Sage notes : Idaho Native Plant Society newsletter

2012·2.6 MB·English

by  Idaho Native Plant Society

Map& photos: Dr.
Louis F. Henderson
and Dr. Charles L.
Kirtley, photographed
atthe40thanniversary
ofthe Universityof
Idaho, in 1932. The
mapshowstheir
1895 botanical survey
route. (Photo6-6-1,
SCA, Ul Library,
mapcourtesyPacific
NorthwestQuarterly)
A THOUSAND-MILE SUMMER:
Dates to The Henderson-Kirtley 1895 Reconnaissance of Central Idaho
remember
Adapted by Harriet Hughes, with permission from the author, Rhoda M. Love
Jan. 1, 2013 Renewyour (published in the Spring 2011 issue of Pacific Northwest Quarterly*)
INPS membership! —
In the summer of 1895, Louis F. Henderson the first professor of botany atthe newly-
—
June21-24, 2013: established University of Idaho and his student, Charles L. Kirtley, undertook the first
INPS &American botanical exploration of Idaho. Thanks to the work of historian Rhoda M. Love, we now have
Penstemon Society a better understanding ofthis fascinating and important expedition. What follows is a much-
Annual Meeting, Boise condensed version ofan article which appeared in the Spring 2011 issue ofthe Pacific
Northwest Quarterly, adapted here with Ms. Love’s permission.
Henderson’s trip was a summer-long, thousand-mile reconnaissance ofthe mountainous
regions ofcentral Idaho underthe auspices ofthe U.S. Department ofAgriculture. He was hired
forthejob by FrederickV. Coville, the department’s chief botanist and honorary curator ofthe
United States National Herbarium (housed atthe Smithsonian). Since Coville’s instructions are
now apparently lost, our best idea of Henderson’s mission is to be found in a interview he gave
to T. E. Picotte, editor ofthe Wood RiverTimes of Hailey, during thejourney. Picotte writes, “He
comes here to study ourflora, forestry possibilities and the mining outlook...He is accompanied
by C. L. Kirtley, of Salmon City...As they travel they collect specimens of plants, minerals, etc.,
which are neatly packed and forwarded to Secretary Morton atWashington, where theywill be
classified and placed on exhibition in the Smithsonian Institute.”
IDAHO NATIVE Henderson and Kirtleywere well-chosen forthejob. Louis Henderson endured a tough
PLANT SOCIETY
childhood in antebellum Mississippi, capped by the murder of his father shortly afterthe Civil
September 2012 War. During his education at Cornell University, Henderson discovered thejoys of botany and
Volume 34 went on to a distinguished career, first at the University of Idaho (where his initial personal
(3)
herbarium was destroyed in the catastrophicAdministration Building fire in 1906) and later
at the University of Oregon (retiring at the ripe old age of86). He chose Charles Kirtley to
Articlescontributed to
accompany him, apparently on the strength of his talents as a horseman and stockman (no
Sage Notes reflectthe
viewsofthe authors doubt the legacy of his ranch-upbringing near Salmon, Idaho). They certainly were not in it for
and are notanofficial the money, as Mr. Picotte relayed: “Professor Henderson is allowed only $250 for 214 months
position ofthe Idaho work, and has to purchase his outfit at a cost ofover $100 and will have to pay the balance, or
Native PlantSociety. nearly so, fortwo fares to get back to the starting point. Mr. Kirtley is along as a student, and
gets no remuneration whatsoever.”
Continued on p.4
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Read Sage Notes online atwww.idahonativeDlants.ora/news/Newsletters.asDx
IDAHO NATIVE (^rreefchaf, the"President
PLANT SOCIETY
Dear Idaho Native Plant Society Members,
Address: P.O. Box 9451, Summer is getting away from us fast. I hope you are all having a great summer
Boise, ID 83707 and that yourgardens are growing well and you are enjoying the flowers and
plants in yourgardens and in nature. It has been such a dry yearthat many areas
Email: have not enjoyed the beautiful wildflowerdisplays that we have seen otheryears.
[email protected] In spite ofthe drierweather, we had a wonderful annual meeting at Clark Fork.
