OCTOBER 2011 P # The . ipevine Newsletter of the Mount Lassen Chapter CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY General Meeting October 5, 2011 Wednesday 7:30 pm Butte County Library, Chico PLANT COLORS Beauty and Science All Around Us Presented by JIM BISHOP Jim has been fascinated by plant colors for years. His educational background includes physics, earth and atmo- spheric science, some biochemistry and plant physiology, and a lot of self-education with readings about the science of plant color. He has taken hundreds of plant-color photo- graphs for both beauty and as illustrational examples. Plants are an endless source of enjoyment and interest, and he likes to offer others some of what he has seen. P lants offer endless, engaging beauty in their many colors. There are the blooms of spring in our foothills, lovely desert and mountain wildflowers, the glorious leaves of au- tumn, and even the beauty of the universal greens of leaves before they turn. There are interesting stories in all of that. Part of the story will be about the science and why — how do plant colors arise, how do condi- tions such as acidity change pigment colors, what purpose do they serve? The interesting questions are endless (and not all of the answers are known). You’ll gain some background that will enrich your understanding and appreciation of plant colors, and you’ll have new questions of your own. And much of the program will be just to enjoy the beauty of the rich and varied colors displayed by plants. ..flowers, fruits, leaves, and stems. ..from deserts to mountaintops, from shrublands to fall- color forests and woodlands. Acer sanguinum (Sugar Maple) Photo by Jim Bishop Wes Dempsey and Gerry Ingco Co-chairs KINGS CREEK FALLS TRAIL LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK October 1 6 Sunday Meet at the Chico Park & Ride west parking lot (Hwy 99/32) in time to leave by 8:30 am. Call the leader for alternate meeting place. We will drive 89 miles to trail head for the falls in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Start- ing at 7,300’ elevation, the trail follows Kings Creek as it cascades in a continuous series of smaller falls to end at Kings Falls proper. The falls, dropping about fifty feet, are draped in ferns which thrive off the mist. Watch for mountain ash with its clumps of brilliant red berries. Hik- ing distance, one way, is about 1 1/2 miles and descends a vertical distance of 700 feet. Level of difficulty is moder- ate and the way back is uphill. Take water, sun protection, lunch, insect repellant, sturdy shoes, and money for ride sharing. Rain Cancels. Leader: Gerry Ingco 530-893- 5123. mountlassen.cnps.org UPPER BUTTE CREEK FLUME FALL COLORS November 6 Sunday Meet at the Chico Park & Ride west parking lot (Hwy 32/99) at 9 am with lunch, water, hiking gear, and money for driver. We will drive up Powellton Road a short dis- tance 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 col- or. 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. Susan Bazell and Jana Lathrop with giant Mountain Hemlocks ( Tsuga mertensiana) Ridge Lakes Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park Sept 3, 2011 Photo by Woody Elliott MAIDU MEDICINE WALK UPPER BIDWELL PARK October 2 Sunday Meet at Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park (Parking area E) at 9 am for a short, one-mile walk to see about 30 of the plants used by the local Maidu Indians for medicine, food, and crafts. Soaproot for cleansing suds and catch- ing fish, elderberry for flutes and clappers, gray pine for skin ointment and food, and many others. Over at noon. Leader: Wes Dempsey 530-342-22933. CSU, CHICO CAMPUS TREE TOURS October 21 November 4, 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 featur- ing the many fine trees that were in existence or planted about that time by the Bidwells: European lindens, Amer- ican 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 2 . The Pipevine October 2011 Executive Board Meeting October 19, 2011 Woody Elliott’s 530-342-6053 woody.elliott@gmail .com President’s Message by Paul L. Moore Chapter President T he Mount Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, while being a fairly small nonprofit organization, is making some tremendous progress in serving its membership and the public. Under the leadership of Woody Elliott, we have established a website which gives very complete, up to date information about events, issues, and learning opportunities. The website is a companion to the state website so you can keep track of what is happening everywhere in California. And, to keep close tabs on what is happening in Northern California, the Mount Lassen Chapter’s facebook page is available. I urge you to take a look at mountlassen.cnps.org, and if you have any ideas about how to improve it, please feel comfortable let- ting Woody know. We are also making significant progress in establishing a com- panion to the state organization’s Rare Plant Program, chaired locally by Ron Coley. Its exciting program was highlighted