The Peak View February 5th, 2024
Rose Young
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Hunting for the First Wildflowers of Spring
by Doris deLispinasse
Wildflower season is upon us. Early, and that worries me. It looks as if we're definitely in one of the warmest winters on record. Working to counteract that warming is essential – but meanwhile, we can enjoy the flowers whenever they bloom!
In past years I led many wildflower walks for MPG. My horizons are more limited now, but I have planted numerous natives that I watch closely. Just before the recent ice storms, I checked out an early favorite, Snow Queen. I have two sizable clusters in special, carefully drained places in my little rock garden area. One cluster showed one tiny bit of violet. Now, a week or more after everything thawed, I have a record-breaking 10 clumps of buds just beginning to expand their tiny openings.
Looking for these in late winter and early spring is a hunt I love, and one you get better at with practice. They grow in lots of places in the hills around Corvallis, usually in high, well drained locations with moderate amounts of sun. They're tiny, only a few inches tall, with blooms usually only a quarter of an inch or so long. They hide down in the mosses and forest floor litter, an environment where they are an important source of food for pollinators and nectar eaters. These probably include little flower flies, or Syrphids, which then eat aphids and other pests.
Some places to look in McDonald Forest:
- Some open areas of Homestead Trail.
- At the Lewisburg Saddle, in the mosses to the right of the gate across from the parking.
- Around and on the tree bases at the very end of Ridge Trail.
- Just at the top of Dan's Trail, in the woods at either side just before you get to the view-packed clearing at the top.
- And toward the top of the Vineyard Mountain Trail.
If you went on those earlier walks with me, I told you that the scientific name for the Snow Queen was Synthyris reniformis. But as tools for understanding genetics etc. improve, these names often change – and sometimes change again. In 2021, this was changed to Veronica regina-nivalis.
2023 Champinefu Lectures are Now on YouTube
Closed-caption recordings on the first two Champineful Lectures are now available on YouTube.
Willamette River: Ancestral Highway
Fire is Life: Living in Relation with Indigenous Fire Practices of Western Oregon
Joe Scott (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians), winner of the 2023 Indigenous Place Keeping Artist (IPKA) Fellowship, was the presenter. He discussed how he is connecting local indigenous people to the sacred fire resources and practices that have sustained people of this place through the seasonal round since Time Immemorial.
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The three 2023 Liz and Bob Frenkel Environment and Hiking Spring Series webinars are now available on YouTube with closed caption subtitles.
Reviving the Wetlands at Finley National Wildlife Refuge
This webinar will entice both those who have never been to Finley and those who have been there many times to visit the refuge with new eyes and new expectations. A high level of wetland restoration work has already established the Finley Wildlife National Refuge as a significant wildlife refuge that also attracts thousands of visitors each year. This webinar will show you a mature restoration site and how you can best enjoy it. Presenter: Jarod Jebousek is a wildlife biologist for U.S. Fish and Wildlife currently focusing on the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program for the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex. His office is at the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge ten miles south of Corvallis.
Reviving the Wetlands at Herbert Farm Natural Area
Owens Farm/Jackson-Frazier Wetland Complex
and Events Dept., Meredith Petit, Director, Corvallis Parks and Recreation Dept.; Ellen Tappon, President, Alliance for Recreation and Natural Areas (AFRANA)
Each webinar presents a very different view of Kalapuya or indigenous placekeeping from the perspective of the Kalapuya. These webinars in ascending order will open the eyes to non-Kalapuya residents. Please take the opportunity to watch them and then share the links with your colleagues, friends and family members:
Shawala
Champinefu Webinar Series 2022: Shawala - Birthplace of William Hartless - YouTube
Kalapuya Seasonal Rounds and Their Removal from Corvallis
Champinefu Webinar Series 2022: The Kalapuya Seasonal Round at the Confluence - YouTube
Indigenous Placekeeping
Champinefu Webinar Series 2022: Indigenous Placekeeping in Corvallis and at the Confluence - YouTube
1) Newcomers to MPG outing events, please view the GENERAL OUTING POLICY on our MPG website http://oregon2.sierraclub.org/marys-peak before pre-registering for or attending an outing.
2) Contacting Marys Peak Group: Marys Peak Group contact information is obtainable at http://oregon2.sierraclub.org/marys-peak Listed are the Executive Committee members and the Administrative and Program Coordinators.
3) Facebook: Marys Peak Group – Sierra Club is on Facebook. Check out MPG’s Facebook page to view pictures of past hikes and events, and learn about upcoming opportunities. Post pictures from hikes and outings you participate in! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marys-Peak-Group-Sierra-Club/159377960779
4) Minutes of the MPG Executive Committee can be viewed at the aforementioned website by clicking on the About Us/Ex Comm Meeting Minutes tab or by clicking on MPGMinutes_Jan2024 for the minutes of the last meeting on January 4th, 2024.
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OSU Forestry Recreation Updates: