Newsletter of the Mount Lassen Chapter CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY General Meeting APRIL 1, 2015 Wednesday 7:30 pm Butte County Library An Overview of Fens in California National Forests Presented by LINNEA HANSON H ave you ever used the Celebrating Wildflowers website? Linnea will explain the features that are found on this website including the Wildflower Viewing Areas in the National Forests across the United States. Linnea recently compiled informa- tion about Fens in California National Forests for a webpage that will be part of the U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers website. Do you know the differences between a fen, a bog, a swamp and a marsh? Linnea will talk about the differences between these types of wetlands. She will then focus on the types of fens found in California. She will explain the history of our knowledge of fens in California and where fens are known to occur in California’s National Forests. Linnea will summarize the fen conservation and monitoring work that is being accomplished. And finally she will talk about some of the mosses and flowering plants that are found in fens in California. Linnea Hanson was hired as a botanist for the Plumas National Forest in 1979 and retired in 2011. In 2008, she received the first Agency Person of the Year Award from the California Native Plant Society. She is the President of Northern California Botanists, a professional organization for botanists and is a founding board member of the Friends of the Chico State Herbarium. Garden Fen, Plumas National Forest by Catie and Jim Bishop WES DEMPSEY and GERRY INGCO Co-chairs STATE PARK AT SUTTER BUTTES PEACE VALLEY & VICINITY April 19 Sunday Simultaneous walks are again scheduled within this new State Park which is accessible for guided groups only. Woody Elliott will lead a wildflower search along the easy trails in Peace Valley. Jim Dempsey will interpret a more strenuous route (4.8-5.6 miles, plus climb and drop of over 800 ft, depending on the progress of the group) over the surrounding ridges to better see plant com- munities and panoramas. $10 per person fee will be charged to cover costs of State Park Special Use Permit and escort. Bring lunch, water, hat, hiking shoes, long pants and money for ride sharing. Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot (Hwys 32/99) at 8 am or Live Oak Memorial Park public pool on Pennington Road (3rd block on right west of ARCO Gas Station) at 8:45 am to car pool. Limit 30 persons. To sign up email Woody Elliott (preferred) woodyelliott@gmail.com, 530 588-2555. ukcnmq events krnlb April 4 - OROVILLE WILDFLOWER AND NATURE FESTIVAL Riverbend Park, looking for members to help at our booth April 12 - MLC WILDFLOWER SHOW - see page 5 April 22 - EARTH DAY film, Sierra Nevada Big Room May 2 - ENDANGERED SPECIES FAIRE Bidwell Park, looking for members to help at our booth To help please contact Janna Lathrop 530 228-0010 orjlathrop4mlc@comcast.net. TEN MILE HOUSE TRAIL UPPER BIDWELL PARK, CHICO April 26 Sunday Meet at 10 am at the Green Gate entrance to Upper Bidwell Park. Green Gate trailhead is located on Hwy 32, 9 miles east of the intersection of Hwys 32 / 99 in Chico. Watch for oncoming traffic and turn into the parking area on the north side of Hwy 32. Bring lunch, water, sun/insect protection and sturdy shoes. Start- ing at 900 ft elevation, we’ll hike 1-1/2 miles down on the historical wagon road to our lunch spot by Big Chico Creek. We may see yellow star tulip, scarlet fritillary, and California buckeye in bloom under black oaks and bay laurels. Also learn about the rich history of this trail and its significance to the old Humboldt Wagon Road to Susanville. Be prepared to climb 700 ft on the 2 mile return, a strenuous, but worthwile walk up to the trailhead. Leaders: Gerry Ingco 530-893- 5123, Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293 CAMP CREEK ROAD TO MAYARO FEATHER RIVER CANYON PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST May 3 Sunday Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot (Hwys 32/99) at 9 am. Bring lunch, water, sun/insect protection and money for ride sharing. We will drive 32 miles north on Hwys 99 and 70 to the old railroad town of Pulga. Then 2 miles on the Camp Creek Road high above, and looking down, on the Feather River. Mayaro is the site of the ruins of a 1920’s resort, accessed mainly by the Western Pacific Railroad. Camp Creek Road is unpaved, narrow, rough surfaced, recom- mended only for high-clearance vehicles. By ride- sharing we will attempt to accommodate those who drive low-centered vehicles. We will make frequent stops to see Fritillaria, snowdrop, lupine, and bush monkey flower as we cross from granite to serpen- tine slopes. We shall lunch at a scenic waterfall. The average elevation is about 2000 ft. Call for alternate meeting place. Leaders: Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123, Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293. 