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CNPS eNewsletters
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CNPS eNewsletterDecember 2010Oh Dear! Deer Resistant Native PlantsMelanie Hopper, Sustaining Landscapes
What kind of emotions do you feel when sighting a deer? If you have ever had your garden ravaged and chewed to a stub, you may know what true frustration is, and you will also understand where our much used phrase “oh dear” comes from! Why are deer more of a threat to our gardens today? Silicon Valley used to be an orchard, but now if you want to grow a single plum tree, you will need to put a cage around it if it is growing in deer territory.
 Article continued here.
Allison Levin
 California native plants can be used in every garden style: formal, Japanese, architectural, you name it. But even when the garden is "wild and natural," gardeners usually want to know about pruning their trees, shrubs, vines, perennials and grasses. Over the year, I'll be writing about when, why, and how to prune various California plants in the garden. In particular, I'll be writing about trees and woody shrubs.Ask Yourself Why When you think about pruning any plant, ask yourself what do you want to change, and what do you want to achieve? Are there branches that are dead or rubbing against each other? Do you want the plant to stand out as a focal point in the garden? Has it become too leggy? Do you want to control its size? As you think about why you want to prune, don't expect to achieve everything at once. Plants are the controlling partners when it comes to their form, size, and growth. If you take your time, you'll learn how each species responds to pruning. Make pruning plans that are two, three, and five years in the making. Article continued here.
Vivian Mazur, Inverness Garden Club
 Toyon is widespread in California in woodland and chaparral habitats. It is a large evergreen shrub or small tree, ranging in size from 8 to 15 feet or taller with serrated, leathery leaves and a large crop of winter berries, usually bright red in color. The berries are preceded by large clusters of small, white, summer-blooming flowers. Toyon is variable in the wild as to its growth habit, leaf size and shape, and berry color, which, though usually red can also be found in shades of orange and occasionally, yellow. The ripe fruit is a prime winter food source for birds, squirrels and other wildlife.With its bright color, toyon enlivens the winter garden in a season when brightness is much appreciated. It is adaptable in cultivation—sun or part shade, drought tolerant or summer water. It is a good hedge plant but it does equally well in a mixed woodland or chaparral setting, growing with its natural companions: currents, ceanothus, huckleberries, live oaks and madrones. Though I’ve found toyon on lists of deer-resistant plants, my experience is that it needs protection until it’s large enough to be out of reach. Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wilds
You probably should be. I’ve been thinking about spring, or more accurately called: next year’s flower season.
 I use photos a lot to help me think about how plants look throughout the seasons and it helps me to sort and re-sort them by season, or ecosystem, colors, sun/shade requirements, etc., which is why I really like using flickr. It helps me think about the possibilities for combinations that I might not have seen yet. I just put this set together of spring blooms which might be of interest to some of you, here.I wish that we had a louder bullhorn to tell folks that NOW is the time to plant natives of all kinds. It’s so much more practical to plant now, than to wait until March when you have to jump through hoops (and spend more money) to get things to survive. Some plants which are really important to plant now are: wooly blue curls, flannelbush, most manzanitas, some ceanothus, goldenbushes, most sages, and almost any large specimen plants.
I’m really looking forward to experimenting with quite a few new plants for next year – perennials, flowering shrubs as well as some really cool annuals. Some of the new ones I’m working with are: Happy planting season!
