NOVEMBER 2011 P # The . ipevine Newsletter of the Mount Lassen Chapter CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY In the Comp any of Flowers Observations of Flowers and Insects as seen through a Macro Lens General Meeting November 2, 2011 Wednesday 7:30 pm Butte County Library, Chico J ohn will share his enthusiasm for viewing the intimate world of wildflowers (and some cul- tivated flowers) and their companions: bees, flies, butterflies, moths and spiders through macro (close-up) photographs. Macro photography of insects requires patience and a degree of quickness. Walking into a setting whether moun- tain meadow or masses of flowers in a garden, camera in hand, I stand and watch for several minutes to take in all the action; bumble bees, honey bees, large butterflies are the first to be seen, listening intently I might hear the different buzzing of other bee species or maybe the high pitched whine of the bee fly. And as the eye gets adjusted the world of the tiny, hover flies comes into focus. While taking in all this activity, there might be that something larger, that catches the eye, and the chase is on to follow and attempt to photograph whatever it might be - the clear wing moth that visited the nursery for a week this summer, a large, ungainly ichneumon wasp flying through the mountain meadow, or more recently a lone, unusual looking bumblebee (or was it?) quickly lighting on buds of a fall sunflower. There is always something new to observe in this tiny world where insects and flowers meet. Presented by JOHN WHITTLESEY Owner of Canyon Creek Nursery & Design, John is a garden designer, landscape contractor, nurseryman who also greatly enjoys taking photographs. His in- terest is growing plants and designing gardens that are water conserving and attractive, while providing habitat for people and wildlife. John is a graduate of the California School of Garden Design and has been a long time member of the Mount Lassen Chapter and served as Horticulture Chair for several years. His work and photographs were profiled in Pacific Horticulture’s Spring 2011 issue. Wes Dempsey and Gerry Ingco Co-chairs CSU, CHICO CAMPUS TREE TOURS November 4, and 18 December 2 Fridays Meet at 10 am in front of Bidwell Mansion, parking is free for participants. This is the 125th anniversary of CSUC Campus so we will be featuring the many fine trees that were in existence or planted about that time by the Bidwells: European lindens, American chestnuts, California incense cedars, water oaks, English and east white oaks, London planes, southern magnolia, pecans, turkey oak, and others. Ends about 11:45. Leaders: Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293 and Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123 UPPER BUTTE CREEK FLUME FALL COLORS November 6 Sunday Meet at Chico Park & Ride west parking lot (Hwy 99/32) at 9 am with lunch, water, hiking gear, and money for driver. Drive up Powellton Rd a short distance to a trail down to the flume where we see a large ‘hanging garden’ of chain ferns. Along the flume big leaf maple, dogwood, and Indian rhubarb should be in full color. Two miles easy walking along the flume bank and over a few trestles brings us to our lunch spot at scenic Clear Creek Falls. Return by the same route. Call for other meeting place above Paradise. Leaders: Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293 and Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123. Polyporus sulphureus, Sulphur Fungi on a Red Fir Forest Lake, Brokeoff Trail, Sept 25, 2011 Photo by Gerry Ingco OLD PLANT INTRODUCTION STATION TREE WALK November 13 Sunday Meet at Mendocino National Forest Conservation and Genetics Resource Center on Cramer Ln at 9 am. Fin- ish at noon. From the Skyway in southeast Chico, take Dominic Dr south to Morrow Ln and then east to Cramer Ln where the station begins and a sign directs you down Cramer. Fall colors will be great along this half-mile stroll with orange-red Chinese pistachios and yellow lindens. This USDA station was established on land donated by the Bidwells in 1904 where 100s of trees and shrubs from all over the world were planted to assess their value for medicine, fruit, and landscaping: kiwi, pistachio, cherry, along with plants for treating cancer. Many planted be- tween 1904 and 1930 line the nature trail. See tung oil tree, lacebark pine, mourning cypress, trident maple and others. Leaders: Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293 and Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123. TEN-MILE HOUSE TRAIL TO BIG CHICO CREEK November 27 Sunday Meet at Chico Park & Ride