©Joe Medieros
STANISLAUS CONNECTIONS
Working For Peace, Justice, and A Sustainable Environment
May 2004
Living Lightly
By
LILLIAN VALLEE
8.
Squirrels in the Willows!
If you had taken a
leisurely drive along the Tule Elk Tour Route at San Luis National Wildlife
Refuge within the last few weeks you might have been struck by the unusual sight
of ground squirrels — normally quite happy to be on the ground or diving into
burrows — perched in willows, nibbling at the golden willow catkins that
create a sunlit halo around each tree. Because willows are insect and
wind-pollinated, I had never thought about squirrels as possible pollinators
(and maybe they were just trying to make themselves look taller to impress their
jaded paramours), but perhaps ground squirrels have a secret vernal relationship
with willows, one that a visitor might miss if not present at exactly the right
moment in early April. Almost every willow along the route had a squirrel on a
branch tip, and colonies of bees in the catkin pollen, the radiant hum arousing
some inchoate desire, some bald happiness, so movingly described by Sue Hubbell
in her book A Country Year.
Hubbell writes frankly
about botching up her life after a painful divorce from her high school
sweetheart—she couldn’t sleep or eat, concentrate or read. “I was out to
lunch for three years,” she admits, and then gives this description of a
spring afternoon heavy with the fragrance of wild cherry blossoms and the
movements of migrating warblers: “I stopped to watch them, standing in the
sunbeam. The world appeared to have been running along quite nicely without my
even noticing it. Quietly, gratefully, I discovered that a part of me that had
been off somewhere nursing grief and pain had returned. I had come back from
lunch.” She returns home, clears her desk, and settles down to “the work of
building a new kind of order, a structure on which a fifty-year-old woman can
live her life alone, at peace with herself and the world around her.” She
becomes a beekeeper, tending three hundred hives of bees in the Ozarks, and,
along the way, also becomes a terrific writer, fusing science and poetry.
Hubbell’s books urge us
to think about two communities whose presence dominates the landscape and
without whom we simply could not exist: flowering plants and insects which
compose a full two-thirds of all organisms known by biologists to exist on the
planet. The co-evolution and interaction of nearly a quarter million species of
plants with three-quarters of a million insects (and other pollinators) account
for eighty percent of the species of food plants we consume worldwide. “One of
every three mouthfuls of food we eat, and of the beverages we drink, are
delivered to us roundabout by a volant bestiary of pollinators” writes Edward
O. Wilson in his introduction to Stephen Buchmann and Gary Nabhan’s The
Forgotten Pollinators. The Buchmann/Nabhan book underscores how the
“precise knowledge of pollination ecology” would enhance efforts to preserve
groups of endangered native plants, such as vernal pool plants in our region,
which rely on solitary native bee pollination (and the preservation of upland
grassland habitat) for their survival. Local orchards are reliant on imported
honeybee colonies (those white bee boxes), whose origin is usually European and
now also frequently out-of-state. That competition potentially disrupts some of
the older relationships between native plants and regional pollinators.
Thinking about squirrels in
the willows, bees in the pollen, and the salutary songs of migrating warblers
reminded me that a healthy landscape is one that is rich in sustained relationships, between various peoples and people
of various ages, between people and the land, people and plants, people and
animals, animals and plants, and even between birdsong and plant growth.
Curiosity about and delight in these relationships are a gauge of our vitality.
Musician Michael Holz
observed, for example, that plants grew better with music, particularly music
that mimicked birdsong. Holz explains that “leaves have openings, called
stomata, which ‘breathe’ the air around them. This action of air exchange is
increased with particular music.” Holz began to examine the electronic
frequencies and amplitudes of the music and birdsong and discovered that
“birdsong was the perfect frequency and amplitude to cause stomata to increase
their action to the highest level. The singing of birds, developed over
millennia in the ecosystem, helped plants to grow.”
And children? Do they also
need birdsong and bee hum to grow? And maybe frog bellows and coyote howls? Does
a child need to stand in a fragrant arch of white, mock orange blossoms dipping
beneath the weight of hefty carpenter and bumble bees? Would we create different
gardens if we thought of them as nourishment for children whose cells needed to
open up and breathe in birdsong and cicada chant, non-parental voices tugging at
petal after soft petal of a child’s identity, its murmur and sting? And do
adults need these same otherworldly songs to reopen parts of themselves they
have shut down in pain or disappointment? This is not precious sentimentality.