Web DerekAntonelli and the Calypso chapterdeserve a big “thank you” for all the work
site: they put in to make the annual meeting a great success. The Clark Fork Drift Yard
www.idahonativeDlants.ora was a beautiful location for camping. In the early morning hours the wateraround
INPS BOARD MEMBERS the drift yard was like glass and the reflection ofthe clouds, plants atthe water’s
edge and surrounding mountains was breathtaking. I’m sure that manywonderful
President: LaMar Orton photos were taken at that time.
Vice-pres.: Stephen Love
The hikes to the Pack River Delta Restoration area, Morris Creek and Scotchman
Secretary: Nancy Miller Peak were informative, manywildflowers were seen and the views spectacular.
Treasurer: Elaine Walker
The presentation afterdinner at the Clark Fork Senior Center by Kathy Cousins of
Past-president: Janet Benoit the Idaho Department of Fish and Game about the Pack River Delta restoration
Member-at-Large:
efforts was very informative and Kathy’s knowledge and enthusiasm revealed
Mel Nicholls
one ofthe reasons forthe success ofthe restoration. More information about the
Chapter Presidents are also
annual meeting is found on pages 8-12 in this edition ofSage Notes.
members ofthe INPS Board
At the annual meeting two new INPS officers were introduced. We welcomed Dr.
Stephen Love ofthe Sawabi Chapter as our newvice president and Elaine Walker
STANDING COMMITTEES
ofthe Pahove Chapteras our new treasurer. We lookforward to working with them
Conservation committee and to the expertise they bring to the INPS Board of Directors. Special thanks go
chair: Justin Fulkerson (Pahove) to Jody Hull for serving forthree terms as ourtreasurer and to Juanita Lichthardt
for serving as ourvice presidentforthe past year.
2013 Annual Meeting chair:
Stephen Love (Sawabi) Our2013 annual meeting will be held June 21-24 in Boise. This will be a special
Membership chair (interim): opportunity to learn about our Idaho penstemons, as we will have ajoint meeting
with the American Penstemon Society. Several field trips as well as classes are
Ardys Holte (Sawabi)
planned forthat conference. Stephen Love will chairthe conference committee,
ERIG chair: working with the Pahove and Wood Riverchapters as hosts (Preliminary
Janet Bala (Sawabi) information is on page 13.)
Newslettereditor: In 2013 the Rare Plant Conference will also be held. Itwill probably be held in
Jane Rohling (Pahove) October as itwas last year. There will be no Rare Plant Conference held in 2012.
ADHOC COMMITTEES Looking forward to 2014, INPS members will have a special opportunity that year
to learn more about our native buckwheats as the Eriogonum Societywill have its
Bylaws chair: annual meeting in Idaho. Although the exact dates and the conference location
Nancy Miller (White Pine) have yet to be determined, itwill most likelytake place in the south central part
2013 Photo contest committee: ofthe State. This has not been set as ajoint annual meeting of INPS and the
Pahove Chapter Eriogonum Society, but is something that may be considered ifthere is support for
Nominating chair: (We need ajoint meeting from both societies.
members forthis committee.) Have a greatfall and don’t hesitate to call me at 208-734-7959 oremail me at
[email protected] with any comments you may have about INPS.
Rare Plant Conference chair:
Beth Corbin (Pahove) Bestwishes to you all!
INPS President
Have you heard? INPS is now on Facebook!
Like our page to receive updates on chapter events
Likeuson and happenings from around the state. View our page
Facebook
at: httDs://www.facebook.com/ldahoNativePlants
2
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012
News
INPS
State
Saae Notes, the newsletterofthe
Idaho Native PlantSociety, is published
in February, May, September, and
Introducing our new INPS State Officers December.
Currentandrecentpast
Vice President: Dr. Stephen Love (Sawabi Chapter) issues ofSage Notesare
Dr. Stephen Love is a University of Idaho Extension posted infull coloronlineatwww.
consumer horticulture specialist atthe university’s idahonativeplants.org/news/
Aberdeen Research and Extension Center. He earned Newsletters.asoxalong with a
searchable indexof2006-2010 issues.
his bachelor’s degree in horticulture at Brigham Young Wearescanning and uploading older
University and his Ph.D. in horticulture and plant issuesastimeallows.
physiology at Clemson University.