west parking lot (Hwy 99/32) in time to leave by 9:30 am. Wear hiking shoes. Bring lunch, water, sun screen/insect protection, and money for ride sharing. Call the leader for an alternate meeting place. We will drive east 9 miles on Hwy 32 to the Green Gate Trail Head. We will follow an historic wagon road two miles down to Big Chico Creek where we stop for lunch. On the way we will walk past California buckeye and black oak in fruit. We shall stop at a spring where an old homestead once stood. Be prepared to climb a verti- cal distance of 700’ on the two mile return route to the trail head. Leader: Gerry Ingco, 530-893-5123 CENTERVILLE FLUME December 4 Sunday Meet at Chico Park & Ride west parking lot (Hwy 99/32) with lunch, drink, money for driver and hiking gear at 9 am. Call for secondary meeting place. Easy walking along the ditchbank but there are also occasional nar- row trestles over the flumes. About 4 miles overall. In years past we have noted 24 different kinds of flowering plants in bloom, but with the early rains and cool summer it should be extra special. Leaders: Wes Dempsey 530- 342-2293 and Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123. 2 . The Pipevine November 2011 Executive Board Meeting November 16, 2011 Elizabeth Tice’s 530-345-5787 for directions President’s Message by Paul L. Moore Chapter President P robably the most revealing and stimulating characteristic of the Mount Lassen Chapter is the eager participation of many of its members. Clearly, these committed individuals wish to contribute to their communities in this area of their passion. I should also note as a side benefit of participating in the activi- ties and work of the Chapter is the friends you make and sustain over time. In the next several Pipevine editions, we will have opportunity to encourage your participation in all of te committees and programs of the Chapter. Let me begin the process by highlighting a few. CONSERVATION The Chapter has not been as aggressive in this area as we would like, so Committee Chair Woody Elliiott is in the process of establishing the agenda for Chapter efforts over the next sev- eral years. This is a large and challenging intellectual task. FIELD TRIPS This is and has been an exciting element of Chapter’s activities for many years. While Wes Dempsey and Gerry Ingco continue to chair the committee, we are looking for new members to help iden- tify and lead these wonderful hikes around Northern California. YAH I TRAIL MAINTENANCE This trail in Bidwell Park has been a commitment of a number of members over time and for those of you who hike in the Park, you know how important this type of community work is. Susan Bazell with the assistance of Stephen Overlook has recently as- sumed leadership for this important activity, and is seriously in need of periodic assistance. This is only a small start of explaining all of the opportunities there for participation. I urge you to consider these or other op- portunities laid out elsewhere in the Pipevine. Simply email or call the chairs to explore your interest in helping. Thank you so much for your interest and help. Legislative Notes by David Anderson BAD LAST MINUTE BILLS G overnor Brown has until October 9 to approve, veto or allow bills to become law without his signature. Therefore, this October 7 report will be limited to two bad bills he has already approved into law. AB 900 and SB 292 were rushed through the California Legislature during its final days without due hear- ing or analysis. They were passed at the urging of large project developers. They are bad bills because it is doubtful that they permit adequate judicial review of decisions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). SB 292 provides for an abbreviated period for judicial review of the Environmental Impact Report and approvals granted for the construction of a new football stadium in Los Angeles. The deci- sion of the District Court of Appeal must be issued within 1 75 days of the filing of a petition for review, and an additional 60 days is allowed if there is review by the California Supreme Court. AB 900 similarly provides for abbreviated judicial review under CEQA of projects anywhere related to residential, retail, commer- cial, sports, cultural, entertainment, recreational or clean energy uses, if they cost more than $1 ,000,000. The law will expire on January 1, 2015, unless extended. These bills were the subject of an editorial in the September 19 Enterprise-Record, which pointed out the unfairness of singling out large projects of wealthy developers for expedited review. It also noted the need