We are relearning through scientific validation what native peoples have
understood for millennia — that plants and animals are kin, our teachers and
relations, requiring, no, desiring
communion and interplay.
A week ago, at Arena Plains
(a remnant of interior dunes and alkali meadow in Merced County), standing amid
wild patches of tarweed, tidytips, phacelia, lupine and owl’s clover that
stretched as far as the eye could see, I understood that John Muir was not
exaggerating when he said he had crushed a hundred wildflowers with every step
on his Central Valley pilgrimage in 1868. Four year old Nicholas, grandson of
Modesto Junior College returning student Emma Gonzalez, squealed with pleasure
at uncovering a stinkbug nest and later flushed a horned lizard from underfoot.
I have carried the memory of his enraptured face around with me since then. You
would have thought he was Ponce de Leon coming upon the Fountain of Youth.
Nicholas would not know it for a few decades, but he had.
Sources:
Sue Hubbell, A Country Year; Stephen
L. Buchmann and Gary Paul Nabhan, The
Forgotten Pollinators; and Cathie Katz, Nature
a Day at a Time: An Uncommon Look at Common Wildlife.
"Earth Day
is the first completely international and universal holiday that the world has
ever known. Every other holiday was tied to one place, or some political or
special event. This Day is tied to Earth itself, and to the place of Earth in
the whole solar system. At this moment, when I climb the steps and ring the
Peace Bell, it will be the Equinox in every part of the world, and we can all
celebrate it at once on behalf of every part of the world."
— Margaret Mead, www.earthsite.org/
By CAROLINE MITTON
There will be a public meeting to discuss plans for the Gateway Parcel of the Tuolumne River Regional Park on Wednesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center's Harvest Hall, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto.
Surveyors have determined where utilities are buried, and the consultant has started work on detailed plans. This will be the last time you will have to input into the design, so please come and let the consultant and the governing agencies know what you want and what you do not want.
What do you think should be included in the area if an amphitheater is to be built? How big? How much parking? Where should roads and paths be? How much concrete? What about open areas for play? What general feeling should this portion of the park have?
The consultant will have several models and/or pictures to start discussions. Some of the pictures at the last public meeting showed parks with a lot of concrete. Others had more trees and grass.
Several years ago the Tuolumne River Regional Park Citizens' Advisory Committee and various governmental bodies held a series of public meetings to develop the general concept of the space. We had discussions on the amphitheater location and the use of lighting and amplified sound to accommodate thousands of festival-goers at least eleven times a year. We discussed paths, play areas, river access, the access road and the amount and location of parking.
According to Modesto's General Plan, the amphitheater must be 200 feet from the edge of Dry Creek — 100 feet for riparian habitat and another 100 feet for a buffer. The buffer may have paths, but no structures. The drawings still show the amphitheater on the edge of Dry Creek. And as far as we can tell, it is as large as ever and still has lighting and provisions for amplified sound.
The Tuolumne Blvd. Extension was to connect 99 to Ninth Street. There will be no interchange with 99, but the plan still has an extension of Tuolumne Blvd. going through the park. It may connect with Tenth Street.
We said we wanted the paths slightly curved rather than arrow-straight. The longest one is still being drawn in an absolutely straight line from just below the Ninth Street Bridge clear across the property to Beard Brook Park.
So, there is still a lot to discuss. This rare opportunity for a lovely urban oasis could be lost, so your input is needed to make sure you have the kind of park you want.
ACTION: Attend the meeting, or write or call your comments to Doug Critchfield, 577-5353, at the Modesto Parks Dept.
By MYRTLE OSNER
Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16 is the Heartland Celebration of food, farming and healthy living in California's Central Valley. It's at Double-T Acres in Stevinson.
Produced by the Ecological Farming Association, this event promises education and entertainment for the entire family. "Join us in promoting sustainable agriculture in California's largest food producing region. School groups welcome!" says their invitation.
In their newsletter, the EFA reports on the controversy surrounding the "USDA Ministerial Expo" which took place in Sacramento several months ago. The real threat, according to EFA, has not been given a chance to be disseminated. (Domination by big media?) "We wanted to show a presence in the protests for the movement against genetically engineered (GE) crops in this country." At the ministerial meeting, Norman Borlaug, a founder of the "Green Revolution" and now a proponent of the "Gene Revolution," talked about feeding the world through chemicals and biotechnology. In the newsletter, the heart of the difference between sustainable and industrial agricultural models is explained (and Dr. Borlaug's point of view is countered).
