February 2005

RED CEDAR CHAPTER

Michigan Botanical Club
February 2005

01 February Speaker Talk Summary

This past month Don Simons gave us a fascinating trip back in time with clues he has discovered of the people in Lower Michigan shortly after the last glacial retreat. He has directed four major digs since beginning his archeological studies in the late 1960’s. Don’s major dig sites are the Gainey and Butler. They’re located on either side of I-75 in southern Genesee County. Direct human remains are rare to find due the poor preservation conditions in Michigan. Remains of people called Clovis, found mainly in the upper 12 inches of soil, include primarily artifacts of tools and arrow heads. A cast of one arrow head was passed around during the talk. Some of the vegetation known from pollen sampling to occur during this early time were: oaks, pines, and spruce dominant parkland. Animals occurring were: mastodons, mammoths, elk, moose, and Flat headed peccary. People probably located in response to large animal movement. Frequently people remains could be located near “snow pockets” where animal congregated to escape biting insects and obtain water and they could be more easily hunted. September was the ideal month to hunt caribou since this was the time their soft insulating fur was forming. With a variety of slides to help illustrate his talk, Don gave us an intriguing insight into those early peoples, where they lived, and how they survived. He also instructed us on the careful handling of small artifacts: rest them on the open palm of one hand and turn them with the other. This greatly reduces the risk of accidentally breaking them.

Chapter Notes: A thanks to Bob Peebles for chairing our February meeting. He continued our new “tradition” of not holding a business meeting other than the necessity of call a vote for a new Director at Large.**The Red Cedar Chapter is greatly indebted to Betty Peebles for her years of service as Director at Large. She and husband Bob have actively participated in State Board meetings for several years. Additionally, Betty continues volunteering to bring treats as wonderful “ice breakers” for many of our monthly meetings. Betty has served as a Chapter Director since May of 1999!**A hearty thank you to Sherry Kovach who took detailed notes during our February meeting in the absence of our Secretary

Announcements: Catherine Yansa was elected as our new Governing Board member replacing Betty Peebles. This term is for two years.**Please look over our Schedule of Meetings and Field Trips included in this issue. There additional information since last month. The latest information has the most current revision date under the title line.**March Talk will be given by Jeremy Emmi, Executive Director of the Michigan Nature Association. His talk will center on Michigan Nature Association's history and work concerning plant species. It will also include work with the other kingdoms and the native habitats we have preserved. It will cover the entire state, but will include projects in the mid-Michigan area.**Mary Leys has agreed to Chair our March meeting.

If you have not already, please pay your 2005 dues: $21 for individual and $23 for family.

BOTANICALLY RELATED WEB SITES WITH A MICHIGAN FOCUS

www.championtreeproject.org Champion Tree Project: Site for ongoing information on this national project with recent information by project founder Dave Milarch from Copemish, MI.

www.ecofoot.msu.edu a wide variety of ecologically sustainable activities with a calendar of events through May 2005; monthly newsletter; related links.

www.emeraldashborer.info a Michigan multi-agency site for inclusive information on all aspects of this major killer of ash trees: maps, surveys, research results, etc.

http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/mes/ Michigan Entomological Society: Information regarding insect activities in the Great Lakes area, membership, annual meeting, etc. (It’s good to know the hexapod masticating the plant you’re observing!)

http://www.lib.msu.edu/ Michigan State University Library: Offers a vast array of botanical information with on-line assistance.

www.michbotclub.org/ Michigan Botanical Club: Offers a wide variety of information on the club, each of our 5 branches, and interesting, links.

www.michigannature.org Michigan Nature Association: Information, activities, etc.

www.hrt.msu.edu/herb Michigan Herb Association: Annual meeting on 09 March in East Lansing. A talk by our own Patrick Fields (Doc Choc) titled: “Chocolate: An Herb of a Different Color”, 7-9:30 PM. (or call 517.849.2470). Reservations needed by 28 February. Dinner and program is $30.

www.msualum.com for an East Lansing 2-hour session by Patrick Fields on chocolates’s history and myths, as well as a chocolate tasting and ranking. This is part of “Kaleidoscope: A Day for Women” sponsored by the M.S.U. Alumni Association. Cost of all-day event $80. May also call 517.678.2586 for reservation.

www.nature.org/michigan The Nature Conservancy, Michigan Chapter: Projects, maps, links, www.newsbulletin.msu.edu M.S.U. Bulletin: Offers a calendar of Michigan State University campus seminars and bulletins.

www.omanhene.com a web site of the Omanhene Cocoa Bean Co. (800.588.2462) that offers chocolate which uses beans raised on family farms in Ghana the, according to its Web site, do not engage in slave labor. Another liking of Pat Fields.

http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/ Michigan Natural Features Inventory: Contain a large amount of information in Michigan natural features, reports, habitat descriptions, links, etc.

www.wildflowersmich.org Michigan Wildflower Association: Contains organization purpose, annual meeting registration (6-7 March), and a variety of other information, etc.

