Vol. 38 No. 1 March 2016 Newsletter of the Idaho Native Plant Society ● Promoting Interest in Idaho’s Native Flora Orton Botanical Garden, Inc. aka Plantasia Cactus Gardens By LaMar N. Orton, Loasa Chapter, INPS Past President Rosalie and I have been interested in plants break helps to create a micro-climate in the for many years. We sold bedding plants in the garden. From 2002 to 2007 over 4000 cubic spring from our residence for 16 years. In 1986 yards of gravelly and sandy soil were brought into we went to Arizona for the first time and fell in the garden, bermed and planted. Thousands of love with the Sonoran Desert. After returning pounds of lava rocks were also brought into the home, we decided to see what cacti and other garden to edge and place on the berms. The five desert plants could be raised in Twin Falls, Idaho, acres now contain pediocacti, escobarias, at the northern edge of the Great Basin Desert. echincereus (including a unique mutation), We started converting our 0.6 acre lot to a echinocacti, ferocacti, cylindropuntias, opuntias drought tolerant garden with many desert plants, and sclerocacti. but especially cacti. We collected and started In addition to the cacti there are over 20 many seeds of Pediocactus and Escobaria, and in species of yuccas, including over 25 Joshua trees, the fall of 1990 we acquired our first permits for a half dozen species and varieties of agaves, and Joshua trees from the BLM Joshua tree harvest three species of nolinas. There are also area in Esmeralda County, Nevada. That Decem- penstemons, saltbushes, desert willows, pinyon ber the temperature in our back yard reached pines, junipers, grasses, perennial zinnias, salvi- -22 degrees Fahrenheit. The Joshua trees weren’t as, gaillardias, evening-primroses, hesperaloes, well established going into the winter, and the globemallows, fern bushes, mahoganies, paint- next spring two of the four trees died, and the brushes, buckwheats, etc. There is one berm ded- other two bloomed and died on top. However, icated to Idaho plants and another dedicated they started growing from the roots and one is specifically to Idaho native buckwheats. now over six foot high. There have been Joshua Continued on Page 6 trees in the garden ever since then. In this issue: Orton Botanical Garden.................................. 1 In 2001, the home and five acres of pasture Letter from the President.................................2 and hay fields adjacent to our home was put up Announcements.............................................. 3 for sale. We acquired the property with the intent 2016 Annual Meeting...................................... 3 of establishing a botanic garden demonstrating Habitat Restoration Birds of Prey....................7 drought tolerant and native Idaho plants. In ERIG Report: Micranthes................................ 8 2002 a five row wind break was planted on the Field Guide to Grasses................................. 12 west and part of the south side of the garden. In Memorium: Dave Skinner..............................13 2004 the wind break was completed on the south Mystery Plant................................................ 13 and on the east side of the five acres. The wind Chapter News............................................... 14 Letter from the President IDAHO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY PO Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 I have been thinking about INPS from the perspective of membership, lead- www.idahonativeplants.org ership, participation, and contribution. As president, I am always fussing over public3 [at] idahonativeplants.org the need to recruit new leadership and find volunteers to serve within the or- INPS BOARD ganization. At times, this can be a frustrating endeavor given the potential de- President: Stephen Love mands on already overly busy lives. But in this process, my thoughts always Vice-president: Vacant move from the negative to the positive as I reflect on the incredible people who Secretary: Janet Bala Treasurer: Karen Getusky contribute their time to make INPS function. We are served at the state and Past-president: LaMar Orton chapter levels by executive leaders, board members, secretaries, treasurers, ed- Member-at-Large: Mel Nicholls itors, numerous committee chairs and associated members, all giving time, tal- Chapter Presidents ent, and treasure to advance causes related to our wonderful native flora. CALYPSO CHAPTER In so many ways, this is an amazing organization. We manage to pull to- 821 W. Mustang Ave. gether people from every possible demographic background, degree of educa- Hayden, ID 83835 tion, and income level based simply on interest in learning about, appreciating, President: Derek Antonelli Vice President: Vacant and protecting the native plants found within our state borders. This single, Secretary: Karen Williams unifying passion creates a sense of comradeship, teamwork, and accord that is Treasurer: Janet Benoit hard to find anywhere else. Striking up a stimulating