kinnikinnick journal...mushrooms! art prefers cooking his mushrooms in clarified butter or olive...

Kinnikinnick Journal

Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society, Inc. / PO Box 1092 Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 www.nativeplantsociety.org

June Program Summary

Wild Mushroom Gathering in

North Idaho

Presented by: Art Church

Summarized by Cindy Hayes

The KNPS monthly meeting was held June 24, 2017 at the

Community Hall. Arthur Church spoke on the topic Wild

Mushroom Gathering in North Idaho to a record crowd

numbering 85 participants. Following Arthur’s presenta-

tion, about a third of the audience reconvened an hour later

at Trestle Creek for a mushroom picking field trip.

Wild mushrooms have been a 40 year passion for Art. Art

and his wife Setsuko live north of Bonners Ferry in a micro

climate allowing them to grow peaches and other hard to

grow crops in Northern Idaho. Interspersed among the

mulched hedgerows of fruit trees, are King Boletes and

other mushroom varieties. Art inoculates the white bark

Volume XXI Number 4 September-October 2017

Presentations Sponsored by Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society

and Sandpoint Parks and Recreation

Community Hall, First Ave, Sandpoint

(Across from County Courthouse)

All meetings begin at 9:45 and are held at the Community

Hall unless otherwise indicated.

Saturday September 23, 2017

Juanita Lichthardt

Natural History of two of Idaho's rarest plants: water

howellia (Howellia aquatiilis) and Idaho phlox

(Phlox idahoensis)

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Paul Brusven

Biological Control of Invasive Weeds

Upcoming Programs

mulch with mushroom spawns. It’s a win- win for both the fruit trees and mushrooms.

One of the largest living organisms in the world is a fungus located in Eugene, Oregon.

The Mycelia (root structure) of this one fungus covers 200 acres. Mycelium is the main

part of a fungus and mushroom. It behaves similar to the neurons of the human brain,

allowing it to grow into a living web like network that adapts to its environment. When

you dig out mushrooms, fill the hole with duff or soil, otherwise the exposed mycelium

dies. When there’s a fire, the mycelium of the morel mushroom is damaged. In order to

reproduce and rebuild its system, morels become prolific in a burned area.

Mycelium is one of Nature’s miracles. An interesting sidebar about Mycelium is its abil-

ity to help break down hydrocarbons, a group of chemicals that are commonly found in

industrial pollutants. Mycelium has the ability to absorb contaminants and release en-

zymes to break down contaminants into neutral substances. The soil may be decontami-

nated but the mushrooms may have absorbed the toxins. That’s one reason to be familiar

with the region you are picking.

Commercial mushroom picking in Oregon and Washington has nearly exhausted mush-

rooms in those areas. The Idaho Panhandle National Forest has set guidelines to limit the impact on mushroom picking. Pri-vate picking requires a free permit if you plan to pick more than 5 gallons a season. A permit allows the private individual to pick up to 20 gallons or 50 pounds per season. Resale is prohibited. Commercial picking is not authorized.

The most effective way to identify mushrooms is to use spore prints. Cut the stem off the mushroom and lay it onto aluminum

(Continued on page 3)