Submissions: Membersand
Beginning in 2005, Stephen directed his training and
non-members maysubmitmaterialfor
skills toward domesticating native plants for use in
publication. Relevantarticles, essays,
Intermountain landscapes. He educates homeowners
poetry, newsand announcements,
about home horticulture and is Webmasterofthe photographsand artworkarewelcome.
Idaho Landscapes and Gardens web site (www. Authors, artists, and photographers
extension.uidaho.edu/idahoaardensL He has been a retain copyrighttotheirworkand
memberofthe Sawabi Chapter of INPS since 2006. arecredited in Sage Notes. Send all
Stephen is an avid photographer and native plants are submissionselectronicallytotheeditor
some of his favorite subjects. He is a consistent participant in the annual calendar atthe linkbelow.
photo contest. His wife Monaquita is also an accomplished wildflower photographer. Submission guidelines
She shares his membership in the Society and interest in native plants. are posted onthe INPSwebsite:
www.idahonativeDlants.org/news/
Treasurer: Elaine Walker (Pahove Chapter) Newsletters.aspx. Please providea
phone numberand/oremail address
Elaine Walkergraduated from Metropolitan State withyoursubmission. Submission
College in Denverwith a BS in Accounting. She deadlinesareJanuary8,April 1,
spent hercareer preparing taxes for individuals August 1, and November 1.
and small to medium-sized businesses and
Advertising:Advertisements
doing bookkeeping forsmall and medium-
help reach environmentally-minded,
sized businesses and non-profit organizations. native-plant-loving customersand help
Currently, Elaine works as a fraud examiner and support INPS. Prices: 1/8 page= $5,
private investigatorfor Gray Owl Investigations 1/4 page = $8, 1/2 page=$15. Submit
in Boise. She’s a Certified Fraud Examinerand adstotheeditorelectronically(JPEG,
a memberofthe Association of Certified Fraud TIFF, PSD, orPDFfiles).
Examiners. Sendpaymentto:
Elaine has always been interested in flora, Sage NotesAds,
fauna, and the great outdoors. That’s what brought hertojoin the Idaho Native Plant PO. Box9451,
Society in 2007. She is a Master Gardener and Master Naturalist, teaches several Boise ID, 83707
classes at Boise Community Education, and participates in an online mentoring Sage Notes editor:
program for high school students called ICouldBe.ora In her “spare time,” Elaine Jane Rohling, saae-editor@
.
enjoys gardening, reading, sewing and knitting. idahonativeplants.org
Phone: [phone]
2013 INPS and American Penstemon Society joint
meetings: see preliminary information on p.13
PhotosofIdaho Botanical Garden and Leslie Gulch byStephen Love; photosoftheSeven Devils,
penstemon and bee, and HellsCanyon byJane Rohling; photoofStephen LovecourtesyofStephen 3
Love; photoofElaineWalkerbyCyndi Coulter.
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012
A Thousand Mile Summer (continued from p.1)
Thejourney’s mode oftravel was straight out ofthe Old West, with pack
animals and a single saddle horse; one man walked and botanized for
10 miles while the other rode. The 10 miles, Henderson later recalled,
were accurately measured by a pedometerworn bythe walker. Leaving
Moscow at seven in the morning on Tuesday, June 25, Henderson,
Kirtley, and their horses traveled south across the rain-swollen
Clearwater River, probablyvia a cable ferry at Lewiston, to spend the
night at Fort Lapwai. From there they continued on to Grangeville and
Mount Idaho. Only one oftheirthree animals was intended as a riding
horse, because, as Henderson wrote, “Even ifwe had to go at a slower
pace, one man must be on the ground all the time, that nothing should
be passed on route, eitherthrough inability to see everything from
horseback, orfrom traveling too fast.” They continued in this fashion
south pastWhite Bird Creek along a wagon road completed onlyfour
years earlierto the mining ghost town of Florence. From there they
descended to the bottom ofthe Salmon River canyon, crossed the river
on a primitive suspension bridge, and toiled up the south side ofthe
canyon to the hot springs now known as Burgdorf. Still headed south
they passed the Payette lakes and the present site of McCall, moving
toward the Payette River. After a dangerous crossing ofthe flooded
Payette, they continued through Round Valley and Long Valley, where
they encountered minor skirmishes between cattlemen and sheep
herders. The Fourth ofJulyfound them soaking wet and shivering with
cold in Long Valley.
