Summer 2019 Volume XLIX, Issue 3

THE MOUNT PISGAH ARBORETUM QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Oak Savanna Exhibit by August Jackson, Interpretive Coordinator

The first European explorers and Euro-American colonizers described the as a vast expanse of open prairie, dotted here and there with mature trees—mostly oaks—which impressed upon them the feeling of a “park” or “garden.” The only real forests to be found were on the foothills and knolls, and densely cloaking the braided and ponderous . On his journey through the Willamette Valley in September of 1826, the botanist and explorer David Douglas discovered the cause of this park-like setting, noting that nearly the entire valley floor had been recently burned. Douglas remarked that some of the native Kalapuya people explained to him that they conducted the burns for the purpose of procuring food.

Since the cessation of native burning practices, white oak savanna has become one of the most critically endangered ecosystems in North Photo by Kimberly Cullen America, with as little as 1% of the original extent remaining. Mount Pisgah Arboretum’s new Oak Savanna Exhibit aims to honor the cultural heritage of this quintessential Willamette Valley landscape and celebrates the biodiverse ecosystem that was supported by considerate and considerable Kalupyan management practices. The exhibit consists of two meditative paths with scattered vignettes that share some of the cultural and ecological outcomes of regular burning. These paths converge in the center around a planter showcasing a number of native plants that were important traditional food sources, and which benefited from regular burning. A bench encircles the outer half of the planter, offering expansive views of the savanna and a chance to pause and reflect on the statement embedded in stone at one’s feet: “the oak savanna will not exist without humans.”

This exhibit challenges the conventional wisdom that humans inherently have a IN THIS ISSUE: negative effect on the environment, and the persistent Euro-American cultural Director's Message myth that humans are distinct and separate from the ecosystem at large. In a Mallards in the Meadow time of rapid climate change and increasing human population, this story holds Summer Celebration recap a new relevance as it becomes ever more important to reevaluate our relationship Education Report with the natural world and rediscover our role in the ecosystem. continued on p. 2 continued from p. 1

The Oak Savanna Exhibit is the fourth interpretive exhibit which has been Board of Directors installed, and marks the halfway point in the implementation of the Arboretum’s Tim King, President Interpretive Plan. Over 80 individual donors contributed to the project, and Anne Forrestel, Vice President Karen Anderson, Secretary a number of volunteers, Grande Ronde Tribal members, organizations, and Carl Bybee companies donated time and resources to the installation of the exhibit, truly Charlotte Helmer Charlotte Kreitlow making this a community-driven project. Jonathan Stafford Rich Kelly Sally Stender Education Report Staff by Jenny Laxton, Education Manager Brad van Appel, Executive Director Tom LoCascio, Site Manager Jenny Laxton, Education Manager This school year, our field trip programs were August Jackson, Interpretive Coord. in high demand from local teachers, with more Kimberly Cullen, Office Coordinator Julie Hubbard-McNall, Dev. Coord. classes wanting to come out than we had field Leisha Wood, Venue Manager trip days available. We ended up with classes Jason Spear, Site Assistant Matney Lea, Events Assistant from eight different districts, with students Josh Head, Pavilion Custodian coming from as far away as Florence and Toki Nakae, Site Aid Oakridge. Over 3,000 students took a nature walk here as part of our Discovery Tours Contact Information Program this last school year. For some, this Office Phone: 541-747-3817 Events Phone: 541-747-1504 was a chance to learn more about the animals Education Phone: 541-741-4110 and plants they see when they go on walks [email protected] and hikes with their families (and to share this www.MountPisgahArboretum.org knowledge with them) and for others with www.twitter.com/MtPisgahArb facebook.com/mountpisgaharboretum families who are less outdoorsy, or parents who Photo by Kimberly Cullen are busy making ends meet, their field trip to the Arboretum was one of their only chances to go on a hike during the year.

