Olympic Peninsula Chapter Washington Native Plant Society February-May 2019 Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Olympic Peninsula Chapter Washington Native Plant Society February-May 2019 Newsletter To promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington’s native "Botany consists in the gathering of plants, and the dismembering of them, in connection with the use of a plants and their habitats through study, education and advocacy “There is a thing in me that dreamed of trees…” starts Mary Oliver’s poem. (A Dream of Trees) Like so many others of hers, she contemplates the busy-ness of our lives with what she sees and receives from the natural world she took in. With the passing of the sea- sons, winter to spring that this newsletter encompasses we embrace the changes with- in our chapter and the area it covers. Programs, hikes, work parties and the second local offering of Fayla’s plant identification and appreciation class presented here all are a part of what continues to inspire us. Pay attention to the trip leaders and authors for updates on specifics..…. Sharon Schlentner John Haskins Tunnel Creek hike PROGRAM Tuesday February 19, 2019. Stalking Washington’s Rare Plants by Dr. Walter Fertig. Port Townsend Community Center 620 Ty- ler St. Social time at 6:30 pm; program begins at 7:00 Dr. Walter Fertig was recruited to Washington in September 2017 to serve as our State Botanist with the Washington Natural Heritage Program based in Olympia, which is a division of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Throughout his extensive career as a botanist, Walter developed a ranking system for conservation of rare plants and has helped guide manage- ment plans for more than 100 rare plants throughout the western and south- western states. Walter will share with us how the WNHP works and will take us on a journey revisiting rare plant populations throughout Washington dur- ing the 2018 field season..Kathy Darrow. Sweet Vetch/Chain Pod (Hedysarum Miller Peninsula to Thompson Spit. Friday Feb 22. 2019. 10am. occidentale) on Mt. Townsend.Imperiled in Washington, (Kathy Darrow) 5 miles RT, 360 ft elevation gain. Winter walk through the newest state park on the Olympic Peninsula. We will walk through forest to the beach. Meet at the Miller Peninsula State Park parking lot at 10 AM. Coming from Sequim, drive southeast on Highway 101 for approximately 12 miles. Turn left on Diamond Point Rd, go about two miles to the parking lot with facili- ties. Discover Pass required for parking. RSVP and carpool from Port Townsend area arranged by contacting Fayla, [email protected] 1 Crack Plant Society Annual Hike Friday March 15, 2019. Port Townsend.1 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m., with picnic in between. About 4 miles, easy walking, some paved, some beach, some forest trails. Beginning at Chetzemoka Park, we will tour Port Townsend searching for and iden- tifying “crack plants” in city streets, sidewalks and rock walls. We will also turn our attention to other “neo-natives” that have become long term residents in our local meadows, forests and sea- shores. We will also learn some of the common and iconic street trees and cultivars that inhabit Port Townsend. Arthur Lee Jacobson’s field guide, “Wild Plants of Seattle,” is recommended reading and guide to accompany this walk. For meeting place and RSVP contact Kathy Darrow, [email protected] Kah Tai Prairie Preserve; Welcome to Spring and General Mainte- nance Work Party. Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00-12:00. Meet at the parking lot within the Port Townsend Golf Course by the Kah Tai Prairie Preserve sign This year we plan to upgrade fencing around the Garry Oaks since the local deer have enjoyed the prairie more every year. Common Parsnip (Pastinaca The work party will also include the usual spring cleanup and again we sativa) Port Townsend will evaluate future maintenance strategies. In March the camas sprouts, YMCA (Kathy Darrow) spring gold Lomatium utriculatum, grass –widows Olsynium douglasii, and old man’s whiskers Geum triflorum will be either flowering or starting to bud. Bring gloves and Olsynium douglasii (Sharon Schlentner) small weeding tools. Contact Dixie Llewellin if you want a Kah Tai Preserve plant list sent to you electronically. Questions contact [email protected]. or 360 385-6432. PROGRAM Tuesday March 19, 2019. Kah Tai Valley Past and Present. Port Townsend Community Center in Uptown Port Townsend at 620 Tyler Street. Social time at 6:30pm; program at 7:00. This special program features the proposed Chetzemoka Trail hon- oring native people that once thrived in the valley and along the beaches. The program will include the history of the Kah Tai Prai- rie Preserve, restoration of Froggy Bottoms, Kah Tai Lagoon Na- ture Park and early Port Townsend changes to the landscape. Ques- tions; contact Dixie at [email protected] Kah Tai Prairie Camas in full bloom (Dave Llewellin) Lyre Conservation Area . Friday April 12, 2019. 