2018 - Robert's botantical adventures in Northern California

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Robert,
very anxious times waiting for the fire to advance or be controlled!
Glad to know that you are safe and hope for continued good luck.
The report is excellent as usual!  Apart from the great flowers and butterflies it is good to hear your opinion about how the restoration work is going amid the ongoing environmental damage
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

This morning I arose to beautiful orange mare’s tails (i.e. Cirrus, Ci) illuminated by the rising sun. Overnight, a southwestern flow of air has brought cooling ocean air from the Pacific Ocean. The heavy smoke has been blown away. Temperatures are running a bit cooler this a.m., the relative humidity is up, and the cool SW winds are not excessively strong.

These days I am not able to travel far for my botanical outings, however I am making the best from the locations I can visit. The botanical details within my current sites of activity are amazingly diverse and fascinating. Much good can be derived from careful detailed observations. There is considerable genetic diversity within the various plant species that grow within my current sites of interests. So many have horticultural potential, especial if one is willing to unlock the genetic potential within each genome. There are infinite possibilities to create beauty in our gardens.

I will be writing up part II soon enough.

Yesterday, I checked and the brush-clearing machine drove off through the brush (Arctostaphylos) to some unknown location down the ridge. I’m sure that their path of destruction will move back towards its point of origin. This too is part of what I have to accept and deal with. There are some fantastic plants within this area, so when the “dust clears” I will be checking on the survivors. Based on what I have observed from last years bush clearing, the most sensitive species are the least resilient to the mechanical brush clearing. It is best for me to not give up hope. I will keep looking for the “lost” species. Ultimately Nature always prevails. 

[Robert]

Persistent dense smoke continues to linger throughout our part of California. The Carr Fire continues to burn near Redding California, now threatening Lewiston, California. In addition, there are new evacuation orders in the path of the Mendocino Complex Fire.



The weather is cooling slightly and is forecast to continue to cool for one or two days before spiking again into the 100 F (37.8 C) range. Today’s high temperatures:
91 F (32.8 C) Placerville 1,460 ft.
90 F (32.2 C) Riverton 3,625 ft.
89 F (31.7 C) Peavine Ridge 5,146 ft.
78 F (25.6 C) Lyons Creek 6,622 ft.



I will post the last installment of my last outing in a few days. This photograph is a current view of the meadows in the Lyons Creek Basin. The meadows are continuing to dry, however they are still fairly green. The monsoonal moisture is currently shifting to the east, leaving us very dry.

I have been monitoring the current Eastern Pacific cyclone activity. Sometimes the cyclones can swing to the northeast and track into California or Arizona, especially in late August to early September. Currently there are 4 tropical depressions in the eastern Pacific, Hector, and three other developing storms. At this time all the storms are tracking to the west, however depression 3 at 12N 98W is forecast to track to the northwest. All the storms are located below 15N.

There have been many extremes around the globe this year (including Europe!) and I have been watching and recording the local weather since 1968. Obviously I enjoy reporting the weather and climatic conditions and how it interacts with our local flora.



Locally, potential wildfire conditions continue to be near extreme levels. So far, the low dew points have not budged much and the southwesterly wind speeds have increased considerably. Red Flag Fire Warnings have been posted for many parts of Northern California including our area.

As I write a new fire has broken out near the El Dorado County farm. I can hear the borate planes fly over the house. Social media is useless for real time emergency information. Thank God I now am a licensed ham radio operator. I am monitoring the emergency 2-meter band in our area. Currently the farm is not in the path of the fire and the prevailing wind is moving it away from the farm.

The current wildfire near the farm is distracting while trying to writing.

Stay tuned.

[Robert]

Dense smoke continues to blanket our part of California this morning.

Currently the winds are light and from a northern direction. Strong southwestern winds are forecast to develop later today. We are all hoping that we will not be contending with a new firestorm today. This afternoon I will be making manual wind observations in the Sierra Nevada.

[Robert]

NATIONAL FOREST RESTORATION
&
LYONS CREEK
El Dorado County, California

Part II

The Apiaceae species, Ligusticum grayi, is seen frequently along the lower portions of the Lyons Creek Basin. It prefers growing in semi-shaded sites near conifers.



Erigeron glacialis var. glacialis is a very common daisy in the Sierra Nevada. It is also very attractive. I have a nice healthy colony established in our Sacramento garden and hope to see flowers next year.



Along with Spiraea splendens, Lonicera conjugialis grows abundantly in the lower portions of the Lyons Creek Basin. The fruit on this species are developing quickly and will be bright red by autumn.