The highlight this spring was all the signs of our wild, end-of-the-winter weather. The kids marveled at the trees down along the Incense-cedar Trail from our February snowstorm. A whole cluster of small cedars were weighted down enough with snow that their Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a tops bent to the ground and they nonprofit organization with a mission snapped in the middle, leaving to engage people with nature through interactive learning and stewardship. behind jagged stumps and a jumble of logs. In the Water Facilities include miles of riverside Garden Trails, students loved and forest trails, picnic areas and a pavilion for events. We host outdoor seeing the random hay bales and programs to foster appreciation of the the silt line on the tree trunks up natural world. above their heads left from the Thank you for being a supporter! March flooding. Photo by Kimberly Cullen Executive Director's Message by Brad van Appel

The word “arboretum” can sound exclusive to some – a place only for the wealthy and well educated. Mount Pisgah Arboretum belongs to the whole community, and we’re working to ensure that everyone feels like they belong here. Placeholder  Our interactive exhibits are designed to engage the imaginations of all visitors, including those who might never attend an educational program.  We’ve recently produced a Spanish trail map as part of an effort to reach local Spanish-speakers.  Over 3,000 children take part in our volunteer-led Discovery Tours annually. A large number of those kids come from low-income schools and the Arboretum

Brad van Appel speaking at Summer Celebration raises funds to help pay their field trip costs so that every child can participate.

With the support of Lane County Parks, the Arboretum has just launched a new membership initiative in partnership with Huerto de la Familia and Cornerstone Community Housing. Our supporters can now sponsor annual memberships for families who may not know about, or be able to take advantage of what the Arboretum has to offer.

To further expand our community connections, we have joined the Rivers to Ridges Partnership to help protect and enhance natural resources, and provide environmental education and recreation opportunities in our region. And, we’re proud to be part of Eugene/Springfield NAACP’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Committee.

The Arboretum has also deepened our long-term partnership commitments with Lane County Parks and the Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah. In 2018 these three organizations collaborated to complete a Habitat Management Plan for HBRA. This year we worked together to clear trails after the snowstorm and to build the new Coast Fork Trail. The Arboretum and the Friends continue to actively explore new ways to work together to better serve the community and the land, and the Willamette Confluence Preserve may present exciting opportunities for more collaboration in the near future.

Working together and embracing diversity makes our community stronger, and helps advance the Arboretum’s educational mission. Community support and partnerships have made Mount Pisgah Arboretum a place where people of all economic and cultural backgrounds can enjoy and learn about our area’s vibrant ecology. Thank you!

Mallards in the by Jason Spear, Site Assistant Meadow This year the Arboretum was chosen as a nesting site by a female Mallard, who successfully incubated and reared 12 ducklings in the low grasslands on site! I stumbled upon a nest mowing the

grass in late May. I was startled by mother duck who Spear Jason by Photo Female Mallard and her ducklings passing the Arboretum caretaker’s continued on p. 5 home on their way towards the river. 3

Music by Satori Bob

Thank you members, volunteers, supporters and staff for a lovely evening together!

Jenny Buckley, recipient of the Newly elected board members Office Volunteer of the Year award Charlotte Kreitlow (pictured) and August Jackson, the Arboretum's Interpretive Coordi- Sally Stender. Re-elected was nator, speaking about the power of site-based learning. Charlotte Helmer.

Thank you Planktown, Evenfall, and Rue 25 Winery for beverage & food contributions!

Say Hello to Our New Seasonal Staff by Brad van Appel, Executive Director The busy wedding season started in late May, and this year we were very pleased to hire Matney Lea as our Events Assistant. Matney is applying her broad range of professional experience to oversight of this year’s weddings and other events.

