Phlox phlyer 201603

Volume 21, Number 6 March 2016

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

Spring 2016 Heritage Garden Workshop – Make Your Dream Garden a Reality The Benton & Franklin Conservation Districts and the Columbia Basin Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society are holding a free workshop on April 16, 2016 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Richland Public Library (955 Northgate Drive, Richland WA 99352). Light refreshments will be served.

Please register (http://www.bentoncd.org/docs/Upcoming%20Activities.pdf?v=2016-01 ) by April 8, 2016.

Speakers are: Bill Loney ~ Irrigation Instructor for the Water & Environment Center. In addition to teaching students how to design efficient irrigation systems Bill also manages a very successful irrigation design company. Join Bill as he teaches us the ins and outs of drip irrigations systems.

Gretchen Graber ~ Native Plant Ecologist at Institute for Applied Ecology. Gretchen is involved with a unique project to grow sagebrush for restoring habitat for declining populations of Greater Sage Grouse. While serving their time, inmates are provided with a job while learning about science and sustainability issues. Join Gretchen and learn how lives and the environment are benefitted one sagebrush at a time.

Kathy Hutton ~ Nursery Manager for Plants of the Wild. Kathy has been with the nursery since 1987. Plants of the Wild specializes in plants that are native to the Pacific Northwest. The nursery provides plant materials for large reclamation projects as well as homeowner's landscapes. Join Kathy as she shares her favorite native plants that will make a great addition to your low water-use landscape.

WNPS Photo Contest for the 2017 Calendar is here!

Consider entering up to 5 of your best shots of Washington's native flora to the WNPS Photo Contest. 26 winners will be selected by a volunteer committee for the annual calendar. The calendar is a fundraiser for the local chapters around the state One winner will also be selected to support the Native Plant Appreciation Week 2016 poster. Photos must be submitted by March 14, 2016 to be considered. Additional information can be found at: http://www.wnps.org/photo_contest/index.html .

More Photo Opportunities Columbia Basin Chapter Photo Contest: Once again we’ll have two categories for our annual photo contest. Photos entered in our contest are used in displays and educational information we create to increase awareness and encourage conservation of native plants.

The 1st category is biotic crust: you could take close-ups of lichens, mosses, mushrooms, club mosses etc. or step back and take a photo of a mini-landscape of the textures and colors that occur together. The 2 nd category is wildlife (birds, animals, insects) and native plants.

Contact Mickie Chamness at mickiec@charter.net if you have any questions. Entries are due by November 6, and a 2017 WNPS calendar will be awarded to the winner in each category.

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Shrub-Steppe ID Cards: Our chapter is developing plant ID cards that can be used as an educational tool by teachers and others to learn how to recognize some common shrub-steppe plants and learn a few interesting facts too. This year we’re working on 10 species, and each one has a list of specific characteristics used to identify them. You can help by choosing one or more of the 10 species and taking photos of the specific characteristics that help ID that species. If you’re interested in helping, contact Mickie at mickiec@charter.net to pick a species and get the list of characteristics.

RARE CARE MONITORING Sunday, April 3, 2016, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Rare Care Volunteer Forum. Meet at Darcy Dauble’s house in Walla Walla (216 Whitman St). Volunteers, guests, and interested parties are invited to learn about the program, share last season's highlights and lessons, and review new initiatives for 2016 in the Washington State world of rare plant monitoring. We will also discuss possible monitoring training in the TriCities area in 2017. Please RSVP by March 18th to rarecare@uw.edu .

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 Vice-President — Rik Smith,

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

MEETINGS/WORKSHOPS

cyankee@charter.net

Wednesday, March 2, 2016, 7:00 p.m. Monthly Meeting at Columbia Basin College, Room TD 439 – Conserving and Restoring Washington’s Ecosystems: WNPS’s Native Plant Stewardship Program, Jim Evans. The Washington Native Plant Society’s Native Plant Stewardship Program is developing training programs for chapters around the state, and is rolling out its first pilot programs this year. The trainings combine classroom learning with field trips to educate stewards about their region’s native plants and their roles in local ecosystems, and how to use this knowledge to help protect and restore these ecosystems. Jim will outline the history of the program and describe current and projected future work. We will discuss how the program can help the Columbia Basin Chapter and its partners conserve South Central Washington ecosystems. Maps and directions are available at: http://www.cbwnps.org/calendar/ 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.