for streamlining CEQA to avoid prolonged review litigation, but failed to consider whether adequate review would be possible under the brief period proposed in the bill. Review of lead agency approvals under CEQA needs streamlin- ing, but it can be done without crippling CEQA. The new laws were enacted without any in depth consideration of how much time is necessary for judicial review. The 1 75 days allowed for completion of review by the District Court of Appeal may sound like ample time to those not familiar with the judicial system, but it is a small fraction of the time required for most of the complicated litigation in our overburdened courts. Large development projects involve many environmental issues and extensive scientific analyses. The decisions of lead agencies cannot be dealt with in summary fashion. The new laws are a disguised effort to bypass CEQA. The fact that AB 900 is scheduled to automatically expire on January 1, 2015 is a clear indication that the Legislature recognized that the tight review schedule it mandates may prevent adequate review and defeat the purposes of CEQA. mountlassen.cnps.org The Pipevine November 2011 3. Photo by John Whittlesey MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER Nominations 2012 Elected Officers The following names are being nominated for Mount Lassen Chapter, 2012 Executive Board Officers. The election will be held at the General Meeting on November 2, 2011 MEMBERS SHOULD ATTEND AND VOTE. President Vice President Secretary Treasurer PAUL MOORE JOHN MEEHAN JIM BISHOP SUSAN BAZELL Members-at-Large PAULA SHAPIRO CAT IE BISHOP CINDY WEINER California Invasive Plant Council SYMPOSIUM by Susan Mason, Invasive Plants Chair C al-IPC (“Protecting California’s wildlands through science, education and policy.”) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and its annual Symposium, held in October at Granli- bakken Conference Center in north Lake Tahoe, provided many opportunities to reflect on how far they’ve come in increasing public awareness of invasive plants and also how much remains to be done. The elimination of all funding for weed control in the new state budget cast a slight pall over the event but it was balanced by the many reports of projects successfully executed due to funding via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2011 (ARRA). One of the most interesting is the new CalWeedMapper (http://calweedmapper. calflora.org) program, a collaboration of Cal-IPC and CalFlora that allows natural resource managers, scientists and others to create maps and reports of invasive plant distributions by county or region and to update species distribution data. In conjunction with this statewide database, several smart phone applications allow anyone who has one of these devices to contribute weed sightings to the WeedMapper (with attribution, of course, so that the validity level of the reporting can be evaluated). Several other ARRA-funded projects, such as the Bay Area Early Detec- tion Network, also tie into this new statewide web-based weed mapping program. Cal-IPC presented their new manual Preventing the Spread of Invasive Plants: Best Management Practices for Land Managers (downloadable from the Prevention section of the Cal-IPC web site www.cal-IPC.org). It’s useful to anyone who owns or works on rural or semi-rural property. They’re also working with trans- portation and utility corridor managers (e.g. Caltrans, PG&E) to develop a similar publication focused on reducing weed spread during construction and use of these corridors. It should be available in March 2012. On a local note, one of the Weed Alerts (weeds found for the first time in California) was for winged water-primrose ( Ludwigia decurrens), found within the last month in 3 Butte County rice fields. Another weed, stinkwort ( Dittrichia graveolens), which was first reported in one South Bay Area location a couple of years ago, has now spread to more than 30 counties in Califor- nia, including all Mount Lassen Chapter counties. The biology and control of stinkwort are poorly understood and this plant has become the focus of a major research effort at U.C. Davis. The entire Symposium Proceedings, including all of the presen- tation materials, will be available on the Cal-IPC web site within a couple of months. Although you don’t need to be a Cal-IPC member to access any of the extensive data on their web site, the work they’re doing is crucial for protecting California’s native plants so you might want to consider becoming a member or at least making a small donation to the organization. Dittrichia graveolens