Summer is a busy time for trail and habitat maintenance. In June the Arboretum hired Toki Nakae to help us stay on top of things. Toki is doing some great work as our 2019 Site Aide and will be heading to the U of O in the fall. Matney Lea, Events Assistant Toki Nakae, Site Aide continued from p. 3 flew out of the grass in an effort to protect her nest. I shut down the mower assuming a nest may be near. Only a few moments later I discovered and photographed the nest. I left this area full of tall grass to keep the nest well hidden. Concerned that I might have caused momma Mallard to abandon her nest, I returned the next day. Thankfully I was able to put my worries at rest, when I found the mother had returned. A short week and one half later, I had caught word from Jenny Laxton, Arboretum’s Education Manager, that a momma duck and her ducklings were headed to the river. A successful year for the brave mother duck who had hunkered down amidst the ever-changing happenings of the Arboretum. Photo by Jason Spear Jason by Photo Mallard eggs 1 1/2weeks from hatching. About Mallards The Mallard duck,Anas platyrhnchos, belonging to the waterfowl order Anseriformes, is the most common wild duck throughout the Northern Hemisphere and can be found in many other parts of the world today too, including: Eurasia, Australia, the Hawaiian Islands, Japan and South Korea. Known as a dabbling duck, it is found in almost any wetland habitat, including marshes, ponds, farms, parks and riverine floodplains, and feeds both in water and on land, foraging on a wide variety of food, including, but not limited to: aquatic plants and insect larvae, as well as seeds, grain, snails, earthworms, terrestrial plants and freshwater shrimp. With much of Mount Pisgah Arboretum defined as upland and lowland prairies, emergent and year-round wetlands, grasslands, and riverine floodplains, the Arboretum is a top-notch choice for breeding Mallards.

Like many other waterfowl, Mallards will congregate into flocks for both fall and winter migration. During the fall migration, Mallards begin courtship, choosing their mate for the next breeding season. Mallards have a four to five months mating season during the winter and spring months. Early in that time period, a pair-bond is forged between the male and female. “Once a Drake [male Mallard] has paired with a female, he will remain with her until approximately 10 days after the female begins to incubate their eggs” (David). If the eggs are destroyed, or predated during this time, the male will mate with the female a second time.

With the arrival of summer and a bittersweet passing of spring, the Mallard mating season comes to an end. Once the female successfully lays a clutch, typically of eight to thirteen creamy white, spotless eggs, the male leaves the female on the nest to incubate and rear their offspring, and goes off to join an all-male flock where he will begin to molt, shedding his elaborately decorated feathers, resulting in a brown plumage much like his female counterpart. When the leaves begin to turn, and the long summer days grow short, he will molt a second time, after which, his bright coloration will return in preparation for the next breeding season.

Source: David, Diana. “Mallard Duck Nesting Habits.” Sciencing, 17 Sept. 2018, sciencing.com/mallard-duck-nesting-habits-8096988.html.

UPCOMING EVENTS All events are held at the Arboretum unless otherwise noted.

Park Watch Training - Wed., August 6, 4 PM - 5 PM @ Education Bldg. (Visitors Center) Lane County Parks, Mount Pisgah Arboretum, and Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah are working together to protect park visitors' cars. We invite you to join us in improving experiences for park visitors by becoming a Park Watch volunteer. continued on p. 6 5 continued from p. 5

Park Watch volunteers monitor trailhead parking lots and provide a valuable communication link between visitors and park staff. Volunteers are asked to sign up for twelve 2-hour shifts in a 6-month period. After 10 hours of service, Park Watch volunteers earn a Lane County Parks 12-month parking pass. Find out more at this training. To pre-register (encouraged) email [email protected] Bird Walk - Sunday, Aug. 11, 8 AM - 11 AM Join Julia Siporin and Joni Dawning for another monthly bird walk intended for people with all levels of birding experience. We’ll use vocalizations, habitat, and behavior clues for identification of our spring migrants and year-round residents. Come discover the Arboretum’s avian diversity. Please bring binoculars. Option to continue the walk until noon for those who are interested. Rain or shine. Meet at the Education Bldg. (Visitors Center) and remember your parking pass. $5, Members FREE. More Bird Walks with Julia Siporin & Joni Dawning are scheduled for September 8 and October 13—same time & place! Kids' River Walk - Thu., August 15, 11 AM - 1 PM Take a wading hike in the river with Education Manager Jenny Laxton and search for water bugs, fish & frogs. Armed with nets, buckets and magnifiers we'll catch and take a close look at these river critters. Critter catching materials provided. Bring your water shoes, sense of adventure and be ready to get wet! Meet at the Education Bldg. (Visitors Center) and remember your parking pass. $8/family, members FREE. More events can be found at: Contributions www.mountpisgaharboretum.org/festivals-events/ April 27, 2019 to July 10, 2019 New Members Aaron Chester Carolyn Hughes & Anton Eric Michael Boggs Karel Kramer Marian Alter Abby Colehour Hadjivassiliov Erin Crews Katie Nelson Marie Laura Roehrich Abby Hyland Carolyn Johnson Erin Pasternack Katy Lemieux Mark & Shelley Adam Junod Cathy Irwin Evan Thomsen Kelly Shadwick Ackermann Adam Saunders Charlotte Gillie Firelin Jones Kelly Skaja Marsha Ginsberg Alexis Perkins Chelsea Obeidy Glenn Greening Kelsie Troxell & Greg Mary Bushey Alison Burggren Cheryl Billard Grisha Stewart Jackson Matt Salazar Alison Powell Cheryl Kimbo Hailey Gillette Keri Karlsen Maureen Scherger Alissa Ludington Chris Foraker Hailey Hughes Kimberly Fraser Maya Yukhalin Amanda Lilienthal Christine DeMoll Harrison Jones Kimberly St. Hilaire Meghan Dailey-Faulhaber Amanda Rose Christopher Smith Hester Coyne Kirsten Vinyeta Melanie Germond Amrit Calhoun Claire Escobosa Ingrid Wendt Kit Kirkpatrick Melanie Heard Amy Hulbert Clyde Kimball Jan Norton Kristin Allen Melissa Mower Amy Lyn Cynthia Bulinkski Jane Harrison Kristin Buxton Melvyn Manapsal Amy Myers Dan Schlichtmann Janet & Bob Hollander Kristina Durette Mike Anderson Andrew White & Katie Dana Millard Janet Berrian Lan Guo Mike Simon Hughes Daniel Kelley Janty Sumimoto Larry Gonzalez & Misty Flett Ann K. Hinnen Danielle & Gilbert Castro Jared Abbott Laurie Hart Morgan Sosa Art McBreen Darren Schubert Jared Margolise Larry West Natalie Oliver Ashleigh Warford David Bruckner Jason Ragan Lauren McCrary Nathan Larson Bart Caridio David McCormick Jeanette Moltzer Lauren Walz Nicolas Savicky Beth Pope David Pottorf Jennifer Slater Leon Simon Sanchez Odessa Hart Bethany Maizel Dean Still Jesse Hansen Leslie & Sandy Prieto Olena Borova Bill Lee Denise Lauer Johanna Richlin Leslie Orlando Oliva Paz Bill Sherman Diana & Perry John Adams & Tomie Liedeke Sweitzer & Pam Jernigan Bob Clemen Weatherson Timon Evan Perkins Patricia Mallick Bruce Fingerhood Ed Graham & Jean Schulz John Scott Lior Feldman Patrick Morgan Bruce Tabb Elizabeth Palm John Wayland Lisa Curb Paul Goldstone Bryan Whitlow Elizabeth Walker Julia Clark Lisa Goss Paula Reininger Caitlin Estes Ellen Stark Julie Medina Lynn Cantrell Randy Whitledge Camas Banks Emily Erickson Kaila & Alejandro Maggie Steele Rebecca Misho Candy Walker Emma Spehar Colmenero Marcus Neylor Rebecca Trojan 6 New Members continued Rebecca White Sarah Koski Steve Ransom Tim Meneely & Chris Ulrike Streicher & Rebekah Bender Seth Harper Summer Hankins Huggett Larry Ulibarri Renee Thompson Sherri Thieben Susan Kirk Garner Timothy Black Viki Ingle Rick Overman Sierra Sargent & Andrew Susan Spehar Toni Migneault Vikkie Barnum Roger Robb Branscum Suzanne & Dennis Tracy Bartlett Wayne & Kelly Burke Samantha Russell Sorrel Arends Reynolds Tracy Hardwick Wayne West Sandra Crowley Stephen Landale Tatiana Truitt Troy Slonecker Wendy Machalicek Sara Pittman Stephen Quinn Teri Girtsman Tyler & Madeline Zak Scotton Sarah Cornwell Steve Gabb Thomas Hasvold McDonald

