High Desert Winds

PAST - May 6, 1pm-3:30 p.m. FREE Seminar and Weed ID Clinic

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:40:41 +0000

Weeds or Wildflowers?

How to Get Rid of Noxious Weeds

At Sisters City Hall

Learn to identify and reduce the spread of invasive, non-native plants at home, on your acreage, on public lands or at your business.

Learn how invasive plants damage soils and local vegetation.

See examples of weeds, bring your own for an ecologist to identify.

Hear about county grant funding for eradication programs.

Learn how to stay in compliance to avoid code violations—and fines!

Sponsored by the City of Sisters, Sisters Ranger District & Deschutes County Contacts

Maret Pajutee, District Ecologist, Sisters Ranger District

(541) 549-7727, mpajutee@fs.fed.us

Eric Porter, Community Development Director, City of Sisters

(541) 323-5219, eporter@ci.sisters.or.us

Maret Pajutee, District Ecologist, Sisters Ranger District

(541) 549-7727, mpajutee@fs.fed.us

Eric Porter, Community Development Director, City of Sisters

(541) 323-5219, eporter@ci.sisters.or.us

Contacts

Maret Pajutee, District Ecologist, Sisters Ranger District

(541) 549-7727, mpajutee@fs.fed.us

Eric Porter, Community Development Director, City of Sisters

(541) 323-5219, eporter@ci.sisters.or.us

WHO’s INVITED

?

Landowners,

homeowners,

developers, trail users,

forest workers,

environmental groups,

landscapers,

contractors,

groundskeepers, yard

maintenance crews,

volunteers

April 11, 2009 9 a.m. - CANCELLED Trout Ceek Ranch Cottonwood Planting and Seedling Screening Project

admin — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:06:49 +0000

What – Plant cottonwood cuttings and put on protective vexar tubes on seedlings to help restore the riparian areas to a more natural condition. Bob and Robert will give us a tour of the ranch and describe the terrestrial and aquatic habitat management projects underway on the ranch for restoration.

Project background - Trout Creek Ranch is a 3,010-acre ranch purchased by General Electric Company (PGE) for the wildlife habitat management in 1999. The ranch is located approximately two miles upstream from the confluence of Trout Creek with the Deschutes River. The habitat is being managed to benefit the production of mid-Columbia steelhead. The restoration activities include regrading, reshaping, and realignment of approximately 1.4 miles of the stream and re-vegetating the riparian areas. With these actions they hope to restore the stream’s natural functions and improve water quality and quantity.

When - April 11 2009 9AM to 2 pm.

Where – The field trip begins at the PGE Trout Creek Ranch.

Directions - Take HWY 97 north from Madras approximately 2 1/2 miles. Turn left on Cora Lane Cora land merges with NE C Drive, Takes a sharp right becomes Bulkeley lane goes down the grade to gateway. Follow signs to Trout Creek Recreation Area. From gateway, turn north on Clements drive.follow sign to trout Creek recreation area-as you go under railroad tunnel and cross bridge, trout creek ranch gate is on your right (it is Coleman road on the map). I am told standard cars can manage the ranch road, though it is steep.

Carpooling – Carpooling is not part of the field trip, however many people like to car pool. You can meet Eileen at the Fred Meyers in Redmond behind the can and bottle return center. If you would like to carpool from Bend, call Eileen and she will send out a general email to those who would prefer to meet there. Approximately 30 minutes from Madras.

Working conditions - Riparian area of Lower Trout Creek-possibly muddy

What to bring- Dress appropriately for weather-bring work gloves-waders recommended (not required)-extra hammers, shovels, digging bars would be useful.

Lunch will be provided. Bring drinking water.

Age considerations- many different tasks easy to strenuous-minimal walking (we are not wheelchair accessible however).

RSVP to ceobermiller@webformixair.com; eileen@dappledearth.com; or Eileen (541) 923-2777

map to trout creek

June 13, 2009 Help Pull Weeds in Deschutes County

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:30:13 +0000

Lets Pull Together has scheduled this years weed pull for Deschutes County for June 13, 2009. Everyone is welcome. Wear long sleeves and sturdy shoes. Bring drinking water. Gloves will be provided to children and adults. Go to Lets Pull Together for locations and additional details.

June 5, 6, & 7th NPSO Annual Meeting in Yahats

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:25:48 +0000

The Corvalis Chapter is hosting the NPSO Annual Meeting this year in Yachats. Details can be found in the Bulletin of the NPSO March 2009 edition or the annual state meeting web site: http://corvallis.npsoregon.org/meeting/2009meeting.html

Lodging- Important Update

The Adobe Resort in Yachats (1-800-522-3623) has informed us that if 10 rooms are booked by people attending the NPSO Annual Meeting, we will have the use of their small meeting room for free. That room will be used for the Friday night social and the Sunday board meeting. The money saved ($130) will be added to the donation that we will make to the endowment fund for the Gerdemann Botanical Garden (http://gerdemanngarden.org/). If you decide to stay at the Adobe, please let them know that you are with the NPSO Annual Meeting.

Help the Old Stone Church Foundation Design & Install a Xeriscape Garden.