Without going into detail, organic farming proponents remind us that the "Green Revolution" was as much of a failure in the long run as it was a success in the short run. New varieties of cereal boosted productivity temporarily but required lots of chemical fertilizers that poor farmers could not afford, thus "hooking" them on chemicals. And they were more susceptible to crop failure than the variety of grains formerly grown (see Vandana Shiva's book, Stolen Harvest, about India's failure on this subject) Groups like this have shown repeatedly that food insufficiency is often a result of economic pressures that include growing cash crops instead of food crops, problems with land tenure, poor food storage, and political decisions based upon personal gain, rather than the good of the people (to name only a few reasons).
Other newsletter articles highlight connecting agriculture to the watersheds and the effects of erosion. Concluding that expanding and strengthening conservation practices can help protect our natural resources and sustain the long-term economic viability of agriculture, the article points out that we can not only be good stewards of the land, but, through good practices, we can be good stewards of the oceans as well.
Since part of the mission of Stanislaus Connections is to promote a Sustainable Environment, a copy of this newsletter is on file at the Peace Life Center. A number of our readers are organic food growers, and many of us are interested in healthful food, and good stewardship of our planet, a goal to be urgently desired. When the Farmer's Market opens in downtown Modesto (between H and I on 16th St.) in May, you can patronize many organic farmers.
Saturday admission (includes lunch) is $15. Saturday Slow Food dinner is $25. Children under half price! Camping is $10 per car, and rafting is $25 with registration. Join in all or parts of the weekend. For information call the Ecological Farming Association, (831) 763-2111, or email info@eco-farm.org; www.eco-farm.org; offices; 406 Main St., Suite 313, Watsonville, CA 95076.
By ANNE SCHELLMAN
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, California was home to plants adapted to its diverse environment with survival mechanisms such as silvery or hairy leaves which allowed them to withstand drought, while others lived in Riparian areas and used copious amounts of water.
Early European settlers had different ideals of a beautiful landscape based upon those featured in their homelands. The innovation of the irrigation system made such landscapes accessible in their new surroundings. Many of the plants used in landscapes today are remnants of the European ideal of a typical garden.
Currently the population of California has burgeoned, and with an average rainfall of 11 inches, it soon will be difficult for our state to have an adequate supply of fresh water for everyone. In light of this reality, gardeners may want to consider plants that need very little water.
Gardeners need to plan irrigation systems that allow for deep water to penetrate deep into the root zone. Drip irrigation systems are much better suited to saving water that can be lost to evaporation or runoff common to sprinkler irrigation. Drip systems can deliver a specific number of gallons per hour, which should be determined by the size, age, and type of plants.
Just like any of the plants found at a nursery, native plants have differing needs. Like all plants, natives initially need full care and regular water. This article will highlight native plants that need little care and water once established.
TREES
Many native trees can get quite large, but the following natives reach up to 20 feet and can work well within a private garden setting:
Aesculus californica, California Buckeye, is an attractive tree that features creamy white or light pink candelabra-like flowers in the spring. It is a summer deciduous tree, which means it has the unusual attribute of losing its leaves in the summer, usually by early July.
Cercis occidentalis, Western Redbud. is a tree native not only to California but most of the Southwest USA. This striking tree showcases its tiny purple flowers in the spring and has attractive heart-shaped leaves during the rest of the year, which turn a handsome yellow-red in the fall.
A third tree for the landscape is Chilopsis linearis, Desert Willow. This tree can be somewhat shrub-like and may need some pruning. It grows quickly at first, but then slows to 25 feet. The flowers are trumpet shaped and can be pink, white, rose, or lavender.
SHRUBS
Three native shrubs stand out from the many available, Manzanita, California Lilac, and Christmas Berry. Each makes an excellent accent plant.
In the spring, Manzanita, Arctostaphylos, shrubs have small bell-shaped flowers that turn into tiny red fruits. Often these plants are finicky about the soil into which they are planted and typically do best in loose, well-drained soil.
Ceanothus, California lilac, is a delight in any garden, and have been propagated by nurseries to thrive well in most gardens The flowers range in color from white through different shades of blue-purple . Look for Dark Star — which has tiny dark green leaves and dark cobalt blue flowers — or Julia Phelps — which has indigo blue flowers and is considered to be one of the best bloomers.