The butterflies were very active in the meadows. Observing and identifying butterflies takes considerable time and perseverance. Unfortunately, I arrived much later in the day than I originally intended. I had other priorities and did not spend much time with the butterflies. With a quick glance, this butterfly appeared to be a Speyeria species (Fritillary).



Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata blooms for many weeks during the summer.

[Robert]

Yellow forms of Catilleja miniata ssp. miniata are unusual. The colony at this site is very stable. I found this group several years ago. To date, the population of this colony appears to have remained the same or may be slowly increasing in size.



The yellow form of Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata is very beautiful. To date, I have been having considerable success growing both annual and perennial forms of Castilleja.  For me, the perennial forms have been long-lived. Choosing the appropriate companion species appears to be of critical importance. I have yet to try Castilleja miniata, however I hope to start experimenting with this species soon.



The tall stems of Aconogonon phytolaccifolium were topped with their racemes of white flowers. This species is always associated with consistent moisture.



Early July is a good time of year to see Poaceae species in bloom. Many of the meadows in this area are green with “grass”, actually Sedges and Rushes, early in the season. The true members of Poaceae become apparent later in the season.

Trisetum projectum, Interrupted False Oat, (pictured) was seen growing abundantly in many of the meadows. Agrostis humilis, Agrostis scabra, Bromus carinatus var. carinatus, Danthonia californica, Glyceria elata, Phleum alpinum, and Stipa lemmonii ssp. lemmonii were some of the other Poaceae species seen in the various meadows.



Fireweed, Chamerion angustifolium ssp. circumvagum, is quite attractive when in bloom. I guess it is considered noxious and weedy, however in its native habitat it is a delight to see.

[Robert]

Fireweed, Chamerion angustifolium ssp. circumvagum, seen blooming in mass can be spectacular. This large group looked great!



In dry, sunny sites, Goldenrod, Solidago sp. was blooming abundantly. Solidago elongata and S. lepida var. salebrosa belong to the taxonomically difficult S. canadensis complex. I have logged Solidago elongata (serrated leaves) from this area. The plants in this colony did not fit perfectly to the description of Soliago elongata or S. lepida var. salebrosa. This is not unusual.

Various forms of Soliago elongata have proven themselves to be excellent, easy-to-grow plants in our Sacramento garden. To date, I have grown both dwarf and taller growing forms. The taller forms bloom abundantly, however to date, the dwarf form has been shy blooming.



The tall stately stems of Agastache urticifolia topped with their pink flowers are a delight to see. The foliage has a pleasant minty scent.



In moist areas and along small streams Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum can be found where there is adequate shade.



This species has a subtle beauty. The flowers can range in color from deep blue-purple to white. In this area the majority of the plants have flushed lavender flowers.

[Robert]

Arrowleaf Butterweed, Senecio triangularis, is another common, frequently seen species in this area. It is found in moist habitats along small streams and in wet meadows where there is adequate shade. I like this common species and finally has a small colony established in our Sacramento garden.



Near the end of the day the monsoonal clouds started to drift in from the east.



While admiring the beautiful clouds drifting in, I noticed the current season’s cones on the top of the Red Fir, Abies magnifica var. magnifica. Unlike many other conifers, the cones of Abies do not remain intact, but disintegrate on the tree when ripe with the winged seed traveling off with the wind.



I arrived late in the day, so it was not long before it was time to return to the Outback and start the drive back to Sacramento.



Near the crest of the canyon of the South Fork of the American River I could see the monsoon clouds thickening and building into the area. As it turned out, this wave of monsoonal moisture brought rain to the eastern and southern portions of the Sierra Nevada. The spotty nature of our monsoonal precipitations is very typical. To date, the monsoon season has been more or less average in our portion of the Sierra Nevada, with little or no precipitation west of the Crystal Range crest.

My outings are a great pleasure. I can visit a site repeatedly year after year and still find infinite layer upon layer of details to investigate. There is never a dull moment and I look forward to my next visit to the Lyons Creek area.

In a few weeks I will have an opportunity for another outing.  At this time the plan is to visit the Tells Peak region of the Crystal Range.

[Robert]

Smoky conditions prevailed in El Dorado County as wildfires continued to burn throughout Northern California. The wind speed has increased hampering fire fighting efforts. The Ranch Fire (Mendocino Complex Fire) is now the 6th largest in our State’s history. Its eastward progress has burned much of the area west of Bear Valley in the Coastal Mountains. I conducted and reported on a number of outings from this area over the past few years. Many rare and highly unusual plant species grow in and near the current burn area.



Yesterday, 4 August, smoky conditions continued at the higher elevations. Wilson Meadow is drying, however there is still some moisture in the ground and there is still some “green”.