General Contributions Commemorations Contributions given in memory & Gift Memberships In Honor of Anne Bonine - John O'Donnell of Bonnie Witkin-Stuart In Honor of Heather Henderson - Whitney Donielson Andrew Peara & Alison Cantril Alice Macdonald Julie Hulme Allison Hensey In Memory of Ruth Dudgeon- Carolyn Garcia Louis Stagnitto Angela Montoya In Memory of Braden Lewis - Bruce Cummings Pamela & Tom Boyatt Bart Caridio Paula Lowden Brian Holte & Kimberly Strong Contributions given in memory of Allan Coons Brian Price Brittany Boersma Anne Niemiec & David Kolb Kathryn King David Bennett Bruce & Edie Anderson Larry & Rita Storm Doreen Kilen Debbie Shute Nancy Coons Jim & Alison Gillespie Donna Snyder Phylis Rice Joyce Trawle Dorothy Corkery Richard Roy Kathellen Johnson Gervais Salon & Day Spa Roger & Iris Surette Family Martha Jones Grace Swanson Ryan Anderson Mary Deiters & Thomas Faxon Jeanette & Curtis Mack Susan & David Kilber Melissa & Reid Parks Jeff Isom Thomas Cary & Mary O'Brien-Cary Norman Gartley John & Cheryl Stewart William & Patricia Wiswall Pam Farmer Julie Starita Rob & Janet Barnes Rob Castleberry & Joyce Thomas Business Members Robert & Laoni Davis A HUGE thanks to Dwyer Williams Cherkoss Robert J. Cummings KLCC Rears Mfg. Co. for their Stephen Jones Landarc Landscaping & Design In-Kind donation of a new Yona Riel Mountain Rose Herbs Flail Mower! A special thanks to Rainscapes Evergreen Members & Right at Home In-Home Care Renewing Members! Sapient Private Wealth Mgmnt. Scherer Investment Co. Wildflower Festival Education Program Sequential Biofuels In-Kind Donors Barbara Sandefur Sperry Tree Care Co. Betsy Halpern Triangle Graphics Baroque Betty, Best Pots, Great Harvest, Halie & The Cheryl Flavin Wildish Land Co. Moon, Looking Glass Riverfront School, Metropol Emily Huston Bakery, Mood Area 52, Moonlight Jubilee, Organically Jennifer Buckley Grown Co., Royal Blue Organics/Café Mam, Satori Karen Silfies Bob, Shout! Factory, Sundance Natural Foods, The Susan Engbretson Slow Ponies, The Wildflowers Bluegrass Band Tom & Julie Penton Interpretive Program Daniel Udovic Diane R. Peterson

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34901 Frank Parrish Road Eugene, OR 97405-9673 Address Service Requested

Discover your place in nature Check out our new exhibit!

Yes, I want to support the Arboretum! Membership Dues Sponsor Kids' Nature Field Trips! Student/Senior/Guide $40 Individual $50 Each year, 3,000 school children discover nature on our Family $60 volunteer led tours. Many schools can no longer afford these field trips and they depend on scholarships from Sponsor $75 people like you. A $10 donation to Discovery Tours brings Supporting $100 out one child. $250 can bring out a whole classroom! Sustaining $250 Business $100-$1,000 - call! I want to help children discover nature Other Contributions with a gift of $ ______Sponsor a Family Membership $60 Membership $ ______+ Donation $ ______= Total Contribution $______Unrestricted Interpretive Program Name: Endowment Fund “In Honor of” or “In Memory of” Address: Name of person receiving tribute ______City, State, Zip: Please mail your membership and/or contributions to: Phone: Mount Pisgah Arboretum 34901 Frank Parrish Road • Eugene, OR 97405 Please keep my donation anonymous. All contributions and dues are tax-deductible. IRS #23-7345974