by JDiTomaso 4. The Pipevine November 2011 Mount Lassen Chapter CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY November 5, 2011 I0am-2pm Bidwell Mansion Historic State Park NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO PLANT NATIVES Some of the plants Mount Lassen Chapter CNPS will have for sale are white sage, bush monkey flower, chaparral currant, California pipevine, chaparral clematis, blue flax and more. Plant Sale Contact - Paula Shapiro 530.343.7440 HARVEST FESTIVAL FARM CITY CELEBRATION FREE FAMILY EVENT with arts & crafts, animal displays, antique farm equipment, food booths, bee demonstrations, Bidwell Mansion tours, horse-drawn carriage and much more. Festival Contact - Theresa Schneider at 530.518.9914 ortmbschneider@msn.com FLOTILLAS FLOWERS C alifornia agriculture officials have declared that the water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes) is “probably the world’s worst aquatic weed,” and now have imported a plant hopper for control ( Megamelus scutellaris) from the hyacinth’s South American native land. The insect sucks only hyacinth juices they claim, and it is hoped it will control the floating menace and unclog waterways. Like the squash plant in our garden, whose vine seems to extend outward a foot a day like an exploring snake, the water hyacinth is fantastically productive, doubling its buoyant bulbaceous growth in two weeks. The floating, swollen stems with rubbery leaves riding the vegetative buoy are spread to other countries partly because garden enthusiasts desire the lovely lavender blossoms. But exuberant escapees can cover ponds and waterways, block- ing the sunlight in a smothering interference with chemical neces- sities that other aquatic life needs. It also harbors mosquitoes and a snail that causes snail fever. There are seven species, and E. crassipes was introduced into North America in 1884. It is one of the fastest growing plants, spreading by projecting ‘daughters,’ and the seeds are viable for 30 years. Hyacinth got started at the beaver pond along Highway 149 near Oroville and quickly covered the roadside swamp, just as the one put in my Grandfather’s pond in 1947 multiplied. I can still see Grandpa in his knee boots raking hyacinth, and though a patient man, he would mumble “darn.” Of course, they froze in Missouri’s winters, but the seed grew again next year. Generally, invasive plants are considered land dwellers, but waterways are also subjected to runaway alien growth, and the presence is quite vivid when the surface is affected. Even native plants are invasive when they are over-productive, and a Butte County menace is the native duckweed. There are 14 kinds of duckweed, duckmeat, watermeal, and mudmiget species listed in Vern Oswald’s vasculars of Butte County! The little floaters are very proficient at covering the water, even though waterfowl and carp eat some of them. There are lesser duckweed (Lemna minor) and least duckweed (L. minuta), and another Lemnaceae mixed in that is even smaller- globe water- mea\-(Wolffia globosa). A montage of those minute monsters hover around Gray Lodge marshes, trying to take over the surface, along with the water fern, (Azolla filiculoides). All told, there are 38 species of duckweed, and they also plaster midwest ponds. Pesticides can kill them but it is not desirable. Plying the water surface are lily pads, too, and many similar, flat- leaved, ornamental floaters, including floating hearts, that look like small lily pads. Protruding from the water are the frog’s-bit, a semi-surface plant that resembles water hyacinth except they are less inclined to float and are partially submerged. The odd name was coined in referring to the observation that frogs bite at the leaves where caterpillars hide in the leaf curls. Floating plants are called hydrophytes, just as air plants are called epiphytes. Some of the most unusual partially floating water plants are the bladderworts (Utricularia). They are a carnivorous botanical entity on a par with pitcher plants and sun-dews, except they conduct their protein acquisition by luring minute ‘water lice’ into the trap- door-ball-float! Divers are more apt to see the sprawling masses that hover near the surface where one more life form occupies the zone between water and the sky! One summer, naturalist Paul Covel found them in a pond near Quincy, CA, and had a sample on display in a jar at Oakland Camp. They float upon the surface of the darkness in which I’m drowning. - Anne Rice, b 1941 All art is once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. - Oscar Wilde 6 . The Pipevine November 2011 