Native Plant Focus: Betula occidentalis, Water birch

Water Birch in the CSR Greenhouse.

Water birch growing at the CSR Farm.

Native Plant Focus: Betula occidentalis, Water birch

Water birch or mountain birch is a 20-30 ft., multi-trunked tree with shiny, reddish-brown bark. Its delicate, graceful appearance is created by slender, spreading, pendulous branches. Shrub or small tree with rounded crown of spreading and drooping branches, usually forming clumps and often in thickets. The red color of the branches and twigs creates the same winter effect as red-twigged dogwoods. The small, deciduous leaves are bright green above and yellow-green beneath becoming bright yellow in fall. Sheep and goats browse the foliage.

This uncommon but widespread species is the only native birch in the Southwest and the southern Rocky Mountains. (Lady Bird Johnson)

The Canyon Maple: Showy Autumn Foliage

(photo: Scott Catron)

Canyon, or Bigtooth,  maple (Acer grandidentatum) is a shrubby or somewhat tree-like maple, this species usually matures at 10-15 ft. but is sometimes taller. Its bark is dark brown and scaly and is branches are stout and erect. The thickish, three- to five-lobed deciduous leaves turn bright red and gold in the fall. Small to medium-sized tree with short trunk and spreading, rounded, dense crown; often a shrub. The scientific name, meaning large-toothed, refers to the leaves. The showy autumn foliage makes it suitable as an ornamental. (Lady Bird Johnson)

CSR Donates Trees to the YMCA

CSR donated 6 trees (3 Ash trees and 3 flowering Hawthornes) to the YMCA for a recent benefit auction. This auction helped to fund the Strong Kids Campaign, provide financial assistance for qualifying children, and support the 3rd Grade Swim Program.

Conservation Seeding and Restoration Inc. happily contributes to such a worth-while cause as children are the future care-takers of native flora and fauna.

Native Trees Along Silver Creek, ID.

CSR crews recently installed native trees along Silver Creek, ID for habitat opportunities and to shade the water. Shade reduces water temperature and provides over-hanging vegetation, which increases the amount of insects that fall into the water. Both of these characteristics will improve the fish habitat in Silver Creek. Protective cages reduce the damage caused by deer and elk browsing.

Native Focus: Larix occidentalis, Western Larch

Native Focus: Larix occidentalis, Western Larch, is a large tree to 200 ft. tall. At maturity the trunk is mostly bare with scaly, cinnamon-colored bark. The deciduous needles are pale green, coloring to deep golden in the fall. Very large deciduous tree with narrow, conical crown of horizontal branches. Cone-covered branches are an attractive winter feature. It’s native habitats are lower, eastside, mountain slopes; valleys and swampy areas.

Western Larch often follows or survives fires, later being replaced by other conifers. The natural sugar, or galactan, in the gum and wood resembles a slightly bitter honey and can be made into medicine and baking powder. Grouse eat the buds and leaves. The wood is used for construction, paneling, flooring, utility poles, plywood, and pulpwood. (Lady Bird Johnson)

Archeology Site

CSR recently finished a Restoration project at Warren Bridge along the Green River in WY. The restoration entailed the planting of 4,550 Narrow-leaf Cottonwood trees. The area was once a major travel corridor for Native Americans and Pioneers. As such, it was required by the BLM to have an archeologist on site to monitor the installation of all large class plant materials. The crew was told to watch for river cobble rocks under the sod-line surrounded by black ash. After seven days of digging hundreds of holes, they stumbled upon an old campfire site, about five inches underground. The archeologist was surprised by the find and noted the actual age of the campfire ring would be impossible to know without carbon-dating. He surmised that it could be a campfire from settlers, but more likely a Native American campground.

The Narrow-leaf Cottonwood, Populus angustifolia

The Narrow-leaf Cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) is a small, deciduous tree, growing 45-60 ft., with a rather narrow crown and slender twigs. Bark is less deeply furrowed than the broad-leaved cottonwoods. Toothed, yellow-green leaves are narrow and willow-like. Tree with narrow, conical crown of slender, upright branches and with resinous, balsam-scented buds.

Discovered in 1805 by Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Northwest, this is the common cottonwood of the northern Rocky Mountains. It is easily distinguishable from related species by the narrow, short-stalked, willowlike leaves. Its root system makes it suitable for erosion control. (Lady Bird Johnson) Be sure to check out this great online resource for information on native trees of the Southern Rocky Mountains.

These Narrow-leaf Cottonwoods (photo above) were planted by the CSR Construction Team last week in Wyoming, 4,550 trees to be exact! 4,000 seedlings, 400 5 gallon size, 100 10 gallon size and 50 small mature trees.

Warren Bridge Cottonwood Restoration

The Warren Bridge Cottonwood Restoration: The CSR Construction Team is currently working on this project located approximately 20 miles NW of Pinedale WY. Narrowleaf Cottonwoods are being planted along the banks of the Green River in existing willow patches. Fencing around the newly planted trees will protect from elk predation. One of the site locations is across a shallow spot in the river, you can see how they are getting the plants across via canoe. This project is still in progress!

Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Project

Staging area where project materials were prepared to be installed. The newly planted trees required cages to protect from predation.

A group of newly installed Black Cottonwoods, Populus balsamifera L. ssp. trichocarp. In the background you can see the other side of the waterway where Russian Olive trees will be removed. In the near future, we will be re-vegetating this far side of the wetland. In the foreground you can see large stumps of removed Russian Olives.

In this particular canyon, the ATV could not be used to transport materials due to the steep terrain. The Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx, were carried to the install site manually.

The CSR, Inc. Construction/Restoration Team recently finished installing and caging 130 trees in central WA. These trees were  grown in the CSR Greenhouse specifically for the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge. Invasive Russian Olive trees, Elaeagnus angustifolia, had overtaken the riparian area reducing wildlife habitat and creating a dense mono-culture. The surrounding area was once dominated by cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum, and had been burned from a wildfire. This area will greatly benefit from re-establishing the native trees and shrubs. Native flora provides a more useful and desirable home for the local wildlife and also creates a natural firebreak.

This is an on-going project. The CSR team will continue to grow and plant additional trees.

Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge, Grow Out Project Follow-up

Peachleaf Willow

Black Cottonwood

Quaking Aspen

Following up on our grow-out project for the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge. You may remember the first photos of these trees back in December -09. Along with the Peachleaf Willow, Salix amygdaloides and the Black Cottonwood, Populus balsamifera L. ssp. trichocarp, our nursery is also pushing 12 Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx, into cycle. These Aspen trees were harvested as cuttings from the project area.