Jungle plants for your patio – The Staghorns through my g den gate

Roger Boddaert Horticulturist/Arborist

The fern family is a large collection of plants with native habitats from faraway places like Africa, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Australia and South America.

Within the Fern family lives the platycerium, “Staghorn Fern,” clan.

These are epiphytic plants which attach themselves to tree trunks

Joe Naiman

Writer and branches. Their spores, found on the underside of the leaves, disperse onto adjacent tree trunks when mature.

Formally, the application the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District board authorized May 3 is for a loan from the State Water Resources Control Board. However, the agreement to fund the conversion of septic systems to sewer connections for Sedco Hills has a clause that the principal is forgivable if the district complies with the terms of the loan agreement.

A 5-0 vote of the board approved the resolution to authorize the execution and delivery of the Clean Water Planning Loan agreement. The funding would be for $1,713,500.

In 2005, the district developed a groundwater management plan which identified the impact nitrate from septic systems may be having on drinking water supply wells. Nitrate transport simulations were evaluated to assess the future impacts of septic systems on Elsinore Basin groundwater quality, and the results indicated an expected substantial increase in nitrate mass load with more than 80% of the basin exceeding the maximum contaminant level.

Their unique leaves are shaped like antlers; hence they received the common name Staghorn.

There is another type of platycerium called the “Moose” as its fronds do not split as deeply. They can become a dramatic focal point in a shady place in your garden.

There are two types of leaves on a Staghorn each distinctly formed. The shield frond is the green plate at the base of each new pup. The brown leaf is another shield that traps moisture and nutrients. Whether the plants are mounted on boards, planted in a hanging basket or even as large potted plants, they are spectacular show stoppers in any patio or shaded garden setting.

In 2016, the district developed a plan to remove the septic systems over a 40-year period. The Sedco Hills conversion is expected to be complete by 2035. The Sedco Hills septic-to-sewer conversion boundary area is generally between Mission Trail and Interstate 15 from Malaga Road to Lemon Street in the City of Wildomar. The project consists of installing approximately 39,000 linear feet of gravity sewer to serve about 750 residences.

The loan agreement stipulates a work completion date of Dec. 31, 2026, for the planning and design work covered by the loan. On Oct. 27, the EVMWD board approved a design contract with Carollo Engineers Inc., which also covers design for septic-to-sewer conversion for The Avenues. The preliminary design amount for Sedco Hills is $870,427 and the final design fee is $2,085,713. The scope of work provided in the state loan agreement covers community outreach, an engineering report, easement identification, environmental documentation, preliminary design, applications for financial assistance for the construction phase and project administration.

There are many species to look for and Platycerium bifurcatum is the most common and easy to grow. If this family excites you, look for the rare Platycerium superbum, an elegant specimen to add to your collection.

As the plant grows it can be divided using a saw, pruner or a machete. When you divide the plant, make sure you include roots from the mother plant.

These plants are not fussy about food. In early spring and midsummer, I feed with blood meal or fish emulsion to keep them healthy and green.

Bromeliads are excellent companion plants to Staghorns when planted together in pots. An assorted mixture of plants makes for a more colorful and eye appealing display.

Roger Boddaert, the Tree Man of Fallbrook, can be contacted at bogitt@aol.com or 760-728-4297.

Park district declares Green Acres property surplus

Joe Naiman

Writer

The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District and the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District are separate districts, although the Riverside County Board of Supervisors members are the board members of both. On May 2, the county supervisors took action which will lead to approximately one acre in the Green Acres area of unincorporated Hemet being transferred from the park district to the flood control district.

The 5-0 Riverside County Re- gional Park and Open-Space District vote declares the land surplus and approves a notice of intent to convey the property to the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The land involves three legal parcels. The parcels are vacant and are along State Route 74. The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District was created in 1990, and at the time it acquired approximately one acre of vacant land adjacent to the Double Butte Landfill in Green Acres. The property has not been altered since its acquisition. The Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District has an easement on the land, and a flood control channel exists on the property and is maintained by the flood control district. When Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District staff reviewed potential surplus property, the Green Acres land was identified. Discussions were held with the flood control district due to that district’s ownership of the flood control channel. Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District staff expressed an interest in acquiring the parcels.

Park district declares Pine Cove Park property surplus

Joe Naiman Writer

Pine Cove Park, located in Idyllwild, has been closed, and the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District has declared that land to be surplus.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors members are the park district board members, and on May 2 the county supervisors voted 5-0 to declare the property surplus. The board action also approved a notice of intent to convey the property to the Pine Cove Water District.

The legal parcel is approximately 18 acres. It is vacant other than a restroom building. The park was permanently closed because of its location and topography; most of the land is a rocky hillside with steep slopes and jagged rock outcroppings. The topographical constraints prevent it from being utilized as a park or campground.

The Pine Cove Water District has infrastructure on-site and will continue to maintain the equipment along with the property in the future. The restroom building will be demolished prior to the sale.