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The New Bridge at the Sequoia Grove

ROBERT'S RAMBLINGS

   This year has been a year of big projects for Heaps Peak Arboretum.
   One of the most important accomplishments was the replacement of the original footbridge at the Sequoia Grove. We extend a very grateful thank you and a hearty well done to the Eagle Scouts of Running Springs. Under the supervision of Jeff Faust, now an Eagle Scout, we have a brand new bridge with a superior design that will last for decades to come. This was a group effort that included Jeff’s father, Jeff, Ray York, parents, and scouts. The lumber was donated by Rim Forest Lumber, the hardware was donated by Deer Lick Hardware, four five-gallon butterfly bushes for our Butterfly Garden were donated by Village Nursery in Rim Forest, and paint was donated by the Forest Service. We thank them all so much for their generosity!
   Jeff’s Eagle Scout project did not stop with the new bridge. His troop also painted the Demonstration Garden gazebo that was peeling very badly. To top it off, Jeff and his father returned with other helpers to clear out all of our flood culverts along the Sequoia Trail. Great job Jeff and company!

   Another major project was the complete re-surfacing and re-striping of our parking lot, including new handicap stencils. The old and deteriorating concrete pillars were replaced by an asphalt curb that runs the entire length of the turnout. The curb was painted yellow on top for safety. This should last for many years and we thank Crestline Paving for a job well done.
   As some of you may know, the Arboretum has “adopted” Switzer Picnic Area. It is just down the road from the Arboretum and serves as another example of how planting new seedling trees in an area completely burned over by the Old Fire can rejuvenate a recreation site for residents and visitors alike, much the same as the trees donated to our site from the Forest Service that were planted along our trail. Arboretum volunteers have planted and watered pine trees at Switzer. This represents our contribution to the Forest Service through our Partnership Agreement. This year we donated funds to re-surface the asphalt walking path that winds around the perimeter of the reforestation project at Switzer Park.

   The new Wildflower Garden within the Demonstration Gardens has evolved into a beautiful place to visit at our Arboretum. This year we installed a stepping stone walking path through the garden and we are planting many new native plants and broadcasting native wildfl ower seeds. Some of the plants that have naturalized are California poppy, Eaton’s penstemon, Wright’s buckwheat, bumblebee penstemon, mountain pennyroyal, Apache plume, box elder, Coulter pine, false indigo, black oak, coffeeberry, common buckwheat, gooseberry, and Sierra currant. We will continue to develop what is becoming our most spectacular garden. Please come and see it before the fi rst snow flies.
   There are many other volunteers and partners to thank for this year’s successes. Thanks to Gina Richmond, our Forest Service Coordinator, we have been able to have our projects approved without any problems, and her participation with me “on the ground” has been invaluable. Board member Elaine Shaw has done an excellent job of staffing our booth, and as always, Florence Shotts has kept our books in perfect order as Treasurer. Our newest board member Billie Wolff has been very helpful in our booth as well as working with the Forest Service as a volunteer to help keep an eye on the Arboretum. Billie, newsletter editor Gloria Anderson, supplies overseer Cliff Arnquist and wife Jeanette, and I teamed up and met at the Tree of Life native plant nursery in San Juan Capistrano to select plants for our Fall Native Plant Sale and we believe the selection this year is extensive and impressive.
   Next year promises to be just as exciting as 2007 so come and visit the Arboretum and walk the gardens and the trail. Dogs are now welcome and the Arboretum provides disposal bags at no charge for cleanup. We have two tables for picnic enjoyment and the trail is in excellent condition.

   Our web site heapspeakarboretum.com has an amazing plant photo collection. We have become a major source of information to the public regarding the flora of our mountains. Thanks to everyone for an amazing year. Have a safe and joyful holiday season!

BOB REED, President

Thank You Letters from
LANKERSHEIM ELEMENTARY

   On May 21, an elementary school student group was guided through the Arboretum by Bob Reed and Gina Richmond. Following are some of their impressions of their visit.
   All of them thanked Gina and Bob for showing them the Arboretum, but some of them had special praise for them. Sara: Ranger Bob – You are the best ranger. You are nice and helpful. Ranger Gina: Thank you for being nice and helpful. You are the best ranger.
   Many of them were impressed by the King snake. Cinthya: I really liked the snake. Lorena: My favorite part was when we saw the snake. Kenny: My favorite part was looking at the King snake. Rebecca: The King snake was cool to see in its habitat. Victoria: I want to see another snake and birds. James: Thank you for letting us take a look at the King snake. Marina: The King snake was awesome. Rosemary: It was fun watching the snake. Sabrina: I like when the snake came. I got scared that the snake was mean.
   Other comments were about what they saw and/or learned. Joleen: My lesson I learned was never litter or set fi res and don’t let go of balloons in the Arboretum. Lorena: I liked learning about the burned trees and seeing the biggest pine cone in the world. Cesar: I really liked the Arboretum because the trees were so big. Victoria: The oak tree was so much bigger than the tree at our place. Omar: The trees, plants and woodpeckers were really cool. James: Thank you for showing us all the things like the footprints. Marina: The Arboretum was so awesome. The big pine cone was so awesome. Andrew: It was great, especially seeing the western snake, coyote, robin, mountain lion, bobcat, bear, and crow tracks. Areona: When I got home I told my family all about it. My: I love the ruler you gave us. I like the animal footprints too. Almy: My favorite part was when we saw acorns and the footprints. Bertha: Thank you for telling us to do the right thing like picking the trash up. Natalie: I took my camera to take pictures and to remember how much fun I had at the Arboretum.

2007 Events and Activities

Posing at the Bristlecone
Pine Forest Visitor Center

Banquet at The Wildflower
Conference in Bishop

Boy Scouts touring the Arboretum

Ray York unloading stones for the new Wildflower Garden

School group touring the Arboretum Trail

New paved walking path
at Switzer Picnic Area

Another school group touring
the Arboretum Trail

New Wildflower Garden Path