http://www.nativeplantsociety.org

Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society September-October 2

President’s Summer/Fall update

By Ken Thacker KNPS relies heavily on our volunteers and summers are no exception. From Arbor Day to the September/October news-letter, volunteers do what needs to be done. Naturally, the Arboretum is the focal point, but the Board meets monthly (except in August), fall programs need to be arranged for, we have a membership picnic and now we help with the relay. I hope that all of you will consider sharing more of your summers with us. Arboretum With the invaluable assistance of this Summer’s Arboretum Coordinator, we are moving forward with plans for im-provements at the Arboretum. Mary Fraser brought a background in non-profit organizational development, sales and marketing and this gave her professional insights that we are taking advantage of. Some of you may remember Mary's mother, Annette Fraser-Runnalls, who was involved with KNPS during its infancy and served several positions on the Board in the early 2000’s. Soon after taking the Coordinator position, Mary realized that many people were walking the trails through the Arbore-tum without really understanding what they were seeing. Her observations and ideas have led to a plan to add two state-of-the-art interpretive entry signs at strategic locations that would let these people know where they are. The signs will also provide links to additional resources, including KNPS membership and volunteer opportunities. In late July, the KNPS Board approved her proposal to hire professionals for design, production and installation of the signs at a cost of approximately $4,000. Installation is scheduled for mid-October. KNPS Board Lexie de Fremery will be leaving the Board at the end of the year. During her four-year tenure, she first served as Public-ity Chair and then as Treasurer. We all owe her a vote of thanks for her excellent jobs well done. In case anyone wants to attend one of the Board meetings, the September meeting will be held at the Arboretum on the 15th. Beginning in Octo-ber and continuing through the Winter, the Board meetings will be at the Panhandle Health District office on Pine Street. This is due to the construction at the library. Spokane to Sandpoint Relay On August 19th , a group of KNPS volunteers helped with our second Spokane to Sandpoint Relay. Ann Torpie led the group which also included Nancy and Dennis Rieger, Rae Charlton, Cindy Hayes, Shawna Parry and Marilyn George. Their task was to direct the runners coming down Lakeshore Drive onto the bike path near 41 South to keep them from running across Hwy 95, which has happened in the past. Our involvement in this event raises our visibility in the com-munity and adds a few hundred dollars to our coffers. There could be opportunities next year for us to provide more vol-unteers at more locations and earn more money.

KNPS Barbecue

August 2017


foil. Leave it over night and check in the morning for color and print. There are many look alikes; some safe and some unsafe.

Parents should become familiar with mushrooms in their children’s and pets play areas. Mushroom poisoning and allergic re-

actions can happen, and it’s helpful for the Vet or Doctor to have a sample mushroom or even a picture. The latency of the

poison in different mushrooms differs from a few hours to several days. Symptoms can range from mild to deadly. Remember

just because an animal eats a mushroom doesn’t mean it’s safe for human consumption.

If a mushroom has gills on the underside it might be deadly. White gills can signal it’s poisonous. Color may also play a part

in identifying harmful varieties. The color red, purple, or dark brown may be a red flag. If the surface on the underside is spon-

gy and the color is tan it’s probably safe. Art passed around samples showing different spore producing structures such as

pores, teeth or gills. The world of mushrooms also includes the Stinkhorns which have bizarre shapes and there is even a Jack

o Lantern orange mushroom that glows in the dark. There are LBM (little brown mushrooms) found everywhere. They are

sometimes hard to identify even by the experts! Be Cautious! Rule of thumb is if you aren’t 100% sure it’s safe, don’t eat it!

It’s recommended you always cook your mushrooms, but cooking doesn’t mean you can dilute a deadly poison. Know your

mushrooms! Art prefers cooking his mushrooms in clarified butter or olive oil, seasoned with a little garlic. Chanterelle and

corals combined make a delicious soup.

After a lively question and answer session, the official presentation concluded but Art continued teaching during the Field Trip

portion. It was time well spent. Can’t wait until next time.

(Continued from page 1) June Program Summary

2017 Arbor Day Native Plant Sale

By Bob Wilson

I realize that our Arbor Day festivities are a somewhat distant memory now but I wanted to briefly relive the event and thank

all of those who were involved and helped make it a wonderful occasion. The event was put on with the approval of the

Sandpoint Parks & Recreation Dept. and the Bonner County History Museum.

We started with a celebration of Sandpoint's Arbor Day organized by the Sandpoint Tree Committee. Shelby Rognstadt,

mayor, read the proclamation while Stephen Drinkard, the IDL Assistant Community Forester, provided background on the

history and significance of Arbor Day in our community.

Then it was time for the plant sale where a wide variety of native perennials and shrubs were offered by Cedar Mountain Per-

ennials. Diane Green of Greentree Naturals joined us for the first time and brought some larger native shrubs and grasses. In

addition to the plants, we had some very nice handcrafted planters and trugs made and donated by Bob Blair and Laird Parry.

Notecards from Marilyn the Photographer and Marilyn the Artist were also available. Of course, no plant sale would be com-

plete without an array of scrumptious goodies and coffee at our bake sale. Thanks to Jan Geren & Cindy Hayes for organizing

this.

