Phlox phlyer 201512

Volume 21, Number 3 December 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.cbwnps.org

2016 WNPS Native Plant Calendar Enjoy the beauty of Washington’s wildflowers and support local conservation throughout 2016 with our WNPS calendar. The 2016 Calendar offers 13 months of terrific photos and a whole year of floral splendor. Buy one for yourself and some for those on your gift list.

Calendars may be purchased at the following locations:   

Tri-Cities: at our meetings on Dec 2 and Jan 6, or at THE REACH Visitors Center Walla Walla: contact Darcy Dauble 509.525.1198 or dadauble@gmail.com Purchase online with a credit card www.wnps.org

Each calendar is just $10.00.

WNPS Call for Conservation Grant Proposals – Due January 15, 2016 The WNPS Conservation Committee is accepting grant application for projects that will restore, improve, or support on-the-ground, functioning native plant ecosystems in Washington.

Grant applications for 2016 will be accepted through January 15 and awards will be determined by February 15. Successful projects must provide public benefit and must align with WNPS goals. They should support conservation priorities and state or chapter focus areas. The conservation committee will be assessing the quantity and quality of ecological benefit to be gained and the likelihood of project success.

The Conservation Committee has $1500 to award in 2016. Requests up to the full amount will be considered as will smaller requests.

We will be awarding the funds based on our determination of which projects bring the biggest benefit to Washington’s native plants.

In addition to funding, winning projects will be featured in Douglasia, the WNPS quarterly journal, upon completion. We look forward to hearing from you and learning about your projects.

For specific application information see: wnps.org/conservation/conservation_grant.html For questions please contact: becky@chaney.org or b.brookreson@comcast.net

MEETINGS/WORKSHOPS Wednesday, December 2, 2015, 6:00 p.m. Monthly Meeting – Holiday Pot Luck. Meet at Richland Community Center (change of location). Bring a dish to share. Drinks, plates, and utensils will be provided. We will view the submissions to our photo contest and discuss conservation activities in the Tri-Cities. 2016 calendars will be available for sale at the meeting ($10). The Richland Community Center is in Howard Amon Park at 500 Amon Park Drive. Spouses and guests are welcome.

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Saturday, December 5, 2015, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Small Farms Workshop. The Benton Conservation District is holding a free workshop featuring:   

Dr. David James (WSU): Naturescaping for Beneficial Insect Conservation on Central Washington Farms Jack Myrick (WA State Conservation Commission): Irrigation Water Management Jim Willis (OSU Master Gardeners): Composting Basics

Workshop will be held at the Benton PUD Auditorium, 2721 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick. Register online at: or contact Erin Hightower at 509-736-6000.

Deadline for registering is November 25th

The Phlox Phlyer is the newsletter of the Columbia Basin Chapter, Tri-Cities and Walla Walla, Washington Native Plant Society.

Chapter Officers Co-Presidents — Mickie Chamness, mickiec@charter.net & Janelle Downs, sagejld@aol.com

Wednesday, January 6, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Monthly Meeting at Columbia Basin College, Room TD 439 – Botanical Families. Dr. Rik Smith will provide an introduction to some of the locally common plant families. Maps and directions are available at: http://www.wnps.org/cbasin/pdf/maps/CBC_mtg_room_maps.pdf

Vice-President — Rik Smith,

At 6:30 pm, we will continue with our “What is THAT Plant?” feature. Bring in your unknown plant (non-ornamental) and we will attempt to identify it. This is also an opportunity to socialize before our meeting.

Treasurer — Cheryl Smith

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES and ITEMS OF INTEREST Interested in other Conservation Activities in the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla?

