June Bioblitz results are in! |
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Our first WinterCreek BioBlitz was a major success! Many thanks to Matt Holmes for offering his time and insect expertise to the project.
About a dozen citizen scientists met out at the nursery on June 29th with sweep nets, jars, microscopes, and photography gear to get a better understanding of the local ecology here at WinterCreek. So far, our documentation of the property's biodiversity has shown 71 different animal species, from native bees and butterflies to weevils, grasshoppers, robber flies, beetles, snakes, frogs and sand wasps.
Species photographed were posted on the citizen science website iNaturalist for use by researchers and the general public.
View these results or help identify any of our observations via the iNaturalist BioBlitz project page!
The most commonly observed species were the Juniper Hairstreak butterfly, Eight-spotted Skimmer dragonfly, European Paper Wasp, Lorquin's Admiral butterfly, and Digger Bees. There were many more obscure finds as well, both native and invasive. The broad-nosed weevil Otiorhynchus raucus, for example, was observed at the nursery during our BioBlitz - a species native to Eurasia that has been documented less than ten times in Oregon, and only once ever outside of the Portland area! These weevils are generalist feeders on plant material. Are they perhaps spreading further into human inhabited areas of our state? Observations from citizen scientists could help answer these and many other important questions about range, habitat, and populations of plants, animals, and fungi!
Small contributions by large numbers of people can make major contributions and often bring up interesting ecological questions. We plan to host many more Bioblitz events in the future to help expand our knowledge of how animals are using the plants we're nurturing here in Bend, so be on the lookout for future dates. We hope to see you at the next one! | |
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Heat domes and plant stress |
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| From June freezes to July heat domes, climate change is putting native plant resilience to the test... Left: Virginia creeper (dead) Middle: Silver lace Vine (struggling) Right: Western clematis, Clematis ligusticifolia (unfazed) |
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One of the questions we hear frequently at the nursery is if it’s okay to plant during the heat and drought conditions typical of this time of year in central Oregon. In this brief article, I’ll summarize my thoughts about that question and explain some of the science behind my response.
Weather patterns in central Oregon have been changing significantly over the past decade or so. If you’ve been in this area for any amount of time, you’ve probably noticed a shift in the timing and duration of our storm events and winter weather. While there’s always been a fair amount of variability in local weather (“if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes -- it’ll change”), there has been a notable change in climatic conditions. Climate differs from weather in scale. Weather can be quite variable and change quickly; climate refers to the long-term trends in environmental conditions.
One of the main differences we’re seeing in climatic conditions is precipitation timing and intensity. Rainstorms (and winter snow) are occurring less frequently but with greater intensity. This pattern affects soil moisture levels significantly by allowing soils to dry out at greater depths before groundwater is replenished by rain or snow. Even though many of our native plants are very deeply rooted, moisture in those deep soil layers are is no longer maintaining relatively stable levels. Plants, even deeply rooted species, are stressed as a result of overall declining available moisture.
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Figure 1: Soil Moisture, Humidity, Precipitation, and Temperature from July 1 to July 14, 2024. Data were collected at WinterCreek Nursery on a Hobo U-30 data logger. Precipitation for the period = 0.00 in. The monthly average (1978 – 2023) is 0.56 in. and is off the scale on the right Y axis. The average historic maximum temperature (upper dotted line) was exceeded consistently for most of the study period. Similarly, average lows were significantly higher than the historic average (lower dotted line). Humidity levels for the period also averaged significantly lower than the historic mean (lower dotted line). The average low temp = 47 deg F; the mean historic humidity level = 48%. The values are similar enough that the difference between the two averages does not show up at the scale on the graph.
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But many of our native species are physiologically adapted to drought conditions and can acclimate through various mechanisms such as summer dormancy (plants that go dormant as a response to heat and drought), shedding leaves and other body parts to reduce transpiration rates, early seed development, increased rooting, changes in hormone balance and gene expression, and other structural, physiological, and biochemical changes.
How does all this apply to an urban landscape where environmental
conditions are normally mediated through irrigation, increased nutrient
availability, and other maintenance practices? Good question...
Click here to read on (on our website) Richard Martinson, Ph.D.
Director, High Desert Horticultural Center |
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Plant highlight: Giant blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis var. laevicaulis) |
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Description & Habitat: Showy biennial occurring in a variety of Oregon's ecoregions from the Lava Plains to the Estuarine Coast/Coast Range. Appears in rocky and disturbed sites as well as in scrub and even riparian area. Rangeland: This plant can be used for revegetation and diversification of rangeland, particularly on harsh, rocky sites. Pollinator Habitat: Smoothstem blazingstar is a source of nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies and moths (Mee et al 2003). Forage: Smoothstem blazingstar is undesirable as forage to both livestock and wildlife.
Ethnobotanical: The Cheyenne used the roots of this plant to treat rheumatism, arthritis, earaches, fevers, mumps, measles and smallpox, as well as other complicated diseases. They also used the roots for thirst prevention. |
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The Gosiute applied an infusion of the roots to bruised swellings. The Montana and Mendicino made a decoction of the leaves and applied it as a wash for skin diseases, and drank it for stomachaches. The Paiute used it as a source of food; they cooked the seeds in water and used it for a gravy (Native American Ethnobotany Database 2010).
Ornamental: Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973) state this and a related species, M. decapetala are “beautiful-flowered and desirable garden subjects for dry areas, especially the eastern Cascades”. According to Mee et al (2003) the plant is well-suited for a rock garden, steppe garden, or rocky slopes and is self seeding. However, it is difficult to transplant due to its taproot and barbed leaves.
Source: NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington, contributed by Torr. & A. Gray |
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Interns and leaders from the University of Iowa's Pitkin Forest Nursery visited this month on their annual Western region field trip. UI has one of the only fully operational University run nurseries in the nation, providing students with an interest in the horticultural industry hands on training in not only propagation and research, but also management, commercial production, and seed selection for restoration and conservation. Their facility produces nearly 500,000 regionally native seedlings annually, including over 70 species of trees and shrubs.
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We also welcomed a group of Riley Ranch Nature Campers. Josh Aschcraft, BRPD camp instructor, has been planting sagebrush with the kids as a part of restoration at Riley Ranch. The plants were purchased at WinterCreek Nursery, so Josh was inspired to show the kids where the plants they were working with came from, and to meet the people who grew them. He explained, "I wanted to let them experience the diversity of the high desert, and the plants from many ecosystems within it, all in one spot." The kids dug in with their shovels at the nursery and created a new planting area!
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Why do you use native plants? |
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Terms of the day: Vapor Pressure Deficit
& Evapotranspiration
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Vapor Pressure Deficit is the difference between the temperature and humidity levels inside a leaf and the temperature and humidity level of the air. (Several other environmental factors contribute to those measurements). Evapotranspiration is the amount of water released to the atmosphere through evaporation (soils) and transpiration (plants lose water through stomates – small pores that allow plants to absorb CO2 for photosynthesis). |
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| Stanleya pinnata (Prince's plume) |
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