Still southbound, the men and horses next crossed the arid, rattlesnake-
infested badlands ofthe Boise River canyon, finallyturning east toward
Idaho City. From that mining center, the two moved on to Big Camas
Prairie, the site ofthe outbreak ofthe 1878 Bannock Indian war. Here
they botanized on Soldier Mountain before heading north to Hailey and
Ketchum on the Big Wood River, and then up and overthe 8,700-foot
Galena Pass. Their northerly route nowtookthem to the headwaters of
the Salmon River and to Redfish and Pettit lakes in the Sawtooth Range.
Passing the hot springs near Stanley, they continued north up the
Top: Thesteep banksof Yankee Fork ofthe Salmon to the mining towns of Bonanza and Custer,
theSalmon Rivercanyon and then higher into the Salmon River Mountains, following a mining supply trail to Challis.
posed challengestoearly They arrived in mile-high Challis on August 4. Proceeding on, their route was south to Bayhorse
travelers. and then southeast to Antelope Valley and Big Lost River. The imposing Lost River Range was
Middle: Henderson on their left as they moved southeasttoward the Lost River sinks. There the men and horses
and Kirtley’sjourney encountered blazing heat and pesky biting flies and mosquitoes. Itwas with reliefthat theyfinally
tookthemthrough both turned north up Birch Creek, and continued to botanize in the southern and northern Lemhis of
unsettled territoryand today. (Misleading maps ofthe time led the men to believe theywere exploring the Lost River
mining towns like Custer, Range; Ms. Love believes that plant collections forthis area are mislabeled as a result.) The last
shown here in 1904. leg oftheir 1895 reconnaissance took the men down the Lemhi Riverto theirfinal destination at
Bottom: Anabandoned Charles Kirtley’s home where the Lemhi joins the Salmon. Henderson and Kirtley ended their
gold dredge on the thousand-milejourney on August 31 at the Kirtleyfamily ranch near Salmon.
Yankee Forkofthe
Salmon River, is The Henderson-Kirtley surveywas the only official, federally-sponsored expedition of Idaho to
a testamenttothe take place in the decade after Idaho had achieved statehood, and it occurred at a watershed
destructioncaused by moment in Idaho history. The early surface-mining boom ofthe 1860-70s was at an end, and yet
earlyminingintheregion. to come was the massive exploitation of Idaho’s timber and the explosion of irrigated agriculture
Photos: SalmonRiverand in Idaho’s arid regions, made possible by extensive dam building. The timing ofthe Henderson
YankeeForkphotosby survey makes his hundreds ofcollections, carefully detailed notes, and lengthyfinal report of
Rhoda M. Love,Custer importance to present-day historians, land managers and botanists in the Intermountain West.
postcardfrom Ms. Love’s Before Ms. Love’s research, itwas assumed that both Henderson’s field notes and the final
collection report ofthe trip were lost in the calamitous 1906 fire at the University of Idaho. Fortunately,
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012
she uncovered his records, intact
but forgotten, atthe Smithsonian
Institution about a decade ago. The
hundreds of pressed plants are
housed at the National Herbarium,
while his annotated plant lists, daily IGOkm
journal, and comprehensive final
(but still-unpublished) report are to
be found at the Botany Department
Library. The 143-page handwritten
report, entitled “Reporton the Botany
andForest Conditions ofa partofthe
Central andEastern Regions ofthe Sixoftheseven 1899 Universityof
State ofIdaho”is a tangible reminder Idahofacultymembersarepictured
of Idaho’s legacy of resources prior here. Louis F. Henderson isbelieved
to the destructive large-scale mining, tobeinthecenterofthebackrow.