9:00 AM Leave Jct. SR 20 and US 101 (Fat Smitty's) This North Olympic Land Trust property 20 miles west of Port Angeles features the estuary at the mouth of the Lyre river, streams, tide- flats, kelp beds, and a 1/2 mile of Strait of Juan de Fuca shoreline which is reached via a one mile walk through an 80 year old forest along a gentle former access road. Dress for the weather and bring your field guides, hand lens, and a lunch. RSVP to Wendy McClure [email protected] 360-779-3820 Lyre River tree growth (Sharon Schlentner) 2 PROGRAM Tuesday April 16, 2019. Trees Live Here:The Role of American Arboretums in the Appreciation and Conservation of Na- tive Trees, by Susan McDougall and David Biek. Port Townsend Community Center 620 Tyler St. Social time at 6:30 pm; program begins at 7:00 In 2011 and 2012, Susan McDougall and David Biek set out to explore, photograph, and write about arboretums across America, from Seattle to Miami and Honolulu to Boston. In this program, they will outline their journey and highlight arboretums that have made spe- cial efforts to present native trees to gardeners as well as to conserve endangered species. Other examples will present arboretums that have preserved tracts of native forest and have worked to establish (or re- establish) local ecosystems. Susan’s book, Trees Live Here: the Arbore- tums of America presents her photographs and text of the 33 “places for trees” that they visited. Not content to simply visit arboretums, Susan, a retired Boeing engi- neer, and David, a retired librarian, recently moved to Sequim from Se- attle, to a small plot of land where they are building the Sequim Prairie Arboretum. Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica ) in restored pond habitat at Crosby Arboretum, formerly a strawberry field. (Submitted photo by Susan and David) Native Plant Appreciation Week: April 21-28. check wnps.org for event updates Flora of the Quimper Peninsula Quimper Peninsula Wildflower Hot Spots, A Celebration of Native Plant Appreciation Week: Friday, April 26, 2019. 10:00 am. Meet at the Port Townsend Golf Course at the Kah Tai Prairie Preserve kiosk to see its spring display of native flowers (a sea of blue camas and spring gold). Learn the history of the preserve at this relict prairie. We will proceed to the Kala Point beach strand, one of the most floriferous of the dune/beach strand communities on the Quimper Peninsula. If there is interest and time we go on to the main parking lot at Fort Townsend State Park where we will hike among old growth trees and see several parasitic species that are signature plants for the park. We will also see Calypso orchids that will just be finishing blooming.. If you have questions, contact Ann Calypso bulbosa Weinmann at 379-0986, [email protected] (Kathy Darrow) Gibbs Lake. Thursday May 2, 2019.Three or four miles around Gibbs Lake with a stop at the Gibbs Lake Bog. Easy trail with a short bushwhack to the bog. Both bog laurel (Kalmia microphylla) and Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) will likely be in bloom at the bog. We will also see sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) and perhaps Carex pauciflora. Meet at PT Park and Ride before 9:30 to car pool or meet at the first parking area on the right along Gibbs Lake Road. RSVP to Fred Weinmann at [email protected] or 360-379- 0986. Kul Kah Han’s Native Plant Demonstration Garden . Spring Plant Sale Saturday May 4.2019. HJ Carroll Park in the Salmon Shelter. (Time TBD.~. 9:00- 12:00 ) A variety of new plants not previously available will be offered. Linda Landkammer [email protected] Work Party, Wednesday May 15, 2019. HJ Carroll Park, Chimacum. Meet on site at 2:00, carpooling can be arranged, work party is from 2-3:30. Linda Landkammer and crew have created a native garden with special attention to habitat location over the last 19 years. This is an opportunity to lend a hand and upgrade areas of the garden, do a bit of weeding, and see what spe- cies might work in your garden. Several of the species on site will be in full bloom providing a great opportunity to become familiar with native plants you may encounter on a hike. Grab a friend, some gloves, and small weeding tools for this event…. snacks and drinks will be provided. For a preview to the garden go to the following web page: https://nativeplantgarden.org/.Contact Dixie Llewellin if you have any questions [email protected]. or 360 385- 6432. 3 New WNPS state website – take a look! Recently the Washington Native Plant Society totally revamped its state website, and it is one you should have on your Bookmarks list.