Some portions of Wilson Meadow have become choked with Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murruyana. With all the current fire damage, it seems a bit oxymoronic to say that the meadow would benefit from fire. A controlled burn in the spring when conditions are moist (cool fire) might work. At some point, this is what is planned for the meadow. Now that the effects of climate change are here, how to approach a cool burned needs to be thought out carefully. Now, in some cases, controlled burns are getting out of control.



Some portions of the meadow are already extremely dry. A fire with this much dry fuel could become explosive.



Solidago elongata grows abundantly in Wilson Meadow. Plants can be found growing side by side with and without serrated leaf margins.

[Robert]

Water is still flowing in Lyons Creek, however the flow rate is diminishing quickly.



When I was young (1960’s), Lyons Creek continued to flow during the summer and autumn. Now, expect for years with heavy winter snowfall and/or a strong summer monsoon season, the creek stops flowing in the late summer or autumn. This is another impact of climate change on our region. At least the larger pools of water will remain and some of the trout can survive for another season.



Late in the day a persistent strong wind began to erode the smoke and the skies started to clear somewhat. At Wrights Lake, I could finally see the high peaks of the Crystal Range.

[hamparstum]

Robert, with present degree of climate change, what could have been a sound management strategy may no longer be so ( controlled cool fire). Perhaps one might reconsider a different management strategy: controlled grazing with domestic herbivores. LLamas have padded feet( also the other S.American camelid:Alpacas ) so they might be a better option to traditional horses, cows and sheep. Trampling may cause surface erosion, however any management strategy implies weighing advantages and shortcomings. The purpose is to keep meadows open so that the grazing could be designed with short span and high density surrounded by electric fencing that only needs a car battery for charge. Keeping forests patch is one of the foundations of maintaining biodiversity. Normally, natural wildfires kept that role. But the problem is that "natural" condition no longer exists anywhere in the world even in the most remote portions of it....

[Robert]

Arturo,

These are some fascinating concepts to consider. Using grazing animals – is this a technique you have used in Argentina? Or are these theoretical ideas? Personally I think that both avenues can be expanded upon and portions used to create workable solutions.

I agree that old solutions to the current situation may not be viable. With creativity and flexibility a positive outcome seems more likely. In my case, I have personal data that can be used to imperfectly model the current conditions (sometimes past conditions too) at a number of sites. In Addition, I use various inputs to create models of past or future outcomes based on various inputs. My object is to visualize and detect patterns, feed back loops, etc. within the natural system. Obviously many questions need to be asked and careful observations need to be made.

In the case of Wilson Meadow, the habitat is responding to both natural and anthropogenic driven modifications to the environment. Minus human interference, I have no idea what the current meadow environment should look like. I believe that observing natural patterns and applying them can restore the natural equilibrium to any habitat. One thing I am certain of, applying an economic model to a natural system with never benefit a natural system. We see this continually in agriculture, forestry, cities, etc. Huge artificial inputs (E energy) are necessary to maintain the equilibrium of the system. My solution is to allow the natural flow of energy through the system to sustain the equilibrium. I have personally seen this approach work with agriculture (think something along the lines of permaculture or the techniques used by Masanabu Fukuoka). There is no reason these general concepts will not work in other context. Very sensitive and devoted stewardship is required for success. I other words someone(s) needs to be personally invested in the outcome of the project (i.e. we truly need to care).

As per your last statement – I agree anthropogenic modifications to the environment are everywhere, including much of the space around our planet and beyond. In far too many cases the changes are not in our best long-term interests – at least if we want to survive, get along with each other, and coexist harmoniously with other beings on this planet. I was completely inspired by the documentary “The Eagle Huntress”. There is much we can learn from imperfect people who live authentic lives and create something beautiful. I was very touched by the father’s love for his daughter and the daughter’s desire to be true to herself. Such things can heal this world.

[hamparstum]