Winter may be over, but it isn’t too early to start looking for a plant that will bring interest to your garden during the cold season. Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon, is sometimes known as the Christmas Berry, because of the bright red berries it displays November through January. Birds relish these berries, feeding on them all winter long.
PERENNIALS
Perennials are plants that live two years or more. There are numerous native perennials to choose from, such as Penstemon, Salvia and Coral Bells. The following list of perennials are considered natives, although not all plants in a particular genus can be:
Zauschneria sp./California Fuchsia
Erigeron glaucus/Seaside Daisy
Heuchera maxima/Coral Bells
Penstemon centranthifolius/Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon spectabilis/Showy Penstemon
Salvia mellifera/CA Black Sage
Salvia clevelandii/Cleveland Sage
ACTION: California native plants can save water and provide much beauty for the homeowner. Often native plants are in short supply, but gardeners should remember that with demand comes supply. Ask local nurseries to carry the types of plants you are willing to buy and look for sources on the Internet. Visit native plant gardens like that of the Great Valley Museum, College and Stoddard Avenues, Modesto, which will host a native plant sale the first week of June.
By MYRTLE OSNER
Several activities this month invite you to get outdoors and MOVE! With all the talk of obesity, your opportunities are right here to change all that.
Walk to School Week
The first week of May is Walk to School Week. Three Stanislaus County schools will officially participate. On Tuesday May 4, Tuolumne School will hold their event. Denair Elementary School's event will be on Wednesday, May 5, and Shackelford School's will be on Friday May 7. The goals of these events are not just walking. They help promote the use of "walking school buses," which allow multiple students to walk as a group. The walks will help identify safe routes to school, and routes that have dangers like lack of crosswalks and sidewalks. Other dangers are unsafe neighborhoods, speeding drivers, and dangerous drop-off zones.
Another goal is to raise driver awareness and alertness through increased enforcement of traffic codes. These events will be coordinated by the Safe Communities Coalition, whose purpose is to address motor vehicle injury issues for Stanislaus County. Before everybody in the world (or so it seems) dropped off their children at school, driving to and fro, most children walked to school in reasonable safety. With the advent of higher speed limits and more cars, children are more at risk every day. Every school ought to have at least one "Walk to School Day" to call attention to just the sorts of dangers identified above. The fact is that many children still walk to school. If they banded together the year round, chances are they'd be a lot safer.
The Safe Communities Coalition looks forward to having more schools join the "Walk to School Week" each year. For information contact Heather Duvall at the Health Services Agency, 558-7168.
Bike to Work Week has health goal too
California has designated May 17 thru 22 as Bicycle Safety Week.
Several activities in Modesto will carry out that theme. Modesto has had a yearly "Bike to Work Week" encourages people town to bicycle wherever they go. In this ideal town for bicycling, with no hills and ideal weather in May, you are encouraged to start now.
During the week, routes will be set up to point to the safest ways to get downtown. (Emphasis is on downtown, but if you work somewhere else, do it anyway). On Thursday, May 20, "Bike to Work Day, “ those who bicycle downtown will be greeted with a free breakfast outside of Tenth Street Place, between the government building and the Brenden Theatre. Although this route emphasizes getting downtown, you are encouraged to ride your bicycle to work no matter where you are. In case you are looking for something more substantial, downtown now abounds with restaurants and coffee houses. So, you don't have to go there to work, maybe you just want to see if you can do it as a challenge.
Saturday, May 22 is the big day for youngsters. At Courthouse Square on I St., bicycle safety is especially featured, with demonstrations by "Cops on Bikes," real bicycle policemen and women. There will be helmet giveaways, reminding us all that it's a state law to wear a helmet. Many adults are not aware of the real protection that helmets provide, and children have to be taught. Horrific accidents have harmed many that could have been less traumatic if a helmet had been worn. There will also be a BMX show during the morning. To sign up for the kids bicycle race, show up by 10 a.m. Saturday morning.
For adults, a Criterium race around Modesto is planned, sponsored by the National Cycling Association and the local Stanislaus County Cycling Group. Registration is required.
Incidentally, there are places on the street to lock up your bike. City employees can sign up for bike lockers. Call Modesto’s Ride Share Coordinator, Anne Marie Newton for information, 571-5193. If you can't bike, think about sharing a ride and saving the air.