Many hands pitched in and helped make everything run smoothly. Thanks to our set-up crew -- Gail Bolin, Sylvia Chatburn,

Steve Lockwood, Molly O'Reilly, Dennis & Nancy Reiger, Marilyn McIntyre and Joyce Pence. The two large tents were pro-

vided by Gail and Sylvia. The Bonner County History Museum offered the use of several large tables. Ken Thacker put out

signs on the highway. Set-up went quickly and there was ample time to get everything arranged before the sale started.

Thanks to Sylvia, Molly, Gail and Jill Wilson for sharing their plant knowledge with the shoppers and helping them find the

best choices for their landscapes. Also, thanks to our cashiers - Steve Lockwood, Carol Robinson and Lexie de Fremery; and

to the talliers that make everything run smoothly at check-out -- Rae Charlton, Julie Kallemeyn, Marilyn George and Mary Jo

Haag. With all this able assistance, we made something over $750 from the Sale! My apologies to anyone who I may have

left out; I know there are people that contributed in ways that I am not aware of. My thanks to all,


Arboretum News In spite of the hot, dry summer, the arboretum is looking good. Our paid coordinator, Mary Fraser, did a fan-

tastic job of keeping things watered and improving neglected areas, see her report in this newsletter. The city

sprinkling system was down for most of the summer due to the construction on the new bleachers. It is up and

running now, which is a big help. We had 14 volunteers, each putting in 2 to 3 hours once a week, working

and weeding in the various areas. We will have our final cleanup and potluck lunch on Sunday, Oct. 1 at

10:00 a.m. For more information contact: Sylvia at [email protected]

Conservation Committee Our partners at the Native Plant Conservation Campaign remind us to help overcome Plant Blindness. As they

ask:

What is Plant Blindness?

In 1998, American botanists James Wandersee and Elisabeth Schussler defined Plant Blindness as "the inabil-

ity to see or notice the plants in one's own environment," which leads "to the inability to recognize the im-

portance of plants in the biosphere and in human affairs." Plant blindness also comprises an “inability to ap-

preciate the aesthetic and unique biological features” of plants and “the misguided, anthropocentric ranking of

plants as inferior to animals, leading to the erroneous conclusion that they are unworthy of human considera-

tion." William Allen. Plant Blindness. BioScience (2003) 53 (10): 926.

KNPS has submitted comments at the scoping stage of the Hanna Flats Good Neighbor Authority Project.

This is one of the first timber harvests on Forest Service managed public lands that includes Idaho Depart-

ment of Lands and where proceeds will be shared with them. Jim Dubuisson is representing us on the adviso-

ry committee. Comments will shortly be posted on our website.

Senator Risch’s staff has held two well attended open houses on the Scotchman Peaks proposed Wilderness

(which KNPS has supported for more than a decade). Supporters turned out in large numbers. Sadly, some of

the points opponents are using are not based on fact. If you have questions, the Friends of SPW will be glad to

be sure you have the facts. For details about the legislative proposal including a copy of the bill that was intro-

duced, the official map and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, go here: http://

www.scotchmanpeaks.org/about-the-friends/idahobill/

Our heavy snowpack and abundant spring rains produced stunning blooms. Now, the hot and dry summer

makes fire a real danger.

Interested in the Conservation Committee? Contact Molly at conservation-at-nativeplantsociety.org.

Landscape Committee The landscaping committee completed four consultations this year. We consulted at the Dover City Hall and

three private residences. Our hardy crew of eight braved rain, sun and wonderful lunches to complete their

tasks. Looking forward to 2018! If you are in need of a consultation or know another KNPS member that

does, please contact Dennis at [email protected] so he can put you on the list for 2018.

Committee Reports


Arboretum Update

By Mary Fraser, Arboretum Coordinator

The summer season has brought lots of life to the KNPS Arboretum. Of course, the “usual suspects” have been doing

their thing – new leaves and flowers adding color and texture to native plants, insects all abuzz, chirpy squirrels scamp-

ering, and multitudes of bird species making their beautiful presence known. There have also been people – and lots of

them! School groups, visitors from across the country, locals of all ages and our regular neighborhood dog walkers have

all made their way to the Arboretum to explore North Idaho’s native plants, plus seek refuge from the season’s heat in

the Arboretum’s cool and serene surroundings. Most important to me, there have been volunteers who have visited the

garden each week to care for the habitat that attracts all this activity!