in the September Pipevine, but what is most exiting is that its search program will expand from two outings this year to four already planned efforts for next year. You will be able to obtain the schedule by reviewing the event schedule published monthly or going online. I would also like to highlight the programs about native plants that take place each month at the General Meetings of the Mount Lassen Chapter held typically in the Chico Library on 1st Avenue. Our September program was a series of photographs of native flowers taken by members over many years, including some by Phyllis Lindley, beginning in the 1950’s. How technol- ogy has changed! Of special note is the program on October 5, which will be a presentation by our own Jim Bishop on Plant Colors. Jim has had a long and technical interest in plant colors including information from physics, earth and atmospheric sci- ence, biochemistry and plant physiology, as well as the general literature on plant colors. He will bring a wide range of pictures to illustrate the issues he will present. This will be a very infor- mative and stimulating program. I hope to see you there. Legislative Notes by David Anderson RULES FOR WILD AND ROADLESS AREAS THREATENED M any bills pending before the 1 1 2th Congress seek to weaken or deny enforcement funding to environmental protection laws, but H.R. 1581 (Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011) is one of the most egregious. The identical Senate bill isS. 1087. The bill would release public lands administered by the BLM that have not been designated as wilderness (and not identified as unsuitable for wilderness designation) from further study for wilderness designation. Such lands would no longer be subject to the requirement that they be managed in a manner that does not impair their suitability for preservation as wilderness. H.R. 1581 would also rescind the Forest Service roadless area rules, which were adopted after prolonged rulemaking hearings and public comments. It would release USFS inventoried roadless areas, not already designated as wilderness, from further study for wilderness designation. Existing road building and other land use restrictions in those areas would be abolished. In short, millions of acres of pristine lands with wilderness charac- teristics (much of it in California) would be opened to unchecked development with its adverse effects on both wildlife and native plants. As of September 10, H.R. 1581 and S. 1087 are still in Commit- tees in the House and Senate. Our elected representatives in Congress all have websites and are listed in the telephone book. If you want to help save the pristine character of our public lands, tell them to vote NO on this bill. Phyllis Lindley showing her slides at the General Meeting Sept 7, 201 1 . Photo by Woody Elliott The Pipevine October 2011 3. THANK YOU EVERYONE that gave a donation through the Annie B’s Community Drive that was sponsored by the North Valley Community Foundation. All monies donated to Mount Lassen Chapter from August 1st - Sep- tember 30 was allotted back to our chapter and an additional percentage based on the total monies donated to us was granted. THANK YOU. Your donation to the Mount Lassen Chapter during the drive comes back to us at 100% and more. MLC is ONLINE! mountlassen.cnps.org O ur website is growing and changing and it will even be dif- ferent when you get this Pipevine. Check out the Home page; General Meetings, Board Meetings, Field Trips (click and download each trip) current Pipevine newsletter (click and down- load), a link to CNPS E- newsletter, our own MLC facebook link, and a link to the Annie B’s Community Fund Drive. The sub-files are still being developed but some have information. Contacts has the Officers and Chairs emails, Archives have one year of Pipevines and Board Minutes (click and download) Thanks Woody facebook. Yes !!! we have a FACEBOOK PAGE with lots of photos and information G-0-0-0 LOOK and LIKE US Go to: California Native Plant Society, Mount Lassen Chapter Check Your MAILING LABEL We need your Email Addresses! O ccasionally, after the Pipevine newsletter has been print- ed and mailed, we would like to provide updates to our members. These might include corrections and additions to the Field Trips calendar, local native plant-related activities that we just learned about, printable event posters, or information that wasn’t available at the time we went to print. Email is an efficient way to provide these updates and we plan to offer this service shortly. We have email addresses for most mem- bers and will send an initial email newsletter to those members. Take a look at your Pipevine mailing label. If we already have an email address for you, you’ll see only your membership ex- piration date in the top right corner, and we’re set to go. If we don’t have an email address for you, there will be a # before your due date. Maybe you don’t have email. But, if you do and want to be on our updates list, email our membership chair at Iindley84@att.net. Either way, you can unsubscribe at any time. Everyone will still receive the Pipevine by regular mail. Thank You. RARE PLANT by Ron Coley, Rare Plant Chair T he rare plant treasure hunt is looking for new places to sur- vey next year, to search and survey for rare plants. If you know the location of any rare plants let me know what plant(s) and where it is so we can see if it needs to be surveyed and/or documented. If you have any photos of rare plants that the Mount Lassen Chapter can use on our new webpage we would sure appreciate being able to share them, credit will be given to the photographer. Please let me know. My phone number and/or e-mail address are in the Pipevine as Rare Plant Chair. 