timber and agricultural activities ofthe (1-51-24a,SCA, Ul Library, Moscnow)
twentieth century. As such it provides 1 h. v t ^
an invaluable baseline for state and
federal agencies seeking to restore
T
Idaho lands. Gtitflryille
T'Mtidaha '
We owe a great debt ofthanks I,- VVW&fdp..
to Henderson and Kirtley forthe
dedication, courage and sheer hard
work ofthis pioneering undertaking, tflulhJltoffcy f\
and to Ms. Love for bringing this ial.TKjn
invaluable and fascinating record
'SflWtiF:Wift/vtrAitflJ,
of Idaho’s early environment to our v
attention. We thank Ms. Love and the
PacificNorthwest Quarterlyforallowing
“STJ
umsaptoaanddappthothtiossarintiSclaegaendNostheas!re the /' f ^--- ' t> 'OTV'1 - .BLiorstthfCtrwvefc
krwuwtj. Ka, w
[;> ' {
h yA
y*
Above & left: Thosewhoarefamiliarwith
central Idaho’s rugged terrainwill appreciatethe
incrediblyarduousjourney itmusthave been
to makethistrekin 1895 collecting specimens
along theway! Mapcreated byWilliam L.
Nelson forPacific Northwest Quarterly.
‘Originallypublished as:A ThousandMile Right: Rhoda Love neartheWood Riverin 2002
Summer: TheHenderson-Kirtley 1895 when she and herhusband retraced the route
ReconnaissanceofCentralIdaho. Rhoda M. taken by Henderson and Kirtley. Photocourtesy
Love, PNQ.Vol.102 (2011), pp. 55-56 ofRhoda M. Love
5
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012
2010 ERIG GRANT REPORT: Palouse Prairie School
Moscow
of Expeditionary Learning, By Stephan
Flint
ERIG needs YOU! Students in Moscow’s Palouse
Prairie School of Expeditionary
Wantto help INPS support Learning now have more tools for
moregreat projects? studying the Palouse Prairie after
which theirschool was named.
The Education, Research, Thanks to ERIG funds, students have
and Inventory Grant(ERIG) reproductions ofspecimens from the
program relieson funding U of I’s Stillinger herbarium, Rocky
Mountain Tree Finders, and a small
from various sources such
native plant garden adjacent to the
as Rare PlantConferences, school.
workshops, and private Spring often comes late on the
donations. Palouse Prairie, so we started
our program “Shooting stars,
Ifyou, yourbusiness, or skunk cabbage, cow parsnip and
—
youremployerwould liketo glacier lilies do these grow on
make a donation to INPSto the Palouse?” in the classroom.
This gave us a chance to introduce
helpfund theseworthwhile
a group ofstudents to some of
dEeRdIucGtipbroljeecdtosn,atsieonndsytoo:urtax twhheatlotchaelirflcoroamamnodntenllasmteorsiersefalbecotu—t their fSrtoumdetnhtesUstoufdyI’srSetpirloldinugcetrihoensrboafrsipumec(iambeonves)
and learnto use RockyMountain Tree
ERIG Program, INPS appearance, toxicity, food uses, etc. The Finders(below) purchasedwith2010 ERIG
concept ofdichotomous keys was introduced funds. Photos byStephan Flint
P.O. Box 9451 with the RockyMountain Tree
We
Boise, Idaho 83707 Finder. initially projected
the key onto a screen. Students
Checks should be made out
enjoyed identifying trees with
to INPS. Please be sureto this simple key, so a set oftree
specifythatyourdonation is finders was later purchased for
to be used for ERIG projects. classroom use.
