Wildflower Events and Sudden Oak Death Training

April 16, 2006

One of my favorite spring commitments is delving into the rich, moist, color of the local flora, especially the wildflowers. You may have noticed splashes of color. The blanket of white in the meadows may be popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys sp.). In the same family, a plant with blue flowers and large leaves called Hound's tongue (Cynoglossum sp.) is in bloom. And in the forest milk maids (Cardamine sp.) with their dimorphic leaves are in bloom. Several upcoming events facilitate learning the local flora.

The annual Wildflower Show sponsored by the Anderson Valley Unity Club will be held on April 29(Saturday) and April 30(Sunday) in June Hall at the Fairgrounds in Boonville. Doors will be open between 9am and 5pm. As many as 400 identified specimens of wildflowers, trees, bushes, grasses, sedges and invasives will be on display. It is a great venue to introduce yourself to the floral diversity of our county in one place for free.

The growth form and the habitat is often essential in plant recognition, for example I would not expect to see the seep-spring monkey flower (Mimulus guttatus), a yellow wildflower, growing away from water. Local California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Chapters, in part, facilitate field walks to appreciate and identify plants in their habitat. I am looking forward to an up coming CNPS field trip on May 13(Saturday) to the Ross Property Addition to Montgomery Woods State Reserve. It is not necessary to be a CNPS member to participate in a CNPS sponsored field trip. To get the latest calendar of events for the Sanhedrin Chapter of the CNPS, go to www.cnps-sanhedrin.org, and click on events. To learn more about CNPS or to join go to www.cnps.org.

Unrelated to wildflowers, a free half day Sudden Oak Death Training will be held in Ukiah on April 26(Wednesday). The training will cover wildland and nursery symptoms, regulations, phosphonate treatments, and wildland best management practices. Space is limited and requires you register on-line at www.suddenoakdeath.org. The intended audience includes, foresters, nurseryman and landowners.

I welcome responses as well as ideas for future Tree Tips. You can also get an email version by contacting me at thembi@mcn.org.

Thembi Borras is a Registered Professional Forester living and working in Mendocino County, CA USA.