Phlox Phlyer - June 2015

Volume 20, Number 8 June 2015

the

Phlox Phlyer

Columbia Basin Chapter, Washington Native Plant Society

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P.O. Box 221, Richland, WA 99352

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www.wnps.org/col_basin/index.html

Election of Officers We will vote on the following slate of officers at our June meeting Co-Presidents - Janelle Downs/Mickie Chamness Vice-President – Rik Smith Secretary – Marilyn Lemar Treasurer – Cheryl Smith In addition to the elected offices, we have a number of committees. The following people have agreed to be committee chairs: Programs – Kim Hamlin-Hart Education – Field Trips – Ernie Crediford/Gretchen Graber Newsletter/Web page – Mary Ann Simmons Salvage & Restoration – Publicity – Books – Carmen Wooten Heritage Gardens – Donna Lucas If you would like to help out with one of these committees please contact Janelle (sagejld@aol.com) or Mickie (mickiec@charter.net)

Chapter Photo contest The focus for our chapter’s annual photo contest is plants growing in lithosols (rocky soils). Whether you’re hiking in the Blue Mountains, the scablands, or the Horse Heaven hills, keep an eye out for plants that prefer those rocky soils. The winner will receive a copy of the 2016 Washington Native Plant Society calendar and your photo entries may be used in future chapter educational displays.

Send photos to Mickie Chamness

STUDY WEEKEND 2015 – Islands in the Sky: A North Cascades Adventure – August 14-16, 2015 The Komo Kulshan Chapter invites you to join them for this year's Native Plant Study Weekend. Come enjoy the splendor of the Heather Meadows area at road's end as well as destinations along the Mount Baker Highway. The North Cascades is a rugged mountainous region which over a long and complex geologic history has created a patchwork of isolated mountaintops, "sky islands," which are home to a unique flora of cold-adapted plants. There will be a wide range of outings with varying degress of difficulty, including strolls, hikes, and workshops. Registration deadline is July 1, 2015. For more information and to register go to: http://www.wnps.org/study_weekend/home.html

Heritage Gardens Heritage Gardens (http://www.bentoncd.org/Heritage.aspx ) are landscaped areas designed to honor the cultural and natural heritage of the Columbia River Basin while utilizing sustainable gardening practices.

Heritage Gardens:   

Promote the use of native plants especially those of cultural significance; Promote low-water use landscaping & efficient irrigation methods; and Educate our community about the history and biodiversity of the Columbia River Basin

The Heritage Garden Program is a partnership between our chapter and the Benton and Franklin Conservation Districts. There are currently 13 Heritage Gardens.

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Congratulations to our most recently certified Heritage Gardens: Aaron Holloway – Richland Walt Clore Wine and Culinary Center – Prosser The Phlox Phlyer is the newsletter of the Columbia Basin Chapter, Tri-Cities and Walla Walla, Washington Native Plant Society.

Chapter Officers President — Marita Lih, mplih@charter.net Vice-President — Rik Smith,

rsmith@columbiabasin.edu Secretary — Marilyn Lemar, dwlemar@hotmail.com

Master Gardeners’ Xeric Garden – Kennewick

Treasurer — Cheryl Smith

cyankee@charter.net Chapter Committees Program Chair — Janelle Downs,

sagejld@aol.com Field Trips — Ernie Crediford, ernest_crediford@live.com Restoration/Salvage — Bill Mast, bmast1@live.com

Marilyn Lemar – Benton City

Heritage Garden Program — Donna Lucas, Donna_Lucas@hotmail.com Education — Gretchen Graber,

gretchen.graber@gmail.com Newsletter Editor — Mary Ann Simmons, msimmons_1@charter.net Publicity — Mickie Chamness, mickiec@charter.net Books — Carmen Wooten, canoecarmen@yahoo.com Web Site Editor — Mary Ann Simmons msimmons_1@charter.net

Ernest Crediford – Richland

Walla Walla Subchapter Darcy Dauble, Walla Walla, dadauble@gmail.com

This issue reproduced by

THE DIGITAL IMAGE Richland Washington 509-375-6001

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Tri-Cities MEETINGS Wednesday, June 3, 2014, 6:00 p.m. Joint Meeting for the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla members at the McNary Environmental Education Center at the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Bring a dish to share, we will provide plates, silverware, drinks and cups. We will have elections and a slide show of plants seen on the spring wildflower walks.

Directions: The Education Center is located off Highway 12 near Burbank. From Tri-Cities take Hwy I-182 East/Hwy 12 East to Burbank; take the WA 124 exit toward Burbank /Waitsburg; at round-about, turn right toward Ice Harbor Dr.; continue straight through next round-about, onto Ice Harbor Dr.; after 1 mi, turn right onto S Lake Dr.; Education Center is approx. 1 mi on the right.