2 . The Pipevine April 2015 Executive Board Meeting April 21 - 7 pm Suellen Rowlison suellen@garlic.com President’s Message by CATIE BISHOP, President S pring means wildflowers and celebrations of wildflowers. But what is spring? This year astronomical spring fell on March 20th at 3:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time (when the sun is directly over the equator, and day and night are equal in length). Meteorologically speak- ing, however, in the Northern Hemisphere the official spring season always begins on March 1 and continues through May 31. Weather scientists divide the year into quarters this way to make it easier to compare seasonal and monthly statistics from one year to the next. The meteorological seasons are based on annual tem- perature cycles rather than on the position of earth in relation to the sun, and they more closely follow the Gregorian calendar. Us- ing the dates of the astronomical equinoxes and solstices for the seasons would present a statistical problem because these dates can vary slightly each year. Now that you have the meteorological and astronomical defini- tions, what else do we mean by spring? Like everywhere in the northern hemisphere, California spring means the end of winter, and the beginning of a new growing cycle. The sun is returning from its southerly migration, and soon the plants will be “greening up” in preparation for capturing that sunlight, growing, and making new little copies of themselves. When we think of spring, we think of flowers, birds singing, change- able weather, dew on the grass instead of frost, and that different way the light looks walking out in the morning. The air is cool, but not biting. We don’t want to hurry back into the house. Instead we want to walk, breathe deep, look at everything for those early signs of life, and renewal. And we want to share those things with others. Luckily we have knowledgeable and generous volunteers in our midst who want to share our spring wildflower bounty with others. Though I’ve seen our Wildflower Show many times, I’m always as- tonished and delighted at the beauty and diversity of the plants that live among us. Spring is the time to acknowledge and celebrate them. Come be astonished and delighted with me as we welcome back spring and its wildflowers - April 12, at the CARD Center. Legislative Notes by DAVID ANDERSON DEADLINE PASSED FOR NEW CALIFORNIA BILLS U nder its 2015 calendar February 27 was the last day for bills to be introduced in the California Legislature. CNPS now has the enormous task of reviewing the mass of pend- ing bills to determine which ones are of interest in relation to plant conservation and whether to support or oppose them. To date (Mar. 6) the CNPS Legislation Tracker website indicates that three Senate bills (SB-16, SB-122 and SB-127), two As- sembly bills (AB-1 and AB 140) and AJR-4 (Assembly Joint Resolution - 4) are of interest and being followed. When the CNPS report on positions taken is released a synopsis of the bills will follow. AJR-4 is a joint Assembly/Senate Resolution asking President Obama to take unilateral action under the Antiquities Act to create the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. On February 1 7 it passed the Assembly on a vote of 54 to 20 and was referred to the Senate Rules Committee, where it now sits. The failure of the California Legislature to complete and forward AJR-4 may be due to giving deference to the Obama Administration’s stated preference to have the national monu- ment created by an Act of Congress. President Obama has already created more national monuments under the Antiquities Act than any other President and has been under conserva- tive criticism for it. The trouble is, the bills in Congress (H.R. 761 and S. 393) are not likely to pass the conservative 114th Congress and still sit in the Committees to which they were referred after introduction on February 5. (Catie cont) Here is a short poem and a quote from Mark Twain that I like relating to spring. I hope you enjoy them too. Green Things Growing by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik O the green things growing, the green things growing, The faint sweet smell of the green things growing! I should like to live, whether I smile or grieve, Just to watch the happy life of my green things growing. by Mark Twain It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want— oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! The Pipevine April 2015 3. MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER Supports the CHICO SCIENCE FAIR by ANN ELLIOTT A s science