2017 - Robert's botanical adventures in Northern California

[Robert]

Today, I had an opportunity to check on snow conditions at the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada in El Dorado County. The snow is melting, however above 6,500 feet (1,981 meters) the snow is still deep. Early this morning it rained 5 mm at the farm and most likely snowed on the summits of the highest peaks. I'm quite anxious to get into the Lyons Creek basin as soon as the road is snow free to the trailhead. I had a few hours to check on the road conditions through the Crystal Basin (pictured) then up in the direction of Lyon's Creek.



The Crystal Basin is timber country. Sugar Pine, Pinus lambertiana, is a common species in this area. The species is known for its long, large cones and their grand size. There are still some giant specimens remaining in the forest.



The Crystal Basin is also the upper elevation limit for Pacific Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii.



Many are still flowering at this time. The "flowers" (bracts) are huge on some specimens.



Ribes nevadense is showing color, but I did not find any with open flowers.

[Robert]

Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, is another common forest tree in the Crystal Basin. The foliage is indeed fragrant. The fragrance of the foliage can fill the forest on a warm day.



The bark on older trees is quite striking.



On the forest floor Maianthemum racemosum is up and getting ready to bloom.



Maianthemum racemosum is quite easy to cultivate. In the autumn they produce bright red berries that are very attractive.



Senecio integerrimus can be found blooming scattered throughout forest clearings.

[Robert]

A nice example of jointing in granite. Perhaps another possibility in rock garden design.



Jointing also occurs on a grand scale. This is a view of Rockbound Valley taken from the summit of Tells Peak (the northern most peak of the Crystal Range - October 2003). Lake Tahoe can be seen in the distance. In this case the cracks in the granite can be seen as green lines (most likely Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana) against the white-gray granite.



There was a lot of debris in the road, such as this large snag that came down during the winter.



Near the snow line spring is just arriving. Bitter Cherry, Prunus emarginata, is in full bloom.



I knew that I was close to the snowline when I found Ribes roezlii var. roezlii in bloom. This species blooms extremely early in the season, at the higher elevation immediately after the snow melts.

[Robert]

Snow Plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, in bloom was another indication that more snow would be encountered shortly as I traveled higher.



A Red Fir forest, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, with lingering snow. Red Fir will often grow in pure stands in the Sierra Nevada. Sometimes Red Fir forest can still be found that have never been logged. They have a primeval feel to them.



The end of the road, 6,272 feet (1,912 meters). 52 F (11 C ). I was hoping to hiking into the Lyons Creek area next week. At this rate I may need to change my plans and try the following week. It may be July or later before the snow melts at Lyons Lake or Lake Sylvia. No doubt, snow will still be lingering on the highest peaks when the snow returns next autumn.

[hamparstum]

Does Calocedrus decurrens grow ( in nature) as isolated individuals within a mixed stand of conifers, or does it grow in small groves ?.  Are there understory plants associated with them?. I happen to grow some splendid specimens here. They are already quite sizeable and slowly shedding their lower branches. I was wondering what could fit best in their shade. Thank you, Arturo

[Robert]

Does Calocedrus decurrens grow ( in nature) as isolated individuals within a mixed stand of conifers, or does it grow in small groves ?.  Are there understory plants associated with them?. I happen to grow some splendid specimens here. They are already quite sizeable and slowly shedding their lower branches. I was wondering what could fit best in their shade. Thank you, Arturo

Arturo,

Your simple question is excellent as it brings up many issues.

Calocedrus decurrens generally grows in mixed stands with other conifers. Depending on the conditions, a wide assortment of understory species can be found growing with them. This is the simple answer. Incense Cedar grows over a wide area in California, as well as other western states in the U.S.A. and northern Baja California. They can be found growing over a wide altitude range as well as under very different soil conditions. They are associated with different species depending on the various conditions. Commercial logging in many areas has dramatically altered the coniferous forest. In many areas where there has been repeated logging very little grows under the coniferous trees. It is sometimes very difficult to piece together what might have grown under the conifers.