PatrickFFields@aol.com for an occasional E mail newsletter on chocolate written by Pat.

RED CEDAR CHAPTER OF THE MICHIGAN BOTANICAL CLUB

2005 MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS SCHEDULE*

(Updated 17 February 2005)

FEBRUARY TUESDAY, 01 February: 7:30 PM, Room 168, Plant Biology Bldg., M.S.U.

Guest Speaker: Don Simons. Late Ice Age Peopling of the Lower Great Lakes.

FEBRUARY SATURDAY, Saturday, 19 February, 10 AM in Mason. Meet at west end of Heartwood School parking lot located at the corner of Hagadorn and Howell Roads. A search for skunk cabbage.

MARCH TUESDAY, 01 March: 7:30 PM, Room 168, Plant Biology Bldg., M.S.U.

Guest Speaker: Jeremy Emmi, Executive Director of the Michigan Nature Association.

MARCH SATURDAY, 19 March, 10:00 AM Field Trip*: Van Atta Woods: Location, in Okemos;from Grand River Ave. and Van Atta Rds, 3/10 mile east (toward Williamston) on Grand River. Parking lot, and meeting site, on north side of road. This woods consists of primarily mixed deciduous woods, some evergreen trees, and some low, possibly wet spots. Bob Peebles will be our trail leader.

APRIL TUESDAY, 05 April, 7:30 PM, Room 168, Plant Biology Bldg., M.S.U.

Guest Speaker: Heather Hallen-Adams “Putting the Fun Back in Fungi”

APRIL SATURDAY, 16 April, 10:00 AM Field Trip*: Scott Woods. Location, in Lansing; Clifton St. entrance: from Mt. Hope and Pennsylvania Avenue, 4/10 mile east (toward E. Lansing) on Mt. Hope to Clifton (near overhead walk), parking lot, and meeting site, at south end of Clifton. This mature deciduous forest is bounded on its west side by Sycamore Creek. Some areas of low land forest. Abundant wildflowers. Our trail leader will be Bob Peebles.

MAY SATURDAY, 21 May, 10:00 AM. Field Trip*: KirkKenDEL, Dynamic Ecological Laborary , operated by Olivet College, Olivet, MI. Meet at 10 AM on Lansing’s South side at Don’s Truck Stop, Lansing Rd just South of I-96 Exit 98. Trail leader Pat Fields will meet us there to caravan to this outdoor laboratory. The DEL has 7 habitats including a classic deciduous mix forest, restored woodland meadow, prairie remnant, 2 ponds, and a lake. Spring ephemerals will likely be in bloom. Our field trip will last until 12:30 to 1 PM with an informal lunch at a local restaurant for those desiring to stay.

JUNE SATURDAY, 11 June, 10:00 AM. Field Trip*: Trail leader:Heather Hallen-Adams Fungi trip site to be set closer to trip date.

JULY SATURDAY, 16 July 10:00 AM Field Trip*: Prairie Restoration Project, Dewitt. Take Exit 90 off I-96, north on Frances Rd. 4 miles to Howe Rd., west (right) one mile to Forest Hill Rd., right (north) 6/10 mile to 11408 Forest Hill. Clifford has restored 20 acres to native prairie plants. July is the peak time to see prairie flowers. Our host and trail leader will be Clifford Welsh.

AUGUST SATURDAY, AUGUST (date and site to be set) Summer BBQ

*For those needing a ride or wishing to caravan, a meeting site will be announced in RCC newsletter preceding each field trip if different than the parking lot on west side of Plant Biology Bldg., M.S.U. Contact Ron Priest 349.7407 or Email: priest@msu.edu to confirm your need

MARCH MEETING:

JEREMY EMMI

"Michigan Nature Association: preserving Michigan's botanical rarities

and the habitats that protect them"

Tuesday, 01 March 2005, 7:30 PM

Room 168 Plant Biology Building

Doors open by 7:00 PM with refreshments shortly thereafter.

Red Cedar Chapter Officers