Botanical Treasures in the Swan Valley
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elseyaNewsletter of the Montana Native Plant Society Kelseya uniflora K ill. by Bonnie Heidel Botanical Treasures in the Swan Valley A preview of the MNPS Annual Meeting By Steve Shelly, Clark Fork Chapter Along with its spectacular scenery, the Swan Valley in northwestern Montana has many unique ecological characteristics that have long drawn the attention of botanists and naturalists. To start, it is one of the few predominantly forested broad river valleys in Montana. Productive stands of conifers and deciduous trees occur almost uninterrupted across the valley, from the divide between the Swan and Clearwater River drainages at the south end to Swan Lake at the north end. Another special feature of the Swan Valley is its high diversity of wetland habitats, which are typically embedded within the forested communities on the valley floor. Scattered throughout the valley are lakes, marshes, vernal ponds, sedge meadows and peatlands. Of particular interest are the peatlands, which represent a specialized type of wetland in which the Cypripedium calceolus. Photo by Steve Shelly rate of accumulation of organic matter exceeds the rate of decomposition. This accumulation results in a (sparrow’s egg lady’s-slipper), Liparis loeselii (fen orchid), deepening layer of peat over time, which in our region Eleocharis rostellata (beaked spikerush), Carex rostrata occurs at a rate of approximately one inch per 100 years. (glaucous beaked sedge), and Epipactis gigantea (giant There are two broad types of peatlands – bogs and fens. helleborine). Bogs receive water only from precipitation, while the Another significant attribute of the Swan Valley is water entering fens comes from both precipitation and the high diversity of plant species that inhabit lower groundwater. All of the peatlands in Montana are fens. elevations in the watershed. According to the Montana Because fens are influenced in part by groundwater, Natural Heritage Program, there are 35 rare plant species the vegetation and species they support reflect the in the valley below an elevation of 4,500 feet. These surrounding geological formations. The prominence of include three mosses, eight lichens and 24 vascular plants; limestone, especially in the Swan Range on the east side the latter include six of the 30 orchid species native to of the Swan Valley, produces peatlands that are more Montana. Regarding this set of uncommon species: alkaline with respect to the groundwater that flows into * Of the rare vascular plants, 19 species are restricted them. Some of the rare plant species with an affinity to wetland habitats; for such “rich” fens include Cypripedium passerinum * Several species are among the rarest in Montana: continued on page 5 VOLUME 28 NO. 3 | SPRING 2015 pruning shears and a bucket. Tools also will be provided by the Chapter Events Missoula Conservation Lands Program. Meet at the Waterworks trailhead on Greenough Dr. Info: Clare at 728-0189 or www. Calypso Chapter facebook.com/MNPSClarkForkChapter. Saturday, April 4. “7th Annual Gardening with Natives Thursday, May 14, 6:30 pm. “Annual Spring Potluck.” Bring Workshop.” Cancelled. your own plate, utensils and a dish to share. Hosts Joe Elliott and Nancy Volle have a great garden with even a few natives. Meet Monday, April 6, 6:00 pm. “Invasive Plant Issues in Scotland.” at 3918 Lincoln Rd. in the Upper Rattlesnake. Info: Joe or Nancy Linda Lyon will discuss natives that have become weeds and at 542-5014. what Scotland is doing to control them. Room 101, Chemistry/ Biology Bldg., Montana Tech, Butte. Wednesday, May 20, 6:00 pm. “Later Bloomers in Pattee Canyon.” On our second evening walk we will look for orchids May, date and time TBA. “Getting to Know Your Western and blue camas. Meet at bleachers, Dornblaser Field, southeast Trees.” Bob Wooley presents this talk, to be followed at a later corner of South and Higgins Ave. Info: Clare at 728-0189 or date by a field trip to monitor Whitebark Pine regrowth. Meet www.facebook.com/MNPSClarkForkChapter. in Dillon. Info: Catherine Cain at 498-6198, nativeplants@ montana.com. Saturday, May 16, 10:00 am. “Mt. Sentinel Budburst.” Clare Beelman, volunteer with the phenology project on Mt. Sentinel, Saturday, May 9, 10:00 am. “Mother’s Day Wildflower shows us which flowers and leaves appear first on Mt. Sentinel Walk.” USFS botanist Jessie Salix leads this gentle excursion. this year. Hiking up the Evans Street Trail to the fire road, we’ll Destination depends on weather and will be cancelled if rain see as many as 130 different species of plants. If there is interest, or snow. Bring a sack lunch and plan to car pool. Meet in the we’ll hike a loop that goes up to the forest patch within 500’ of USFS parking lot, Dillon. Info and to RSVP: Jessie at 683-3947, the summit. Wear sturdy shoes for steep