Robert, my inquisitive mind is always trying to figure out alternatives. My suggestion was based only of what I've been shown by your pictures. I've read about the utilization of grazing animals in maintaining certain "natural" habitats in many protected areas in Europe, not back at home here. Of course my suggestion was restricted in the sense that it was not thought as a source of income, but rather a possible much less hazardous management tool. The managed herbivore herd should belong to the restoration management authority no to a private entrepreneur or definitely no-one that would keep that herd for personal profit. Obviously other native ungulates in your forests used to maintain the meadow patches open. Do they still do it?. Perhaps in Yellowstone NP yes, I personally saw there your native woodland bison. As I understand they are a variant of the plains bison. They are not migrant. I have no knowledge if woodland bison ever trampled your meadows there, but from what I gather there wouldn't have been any barriers towards that happening in the past. The same goes for mountain sheep. Your native deer contribute in keeping grass short, but they are different from other ungulates that their diet is focused in browsing so they are less efficient in keeping the meadow a meadow. The utilization of domestic animals is based on the fact that they are much easier to handle, tend and care. Ideally, the native wild herbivores once restored ought to play that role. But are there enough of them around from which to draw populations to restablish animal/plant balance?. It would seem not. I know very little ( or close to nothing) about the past history of that area, but if it followed general patterns, the larger mammals were initially removed by the first settlers because of their ease in hunting. Those were times when no one saw any harm in doing so. Any restoration requires a step by step approach, because unfortunately a passive stance , by which one hopes that nature will go by its way if one avoids present negative anthropogenic action, is no longer tenable. In most places nature has lost its natural mechanisms to restore itself! The final strawberry on the cake is this present climatic change! Needless to say, any restoration project needs dedicated and committed souls who are willing to dedicate their lives as stewards for each site. If I were placed in a job search committee, I know from the start , that it is a very hard search....! However ocasionally miracles occur...

[johnralphcarpenter]

 The National Trust here in the UK use Dartmoor ponies to graze the cliff-top habitat at the White Cliffs of Dover. This keeps the undergrowth in check.

[Robert]

Arturo,

I appreciate your input immensely. Most likely I will never be participating in the restoration of Wilson Meadow. The system has made it crystal clear that my participation is not wanted, ever, in anything. This is a blessing, as I need to be authentic like the 13-year-old girl in the documentary “The Eagle Huntress” and set off on my own direction. For me the restoration project is a theoretic exercise, which I can still apply when I am out in the field doing what I do. For me, the restoration of anything in this Universe is in the hands of God. I partner with God by being like a spirit in the forest that nobody sees or is aware of. How this works, I have no idea, but then I know very little about God. So, thank you for taking the time and energy to share your ideas.

From my perspective nature is always at work, it is we, as humans, who may not like the consequences of our actions. As an example: The second law of thermodynamics is not likely to disappear in this dimension of time and space. As much as some may want to stick their heads in the sand and pretend it does not exist this will not change things. On the surface of this planet, g = 32 ft./s². Calling this “fake science” does not change things. The fool might think that g is fake; after all there are objects at rest on the planet that stay at rest, in this case the energy of gravity is not apparent. Maybe the fool thinks they can jump out of an airplane without a parachute and not fall to earth? What I learn from this is that fools are fools. It is best to ovoid them and never follow their leadership. My mother-in-law had a saying, ”Just because everyone is jumping off Brooklyn Bridge doesn’t mean you have to.” This seems like good advice.

I agree, breakdown does occur. Ecrit  ~ 106 volts/meter. We just may not like the consequences of breakdown. I do not want to get shocked by a fully charged capacitor or stuck by lightning! If the city of Sacramento were abandoned today nature would establish a new equilibrium, just as the discharge of a capacitor creates a new equilibrium. I just might not like the process if I get shocked. If abandoned, in a few millions years all traces of Sacramento would be gone. I agree completely that humans in many cases have greatly altered our natural environment. If left to itself, nature will create another balance of equilibrium. In many cases the short-term results of this process are not in our best interest. Nature (God?) is telling us that we need to be participants in the process with mindful and wise stewardship.

We have an excellent example of human stewardship with nature to create a beautiful and balanced ecosystem right here on this forum! I have followed the progression of Ian and Maggie Young’s garden. The garden is undeniably beautiful. Ian’s study and application of art and nature has also help create a masterpiece of balance equilibrium within the habitat of their garden. This does not mean that all is perfect in paradise! Mice, voles, extremes in weather, etc. require adjustments and active participation. If the whole planet were loved as their garden is loved, our planet would be a much more beautiful and enjoyable place to live.

These same principles can be applied in our own gardens, cities, Wilson Meadow, etc. The process in each case will be different, however the results will be the same. Following the economic model of P (profit) ≥ ∑∞P = {n(n+1)/2}² $  n=∞P works for American style capitalism, but is destroying human life on this planet. All the profits of Apple computer, Google, Facebook combined will not and cannot save us from the consequences of anthropogenic climate change. The physics of what has been set in motion cannot be stopped by the above formula. Given the current trajectory, the situation is not likely to change, however we can each make the choice to create something better for ourselves. Perhaps our input will change the parabola.
y = v0v(x/v0H) - 1/2g(x/voH)² = v0V/v0Hx - 1/2g(x/voH)² = vov/voH x - g/2voH2 X²

Now enough of my philosophy, and back to gardening and botanical outings.