Friday through Sunday, May 13-15, 2016. Botany Washington – Spring on the Olympic Peninsula, Jefferson County WA. Registration is open (http://www.wnps.org/2014botanyreg.htm); Join the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS) and the University of Washington Herbarium at the Burke Museum (WTU) for this co-sponsored event featuring outstanding learning opportunity for participants of all skill levels. This annual event will be exploring the floristic and taxonomic diversity of the eastern Olympic Peninsula lowlands.

Friday through Sunday, June 17-19, 2016. WNPS Study Weekend at Leavenworth. Hosted by Central and Wenatchee Chapters. Check spring issue of Douglasia for details.

Sunday, June 26, 2016, 9:00 a.m. to12:00 p.m. Pollinator Appreciation Week Program at the WSU Tri-Cities Wine Science Center Native Plant and Pollinator teaching garden. (access from Crimson Way off University Ave). There will be 30 minute Garden Tours from 9:30-10:00 a.m., 10:30-11:00 a.m., and 11:30-12:00 p.m. Also tables will be hosted by Heritage Garden Program along with Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society. To help with this event please contact Gretchen Graber (gretchen.graber@gmail.com ).

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Chapter Committees Program Chair — Kim Hamblin-Hart,

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

Wednesday, July 8, 2016 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Access and Wilderness. Senior Center at the Park 720 Sprague St., Walla Walla. Hosted

by Umatilla National Forest. The Forest Supervisors of the Umatilla, Malheur, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests are gathering input on the Forest Plan Revision process and outcome. The Forest Plan provides direction to assure coordination of multiple uses (outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, wildlife and fish, and wilderness). More information about the process is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd491835.pdf

WILDFLOWER HIKES All hikes are open to the public. Please dress appropriately (it can be windy on the ridges), bring water, and, if car-pooling, some money for the driver to cover gas.

Sunday, March 13, 2016, 8:00a.m. [Daylight Savings Time] Blue Mountain Audubon Field Trip:" Curlews and Shooting Stars" Meet at the Harper Joy Theater parking lot in Walla Walla to car pool. Bring water, lunch and snacks. Mike & MerryLynn Denny will lead an all-day birding and wildflower adventure highlighted by a search for long-billed curlews and desert shooting stars.

Below is a list of hikes we are planning for this spring. Please check the calendar (http://www.cbwnps.org/calendar/ ) on our webpage for updates or contact Ernie Crediford (509-460-9057 or ernest_crediford@live.com )   

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Saturday, April 2, 2016, 10:00 a.m. Twin Sisters. Meet at CBC parking lot across from Red Lion. Dress warmly it can get windy and cold. Bring water and a snack. Approximately 2 hrs.

Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:00 a.m. Badger Mtn. Meet at the Skyline trail head parking lot off Dallas Rd. Bring water and a snack. Approximately 2 hrs.

Saturday, April 16, 2016, 8:30 a.m. Cowiche Canyon - Snow Mtn. Meet at the Park and Ride in Richland (across railroad tracks at corner of Van Giesen and Bypass Highway/Hwy 240). Travel time is about 90 min. Bring lunch and water; dress for the weather. This is a moderate hike with slight uphill grade at Snow Mtn. This also was one of our showiest walks last year. Return about 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 23, 2016, 9:00 a.m. Basalt Gardens-Pillars. Meet at the Park and Ride in Richland (across railroad tracks at corner of Van Giesen and Bypass Highway/Hwy 240). Bring lunch and water. This is one of my favorite spots. Interesting basalt rock formations where rare native plants are common. This area has lot of diversity. Return between 2 and 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 30, 2016, 9:00 a.m., Frenchman Coulee. Meet at the Park and Ride in Richland (across railroad tracks at corner of Van Giesen and Bypass Highway/Hwy 240).This coulee is a hidden geologic treasure. Return between 1and 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 7, 2016 10:00 a.m., Mc Bee Grade-Horn Rapids. Meet at the Park and Ride in Benton City, just off the I82 (exit 96 at Benton City). Carpool up the hill .There are plants here not found elsewhere in the Tri-Cities. Proceed down the hill and those who choose can continue to Horn Rapids to look at some of our sand dwellers. Approximately 3 hrs.