With 1.18 acres containing eight native plant habitats and special plant exhibits that require ongoing care, volunteers are

truly the lifeblood of the Arboretum. KNPS volunteers generously donate several hours per week to maintain their as-

signed habitat or special project. Some aren’t seen, but accomplish work that’s very visible. For instance, Bill Lamson

arrives with the sunrise Monday mornings to care for the earthen walking paths that visitors stroll. Keeping the paths

clear of debris and the green invasives that like to grow in and along them is essential for a safe visitor experience and

for a tidy appearance, too. Other volunteers enjoy one another’s company as much as the gardening. Our Tuesday,

Wednesday and Thursday volunteers begin pulling into the parking lot around 9 a.m. and spend the next couple of hours

accomplishing valuable work, all the while having a lot of fun together.

On the subject of volunteers, the Arboretum needs more of them! In fact, The Sandpoint Reader featured a nice article

written by Cate Huisman in their July 20 edition addressing our need (https://issuu.com/keokee/docs/

reader_july20_2017?e=1515675/51128369). We would love to recruit 12-15 additional people to help. Volunteering at

the Arboretum is a great way to develop botanical knowledge in the company of long-time KNPS members. You’ll also

enjoy the physical benefits of working outside, and perhaps make some new friends, too. If you’re interested, please

contact Rae Charlton (610-1688) or Mary Jo Haag (255-4413).

This season, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting ac-

quainted with volunteers, visitors and the Arboretum.

My plant knowledge has vastly grown, and the phys-

ical work has been a bonus for my fitness regimen!

Major projects I’ve taken on have included pruning

as many dead tree and shrub branches as possible

throughout the property, plus improving the Arbore-

tum’s appearance around the parking lot and cabin

boundaries. With the help of Sandpoint Parks and

Recreation, gargantuan piles of tree branches were

hauled away. On a near weekly basis, Ken Haag has

provided indispensable help by hauling away lots of

debris (thank you, Ken!). He has also transported and

moved truckloads of mulch used to beautify the gath-

ering space around the kiosk and cabin. It’s been a

summer filled with satisfying work.

Photo: Mary Jo Haag, Joyce Pence, Linda Kirchmann, Jackie

Earle (The hardworking and fun-loving Wednesday crew)


Member Profile: Shawna and Laird Parry

By Ken Thacker

Shawna and Laird have known each other for so long that it’s impossible to do a

profile of one without the other. They first met in the 6th grade and went to the

same middle and high schools. They dated occasionally in high school, but wait-

ed to get married in 1970 after four years of college. As a young married couple

in the early ‘70s, they moved around quite a bit with Shawna making use of her

education in accounting to work in banks while Laird pursued various engineer-

ing opportunities. During this time, they learned some things about themselves,

such as they didn’t like living in the desert, and earning a glider pilot license

was fun. The glider experience in turn taught them that they both want to be the

boss when they tried to fly together in a double seat glider (once) and this lesson

carried over to both kayaking and bicycling later in life.

In 1973, they moved to Seattle for the first time and the trip was iconic since it

included a three-month-old baby and a VW microbus filled will all their posses-

sions. It also resulted in a job for Laird designing crab boats. They later moved

to Tri-Cities, Washington where Laird began his career in specialty equipment

design with Battelle Northwest and Shawna began her career as a stay-at-home

mom. It was during this time they first visited Sandpoint on a ski trip. After 5 years in the Tri-Cities (desert!) they returned to

Seattle in 1980.

After returning to Seattle, Laird’s engineering career took off and for the next 24 years he was involved with a series of spe-

cialty equipment development startups. Meanwhile, they both were focused on raising their two kids and that included four

foreign exchange students and PTA leadership positions. When the college expenses started, Shawna re-entered the work force

as the local high school’s administrative assistant where her self-imposed responsibility was to be the “mother of the staff.”

This was a job she absolutely loved and which she kept for 11 years.