and mutually beneficial Newsletter: Vacant conversation with a fellow INPS member, regardless of how well we know them, LOASA CHAPTER is as easy and comfortable as falling into an overstuffed easy chair. Working to- 340 E 520 N, Shoshone, ID 83352 gether toward a common, plant-related cause, comes just as natural. President: Bill Bridges In wrapping up this letter, I would like to shout out and thank those of you Vice President: Valdon Hancock Secretary/Treasurer: Lois Rohay who have and do serve INPS. I won’t try to make a list, but you know who you are. I would, however, like to thank one person who, at much personal cost, has PAHOVE CHAPTER PO Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 served our organization for a long, long time. That person is Elaine Walker, our pahove.chapter [at] gmail.com immediate past Treasurer. We truly appreciate her selfless service. President: Karie Pappani At the same time, I would like to welcome two new faces to INPS leadership Vice President: Elaine Walker – Karen Getusky, our new treasurer; and Derek Duval who has taken on the ex- Secretary: Daniel Murphy Treasurer: Caroline Morris panded role of membership committee chair. I look forward to working with each of you. May your passion for Idaho’s native plants sustain you in your ef- SAWABI CHAPTER forts to serve the INPS membership. 5901 Country Club Drive Pocatello, ID 83204 President: Bob McCoy Yours truly, Vice President: LaRue Gregersen Secretary: Barbara Nicholls Stephen Love Treasurer: Grant Thomas President UPPER SNAKE CHAPTER Currently Inactive WHITE PINE CHAPTER PO Box 8481, Moscow, ID 83843 whitepine.chapter [at] gmail.com President: Susan Rounds Vice President: Judy Ferguson Secretary: Charlotte Omoto Treasurer: Pamela Pavek 2016 INPS Membership Renewal WOOD RIVER CHAPTER Please take time to renew your INPS membership now. You can renew (or join) PO Box 3093, Hailey, ID 83333 on-line via the INPS website, or you can complete the membership form on the President: Cynthia Langlois back of this issue of Sage Notes. Encourage others with an interest in Idaho's Vice President: Lisa Horton Secretary: Jeanne Cassell flora to join. The society is only as strong as the people who stand behind it. Treasurer: Carol Blackburn Sage Notes Vol. 38 (1) March 2016 2 Announcements 9th Annual Idaho Botanical Foray Save the Date! The 9th Annual Idaho Botanical Foray will be held June 16-19, 2016 in the Pahsimeroi River and upper Little Lost River areas in east-central Idaho. Tucked between the crests of the Lemhi and Lost River mountain ranges, this botanically diverse area includes a number of Idaho endemics and habitats that vary from alpine summits to riparian bottom- lands. We look forward to contributing new collections from a somewhat re- mote area of Idaho. More detailed information about camping and logistics will be available soon on the INPS webpage and on Facebook on the Idaho Botanical Foray link. The 2016 Foray is being sponsored by Idaho State Uni- versity. Please contact Janet Bala (balajane [at] isu.edu) at the Ray J. Davis Herbarium, Idaho Museum of Natural History if you have questions. • 2015 Foray. Photo by Janet Bala. 2016 INPS Annual Meeting — From Refugia to Ridgetops The 2016 annual meeting will be held June 10-13, We have reserved the Fish Creek Group Use Camp for 2016. It will be hosted by the White Pine Chapter of Idaho camping Thursday noon through Tuesday morning and Native Plant Society (INPS). INPS members and guests the Fish Creek Pavilion for registration Friday and two of are invited to join together to socialize and botanize at the our evening functions (Friday and Saturday). The Fish Fish Creek Group Use Camp and the Fish Creek Pavilion Creek Group Use Camp is fairly primitive and accom- on Mt. Idaho eight miles modates tents, pickup campers, and small to medium size south of Grangeville, Idaho. camping trailers. It has two vault toilets. It does not have As the title indicates, we will potable water or electricity. We will provide water in 5 explore several types of hab- gallon containers but please plan to bring water for your itats along nearby rivers and personal needs. The nearby Pavilion and developed ridgetops. The Lochsa and campground both have water available for us to refill Selway Rivers east of containers. Several propane or butane stoves will be Grangeville serve as refugia available for use at the camp site by those without cooking for disjunct populations of facilities. The campsite accommodates 20 vehicles (an plants which inhabit these auto/trailer combo counts as one vehicle.) Larger trailers areas and otherwise are or RVs may camp at the developed Fish Creek Camp- found in more temperate en- ground which has 10 first-come/first-served sites. We vironments in Western hopefully will be able to occupy some of these sites mid- Canyon Creek. Photo by Washington and Oregon. We week for use by larger vehicles so you need to provide Nancy Miller. will also have an opportunity trailer/RV length information on the registration form.