Saturday, May 14, 2016 10:00 a.m. Twin Sisters. Meet at CBC Parking lot across from Red Lion. Approximately 2 hrs.

Saturday, May 21, 2016 9:00 a.m. Bickleton. Meet at Benton City Park and Ride, just off the I-82 (exit 96 at Benton City).

Return between 1and 2p.m.

If you would like to explore on your own check out Places to Visit on our webpage - http://www.cbwnps.org/places-to-visit-1/ and our wildflower trails map (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_sm0-kbVqTxVVEyWVJuMEZYR1U/view ) for the Tri-Cities area.

WALLA WALLA NEWS Demonstration Garden. No blossoms yet but strong showing of healthy budding on trees and shrubs - indicative of our mild and wetter winter. First order of business for Betsy, Sue and Nancy will be digging up the amazing Sumac suckers sprouting from an extended root system. Like the Golden Rain Tree, the Sumac seemed like a good idea 14 years ago! The Humane Society is planning an extension of the main building that will eliminate some of the existing landscape. When there is a timeline, Betsy will notify the membership to lend assistance in removing and relocating native plants.

Other Items Home Grown Art Exhibit - Celebrating the Images and Sounds of the Place We Call Home The Home Grown Art Exhibit is a collaboration between the Yakima Symphony Orchestra (YSO) and Cowiche Canyon Conservancy (CCC). This partnership, now in its second season, celebrates the beauty of the arts and nature in our community. The Exhibit features 27 works of art, all inspired by Cowiche Canyon Conservancy lands. Proceeds from the sale of art benefit the artists, YSO and CCC. The exhibit runs from January 11 through March 31, 2016 at Essencia Artisan Bakery, located at 4 N. Third Street in Yakima.

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Friends of Badger Mountain is looking for some help leading flower walks on Badger Mountain this spring. If you’d like to share your enthusiasm for native plants with others, please contact Ann Roberts at <robertstwo@msn.com>

PLANT OF THE MONTH – Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum) Oregon sunshine is a member of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family. It is a native forb and depending on site conditions can be an annual, biennial, or short- or long-lived perennial. Locally the species appears most often as a biennial. The plant is multi-branched, erect to spreading, and grows 4 to 24 inches tall. The stems and leaves are covered with white hairs. Eriophlyllum is from the Greek “erion” which means wool, and “phyllon” which means leaf.

Eriophyllum lanatum is found in areas with dry, rocky, or sandy soil which receive a minimum of 10 inches of precipitation, and from sea level to 10,000 ft. elevation. The range for E. lanatum extends from British Columbia south to California and east to Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana. The species is currently divided into 12 varieties, with a great deal of genetic and phenotypic variation. A factor contributing to the variation is the presence of polyploids. Mooring (1975) found the E. lanatum complex contains diploid (71%), tetraploid (22%), hexaploid (4%), and octoploid (2%) populations. Diploid populations occupy the geographical and environmental extremes of the complex, while polyploid populations occur where the ranges of the varieties overlap. Polyploidy has enabled intervarietal hybridization, and many polyploids are intermediate populations that cannot be assigned to one particular variety.

California is the geographic center of E. lanatum, with the largest amount of genetic diversity, and where 10 out of the 12 varieties occur (Mooring 2001).

This plant can be used in perennial borders, along pathways, and in rock gardens and embankments; it blooms from May to July. E. lanatum is a prolific seed producer, germination occurs from 10 to 21 days. Seeds are available from Desert Jewels Nursery in Spokane; see the Heritage Garden website (http://www.bentoncd.org/docs/HG_Resources.pdf ) for a list of nurseries.

References: Mooring, JS, 1975. A Cytogeographic Study of Eriophyllum lanatum (Compositae, Helenieae). Amer. J. Bot. 62: 10271037; Mooring, J.S. 2001. Barriers to interbreeding in the Eriophyllum lanatum (Asteraceae, Helenieae) species complex. Amer. J. Bot. 88(2):285-312.USDA PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov/java/).

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