California Native Plant Society - Orange County

Chapter Meeting: May 2013

administrator

The Fullerton Arboretum's Meadow-More than just Grass

Date: May 16, 2013
THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE ARBORETUM.
If possible, meet at 6 PM for a guided walk in the native
gardens. Speaker inside at 7:30 PM.
Speaker: Chris Barnhill

The newest landscape feature at the Fullerton arboretum is the native meadow (or grassland) and what a beauty it is! Yes, the main feature in the garden are the grasses of various sizes, textures, and colors, but it also hosts an extensive collection of beautiful perennials and bulbs. This garden is interesting and colorful almost all year long. If you have been considering replacing a conventional lawn area with something native and "meadowish", this talk is a must.

Chris can tell us which plants are good garden companions and which are bullies, and which are just stellar performers! He will also acquaint us with how one might go about selecting which plant one would want in their meadow and some of the challenges to overcome.

Chris Barnhill has been with the Fullerton Arboretum for over 12 years as the Curator of the Living Collections, where he has spearheaded the effort to create both the Channel Islands and Mohave Gardens. He has worked at Botanic Gardens in both Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Denver, Colorado, and at nurseries in New Mexico and California. He was the photographer for two full length books on two interesting genera of plants from South Africa: One of the species, Conophytum chrisocruxum, was named for him.

Chris spends much of his free time traipsing around southern California, photographing and frolicking in this fantastic botanically diverse region we call home. He also enjoys his family and a steady supply of classical music and George Harrison recordings.

Rare Vegetation Sampling/Mapping Workshop

Ron Vanderhoff

CNPS Chapter-Based Rare Vegetation
Sampling/Mapping Workshop

Saddle Creek North, Orange County
June 8-9, 2013

The CNPS Vegetation Program is conducting a field-based sampling/mapping workshop in Orange County at the Saddle Creek North property, which is managed by the Conservation Fund. This property is located near the intersection of Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road (near “Cook’s Corner”).

Conservation Report: May/June 2013

Celia Kutcher

NEW LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN AMENDMENT PROPOSED FOR THE FOUR SO CAL FORESTS, PART 2: MORE ON WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE TRABUCO DISTRICT

Our backyard Santa Ana Mountains are managed by the Trabuco District of the Cleveland National Forest. See the previous newsletter for links to the extensive online maps and background on this new Amendment of the current (2006) Land Management Plan. The proposed Amendment is to determine what Land Use Zone classifications the Forests‘ Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) will have, which in turn determines how they will be managed and what activities will be allowed in them.

The three Land-Use Alternatives discussed last time have corresponding Monitoring Alternatives, which define what the Forest Service will look at, over 5-year report periods, to monitor progress toward fulfilling the Plan’s management goals. A comparison of the Monitoring Alternatives that cover native vegetation and habitats shows that Alternatives A and B continue the monitoring that’s been done since 2005 at least, except that B adds a couple of items. Alternative C covers the same basic monitoring items--fuel/vegetation management at the WUI, maintaining the natural fire regime and vegetation/habitat health, reducing invasives, balancing resource-conservation needs with public/recreation needs--but with an emphasis on working with natural processes that is much more in line with current ecological research and resource-management thinking than Alternatives A or B.

Native Gardener's Corner: May/June 2013

Dan Songster

Native Gardener’s Corner—Members’ Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

This column is a regular newsletter feature offering chapter members and local experts a chance to briefly share information on many things related to gardening with natives. This Issue’s question was "Which native flowers do you most like to pick for an indoor bouquet?" Answers listed in order received.

Chuck Wright - “Whatever is blooming and will last for more than a day or two. Scarlet Bugler and Coral Bells and of course dried flower stalks, which last forever and even come with decorative spiders as a bonus. In the fall, the bright red rose hips of Rosa californica are hard to beat.”

Rob Moore - “Even though I have a wildflower meadow in my backyard, I don't typically pick the flowers for indoor arrangements, but seeing as this particular day happened to be my wedding anniversary, I decided to pick a bouquet for my wife. I can still smell the Salvia spathacea, and purple sage on my fingers as I type. Others I chose for the arrangement included:Encelia californica, Clarkia unguiculata, Lupinus succulentus, Gilia capitata, and just for kicks I threw in some Leymus condensatus and Lepichinia fragrans. I topped it off with a handful (ouch) of some of that annoyingAsparagus setaceus (non-native) that I can't seem to get rid of. The wife seemed to like it...think I'm good for another year!”

2013 Field Trips

Ron Vanderhoff

Below is a list of field trips for 2013.

Most field trips are free and most are open to all, but read the trip outlines for parking/entrance fees or pass requirements and be sure they fit your physical abilities. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, appropriate trail shoes, a camera, a notepad and lots of enthusiasm.

Trips change. Always check www.occnps.org/explore for more current information. Rain cancels – check the website after 7 pm the evening before the trip for final weather and trip updates. (rvanderhoff@sbcglobal.net)