In general, I have found it difficult to grow much under Incense Cedar in a garden situation. I am sure much has to do with poor soil conditions, dryness, and dense shade when they are "young". At the farm I never irrigate them, and the serpentine based soil is very poor. On good ground, in Sacramento, it is much easier to garden under them, especially with a bit of irrigation during the summer.

Over time, I will be very curious how you incorporate California native species into your landscape. As you have noted they will most likely be very well adapted to your climatic conditions. My travels take me to a wide variety of ecosystems with many nuances. Always feel free to ask questions about the plants or a specific site. Geology, exposure, altitude, proximity to the ocean are just some of the variables.

Maybe over time you can share your experiences with your native species from your part of Patagonia. I know next to nothing (more likely nothing) about the species in your area. Another forumist directed me to photographs from your region. It seems that there is incredible natural beauty. And I am always curious about what others grow in their gardens and how.

As I learn more about your growing conditions, I will be better able to come up with a list of California species that might thrive within your garden environment and specific situation. Do you irrigate? The wind sounds like an issue. Is the site protected from the wind? Are interested in herbaceous perennial species? Small shrubs too? There could be many possibilities. In our Sacramento garden I often put native species together that are not associated with each other in nature. In one area I have Salvias from southern California with Mimulus from northern California and various Eriogonum species from differing elevations. Mix in are all sorts of native bulbs and annuals from all sorts of locations. I am sure the same could work in your garden.

[hamparstum]

Thank you so much Robert!
   I'm blessed with the incredibly beautiful landscapes that surround me. I'm also blessed with high quality agricultural land for a high proportion of my 6.2 acre farm. We do have wells from which to draw undergound water which is plentiful in winter but gets scanty in summer natural drought. So in terms of providing water for gardening purposes I've got to behave wisely. Some areas can have sprinkler watering. Most could have drip irrigation watering. Once established, growing trees do not need watering. Somehow they have reached underground water table. That is the case of my various incense cedars. Because I've got a very skeletal type of desert soil  in about two thirds of the land and very sandy also acid, there I could grow many evergreen conifers ( apart from those already growing) and many dry country herbaceous perennials also shrubs. ( ie. some of your native Ceanothus, and possibly quite a few less known in the general hort world). I also interplant some broadleaved as well for fall colour. Gradually the area that was originally an open Rose briar (R.eglanteria) is being regenerated into a planted woodland ( plus orchards and vegetable rows). Since the property is large in terms of urban sizes, I've designed 7 different gardens with some structural theme: the prairie garden, the rock garden, the rose garden, the dry xeric garden, the shady woodland garden, the moist garden etc. Next to the house I've got a conventional patio garden. I also keep a nursery where I multiply my plants ( from trees down to perennials), a nursery yard full of pots and a nursery greenhouse where I trial my little treasures. So basically I'm quite set to try out new introductions. Specifically where I'm placed there was no native forest. All native trees grew west of town. The eastern part is much drier and is part of the open grassland/patagonian scrub, but because of its proximity  to town, it has been degraded and overgrazed which allowed the rose to take over. The area has been designated  in the county land use plan, as an ecological regeneration area ( which is a bit confusing to me). Because initially wind was a major drawback, the property was planted along its boundaries with windbreak trees, mainly Hesperocyparis glabra and Populus nigra. Also there are windbreak lines inside the property too. This was done about 28 years ago and most areas are now quite protected. I still want to add more trees though, also for privacy from our front street, a dead end gravel street. Its quite rural in atmosphere, with cows, sheep and horses  moving about in the neighborhood.
    From a hort point of view, I've got so many possible situations here on my various gardens, that I can envision growing many different ecotypes, from  relatively high altitude plants, desert( xeric)
 dry or moist woodland ,plants, bushes and trees. One third of the property is a wetland that dries up in summer. It could harbor a summer moist meadow. The part that doesn't get waterlogged is where we grow our vegetables year round, including moisture loving berries and some fruit trees such as cherries and sour cherries. The rest is where my sheep graze. They are kept inside a barn dayly in the evenings. Thanks to their existence we have copious amounts of manure and good organic litter from their beds. So although the soil is originally poor, it can be easily upgraded into first class garden loam along the years. The only thing that I have to find out for each species as I try them out, to which type site they adapt best.
   For instance under a Incense cedar I could grow some Calochortus and some of the dry site Erythroniums, plus some Tiarella perhaps. I still have a long way to learn though. Your different postings are a great stimulus to figure out possible introductions. It will take time and a lot of study on my part yet. Thank you very much.
Kindly
Arturo

