photographing the very small plants of naked broomrape (Orobanche uniflora) which has no chlorophyll and is parasitic on sedums and species in the aster family. The harsh paintbrush (Castilleja hispida) appeared in a multitude of colors, again to the delight of the photographers. Along the Grande Ronde River, we were fortunate to find the blooms of thick-leaf thelypody (Thelypodium laciniatum) to be at their prime. We finished by traveling up the other side of the canyon through 16 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 On May 19, Emily Poor hosted a group of chapter members and guests at their property on Parker Butte, north of Moscow, Idaho. Most of this butte is private property so it was a special opportunity to see many Palouse Prairie plants on this remnant as well as to walk through the mixed forest areas to see woodland natives. The Palouse milkvetch (Astragalus arrectus), is one of the natives endemic to the Palouse which can be found on Parker Butte. Above: Thad Davis, helped setup for White Pine Chapter’s plant sale. Thad grew many of Flora, Oregon, to view the many plants in bloom. Pam discussed the hybridization of two balsamroots (Balsamorhiza sagittata and B. hookeri) in this area. This site also gave everyone an opportunity to view and photograph the impressive big-head clover (Trifolium macrocephalum). On May 26, the chapter hosted its first plant sale. The sale was a huge success — we sold over 800 native plants. Some were grown by chapter members — many of these were grown by Thad Davis. Many other plants were grown by Pat and Doug Mason of Pleasant Hill Farms near Deary, Idaho. the plants that were grown by members. Photo by Reid Miller X * I % fSl iVk Above: White Pine chapter is especially grateful to Pam Brunsfeld, Ul Stillinger Herbarium Manager and Curator, for helping plan and lead many of this spring and summer’s field trips and the penstemon workshop. Both photos by Nancy Miller Left: Whorled penstemon ' (Penstemon tn P h yii us On June 19, we met for a picnic at the University of Idaho Arboretum. Paul Warnick, University of Idaho Arboretum horticulturist, led us on a tour of the native and xeric section with its many eriogonums. We had high hopes for views of McFarlane’s Four O’Clock (Mirabilis mcfarlanei) in bloom, but the cold, wet spring and early summer were not to its liking. Another year! On June 28, Pam Brunsfeld, University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium Manager and Curator, conducted a penstemon identification workshop with a powerpoint presentation on the three major groups. There were fresh specimens of representative species which we could examine with the aid of dissecting microscopes. She also developed a key specifically to assist us in learning to identify diagnostic features of the genus and those species we might be likely to find in our area. Penstemons (or beardtongues) are among the most beautiful of western wildflowers, but the genus is considered by some to be a taxonomically difficult group. Many species are found in northern Idaho; some do very well in local gardens and they are relatively drought tolerant. Left: Palouse milkvetch (Astragalus arrectus Gray) on Parker Butte. Photo by Terry Gray Below: Emily Poor with White Pine Chapter members and guests on her Parker Butte property north of Moscow, Idaho. Photo by Nancy Miller Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 Below: White Pine group examining a large yellow salsify plant in the White Bird Pass area. Photo by Nancy Miller Right: Many color variations of Castilleja hispida in the Grande Ronde River canyon delighted photographers. Photos by Nancy Miller (first three photos) & Gerry Queener (red flower) 18 Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 On June 30, we took our first field trip to view blooming penstemons and other summer wildflowers in the White Bird Pass area. Although earlier penstemons had finished blooming, we were able to find whorled penstemon (Penstemon triphyllus Dougl.) blooming along the basalt cliffs. Its primary range is in the Snake River or Hells Canyon region. This lilac bloom has visible guide lines and a bearded, yellow-hairy staminoid. A large specimen of yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius) provided an opportunity to discuss the features of this genus. Ownbey studied T. dubious over 60 years ago when he discovered that several introduced species of this genus which grew on the Palouse had hybridized and formed new species — one a tetraploid and one an allopolyploid. Right: During the Grande Ronde canyon trip, hybridization of two balsamroots (Balsamorhiza sagittata and B. hookeri). Photo by James Riser Right: It’s not hard to imagine why the beautiful Calypso orchid {Calypso bulbosa) is also known as the “fairy slipper.” Surely any fairy would be proud to dance in such fancy footwear! Photo by Gerry Queener fane Rohling Communication Arts interpreting messages that matter through exhibits, signs, publica Lions interpretive planning & design t graphics, photography, research & uniting jrcojiiarts@gmai],com 208-938-3529 Eagle, ID DRAGGIN J WING PARM WATER-THRIPTY PLANTS TOR IDAHO Offering an extensive selection of locally- grown native and xeric landscape plants OPEN THIS SEPTEMBER WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY 1 O AM TO 5 PM Come and see our extensive demonstration GARDENS! The nursery is located at the end of stinger STREET, OFF OF CASTLE DRIVE, NEAR HILL ROAD, BOISE We can help you design your landscape and choose appropriate plants! Tor plant lists, photos, directions and more, see vwww.waterthriftyplants.com, or phone Diane at Help Wanted Producing Sage Notes is a BIG job and I would LOVE to have more help to lessen the load. Here are some ways you could contribute: • Write or solicit articles about botanical work, research, natural history, plant conservation, or any other topic of interest to IN PS members. • Take on the job of compiling all the articles, ads, chapter notes and other submissions into a single MS Word document (no fancy formatting required). • Review content for accuracy, spelling, correct common and scientific names, etc. and contact the author to clear up any questions. • Solicit advertisements or sponsors. Interested? Contact Jane Rohling, sage-editor@idahonativeplants.org Plantasia Cactus Gardens Large selection of Idaho A Cryat Basin native plants. A-TJ Cold-hardy cacti, yuccas, noltnas and other succulents. Our 5-ac«. 1 droughHOteranT botanical garden is open by app< iLntm ent Apr i J 1 -N o v. 1 5 . B67 Filer Ave W, Twin Falls, Idaho 83 301 Phone: 20ft-? U -7039 Cell 208-308-6840 Web: pliintQsijcaclusgarden^.toiT! Email: IprtOvil On^SilCbril Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012 19 f m Idaho Native Plant Society P.O. Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 www.idahonativeDlants.ora ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Boise, ID Permit No. 679 boisemetro DIGITAL PRINTING Where Color is Affordable! (208) 392-1481 • www.boisemetrodigital.com Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012