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Secretary — Marilyn Lemar, dwlemar@hotmail.com

cyankee@charter.net Chapter Committees Program Chair — Kim Hamblin-Hart,

kimhamblinhart@gmail.com Field Trips — Ernie Crediford, ernest_crediford@live.com

Our Chapter is involved in the following projects: 

rsmith@columbiabasin.edu

Heritage Garden Program with the Benton Conservation District (contact: Donna Lucas - donna_lucas@hotmail.com) o Promotes use of native plants o Promotes low-water use landscaping and efficient irrigation methods o Educates about the history and biodiversity of the Columbia Basin Leslie Groves North (contact: Debbie Berkowitz – cdandrb@charter.net) o The goal was to re-establish habitat that could be enjoyed and used to educate the public about our indigenous plants and to share their beauty. o Volunteers activities include planting and weeding Purple Heart Garden (contact: Ernie Crediford – ernest_crediford@live.com ) o A Purple Heart garden was planted with purple sage to honor our Veterans and promote native plants; the garden is located in the Richland WYE at the boat launch area. o Volunteers are needed to help maintain the area REACH Visitors Center (contact Mickie Chamness – mickiec@charter.net) o The goal is to establish a landscape around the center that showcases our local plants. o Volunteers are needed to help with weeding and setting up and helping maintain some pots with natives.

Walla Walla Demonstration Garden (contact: Betsy Kaiser – b_kaiser@live.com) o The Walla Walla subchapter has developed a native plant garden to demonstrate how plants indigenous to Walla Walla can be attractive 2

Restoration/Salvage — Bill Mast, bmast1@live.com Heritage Garden Program — Donna Lucas, donna_lucas@hotmail.com Education — Open 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

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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in home gardens AND would use much less water than the usual landscaping species. The garden is at the Blue Mountain Humane Society.

Volunteers are needed for weeding

For other activities in the area - check out the following webpages:    

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Tri-Cities Audubon: Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Walla Walla Audubon: Blue Mountain Audubon Friends of Badger: Friends of Badger Mountain Local Ice Age Flood Chapter: Lake Lewis McNary Wildlife Refuge - Second Saturday Activities : Friends of Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges

PLANT OF THE MONTH - RABBITBRUSH Rabbitbrush are in the family Asteraceae. There are two species which are common in our area: Ericameria nauseosa (grey rabbitbrush) and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (green rabbitbrush). Besides a difference in leaf color, the The Flora of North America (http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1 ) separates the Ericameria genus from the Chrysothamnus genus by indicating that the Ericameria genus has phyllaries either equal or unequal in length and these phyllaries are arranged in spirals whereas the Chrysothamnus genus has phyllaries unequal in length and they are arranged in vertical ranks.

From Tree of Life web project

Both species thrive in poor soils and dense stands are often found in disturbed areas and thus they are common along roadways where we can enjoy the glow of their brilliant yellow flowers in the fall. This glow gave rise to the Latin name "Chryso" "thamnus", "golden" "bush". Flower heads are made up of 5 small, yellow, tubular flowers, and are arranged in dense, rounded or flat-topped clusters at the ends of the branches. Flowers bloom from August to October as other plants are fading, providing vivid color and a pollen source for insects late in the summer. The shrubs reproduce via an abundance of small, wind-dispersed seeds and can also sprout from the base.

Grey rabbitbrush is also commonly referred to as rubber rabbitbrush because of the natural rubber content (2-6%). The species is taxonomically complex, and is divided into two subspecies and 22 varieties (ecotypes). The 22 ecotypes exhibit a great deal of variability in morphological characteristics and chemical composition.

Green rabbitbrush is also referred to a yellow rabbitbrush; there are 5 subspecies.

Both species can occur together, and are generally found in association with sagebrush. The leaves, flowers, and seeds are a food source for a variety of large and small mammals, and for birds. They also attract a wide variety of insects and are one of the few habitats for pollinators during late summer and fall months.

Rabbitbrush can be grown in the garden in full sun and require some water to get them established but no supplemental water after that. The plant can be cut back after fall flowering to prevent seed dispersal and to retain its compact, rounded shape. E. nauseosa (grey) is the most widely available in this area. See the Heritage Garden website (http://www.bentoncd.org/docs/HG_Resources.pdf ) for a list of nurseries.

References: Benton County Plant List: Combination of lists by Ron Savers (1986), Katie Beck & Florence Caplow (1997-97), and Janelle Downs (2003-04); Franklin County Plant List: Prepared by Don Knoke (2004); Walla Walla County Plant List: Prepared by Don Knoke (2004); Additional information from: Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture Herbarium Site (http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php ) and the USDA PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov/java/). Grey rabbitbrush photo by Tad Dillhoff; green rabbitbrush photo by Ben Ligler (both from the Burke Museum Herbarium site).

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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