sections. Meet on [email protected]. the south side of the UM campus, parking lot at the corner of Sunday, June 14, 10:00 am. “Celebrate National Pollinator Beckwith and Madeline Ave. Info: Clare at 721-0189 or Week.” Catherine Cain will host an open house at Southwest www.facebook.com/MNPSClarkForkChapter. Montana Native Landscapes, her native plant nursery. Visit Thursday, May 28, 6:30 pm. “Plant Labeling Party.” Nosh on anytime before 5:00; Pollinator Scavenger Hunt starts at 2:00. hors d’oeuvers and sweets while preparing this year’s plants for 15000 Hwy 91 North, 15 miles north of Dillon (five miles south sale. Bring your labeling fingers and a savory or sweet dish to of Glen). Info: Catherine at 498-6198. share. Meet at 2 September Drive, Lincoln Hills, in the Upper Sunday, June 21, 9:00 am. “Wildflower Tour of Vipond Park.” Rattlesnake. Info: Clare at 728-0189. A driving tour (no hiking) with emphasis on native pollinators. Saturday, May 30, 8:00 am-noon. “Annual Montana Native Bring a sack lunch, rain gear and layered clothing. Plan on car Plant Society, Clark Fork Chapter Plant Sale.” One day only at pooling; no dogs. Meet at the Divide Fishing Access parking the Clark Fork River Market in Missoula. Come early for the best lot, across the Big Hole River bridge, two miles west of I-15 selection of native plants to add to your landscape! Info: www. on Hwy 43. Info and to RSVP: Catherine Cain at 498-6198, facebook.com/MNPSClarkForkChapter. [email protected] Saturday, June 13, 9:00 am. “Plants of a Ninemile Conservation Clark Fork Chapter Easement.” See story page 5 for details. Sunday, June 14, 1:00 pm. “Clarkia Weed Pull Party.” Join Thursday, April 9, 7:30 pm. “Wildflower ID.” You haven’t seen folks at Native Ideals Seed Farm for an afternoon of pulling them for nearly a year; can you remember their names? Get an weeds from rows of Clarkia pulchella, followed by good food early-season refresher with Clark Fork Chapter photographers. and a tour. This is a great chance to see mass planting (and Room L09, Gallagher Business Bldg., UM Campus. blooming!) of scarlet gilia, cushion buckwheat, lanceleaf daisy, Wednesday, April 22, 6:00 pm. “Early Bloomers in Pattee penstemons and, perhaps, bitterroot. Meet southeast of Arlee, Canyon.” Celebrate Earth Day with an evening stroll to look 31046 Jocko Rd. Info: Bryce at 726-3010 or www.facebook.com/ for fairy slippers, glacier lilies, violets and more. Meet at the MNPSClarkForkChapter. bleachers, Dornblaser Field, southeast corner of South and Saturday, June 20, 6:00 am. “Subalpine & Montane Plants Higgins Ave. to carpool. Info: Clare at 728-0189 or www. of the Southern Front.” Wayne Phillips, author and botanist- facebook.com/MNPSClarkForkChapter. extraordinaire, leads a day-long trip from Rogers Pass to Lewis Thursday, May 7, 6:00 pm. “Waterworks Cushion Plant TLC.” & Clark Pass and down Alice Creek to view a great diversity of Celebrate National Wildflower Week getting up close and wildflowers from forest to grassland and subalpine areas. Look personal with the low-growing, colorful and unique cushion for rock jasmine, chocolate lily, alpine forget-me-not, Lyall’s plants of Waterworks Hill. Meet uncommon Missoula phlox penstemon, hoary balsamroot, and sugarbowls. The hike follows and Rocky Mountain douglasia, as well as treasured bitterroots good trail along the Continental Divide for about 11 miles. A and important pollinator plants like buckwheat. These slow- shorter, out-and-back trip can be done of the first part of the growing natives are threatened by invasive weeds like leafy hike in the Rogers Pass area. Please RSVP to Clare (728-0189, spurge and spotted knapweed, yet their delicate nature [email protected]) to indicate which version you will prevents the use of weed-control methods such as be doing. Meet at the Milltown truck stop at 6:00 am to carpool herbicides, tilling or sheep grazing. We will help by from the Missoula area to Lincoln. Meet in Lincoln at the Cenex hand-pulling weeds. Bring gloves, weeding tool, Convenience Store at 8:00 am to arrange cars to Alice Creek for 2 return shuttle. Kelsey Chapter hikers meet at Rogers Pass and animals of Palouse prairie and wetland habitats with at 9:30 am. Info: Clare at 728-0189, Wayne at 453-0648, or botanists Peter Lesica and Jon Reny, and wildlife biologist www.facebook.com/MNPSClarkForkChapter. Beverly Skinner. Lost Trail Refuge is located between Kalispell and Libby, north of McGregor Lake. Bring a lunch and shoes that can get wet. Meet at the Marion Post Office. Info and to Flathead Chapter carpool from Flathead Valley: Betty at 892-0129. Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 pm. “A Garden on Sylvan Drive, Wednesday, June 10, 5:30 pm. “Columbia Mountain Field Flathead Lake.” Kathy Ross shares 25 years of experience Trip.” Glacier National Park Biologist Tara Carolin leads this landscaping with native and ornamental plants.