As weather improved, activities
Thankyou foryour help! moved outside. We planted
Janet Bala over a dozen native species in a
narrow strip ofground between
ERIG Committee Chair
the school building and the
balaiane at isu dot edu street. There were two trips to
view native plants, one to the
Interested in applying for native plant section ofthe U of I
Arboretum and one to a prairie
an ERIG grant?
remnant on Paradise Ridge,
Details and an application owned by Wayne and Jacie Jensen ofThorn Creek Native Seed Farm. Here we saw
—
form are available at http:// many ofthe species we had talked about in the classroom balsamroot, shooting stars,
—
www.idahonativeplants. Idaho fescue growing in an undisturbed communitywhere cryptogamic crusts protect
ora/eria/Eria.aspx. Alistof tahbeoustoili.t. BTehceavuiseewtwhiasspsrapiercitearceumlanra—ntwies ocnouplrdivsaetee cllaenadrfteowOpreeogpolne’sinBMluoescMoouwntkanionsw!
past ERIG recipients is also
The planting outside the school showed remarkable vigor in its second season ofgrowth.
posted here. This ground had been thought ofas a “wasteland” with poor soil; it had been covered
with woodchip mulch and left barren.
This yearthe 7th and 8th grade class, as part oftheirstudy of Palouse native plants
(titled Loose on the Palouse), worked with the RockyMountain Tree Finders, the
reproductions ofherbarium specimens, and the outdoor planting. These resources have
6 made it much easierto incorporate the study of native plants into the curriculum.
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012
2012 ERIG Grants Awarded By Janet Bala
Continuedfrom p.6:
The INPS Education, Research and Inventory Grant (ERIG) Program for2012 awarded More photosofPalouse
PrairieSchool’s ERIG
a total of$1,000.00 to three recipients. The three projects receiving ERIG money are the
projectbyStephan Flint.
following, summarized from theirgrant applications.
All ofthese projects foster native plant awareness and have
strong educational components that reflect the INPS mission
statement. All projects funded are responsible forsubmitting
an article to Sage Notes describing the purpose and results of
the projects.
Rockford Elementary, Blackfoot, Idaho
JulieWada, Rockford PTA President: OutdoorClassroom
Rockford Elementary is the 4th grade only complex in the
Snake River School District. There are about 140 students
at this school and they spend the entire year learning about
Idaho’s history. Because the school’s PTA officers wanted
to create an environmentwhere students could experience
Above: Palouse Prairie
the flora and fauna of Idaho thattheywere learning about, they have started construction
School studentstook
ofan outdoorclassroom. The outdoor classroom will provide learning opportunities in afield triptoa prairie
science, social studies, and Idaho history curriculum. They also hope to teach theirstudents remnanton Paradise
the importance ofstewardship by keeping the grounds clean and caring forthe plants. Ridgewheretheysaw
The moneytheyreceive from ERIG willbe usedtopurchase nativeplants forthe outdoor manyofthespeciesthey
classroom. had discussed inthe
classroom—balsamroot,
Roosevelt Elementary, Boise, Idaho shooting stars, Idaho
Holly Beck, INPS member and Parent: Outdoor Classroom fescue—growing in an
undisturbed community.
Roosevelt Elementary is a public school located east ofdowntown Boise. Approximately The land isowned bythe
300 students attend grades kindergarten through sixth. The school building, nearly 100 Jensen’sofThorn Creek
years old, was recently remodeled. The remodeling included increasing energy efficiencies, NativeSeed Farm.
new classroom technologies, and improvements to the outdoorspaces. This overhaul has
inspired the staffand parent community to strive towards overall school sustainability. Below: Students planted
overadozen native
Roosevelt Elementarywill create an outdoor classroom thatfeatures Idaho native plants and species in a narrowstrip
regional geology. Plants will be featured that have a place in Idaho’s history, such as syringa ofground betweenthe
(Philadelphus lewisii) or have traditional uses such as basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus) or school building and the
serviceberry (Amelanchieralnifolia). A berm to quiet the street noise will be planted with street.
native Idaho trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers found locally. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service has donated a kioskwith a whiteboard for instruction, a compass rose
fororienteering, a weatherstation, and a bulletin board. Boulders and benches will
be placed in the open interiorforseating. Plants and rock samples will be labeled to
educate both students and the local community. The moneytheyreceive from ERIG
willbe usedtopurchase nativeplants forthe outdoorclassroom.