The Seattle years also included several ski trips back to Sandpoint, and they soon realized that they liked more about Bonner

County than just the skiing and in 1999 they found a deal on a house here. The Parry’s moved to Sandpoint permanently in

2004, a move that they have never regretted. They have gotten involved in the community [CAL, Habitat for Humanity and

KNPS], discovered hiking and kayaking, and completed 5 Long Bridge Swims [Shawna only!]. They also travel a lot, with

much of it being regular visits to their kids and grandkids in Seattle and parents in the Bay Area. Travel also has included win-

ter visits to Yellowstone, hiking the Grand Canyon, and visiting Antarctica. They now have a trip planned that includes hiking

in Slovenia this Fall and visiting their former exchange students and their families in Germany.

LANDSCAPE BOOK By Carol Jenkins

Thank you for inviting me to speak about the history of our book at the May meeting. It

was a pleasure to reminisce about that delightful project. I couldn't remember how long it

took the 12 of us to get the job done, so guessed at about a year. Since then I found a board

report and it was actually two years. Time goes fast when you're having fun, and fun it

was. Many thanks again to all who participated! And, I did what I was afraid I might do, I

left off kudos for one of our book group. Marilyn McIntyre not only wrote the fire resistant

plants section, she offered the idea of creating the illustrations you see throughout the

book. I can't tell you how wonderful it is when someone offers to give added value to a pro-

ject. And if you missed the May meeting, be sure to look for the lovely book cover she cre-

ated for the collection of "Moist Montane" articles. You'll be amazed!


A Voice From the Moist Montane ForestA Voice From the Moist Montane ForestA Voice From the Moist Montane Forest A

A Raucous Ripening Reel Story and Art by Marilyn McIntyre

Wild Nature has been dancing a raucous ripening reel all summer. It’s as if all was right again in the Northern

Rockies habitat: snow and cold prevailed. Even though the snow was drier than it used to be, it came late, keeping

the water flows in the creeks in good shape until the sudden heat wave turned the heavily laden huckleberries to pur-

ple 2 weeks early. Right on their heels were the serviceberries, giving enough food to all, robins and humans includ-

ed. Mountain Ash berries are dark orange now and the red osier dogwood berries are porcelain white.

Alas, we haven’t seen any rain since May, except for 1/10” that fell a few mornings back, resulting in a tinder

dry forest. Large patches of seeding fireweed bring to mind the vivid amethyst blossoms they held a few weeks ago.

The Grand Fir, Western Larch and Western White Pine all have 2-3’ leader growth thanks to the ground water

flow on this bench between 2 creeks, but are now casting brown needles like crazy. The maples are salmon colored

and the huckleberry bushes are crinkled brown with an occasional hard berry. The contrast between the green, wa-

tered area around the cabin and gardens and the outlying forest is remarkable. But we are lucky so far and we think

of our friends in BC who have lost everything or others who have been on evacuation notice for many weeks now.

Wild Nature, in the meantime, is adapting just like we are.

“I wonder that I ever get five miles on my way, the walk is so crowded with events and phenomena. How many ques-

tions there are which I have not put to its inhabitants.”

-Henry David Thoreau

Garlands to Gail Bolen and Chef Phil and everybody who brought food for pulling off another smashing BBQ!

Marilyn McIntyre


Marilyn McIntyre stands beside her mural

Board of Directors 2017Board of Directors 2017Board of Directors 2017

Ken Thacker, President

Jan Geren, Vice President

Carol Robinson, Secretary

Lexie deFremery, Treasurer

Donald Kass, Programs

Shawna Parry, Publicity

Cindy Hayes, Board Member

Steve Lockwood, Board Member

Sylvia Chatburn, Arboretum

Additional Committee Chairs and Positions

Sylvia Chatburn, Arboretum

Dennis Rieger, Landscape

Molly O'Reilly, Conservation

Janice DeBaun, Lois Wythe Grant

Mary Jo Haag, Historian

Jackie Earle, Hospitality

Marilyn George, Printer/ Photographer

Jill Wilson, Marilyn George, Newsletter Committee

Jill Wilson, Newsletter Editor

Dennis Rieger, Website Administrator, List serve

Please note: Payment by credit card is available

on our website, nativeplantsociety.org.

Photo by Shawna Perry taken along the Schweitzer Nature trail.

kinnikinnick journal...mushrooms! art prefers cooking his mushrooms in clarified butter or olive...

Documents