Sage notes : Idaho Native Plant Society newsletter

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

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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
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Offering an extensive selection of locally-
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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
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Phone: 20ft-? U -7039 Cell 208-308-6840
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Email: IprtOvil On^SilCbril

Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012

19

f

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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

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Sage Notes is a publication of the Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012