[Robert]

Arturo,

It sounds like your garden is ready for an influx of new plants. The timing could not be better. My wife and I are remodeling most of our Sacramento garden. I have been back and forth away from home and my wife has removed many shrubs that no longer fit into our new design. There is still much cleanup to do, but we have a lot of wide open space to plant now. I have a firm vision concerning the direction of the garden and the use of California native species. I like to breed plants and now have some wide open space to work with. I will be home again, for at least a month, so my wife and I will be working together to get the garden cleaned up. My wife likes the birds, including the wild turkeys that showed up. I get to do all the garden design and planting. 

Today my wife and I were out in our garden discussing many of the plants we like and the others that we will be replacing. We both agree that we like the California native Huechera species that are in our garden. The others will go. This is a good Genus to try under your cedar trees. I find considerable variation in the wild populations. They are fun to work with. Primula (Dodecatheon) hendersonii as well as many of our Erythronium species like some shade and can (or want to) be bone dry during the summer. I have already made some good progress with the Dodecatheon. Most of our California Iris species are xeric and enjoy some shade. There is much variation and fine plants can be selected without growing hybrids. The inland species are extremely xeric. I like Salvia spathacea. There are some good color selections. They do not come true from seed, however the traits can be recovered, so with a bit of effort and a few generations of seedlings, some very good plants can be produced. The list of good species could go on and on....  Have you thought about xeric ferns? Trond Høy has a simple method of starting them from spores. It has not worked for all the species I have tried (yet), but it is well worth the effort. We have some beautiful native ferns that are completely xeric. Some will even grow in the full hot sun (40 C) under xeric conditions and still look great. And then there are the species that are a bit more mesic............

I already have a lot of new California native species planted in our garden, as well as some species that have been around for awhile. As I can, I will post some photographs from our garden. Perhaps this will generate more ideas.

[Alan_b]

Here it is - Ceanothus 'Snow Showers'. Don't know which species it derives from.

In the RHS Plant Finder it is only listed by one UK supplier, Burncoose Nurseries https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pl_id=968 .  Burncoose say

Commonly known as: California lilac, Redroot.

Does that imply that it is Ceanothus americanus?
   

[hamparstum]