and technology become evermore important to our future, the challenge of improving science and technology education in our schools continues to moti- vate the Chico Science Fair Foundation. For over 20 years the Chico Science Fair has been encouraging students - our future scientists and engineers - to learn about science and the scien- tific method, to apply that knowledge, and to share their results. (from the Chico Science Fair Foundation’s Vision statement.) For several years, the Mount Lassen Chapter has joined other local organizations in granting Special Awards to a few student exhibits at the Chico Science Fair. Janna Lathrop, Events Chair, has been instrumental for years in contacting the Fair, arranging for prizes, and judging exhibits. This March 3 Hesh Kaplan and I had a great time perusing all the projects at the Chico Sci- ence Fair. Hesh, who has judged at the fair a number of years, reported that there were fewer projects this year as the fair had been scheduled much earlier in the school year. Many student projects were in the areas of physics and chemistry categories. Hesh tallied that Gummy Bear projects exceeded potato battery projects by 8 to 5. 1 noticed a good number of projects displaying catapults made from plastic spoons. However many projects had been well thought, executed with care, and displayed clearly. Mount Lassen Chapter considers projects in plant and environ- mental sciences for awards. Hesh and I found a number of fine projects deserving our recognition. Grade K - Jack Macnally-Vanella, Notre Dame School Jack’s First Garden (growing radish seeds in different media) Grade 4 - Trenten Dewell, CORE, Butte County Fun with Burnt Dirt, The Changes in Soil after a Wildfire Grade 5 - Emily & Marie Huitt, Notre Dame School Wiggle Wiggle (Will Earthworms survive drought? Does the ad- dition of Earthworms to potted tomato plants enhance growth?) Grade 6 - Alden Ingelson-Filpula, CORE, Butte County - Crackling Cones, Effect of Heat on Cupressus Macnabiana Cones Grade 7 - Anika Stikney, Notre Dame School Water Conservation Through Soil Cover Prizes for each project consisted of a CNPS backpack with na- turejournaling kit including journaling directions, a blank journal, pencil, hand lens, field ruler, plus stickers and information about CNPS. Certificates and prizes were awarded on March 5. I at- tended part of the ceremony and was able to talk with some of our student winners. Emily and Marie Huitt (below) were involved in their school’s Environmental Club and wanted to move beyond that. They car- ried out their experiment with earthworms and tomato plants last summer. The most interesting part to them was discovering that the earthworms went into estivation (a kind of hibernation) in the tomato plant pot which did not get watered. This was such a new concept to them that they were fascinated - so much better than just dying. Anika Stikney is great at math and her parents are steering her toward a career in science. She is leaning toward becoming a medical doctor, but will consider the engineering and computer science fields her parents are promoting. At age 13, she has many years ahead to explore possibilities. Her project on water conservation is certainly a timely issue. Mount Lassen Chapter has an opening for an education chair. Connecting with the regional science fairs and local teachers would be part of the volunteer position. Many of the events at which we do CNPS outreach would be enhanced with activi- ties for students of all ages. Considering connecting to our local young minds and spreading the word about Native Plant Con- servation. 4. The Pipevine April 2015 Sidalcea oregana by Robert Fischer NATIVE PLANT SALE APRIL 12, 2015 Sunday Noon - 5 CARD CENTER 545 Vallombrosa, Chico Donation $5 Student ID / Up to 1 7 FREE Gve/ir 300 Sp&oOesy Displays Nature Talks & Walks Microscopes Books, Posters & Children’s Activities Californ a Native P ant Wee ( , Mount Lassen Chapter ALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY mountlassen.cnps.org SIGN OF THE TIMES HOSPITALITY THANKS YOU Interest in Native Plant Gardening is Growing by JIM BISHOP T he California Native Plant Society has long promoted, practiced, and valued native plant gardening. It is one of the pillars of our Mission Statement. We have produced pamphlets and books about it, offered workshops and sympo- siums, hired a Horticulture Program Di- rector, and grown and sold lots of native plants in countless chapter plant sales. We have made clear the value of native habitats, even small ones, to wildlife — from wildlife that crawls to some that flies. Much of that time it has been a fairly lonely project, with minimal outside interest evident. BUT THINGS ARE CHANGING. In recent times other organizations in our area have begun to active- ly