Friends of the CHICO STATE HERBARIUM WORKSHOP November 4 ROOT PROBLEMS IN TREES: Assessing Trees for Potential Abiotic or Disease Issues Taught by Denice Britton, Urban Forest Manager, City of Chico since 2006. Chico State Herbaruim Holt Hall Rm 157. Registration info csuchico.edu/biol/Herb/workshops/Root_Prob- lems_11-4-11.pdf ANNUAL MEETING November 5 Friends of the Chico State Herbarium, Rm 129 3 pm. Guest Speaker, Melissa Ha Is late flowering in Clarkia unguicu- lata explained by pollinator-mediated interactions with co-flow- ering neighbors? Special Lecture by Dr. Michael Mesler, Stories from pollination heaven: 35 years of studying flowers and pollinators at Hum- boldt State University. Information csuchico.edu/biol/Herb/friends/Annual_Meeting_ 2011_draft.pdf Volunteer in BIDWELL PARK J oin the City of Chico’s Park Division Volunteers. For infor- mation contact Lise Smith-Peters, Volunteer Coordinator, or check webcalendar at: ci.chico.ca.us/general_services_depart- ment/park_division/volunteer_calendar.asp November 9 & 11 1-4pm VOLUNTEER WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS IN THE PARK Picnic Site #8 (off South Park Dr). Remove invasive weeds, thorn-less blackberries and European hackberry trees, and wa- ter native plants restored at the site. To reduce cars parking at the site, please park at Cedar Grove off of East 8th St. and then walk east through the park gate along South Park Dr to site #8. If you arrive late, call 624-1617 on Wednesday or call 624-3982 on Friday for worksite location. November 12 11 am -2 pm VOLUNTEER SATURDAYS IN THE PARK Cedar Grove - Remove invasive weeds from the area. Meet in the Cedar Grove parking lot off of E. Eighth St. If you arrive late, call 624-3982 for worksite location. November 16 & 18 1-4pm VOLUNTEER WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS IN THE PARK Annie’s Glen. Remove invasive plants, weed around baby oak trees, and remove litter. Meet at the pedestrian bridge in Annie’s Glen across from Morning Thunder. Call Wednesday cell 624-1617 or Friday cell 624-3982 on the workday for more information. November 19 11 am -2 pm VOLUNTEER SATURDAYS IN THE PARK TBA Officers & Chairs President Past President Vice-President Secretary ELECTED OFFICERS (530) PAUL MOORE 343-4287 pmoore@csuchico.edu JANNALATHROP 636-4547 jlathrop4mlc@comcast.net JOHN MEEHAN 894-5339 jsmeehan64@yahoo.com Treasurer Member-at-Large ELIZABETH TICE elizacnps@yahoo.com SUSAN BAZELL bazell@maxinet.com 345-5787 876-1475 893-5123 GERRY INGCO genaroingco@aol.com ERIN GOTTSCHALK FISHER egottschalkfisher@mail.csuchico.edu PHYLLIS LINDLEY 899-1514 Iindley84@att.net NANCY SCHLEIGER 774-4362 dirtball@shocking.com CHAIRS Conservation Education Invasive Plants Field Trips Co-chairs 342-6053 WOODY ELLIOTT woodyelliott@gmail.com ADRIENNE EDWARDS aledwards@csuchico.edu SUSAN MASON 892-1666 smason908@gmail.com WES DEMPSEY 342-2293 wdempsey@csuchico.edu GERRY INGCO 893-5123 genaroingco@aol.com Membership PHYLLIS LINDLEY Iindley84@att.net 899-1514 Horticulture PAULA SHAPIRO 343-7440 paulashapiro@wildblue.net Newsletter Editor DENISE DEVINE dsrdevine@hotmail.com 345-8444 Programs Co-chairs JIM BISHOP cjbishopl 991 @sbcg lobal.net WOODY ELLIOTT woodyelliott@gmail.com 342-6053 Rare Plants RON COLEY rcoley64@comcast.net 533-1238 Publicity CINDY WEINER 342-7645 wildflowermaven@comcast.net Sales Co-chairs JOHN MEEHAN jsmeehan64@yahoo.com ELLEN COPELAND copelande12@yahoo.com 894-5339 Vol. Recognition / Chapter Council Delegate CATIE BISHOP cjbishop1991 @sbcglobal.net mountlassen.cnps.org The Pipevine November 2011 7. MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY P. O. BOX 3212 CHICO, CA 95927-3212 Requested In-home Delivery 10/21 -24/11 3-Day Window Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Chico, CA Permit No. 553 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Time Value NOVEMBER 2011 issue Flowers & Insects r Join Today ! MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY I wish to affiliate with the Mount Lassen Chapter new renew Name Address City State Zip email Phone Send Membership Applications to: MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER CNPS P. O. BOX 3212 CHICO, CA 95927-3212 mountlassen.cnps.org Student / Limited Income $25 Individual $45 Family / Library $75 Plant Lover $100 Patron $300 Benefactor $600 November 2 - General Meeting 4 - Campus Tree Tour 5 - Harvest Fest PLANT SALE 6 - Upper Butte Flume 13 - Old Intro Station Walk 16 - Ex Board Meeting 18 - Campus Tree Tour 27 - Ten-Mile House Trail December 2 - Campus Tree Tour 4 - Centerville Flume 7 - General Meeting facebook