Great progress Robert!. I feel already the challenge in trying out both xeric and mesic new plants. Although I don't mind hybridization in itself I do have a distinct taste for "wilder" forms. They suit much better and blend better into my general landscape. What I find obtrusive in my view is when we try to force a very formaly elaborate and tidy garden into  my surrounding vast wilderness space:It just doesn't fit. The only place where I can find it fit , is a cottage garden in the immediacy of the house which is already a very modified landscape, and is of small proportions and could follow the conventional gardening schemes of the temperate world. That's also where my separate rose garden is located. Further away, the rest of the gardened spaces ought to be wilder (=aka naturalistic). I don't forget that anything deliberately planted is not natural however, so the question is how to make it look "natural".
Rock gardeners have been taking the lead already for some time. There the landscape is downsized into an assortment of small scale plants. However it is far from easy to make a right selection. I gather that most r.gardeners arrive through trial and error. Also the variety of available plants is bewildering in that section. My rock garden is thus developing slowly. I find it the most challenging of all. It includes the alpine spring moist meadows too. Here your Lewisias and some of the succulents should find home. Possibly some other bulbs too. ( i.e Allium falcatum)
The most advanced is my dry prairie garden. It already contains Echinaceas, Agastaches,Rudbeckias, some native bunch grasses ( i.e Stipa tenuis), a native quite sculptural Eryngium magellanicum, Achilleas, Salvias, and will add quite a few of the Penstemons. Dotted in spring , it will  show the flowers of Rhodophiala elwesii ( Amaryllidaceae) that is a spontaneous wildflower in my farm. The prairie is placed on an open north(sun) facing slope, so it has excelent drainage and has shallow very sandy poor soil. Further up the slope it levels and there I plan to extend the prairie into a dry xeric garden, with more Penstemons ( a genus that I'm particularly fond of), hopefully with no watering during the dry months. I'm planning to  include some of the annuals there, such as Clarkia concinna, or biennials like Gilia capitata or subnuda. I've yet got to study these ephemerals better ( perhaps some Mimulus, Navarretia or others that I've yet to discover). Basically the idea is spring flowers provided by annuals and slowly move onto summer/fall flowers provided by the perennials.
Finally I return to my least understood garden which is my shade garden (dry summer underneath). Here is a new chapter in my learning: Ferns. I love them but never went beyond drooling over pictures because I felt that it was beyond my hort skills to get ferns from spores. There are plenty of native ferns that grow under the shade of our native forests. Ferns from the drier part of the forests, which are dominated by the southern beeches (Nothofagus) and our native incense cedar (Austrocedrus chilensis) should grow well even without watering in summer. Perhaps once I learn to do so then I can add ferns from different sources and discover how they fare. Perhaps when I understand better my shade garden, then I can venture onto more mesic plants with minimal summer watering provided by hidden drip irrigation. The whole property has irrigation mains conveniently distributed from where I can tap a drip line with its valve. I'm hoping to get a water tank built in the highest point of the farm from where the drip system spreads out by flowing by mere gravity. This is something I need both for the vegetable commercial operation as much as the ornamental gardens.
    All genera you mentioned are of great interest to me: Erythronium, Dodecatheon, Iris, Heuchera, Salvia. Possibly a few more will pop up as we move towards rock garden species ( i.e Phlox) or other prairie genera.I seem to approach my gardening selection by genus. It may be a botanical prejudice but once I understand the growth patterns of the genus then I can move it around and find the right spot, where it should thrive with minimal disturbance. I would then tend to group plants with similar requirements. Again I'¡m quite a way from achieving this. However these types of challenges are part of the joy of gardening.
Thank you again!
Kindly
Arturo

[Robert]

Arturo,

Sorry I did not clarify.    I enjoy intra-specific hybrids or species improvement. Generally this is done randomly, but I like to do this in a very purposeful way. There are many reasons: First is curiosity. Too often a species may seem uniform, however there is often much hiding in the genotype. I can learn a great deal about a species by working with it, which brings me to #2: Traits can often be uncovered that allow a species to preform better in our gardens. Disease resistance, cold tolerance, heat tolerance, insect resistance, and on and on. Which brings me to #3: I guess I am very selfish.    I love our beautiful planet - all of its natural beauty. I guess I am pig-headed in believing that creating wild plants that are happier in our gardens will somehow be a tiny step toward saving our wild plants from various forms of plunder. If they have "value"       $$$$$  in site then maybe they will not be dug, sprayed, bulldozed, flooded, into oblivion. I see no reason why the natural heritage of our planet can not be preserved. That humans can co-exist and make use of plants (and other things) without selfish exploitation and plunder. The other day I saw a large-scale logging operation that was "thinning" the forest. They were even cleaning up the mess left by the drag trails. All sorts of species still remained in the forest; a variety of conifers, shrubs, and herbaceous species on the forest floor. Sadly, I also see the clear cutting. The replacement of a mixed forest with a single species mono-culture, and the use of herbicides to suppress all other species. A species like Mimulus kelloggii is so beautiful but it can also be challenging to grow in the garden. A race of this species that is much easier to grow in a garden would be of great benefit. If species in the wild were seen as a gene-pool to work with and were seen to serve us better in the wild, then there might be the incentive to save them in site. As I write, there are people who search the planet for plant species or varieties that will improve agriculture, have healing qualities, or other beneficial attributes. Maybe I am just a fool that wants to have a hand in making things better.

