Native Plant Society of Oregon
High Desert Chapter
Bitterbrush Bulletin January 2021
Renewal Reminder
The membership cycle for the Native Plant Society of Oregon is on a calendar year basis. If you are in one of these three categories: a Life Member, joined after the first of July, or have already renewed for 2021, your membership is in good standing. If not, your membership expired at the end of December. The membership committee is working on options for multiple year and auto renewal membership, but these aren't available yet. To renew your membership, click here. A big thank you to everyone who has already renewed, which is about 40% of our membership. If you have questions about your status, feel free to send us an email. There is a grace period of several months at the beginning of the year, so expired members won't be dropped immediately from our mailing list.
Here it is: the new year, 2021. We made it through 2020. By now, you have either made some resolutions, or not. When I was younger, I would write a long list of say, 20 items, for what I planned to accomplish in the coming year. This year I've chosen two new skills to challenge myself: to expand my art efforts to include colored pencils and to learn to key willows (Salix species). Have you set a goal to learn something new or develop a botanical skill this year? If it is one the High Desert Chapter could provide a workshop, speaker, or field trip to support it, email us with a suggestion. Let's get together this year and support each other in learning and conserving our native flora.--Cindy Roché, editor.
NPSO State Board Meeting
The winter meeting of the State Board is February 6, 2021. All members are welcome to attend and learn more about the workings of our Society. Now that meetings are done by Zoom, you don't have to brave icy roads to be part of this. Request an agenda and zoom link here. The meeting starts at 10 a.m.
Conservation
Forb Islands for Greater Sage-Grouse Recovery
In Oregon, the sagebrush steppe habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse has been battered for over 150 years. Grazing by unmanaged and massive herds of sheep, cattle, and horses started in eastern Oregon in 1866. Needed to supply meat for settlers and several early gold-rushes, the livestock resulted in massive overgrazing, with lasting impacts on the abundance and diversity of native bunchgrasses, sagebrush, and understory wildflowers/forbs. By the 1890s, complaints were voiced about the excessive use by livestock, leading to efforts to curtail abuses and eventually to the formation of our Forest and Grassland Reserves. Legislation in 1934 further cut back on grazing abuses. Grazing practices have improved, but the damage has not gone away. The widespread depletion of understory forbs and grasses in many areas remains a major problem.
Extensive research has shown that pre-laying sage-grouse hens and their chicks in the first 6 weeks require large amounts of insects and forbs to survive. The current widespread absence of forbs (and associated insects) in nesting habitat is one of the big threats to sage-grouse recovery. Recent research shows that the development of “Forb Islands” in sage-grouse habitat may enhance the birds’ recovery. The concept is to develop small patches (islands) of preferred native forbs, scattered throughout habitat areas with good sagebrush cover for hiding from predators. This allows pre-laying hens and young chicks safe access to their food sources.
The East Cascades Audubon Society (ECAS) has arranged with private landowners in the Brothers area to attempt to develop some of these Forb Islands on their properties. Bureau of Land Management research by Hanf during 1987-1991 showed that Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum) was one of the forbs preferred by our local grouse. In 2020, weather conditions led to a remarkably abundant flowering (and subsequent seed production) of Oregon sunshine. High Desert Chapter members collected a large quantity of seed that ECAS used to establish seven Oregon sunshine Forb Islands on cooperating private property. These are two meter by two meter plots where we broadcast seeds and tamped them in by foot. These plots will be monitored for establishment for at least three years in cooperation with the Institute for Applied Ecology in Corvallis. Some plots will be grazed by cattle and others not. Hardware cloth cages were placed over a small part of each plot to exclude rodent and rabbit use. ECAS and its Sage-Grouse Science Team is currently looking at other methods of vegetation management to assist in sage-grouse recovery. If you would like to volunteer to help, contact Stu Garrett to get on his mailing list.
Whitebark Pine, a Species in Decline
Photo above by Tanya Harvey.
Whitebark Pine Proposed for Listing
On December 3, 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the whitebark pine as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. It was first petitioned for listing in 2008 and since then populations have declined precipitously due to whitepine blisterrust, mountain pine beetle and fire suppression, all interacting with climate change. Whitebark pine is the first tree to be proposed for protection under the Endangered Species Act because of climate change. Climate change not only directly harms the species by altering temperature regimes, it facilitates the expansion of mountain pine beetles into higher elevations. Scientists estimate that fully 51% of standing whitebark pine trees were dead as of 2016.
While it is common knowledge that whitebark pine grows along the crest of the Cascades in the western part of our chapter area, did you know that it also grows on top of the highest peaks south and east of Bend? While you are out exploring the peaks in our part of the Great Basin or the Blue Mountains this summer, watch for whitebark pine, and if your timing is right, maybe you'll see Clark's nutcrackers as well.
Native Plants at Local Nurseries
Roundleaf Alumroot Heuchera cylindrica
Roundleaf Alumroot is an excellent choice for the partly shaded woodland garden or even a harsh rock garden. Around central Oregon it is often spotted growing in dappled light on sheer rock faces. A small plant with round basal leaves, it reaches about 8” tall by 1-2’ wide. The dense white to cream flowers are clustered on stems that reach 2’ tall in late spring. It tolerates dry to moist, well drained soil, however if planted in full sun it will perform the best if given supplemental moisture until it is well established.
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Large-leaved avens
Geum macrophyllum
Large-leaved avens is a tough flowering perennial that has one to a few small yellow flowers at the end of long-stalked branching stems. The foliage is what really makes this plant special. Its hairy, compound leaves are basal and remain mostly green year-round (even under snow)! Its low mounding form and heavy seeding makes it a great plant to use in landscape design. It looks best used along dry creeks and walkways.
Central Oregon Wildflower & Pollinator Show has been set for June 26 at the Sunriver Nature Center. More details to come. We will be looking for chapter volunteers to assist in a variety of tasks. --Susan Berger.
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