Panhandle Animal Shelter, Ponderay, Idaho
Mandy G. Evans, Executive Director: Native Plant Project
The Panhandle Animal Shelter is located in Ponderay, Idaho in the Northern
Panhandle. The facility is considered a “high-traffic area” and has superb exposure in
the community. The objective ofthis project is to create a native plant landscape that
will fosteran inviting place for patrons and passerbys to walk the grounds and learn
about local native plants by reading the plant markers. At the completion ofthe project,
a self-sustaining, eco-friendly native garden will welcome patrons to the animal shelter.
In addition, the project will create a habitatfor birds and butterflies. The moneythey
receive from ERIG willbe used topurchase native grasses andshrubs forthe garden.
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012
2012 Annual Meeting at Clark Fork
By Derek Antonelli, Calypso Chapter
The 2012 Annual Meeting ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society (INPS) was held at Clark
Fork, Idaho, from June 22-24. It was hosted by the Calypso Chapterfrom Coeur
dAlene. The event featured camping at the Clark Fork Drift Yard on the banks ofthe
Clark Fork River Delta on Lake Pend Oreille. The event was focused on protecting
and restoring habitats in northern Idaho. Activities took place on the Pack River
Delta Restoration Project and in the Cabinet Mountains around proposed Scotchman
Peaks Wilderness Area. The photos ofthe event speak for themselves.
Left: Bob McCoy, Chris McCoy,
Ben Dicus, JanetCampbell,
ConnieAntonelli, and Diana Dicus
listen intentlyas Phil Hough (not
shown), Executive Directorof
the FriendsofScotchman Peaks
Wilderness, explainswhathis
organization isdoingto protect
the Scotchman Peaksarea and
getitdesignated asan official
wilderness. Photo by Derek
Antonelli
Below: Idaho DepartmentofFish and Game boatssetoffwith INPS members
on atourtoexplorethe restoration projectthatis rebuildingwetlandswithinthe
PackRiverDelta.Atotal ofeightislandswerecreated orexpanded inthedelta
creating 24acresofnewwetlands. Photo byNancy Miller
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012
Above: As partofthe PackRiverDelta Restoration Project, rootwad
roughnessstructures (such astheoneshown here)wereconstructed toslow
annualflood watersfromthe PackRiverand totrapthesedimentstheflood
waterscarrybeforetheycan becarried into Lake Pend Oreille. Pilingswere
driven intothedelta bed. Large logswith theirrootwad facing intothe projected
currentweresecurelyfastened tothe pilings. Photo byNancy Miller
LeftThis isan imageof
woolgrass (Scirpuscyperinus).
Itisoneofover50different
speciesofnative plantsthat
were used to reestablishthe
nativevegetation onthe new
islandsofthe Restoration
Project.Atotal of3,600woody
plants, 10,000 herbaceous
plants, and 400 poundsof
grassseedwere used inthe
restoration effort. Photo by
Nancy Miller
Right: LaMarOrton and other
membersofthe Idaho Native
PlantSocietyexploreoneofthe
newislands in the PackRiver
Delta. Photo byNancyMiller
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native PlantSociety Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012
Above: Anotherofthe main
activitiesoftheAnnual Meeting
wasa halfdayhike up Morris
and Regal Creeksattheedgeof
the proposed Scotchman Peaks
Wilderness. Here LaMarOrton,
RosalieOrton, and Kelvin Jones
enjoysomeofthespectacular
viewsfromthe bridgeoverMorris
Creek. Photo byNancy Miller
Right: The hike up MorrisCreek
provided INPS membersan
appreciation oftheflorafound
in the rainforestsofnorthern
Idaho. Theclaspleaftwistedstalk
(Streptopusamplexifolius) shown
here isan excellentexampleofthat
flora. Photo byNancy Miller
LeftThe Regal Creektrail exposed INPS
memberstoavarietyofhabitats. Thetwofern
speciesshown here—American rockbrake
(Cryptogrammaacrostichoides) and brittle
bladderfern (Cystopterisfragilis)—werefound
amongthe rockson atalusslopeoverlooking
Lightning Creekfarbelow. Photo by NancyMiller
Sage Notes is a publication ofthe Idaho Native PlantSociety Vol. 34 (3) Sept. 2012