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:07:45 +0000

UPDATE: March 20, 2009

Hello Old Stone Church Volunteers:

We will be having our first meeting on April 4, 2009 at the Old Stone Church. This first meeting will begin with an orientation of project goals and the site. Next we’ll jump into designing some concept ideas for the master plan landscape. John will provide base maps, a basic survey of the site, and drawing equipment. We’ll see how far we can get, discuss options, and decide on the next steps. Hope to see you there! John will also provide some hot drinks and light refreshments. Please read John’s note below for important details.

Regards,

Eileen Obermiller

Note from John Miller

Dear Old Stone Visioneers,

I am fowarding some sketches by our friend Phil Hamilton in the interest of scheduling a design charette for the Old Stone. I’d like to have an open meeting for brainstorming a vision for reshaping Old Stone in a way that it best serves the mission of building friendship and conscious community through music, education and spirituality. I could go on and on about this, but here are some basic ideas for finding the sculpture within the unhewn rock that is the Old Stone today:
- The Old Stone as a power center - a place to gather power
- Playing artitectural aikido to honor the history of the building, but redirect its energy to celebrate spirituality as our essence, rather than a political tool or foundation for superstition
- The mythical Old Stone that served and serves as a primordial community focal point
- The fluid communication of indoor/outdoor space that facilitates gatherings
- The notion of fractals and logarithmic spirals that facilitate real exchange and connection (groups of 5 of 8 or less - fibonacci numbers)
- The juxtaposition of water, stone, air and fire
- Highly functional spaces that work together for different uses: filmings, lectures, concerts, breakout discussion
- High vibrational space that engenders transcendent healing, peace, harmony and the flow of grace
- Serves basic needs - firepits, food and drink.

The primary focus of the charette is a functional landscape design for the site that integrates the building with its surroundings and reflects most, if not all, the foregoing. To this end, the drawings attached are meant to be a visual stimulus for discussion and nothing more. I would like to have a brainstorming session for two hours, beginning with a review of the foregoing, a brief presentation of the drawings, followed by an open discussion and drawing. The basic rules of brainstorming apply: no criticism -only ideas.

John Miller

Executive Director

What: The Old Stone Church on Franklin Avenue is in the process of replacing the lawn in front of their building along Franklin Ave with xeriscaping featuring native plants. They are looking for help to design, select plants, collect or purchase boulders, and to install. They have a budget for materials and anticipate some of their volunteers to be available for the installation.

Old Stone Church Update March 2, 2009

John Miller, Phil Hamilton, and Eileen Obermiller met Saturday February 28, 2009 to discuss how the high desert chapter might help them develop a plan and install some native plants on the church property. The Old Stone Church (OSC) is focusing on building community consciousness through education, spirituality, and music. Physically, it is a beautiful church building built in 1912 (it is the oldest church in Deschutes County) on the corner of Franklin and Harriman looking for some redevelopment to better serve the community. (More details about the OSC at http://www.osc.bend.com/) Their idea is work with the existing building in a way that honors its history, but redirects its former identity as a church to one of a a hub of activities for raising consciousness.

John and Phil have been working on some initial architectural and site drawings for the property to express their thoughts on what direction the OSC might take. They are looking at creating an indoor outdoor venue for community activities. They are exploring ways to create a more welcoming entry from Franklin with outdoor features such as conversational seating, a labyrinth, fire pits, outdoor cooking facilities… whatever will create an environment that will support community interaction. They want to utilize native plants as part of their developing the site in a green a fashion as possible.

Since several members expressed an interest in volunteering to help design and install the landscape, we thought it would be fun to have a mini design session at the church. John and Phil are working on developing an outline of their vision and some base maps and concept drawings for us to work on. Once they have that together, we will set a date for the design session. If you want to participate and have not already told me, let me know. We will send out a general notice of the meeting to those who have expressed interest and of course will have updates on the High Desert blog http://highdesert.npsoregon.org/blog/.

Where: Old Stone Church, 157 NW Franklin Ave, Bend, OR 97701

When: Spring 2009 actual date to be determined.

Contact: Would you like to help? For more information or to volunteer contact Eileen eileen@dappeldearth.com or John Miller, Executive Director, Old Stone Church Foundation, 157 NW Franklin Ave Bend, OR 97701 541-408-6831,or email John at info@oscbend.com.

Join the Native Plant Society of Oregon!

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:56:33 +0000

Join the Native Plant Society of Oregon (NPSO) and enjoy publications and activities focused on the enjoyment and conservation of our native plants.

The Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon is a state wide rag that shares the activities of the NPSO throughout the State. It is mailed to members and subscribers. As a member you are welcome to attend any State field trips, lectures, presentations, or other announced events. The Bulletin also features articles on notable people, plant discussions, data, and similar organizations.
The Kalmiopsisis the journal of NPSO. It features in-depth articles about Oregon’s native vegetation and flora, botanical history, book reviews, presentations of NPSO Fellows, and more. It is mailed to members and subscribers. Recent issues can be accessed here in PDF format. Older issues are currently being uploaded to the State web page and will be available soon.

Link to http://www.npsoregon.org/membership.html for more information and an email able or printable form. You can also get a form from Eileen@dappledearth.com.

Dues include the NPSO Bulletin (11 issues/year) & Kalmiopsis (usually once per year). Membership is for the calendar year. New memberships enrolled after July 1 include the following year.

Extra gifts can be made when joining or renewing your membership. These can be directed to the Jean Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Leighton Ho Memorial Field Botany Award Fund, the Rare & Endangered Plant Fund, and/or the Friends of the Oregon Flora Project, in any amount.