Below are the contents of the December 2011 edition of the Napa Valley CNPS newsletter.

You may view the entire newsletter as it was emailed, view a printable version, or browse from the list of articles below:

• Mushroom Time is Here!
• Where Did Hollywood, California Get Its Name?
• Latest Volunteer Opportunities (on Volunteer Opportunities page)
• Upcoming Events (on Activities & Events page)

Mushroom Time Is Here!

Amanita-Mascaria                                                                    Silverlight

Mushrooms

Although spring is still many weeks away, the Napa Valley chapter plans to hold two mushroom walks in January to get people into the field to discover the world of fungi.  We will focus on mushroom identification. 

Mushrooms are not vascular plants; they lack chlorophyll or a root system, and they don’t have cellulose in the cell walls.  Although this falls outside of the realm of California native plants, fungi play an important role in the sustenance of plants. 

Probably the most important group is the mycorrhizal fungi that interact with the roots of most trees and shrubs along with many perennials and annuals.  They help vascular plants absorb essential nutrients such as phosphorus from the soil.  In return, they depend on the sugars produced in the host plant since they are incapable of photosynthesis. The transfer occurs through interloping hyphae that grow among the layers of cells of the root cortex.  The hyphae are cells of a larger network called the mycelium that can cover acres and live to be hundreds of years old.
 
Come join us on a walk at Las Posadas State Forest Ponderosa Pine/ Douglas Fir/ Oak Forest Jan. 14 or at the Archer Taylor Preserve Jan. 28 in Redwood/ Douglas Fir Forest to see the many interesting forms and colors that fungi can take.  Be sure to dress for cool weather and bring fluids.  The walks generally last a couple of hours and are not strenuous.                                           

Jake Ruygt, Conservation Chair

Where did Hollywood California get its name?

It was named after the Christmas Berry, also known as     

Toyon, California Holly, or, on more formal occasions, Heteromeles arbutifolia.

  This Ilex (holly) look alike is a California native ranging from the coast to the Western Sierra Foothills. With its stiff evergreen foliage it grows into a shrub or a small multi-trunked tree (8’ tall x 5’ wide).  The fragrant white summer flowers attract bees to the garden, while dense clusters of red berries in the winter provide food for birds and squirrels, and also make great holiday wreaths.
 
    As in true California native form this hearty plant tolerates serpentine, adobe, and sandy soils. Unlike some of the other members of its Rosaceae family, Christmas Berry requires little pruning to make a great screen or help with erosion control. For best results don’t try to contain Christmas Berry in a pot. Give it room to grow and plant it in full sun (although it can take some light shade). Water deeply and infrequently the first few years to encourage deep tap roots, then just sit back and enjoy all its berry beauty-ness!
 
    So, if Hollywood was named after Christmas Berry could that mean the “vine” in the famous intersection Hollywood & Vine was named after another California native Vitis californica (California Grape)? Heteromeles & Vitis, Toyon & Grape, neither roll off the tongue as well as Hollywood & Vine.

You can help!

A volunteer work group meets weekly for garden maintenance.  To join, simply stop by between 9 a.m. and noon on Thursdays (rain cancels). For more information, visit our Web site.

Missed out on volunteering at the plant sale? Never fear, there's plenty to do! Visit our Volunteer Opportunities page for the latest opportunities.