Summer 2017 Page 1 Issue #02

Houdini is a master of camouflage. Come to the center and see if you can spot her!

Nature Center News Quarterly Newsletter for the Nature Center and Oak Grove Regional Park

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Welcome Emma Hopson…...…1

Nature Nights………………………2

President’s Message………….…3

Officers and Chairs……………...3

Upcoming Events…………………3

Membership, location map,

Acknowledgements……………….4

Emma is an Interpretive Naturalist at Oak Grove Nature Center in Oak Grove Regional Park. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Environmental Education. Her father is a wildlife refuge manager and her mother is a teacher. So, Emma has combined those two worlds together. While in school, she created programs working with the community - spreading environmental messages. She has also worked at California State Parks at Big Basin Redwood State Park as Senior Interpretive Park Aide.

She immediately applied for this job after finding it on the county’s website. When she was being shown around the park/center, she fell in love with it. “I am passionate about animals and the school tours.” She also volunteers at the Nature Center and the Micke Grove Zoo.

Emma is a wonderful addition to the Oak Grove Nature Center. She does animal care, has made many informative animal display posters, and volunteers for additional activities.

We Welcome Emma Hopson

Summer 2017 Page 2 Issue #02

Carnivorous Plants

by Randall Baxter

On June 2, Randall Baxter presented - Successful Culture of American pitcher plants and associated carnivorous plants in the Central Valley. He works for the Fish and Wildlife Dept. He has been working with carnivorous plants for fifteen years .

There are 8-11 specific pitcher plants in North America. For a successful growth, they need: pure water, hot/high humidity summers, neutral pH; sandy wet soil, and cold, frosty, dormant winters.

The Okee Giant pitcher plant grows between 35-47 inches tall. White Trumpet and Yellow Leaf Trumpet plants grow between 20-36 inches tall. The Purple Pitcher plant is short, growing only 6-8 inches.

Venus Flytraps are special in their own way. When prey (insects and other creatures) touches the trigger hairs the trap springs shut. Don’t feed it hamburger – too much fat!

Bears by Paul Ustach

On April 7, Paul Ustach gave a fantastic presentation about bears. He is an instructor at Delta College and a forest ranger. Mr. Ustach’s talk focused primarily on the still-present black bears and the extinct grizzly bears of California.

Miwok, Yokut, and Mono peoples lived with them for thousands of years. When the gold seekers started coming in 1849, it made a huge impact on the grizzlies. It wasn’t until settlers and farmers came in the 1880’s that the grizzlies were killed.

Black Bears, however, are alive and well in California. The California Black Bear population is thought to be stable around 32,000. They can be a variety colors – black, brown, cinnamon and even white. Black bears have a flatter face profile, larger ears, no visible shoulder hump and smaller claws.

Nature Nights

Summer 2017 Page 3 Issue #02

Officers

President:

Stan Carson

Vice President:

Harry Welte

Treasurer:

Carol Rexroth

Secretary:

Evie McCarty

Education:

Jenny Wade

Recorder:

Stan Carson

Emeritus:

James Rexroth

Committee Chairs

Newsletter:

Susan Scott

Native Plants:

Harvey Horner

Publicity, Facebook:

Jenny Wade

Board Members at Large:

Aracely Benavides,

Liz Escotto, Harvey Horner, Susan Scott

County Staff

Interpretive Naturalist:

Emma Hopson

Animal Care Specialist:

Megan Blomquist

Zoo Interpretive Services Manager/ Team Leader Kevin Hertell

President’s Message

We are eagerly looking forward to rebuilding our Tule hut. Unfortunately, over this last winter, it has fallen into disarray. The Tule hut rebuilding committee is now in the planning stages to begin work on our rebuilding effort. Please keep us in mind if you would like to volunteer later on as a helper.

Stan Carson - President

Upcoming Events

Astronomy in the Park

Saturday

July 1…………….7:30 p.m.

July 29…………..7:30 p.m.

Aug. 26………….7:00 p.m.

Sept. 30………...6:00 p.m.

Oct. 28…………..5:30 p.m.

Summer 2017 Page 4 Issue #02

Acknowledgements: As editor of the Nature Center News, I would like to thank Stan Carson, Emma Hopson, David Marraccini,

and James and Carol Rexroth for their input. I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of the Education Committee,

chaired by Jenny Wade, for all the time and effort put in for all the school tours this past school year. (Sheldon Barr, Alan

England, Emma Hopson, Darryl Pedro, Susan Scott, Jenny Wade.) A big thank you to Emma Hopson for all her assistance on the

Nature Center News. Photos: Houdini –page 1– Emma Hopson Bears and Carnivorous Plants – page 2 - Susan Scott

Editor: Susan Scott