4. The Pipevine October 2011 Sacramento River Ifg CNPS Mft 1? Conservation Conference Conserving and restoring the roots of California's richness T he 2012 Conference Silent Auction Committee is looking for donations and committee members! The 2009 Confer- ence Auction raised almost $10,000 for CNPS’ Conservation Program, let’s beat our own record in the name of California’s native plants! Ideas for donations include: plant themed and handmade artwork, books, gardening accessories, jewelry, and other items of beauty, value, or interest. If you would like to donate, please fill out the Auction Donor Form available at the www.cnps.org website. Please consider donating your time by joining the Silent Auction Committee and soliciting donations or volunteering at the conference. For ques- tions about donations or volunteer opportunities please contact silentauction201 2@cnps.org. HABITAT RESTORATION He will accept the assistance of anyone who can help out for even an hour. Please pass this on to potential interested community volunteers or student interns. Please contact Jim Dempsey Environmental Scientist California Department of Parks and Recreation, jdempsey@parks.ca.gov 530-538-2240 Ridge Lakes Hike Lassen Volcanic National Park Sept 3, 2011 28 hikers at Sulphur Works Photo by Gerry Ingco See more on facebook J im Dempsey, of California Department of Parks and Recre- ation, is looking for volunteers to help with an 1 1 -acre habitat restoration planting located 4 miles west of Chico along the Sac- ramento River, in early to mid November over 3-6 days. Volunteers will work with California Conservation Corps and State Parks staff planting 4000 native plants at the Bidwell-Sac- ramento River State Park, Pine Creek Access, west side project. The project is grant funded through the CalTrans Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program. This is hard physical labor with shoveling and carrying heavy plants, installing protective milk cartons and clean up. He will need help with prep work; loading plants and tools, set out flags according to detailed instructions. NEW MEMBERS m • Tyron Chang Chico o> Diane Haight Chico Cj Ay la Mills Chico H Thor Matteson Chico O O For information about becoming a member of } \ MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER CD CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY contact Membership Chair Phyllis Lindley 530-899-1514, Iindley84@att.net or use the application on last page of this newletter The Pipevine October 2011 5. In Mountain EfflUAISOW by Rex Burress O n the August 1 9 day that our Oroville docent group was looking for Lotts Lake in the High Lake country above Paradise, we stopped at Philbrook Lake for lunch. Spring was still in the air at that 5000-foot elevation, and while the wildflower landscape had browned-out in Oroville pastures, the mountains were taking their turn with flowery displays in the meadows, especially near watery fields. A moist meadow near the lake was populated by six-foot plants that looked like leafy corn stalks with a terminal white crown of small blossoms poised, as if ready to take off from earth. In fact, they were Corn Lilies, Veratrum californi- cum, found in high summer meadows above 4,500 feet, where the spring season is delayed. There was snow not so long ago, and a few dirty white drifts still lingered in the shadows. Quite distinctive are the corn lily’s parallel-veined leaves that resemble fattened corn stalk leaves, attached alternately up to the pinnacle of tiny clustered white flowers. The tower- ing corn lilies look like the guardians of the colorful wildflowers clustered around close to the ground, and the ‘corn’ seemingly stands aloof like the sentinel parents of a Canada Goose family watching their goslings wobble in the grass. Ironically, Canada geese grazed nearby! The corn lily is indeed in the lily family, and sometimes called ‘False Hellebore,’ mostly because some species of hellebore also have the alternate leaves up the stock even though they are shorter. Both are highly toxic if eaten, although like a number of poisonous plants, when properly used, they can become a form of medicine, as the American Indian, in some way, discovered! Some tribes also made a poison dart out of corn lily juice. The corn lily alkaloids are extremely toxic for most animals, like a number of the lily