Heading into Winter...
It's a slow time for botany and butterflies, that's for sure. So what to do? How about brushing up on the skills you need to get more out of any trip out to the field?
There are plenty of evergreens to look at, and you can do this easily by just watching the side roads around Placerville. Look for pines and fir trees and see if you can ID them from a distance? Tip: while there aren't so many fir trees at this elevation, you must know that firs have cones that are erect and remain on the tree (photo at left), while pine cones are pendant and fall from the tree.
You can find ponderosa pines (P. ponderosa) from 3000ft and above, and in the lower foothills you see what are now confusingly called called foothill pine, gray pine, nut pine, or grey pine, These used to be called digger pines but in what I think was over reaction to the "derogatory" name "digger", that name is abandoned. Why was the pine called digger in the first place? Because the Native American's in southern California were existing in an environment where they dug roots as a big part of their diet. Because they also relied on the nutritious pine nuts from this particular tree, the tree was called a "digger pine".
Thinking that digging up food is a low class way to survive, the term "digger" was seen as offensive. Me? I ask what might have been the case if the natives had been fishing instead of digging? Would "fisher pine" be offensive? I suppose it's just me but digging up food doesn't seem so bad, So the tree is P. sabiniana, and I guess you can call it what you like, depending on your conversation.
Another shrub that should be catching your attention is the Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) which is also called California holly (but it isn't holly). The dark green leaves and the bright red berry clusters are very attractive. It's fun to note that this shrub grows in such abundance in the hills above a certain southern California town that the community took up the name: Hollywood.
Toyon also has some history of being called "tollon" but I can't find any more information on this. A mystery for now.
The name Heteromeles means "different apples" (the berries) and "arbutifolia" comes from the similarity to Arbutus unedo, a European shrub. It may be interesting to visit the El Dorado Library to see the Arbutus used as landscaping trees.
Take Your Camera for a Walk
Go out and walk around the river areas or local parks. Take some photos to practice your close-ups or landscape shooting. Then review your photos, and read your flora guides.
The Law’s Field Guide is a surprisingly comprehensive reference for such a small, packable book. It includes just about all the common (and many not-so-common) things you‘re likely to stop and look at — from oak galls to animal scat! Certainly it will help will with its quick guide to flower families, and even a pretty complete list of bugs and birds, and most common butterflies.
If You Find a Plant that isn't Familiar, Here's How to Find an ID:
First and foremost, really look at the plant and make a few notes. Look at the flowers (assuming it’s blooming!) and count the petals, the stamens, pistil(s), and note the sepals. I have a "Ten Plant Parts You Should Know" page that will help if these are new terms.
Touch the leaves; note the leaf edges, note how the leaves are arranged along the stem (opposite each other? alternating?) Make a note of what you see as the most distinctive characteristic of the plant. Is it aromatic? rough like sandpaper? sticky? You might want to use a cheat sheet to remind you of the details that will help you look things up later.
Second: take a few good pictures! I see plenty of out-of-focus shots that resulted from a person not familiar with how to set their digital camera for a close-up (like from 24" or less). Even if you stand back, get the camera focused and shoot: 1) a flower shot, 2) the entire plant, or at least something with leaves showing; and 3) a general habitat shot (like was it shady? sunny? what else growing next to your mystery plant?) Check the photos as you take them. Blurry? Erase it and shoot again.
Later, in the comfort of your home, the cheat sheet and a few photos will help you zero in on at least the plant family, perhaps even the species.
When you use your plant guide and arrive at a conclusion, you can check Calflora to look up the botanical name (don't forget to set the area to El Dorado County) and see pictures that will help confirm your notion. You can also check What grows here. Still stumped? You can send me a photo and I will try to help.