From Walla Walla, take Highway 12 toward the Tri-Cities; take WA 124 exit; turn right onto Ice Harbor Dr.; after 1 mi, turn right onto S Lake Dr.; Education Center is approx. 1 mi on the right. http://www.fws.gov/mcnary/driving.html WILDFLOWER HIKES If you would like to explore on your own check out the Hikes/Plant lists on our webpage http://www.wnps.org/cbasin/hikes_lists.html and our wildflower brochurehttp://www.wnps.org/cbasin/pdf/brochures/wildflower_trail_map_2010.pdf .

No further wildflower hikes are scheduled for the Tri-Cities area.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TUMBLEWEED MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 4-6, 2015 Howard Amon Park, Richland WA We will have a booth at the Festival. Contact Mickie Chamness (mickiec@charter.net) if you would like to volunteer at the booth or stop by and visit.

Walla Walla Blooming in the Native Plant Demonstration Garden at the Walla Walla Humane Society.

Plantings are looking particularly lovely! Come check out the Clarkia pulchella, Monardella odoratissima, streambank mallow, checker mallow, oceanspray, buckwheat, various penstemon, mockorange, Ross sedge, Spiraea, pearly everlasting, Oregon sunshine, yarrow, various grasses, mountain ash (has berries), gooseberry currant, Solomon seal, asters, blanket flower, Potentilla, dog bane, ninebark, honeysuckle, columbine, and flax MEETINGS Wednesday, June 3, 2014, 6:00 p.m. Joint Meeting for the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla members. See Tri-Cities Meetings for information.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Blue Mountain Humane Society Demonstration Garden. Volunteers can join Sue, Betsy and Nancy on Fridays from 10 – 12 noon at 7 E. George, Walla Walla.

WILDFLOWER HIKES Trips are open to the public and guests are always welcome. Please notify trip contact person of intention to participate. Unless otherwise noted, all trips begin at Harper Joy parking lot on Whitman campus in Walla Walla for carpooling. Arrangements can also be made to meet you on the way. Bring walking sticks, hat, water, appropriate layers, guide book, snack/lunch and a few bills for the driver.

Saturday, June 6, 2015, 9:00 a.m. South Fork Wenaha River Trail – Timothy Springs Campground Darcy Dauble (dadauble@gmail.com). South Fork Wenaha River Trail from Timothy Springs Campground Saturday, June 13, 2015, 8:00a.m. Annual Blue Mountain Wildflowers Sampler with Blue Mountain Audubon. Drive to various sites in the Tollgate area of the Blue Mountains. In past years as many as 80 different wildflower species have been seen. This will be an all-day trip with many short hikes. Bring plenty of food and water and dress for the weather. If you have questions, contact Jeff Fredson 541-215-0532 3

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST FACEBOOK – Check out our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaBasinWNPS ) for current news and pictures; you don’t have to join Facebook to see items posted.

Butterfly Safari In concert with the Cowiche Canyon Butterfly Project, David James is asking hikers to photograph any fritillary butterflies they encounter in Cowiche Canyon and farther away in the Cascades and email the photos to the project website. More information is available at: http://www.cowichecanyon.org/programs-projects.html#ButterflySafari The City of Pasco draft Shoreline Management Plan is available for review at http://www.pascowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/54508 and more information is available at http://www.pasco-wa.gov/858/Shoreline-ManagementProgram. Comments can be submitted up until the final hearing in May or June, 2015.

Grasses Workshop: The Identification and Appreciation of Grasses, June 17-19, 2015. A 3 day workshop combining classroom and field study and will focus on both native and naturalized grasses. Clay Antieau, instructor. The workshop is now full; however, to be added to the waitlist, email wnps@wnps.org or call 206-527-3210.

Bumping Lake Collection and Inventory Excursion July 16-19, 2015. Join Clay Antieau, and others for summer botanizing. The goal is a comprehensive inventory and photo documentation, along with collection of plants within the inundation area of the proposed reservoir expansion. Contact Becky Chaney (425-880-4220 or becky@chaney.org ) ASAP if interested in participating.

Ferns and Fern Allies Identification Workshop, July 28-29, 2015. The ferns and fern allies are ancient lineages of vascular plants with high species richness in the Pacific Northwest. Learn how to know your ferns and fern allies in order to conduct wetland delineations, floristic and vegetation surveys, rare plant surveys, and habitat assessments. This workshop is geared for experienced botanists, both professional and amateur, who are proficient in the use of dichotomous keys and comfortable with technical botanical terminology. For more information and to register go to: http://www.wnps.org/fern_workshop.html .

********* LAST PHLOX PHLYER UNTIL SEPTEMBER!

Columbia Basin Chapter Washington Native Plant Society P.O. Box 221 Richland, Washington 99352

To receive the newsletter electronically – email msimmons_1@charter.net 4