species. The poison, which can slow the heart in some medical procedures, is concentrated in the roots of V. californicum, but if the leaves are eaten by sheep there is a disruption of pregnancies resulting in one-eyed lambs! It is the ‘666’ plant: Six filaments with six yellow anthers and six petals... and six feet tall! If Jesse Sank, husband of Cornelia Lott Sank, had had infor- mation about medicinal plants, perhaps he could have saved Cornelia when she was stricken at their summer cabin at Lotts Lake. She died in her sleep [probably not from eating corn lilies], and Jesse had to haul her body back to Oroville in 1953. Ironically, their Lotts Lake cabin was just across the line from Butte County, in Plumas County, and lawfully, the Plumas County coroner was required to come from Quincy to verify death. Jesse was arrested for a short time for breaking the law as it was at that time. No one loved Cornelia more than Jesse. Corn lily is sometimes called ‘skunk cabbage,’ because it stinks when it withers from drought or at the coming of frost. At that time it becomes harmless and was used by the Maidu. See what you can learn from a field trip! A sense of history should be the most precious gift of science and of the arts. - Aldo Leopold Corn Lily, ( Veratrum californicum) Photo by Jack Devine 6 . The Pipevine October 2011 Bloomin’ Bidwell Park A Guide to the Flowers Website by Jon Aull, Chico Creek Nature Center Naturalist It is like a plant key - you start with color and petals bloominbidwellpark.org Volunteer in BIDWELL PARK J oin the City of Chico’s Park Division Volunteers. For informa- tion contact Lise Smith-Peters, Volunteer Coordinator, or check webcalendar at: http://www.ci.chico.ca.us/general_services_de- partment/park_division/volunteer_calendar.asp October 1 11 am -2 pm VOLUNTEER SATURDAYS IN THE PARK Picnic Site #27 - remove invasive weeds, water native plants and mulch the area. Meet at picnic site 27 by walking in from the Madrone pedestrian entrance (off of Vallombrosa Ave) and turn right at N. Petersen Dr and walk to the picnic site. Call 624-3982 right before work session for directions. October 4 & 7 1 - 4 pm VOLUNTEER TUESDAYS 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 Tues. cell 624-1617 or Friday cell 624-3982 on the workday for more information. October 8 1 1 am - 2 pm VOLUNTEER SATURDAYS IN THE PARK Area between Picnic Site # 24 & 25 - remove invasive weed trees (hackberry). Meet between picnic sites 24 & 25 by walking in from the Madrone pedestrian entrance (off of Vallombrosa Ave) to the picnic sites Call 624-3982 on the workday for more information. October 11 & 14 1-4pm VOLUNTEER TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS 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 624-1617 on Tuesday or call 624-3982 on Fridays for location. October 22 1 0 am - 1 pm MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY IN BIDWELL PARK. Work on various projects: Habitat restoration in the One Mile Recreation Area; Big Chico Creek trash removal; remove weeds from around baby oak trees; painting and more. The City Park Division will provide tools and instruction. Pre-Registration and project assignment required. Registration form to be posted soon. Sign infront of Caper Acres play area. Contact the volunteer coordinator at 896-7831 for more information. October 28 1 - 4 pm VOLUNTEER FRIDAYS IN THE PARK Lost Park - remove litter and weeds from this popular downtown park. Meet in the City’s public parking lot #5 on East 1st St be- hind Solutions Cubed. Call 624-3982 right before work session for directions. Officers & Chairs ELECTED OFFICERS President PAUL MOORE pmoore@csuchico.edu Past President JANNA LATHROP jlathrop4mlc@comcast.net Vice-President JOHN MEEHAN 894-5339 jsmeehan64@yahoo.com Secretary ELIZABETH TICE 345-5787 elizacnps@yahoo.com Treasurer SUSAN BAZELL bazell@maxinet.com Member-at-Large 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 WOODY ELLIOTT 342-6053 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 PHYLLIS LINDLEY 899-1514 Iindley84@att.net 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 Conservation Education Invasive Plants Field Trips Co-chairs Membership Horticulture 876-1475 893-5123 (530) 343-4287 636-4547 The Pipevine October 2011 7. MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY P O. BOX 3212 CHICO, CA 95927-3212 Requested In-home Delivery 9/23 - 26/11 3-Day Window Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Chico, CA Permit No. 553 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Time Value OCTOBER 2011 issue plant colors f Join Today ! MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY I wish to affiliate with the Mount Lassen Chapter Name Address City State Zip email new renew 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 October 2 - Maidu Upper Bidwell 5 - General Meeting 16 - Kings Creek Falls 19 - Ex Board Meeting 21 - Campus Tree Tour November 2 - General Meeting 4 - Campus Tree Tour 6 - Upper Butte Flume 18 - Campus Tree Tour 23 - Ex Board Meeting facebook