promote planting native plants in home gardens, and even some agricultural uses such as hedgerows. Each group has its own focus, but all recognize the value of restoring native plants to homes, farms, and parks... for beauty, resilience, sustainability, water efficiency, and habitat creation. Altacal Audubon Society, mainly focused on birds, has put forward a program that allows for the ‘certification’ of a home garden that uses enough native plants and creates useful habitat for wildlife. That pro- gram was described in an article in last month’s Pipevine. Butte Mas- ter Gardeners have offered classes on using native plants in home gardens. The CSU Chico Herbarium has offered workshops on de- signing gardens and on propagating native plants. The California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis (a joint program between Master Gardeners and the UC Cooperative Extension) has included topics relevant to native plant horticulture and pollinator habitat in workshops that they offer the public. We are pleased that the value of native plant gardens is being more widely recognized, and that other organizations are helping to en- gage and enable the public. We appreciate their contributions, and we want to collaborate in ways that best serve the public’s aware- ness of and application of native plants to domestic and agricultural landscapes. The sign pictured above can be ordered from CNPS. Just go to the state CNPS website. And it may also be offered soon on our chapter sales table. NATIVE PLANTS by KARROLYNN YELLS, Hospitality Chair LOOKING for dedicated and talented bakers - we need lots of cookies for the Wildflower Show on April 12. Please contact KarroLynn @karrolyn ny@att.net or 530 534-3551. THANK YOU! These businesses support the goals of the CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY FLORAL NATIVE NURSERY 2511 Floral Avenue Chico, California 95973-251 1 \ 1 % Telephone/Fax : (530) 2-251 1 E-mail: camtive@shocking.eom j . t V * Perenniais, Hertis NtiliVr Trees anii Stirlihs "Nancy Sdlieiger Certifisa Piniiaculture Des-.gaer By appointment na:t»e^'Dgmi/5Ctfyfej£nnail .corn l£7i Cunimiags Loiw Ihirimffl, r/L 9S93S noi (wap ring.'} rnsrs ery. coni T discount applies only to plants .THE ■ Kj-LK ■IIH 1 "- Ei In A' !T'.'_ 5,1 1) .HML2J ttw-w. rh q} ] :in t b ij- n , c o [ H Serving Odhhm md Adults mth DiwhiUtks On m pr of 8th & Wall Street ■ Oliro ■ m-mtm Unique Permnkh , Annuals, Garden Art & Mow! LittleRedHeiuorg GIFT & GARDEN discount applies only to plants 1 3A7 East Ave, Chico | 530 894,541 0 | www.MagnolioGardening.cotn 6 . The Pipevine April 2015 FRIENDS of the HERBARIUM Workshop descriptions and reg forms are available at Chico State Herbarium website: csuchico.edu/biol/Herb/Events.html April 11 PLANT FAMILIES IN THE GARDEN AND IN THE WILD by Emily Meigs Doe and Linnea Hanson Wonder how plants are grouped into families? Live and herbarium specimens will be used to illustrate these traits. Plant walk to use new skills to recognize plant families and identify plants. April 18 WILDFLOWER PHYTO-BLITZ AT VINA PLAINS by Marjorie McNairn and Rob Schlising Celebrate the 20th year that Friends of the Herbarium have helped support the Chico State Herbarium and have promoted botany in the area. Meet in Chico at 9 am to divide into teams, receive up-to-date wildflower checklists and car pool to Vina Plains Preserve. This wildflower phyto-blitz is free but is by reservation only, and attendance is limited to current members of Friends of the Herbarium. Register in advance, for more information contact the Biology Office at (530) 898-5356 or epurvis@csuchico.edu. 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 mountlassen.cnps.org Officers & Chairs ELECTED OFFICERS 1 (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 891-8910 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 SUSAN MASON 892-1666 smason908@gmail.com 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 cjbishop1991@sbcglobal.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 JANNALATHROP 228 0010 jlathrop4mlc@comcast.net Yahi Trail STEPHEN OVERLOCK 892-0635 stephenoverlock@sbcglobal.net CCNC Gardens CLAIRE MEEHAN meehanclairel @g mail, com J facebook. The Pipevine April 2015 7. r* 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 APRIL 2015 issue Pipevine Phyllis would say Join Today ! MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY I wish to affiliate with the Mount Lassen Chapter 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 4 - Oroville Wildflower Festival 11 - 19 - CA Native Plant Week 12 - WILDFLOWER SHOW 15 - Ex Board Meeting 19 - Sutter Buttes Hike 22 - Earth Day 26 - Ten Mile House Hike May 2 - Endangered Species Faire 3 - Camp Creek 6 - General Meeting 20 - Ex Board Meeting 30 - 31 - CNPS Chapter Council