Chris Lewis, Elderberry Farms Native Plant Nursery
 What’s growing in your garden? It’s December and the miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) has sprung back to life all over my yard! I pulled some out where it was unwanted and thought ‘if only there was a soup I could put this in’. I went online and found a Lettuce Soup by Epicurious. Now I’ve tried the recipe using Miner’s Lettuce and it tastes great! Here you go:Miner’s Lettuce Gourmet Soup This soup is a great way to use lettuce in the winter! Any kind of potato and any salad greens, but I’d recommend Miner’s Lettuce! Yield: Makes 4 servings / Active Time: 25 min / Total Time: 35 min INGREDIENTS
1 cup chopped onions, scallions, and/or shallots 1 garlic clove, chopped 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 3/4 cup diced (1/3 inch) peeled potato 8 cups coarsely chopped miner’s lettuce (3/4 lb) 3 cups water PREPARATION 1. Cook onion mixture and garlic in 2 tablespoons butter in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add coriander, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in potato, lettuce, and water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until potato is very tender, about 10 minutes. 2. Purée soup in batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids) and transfer to a 2- to 3-quart saucepan. Bring soup to a simmer, then whisk in remaining tablespoon butter and salt and pepper to taste. Editor’s Note:
Chris’s cooking adventure inspired us to search for more recipe ideas and edible natives references. Here are additional recipe links for you. Remember that collection of plant materials on public lands is often completely prohibited by law and discouraged by CNPS! Collection on private property should be done only with the permission of the owner, and keeping responsible collection practices in mind. Extra points to you if you can collect from your own garden! * Currant Tarts from Las Pilitas Nursery
* A collection of recipes from the California Native Garden Foundation * Acorns & Eat’em by Suellen Ocean
Contact Josie Crawford for more information. Further details will be available at http://cnps.org/cnps/education/workshops/index.php.
Vegetation Mapping
University of Redlands and surrounding field sites
Instructors: Todd Keeler Wolf, Julie Evens, and John Menke Three day combination of lecture, computer lab exercises, and field exercises. Fees: CNPS members $665; Non-members $690 Feb 15
Rare Plants of the Central Valley
 UC Davis
Instructor: Carol Witham Fees: CNPS members $150; Non-members $175 March 22-23 California Rangeland Monitoring
Lower San Joaquin Valley
Instructor: Jennifer Buck-Diaz Options for single day or 2-day. 1st day - Maintaining grassland biodiversity and basic plant ID. 2nd day - Grassland vegetation sampling using Relevé method. Prices to be announced shortly. April Pending
Vernal Pool Plant Classification
San Diego area
Instructors: Michael Barbour and Ayzik Solomeshch
April 26-28 Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations
Grass Valley
Instructor: John Willoughby Three day combination of lecture and field exercises. Fees: CNPS members $395; Non-members $420 May 3-4
Wetland/Riparian Plant Identification Ventura Instructor: David Magney Fees: CNPS members $295; Non-members $320 May 5-7
Riparian Ecology and Restoration
Ventura
Instructors: Bruce Orr and Amy Merrill Three day combination of lecture and field trips. Fees: CNPS members $395; Non-members $420 June 7-9 Vegetation Rapid Assessment/Relevé
Sonoma County
Instructors: Julie Evens, Deborah Stout One evening lecture and two field days Fees: CNPS members $310; Non-members $335 Sept 22-24  Legends of the Fall: Exploring the Clandestine Flora of Early Fall in the Eastern Mojave DesertUC Granite Mountains Desert Research Station
Instructors: Jim Andre and Tasha La Doux One evening lecture and two field days. Fees: CNPS members $435; Non-members $460 Price includes lodging and all meals at the research station. Note that some details, including price and exact locations, are subject to change. Marin Chapter
Tomales Bay MushroomingSunday, December 26, 10 am- 2 pm Walk off some of that holiday stuffing with us at one of the best trails around. A little rain in the fall will turn this into a great mushroom hike with a fine lunch spot where we can eat our carrot and celery sticks on a pebbly beach. Meet at the Jepson Trailhead parking lot about one quarter mile on Pierce Point road before the main entrance to Tomales Bay State Park. Leader: Brad Kelley. Sunday, January 1, 10 am Upper Bidwell Park in Chico makes for fantastic hiking year-round. Bring lunch and drink to Horsehoe Lake parking area (Lot E) at 10 am and wear hiking gear. Start the new year right with a brisk scramble up the north ridge above Horsehoe Lake. On windless/cloudless nights in the winter, it can be 10 degrees warmer up there hence we can often see the first of the new year's blooms. Lunch at an Indian rock shelter complete with bedrock morars and running water. About 3 miles walk, back by 2:30 pm. Leaders Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123 and Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293. California Garden at Descanso Gardens
For Chapter Events in your area, please visit the CNPS Website at http://cnps.org/chapters/ Photo Credits
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Dedicated to the Preservation of California Native Flora
California Native Plant Society 2707 K Street, Suite 1 • Sacramento, CA 95816-5113
(916) 447-2677 • fax (916) 447-2727 • cnps@cnps.org
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