[hamparstum]

Robert,
I couldn't agree more . I do think that wild species if brought into some form of cultivation will enhance the possibility of survival of their relatives that stay behind in the wild. Fortunately, there is a widening constituency in preserving wild tracts of land. These places have to provide a purpose to mankind too. The constituency gets stronger then. In the long chain of concerned individuals about the environment, making the biodiversity valuable to people  that live beyond protected areas is a way of providing both the needs of people and nature. As you have stated a win win situation. That's where individuals that have strong interests in horticultural questions have a role to play. As I understand this is where we both stand. If a species goes into cultivation then the gene bank becomes valuable. The ecosystem that protects that gene bank also has a value attached to it. It may be a food plant, a fibre, an oil, lumber product or a source of a healing drug. Also for its sheer beauty. Ornamental gardening is already a multibillion operation worldwide. We also need to add beauty to our daily surroundings. This need will keep growing. That is where diversity steps in. Monotony is deadly...

[Robert]

Today might have been my last opportunity to scout the Crystal Basin and the lower portions of the Crystal Range, El Dorado County, California before my next outing.

The above photograph is an example of monoculture forestry. In 1992 the Cleveland Fire burned approximately 22,499 acres in El Dorado National Forest. Much of Peavine Ridge as well as much of the forest to the north (pictured) burned. This was the third major fire on Peavine Ridge within my lifetime. In 1959 the Ice House Fire burned 19,098 acres, mostly on Peavine Ridge, and the King Fire burned the western portions of Peavine Ridge in 2014.

Many rumors circulated after the Cleveland Fire speculating that the fire had been set intentionally by loggers. Much of the big timber in El Dorado National Forest had been cut during the 1960’s through the 1980’s. Many loggers were desperate for work and salvage logging could keep them busy for a good number of years. Nothing was ever proven and replanting started shortly after the fire.

As the remaining standing timber was removed Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa, was planted. Originally the forest contained a mixture of coniferous species as well as a number of deciduous broadleaf species. As the Ponderosa Pine monoculture became established, herbicides were applied to suppress the regrowth of shrubby competitors. The route to my father’s cabin crosses through this area, so I witnessed the whole process.

Over the years I have occasionally hiked through the new standing timber. From a distance the trees appear healthy, however upon close inspection many of the trees are sickly. Much of the area is still a monoculture, however slowly new species are starting to recolonize the area. Unfortunately, reapplication of herbicides, some very recently, occurs on some of the acreage. This method of forestry is responsible for the lose of much of the natural biodiversity of the original forest. It is almost mind numbing! I have made comparisons of the plant species found on the monoculture land, the burned land that was allowed to regenerate naturally, and portions of the forest where the fire only burned the under shrubbery. In some ways, the fire was beneficial to some species, except on the monoculture land. After the King Fire, it is apparent that the public land is now being managed in a very different way. Sadly, this is not true for the privately held tracts of land.



I traveled to the north end of the Crystal Basin to the area where my father’s cabin was located. Tells Creek is a very familiar sight and it is full of rushing water.



My father’s cabin was located near Gerle Creek. Gerle Creek flows into the South Fork of the Rubicon River (pictured).



I bypassed Gerle Creek and headed up the mountain toward Loon Lake. The road traverses Chipmunk Bluff as it winds its way up toward Loon Lake.



Chipmunk Bluff overlooks the drainage of the South Fork of the Rubicon River. Robbs Peak can be seen in the distance to the west-southwest.

[Robert]

To the east there is a good view of Tells Peak. One goal is to explore the slopes below the summit. Last year I reached the lower portions of this area. The flora is much more diverse than I originally thought and is worth my attention.



Penstemon newberryi was in bloom along much of Chipmunk Bluff. I did not have much time but I was glad I stopped. I saw a diverse array of species in a tiny area.



Silvery buns of Eriogonum incanum were in bloom.



Close by was Phlox diffusa, here growing with Cheilanthes (Myriopteris).



Growing with this Penstemon was a fine form of Phlox diffusa.

[Robert]

Here the tiny annual Leptosiphon ciliatus is in bloom surrounded by Eriogonum umbellatum, Sedum obtusatum, and Boechara retrotracta.



Leptosiphon ciliatus is fairly easy to cultivate. In cultivation they are very showy and bloom for a considerable length of time.



I did not key this Myriopteris (Cheilanthes) species.



Aspidotis densa was growing near its high elevation limit.



Castilleja pruinosa was looking prime.