OEC

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Nature Talks: Native Wildflowers

by Christine Kirk, Director of the Outdoor Education Center

As the spring rains begin, our native wildflowers will stir from their winter slumber and come forth into bloom. Amazing color combinations, intricate details and wild displays of pollination by an array of insects make taking a look at spring wildflowers well worth a walk through a natural area near you.

One of the truly fascinating things about our coastal Californian surroundings is the range of adaptations that our local plants employ in order to live where they do.

The Fringed Indian Pink is a canyon wildflower that needs cross-pollination – that is, it needs to exchange pollen with other members of its species – in order to make seeds. This delicate red wildflower has a very sticky, hairy stem. It is thought by scientists that the sticky hairiness makes it hard for ants – slow moving, short-ranged pollinators – to get to the flowers, where they would slurp up its sweet nectar. This allows flying pollinators, such as bees and flies, to sip the nectar instead, and thus the pollen is carried far and wide as the buzzing pollinators move from flower to flower.

 

Pickleweed, otherwise known as Glasswort, is a marsh wildflower that is adapted to living in and around saltwater. Plants that can tolerate salt are called “halophytes” (halo = salt, phyte = plant). Pickleweed takes in saltwater through its roots and stores the salt in special cells. As these cells, at the tips of the fleshy branches, fill with salt, the branch tips turn red, then fall off. Pickleweed provides cover and nesting areas for many of the marsh birds that live in and around the areas where it grows. An interesting experiment to learn about how special halophytes are can be done at home. To do the experiment, you will need the following materials:

 

Label your pots A, B, C and D. Fill the pots with soil, then plant two seeds in each pot. Place the pots near a window so that your plants will get sunlight. Water pots A, B and C with regular fresh water from the tap at your home, and water pot D with saltwater. Water often enough to keep the soil moist. Observe what happens for 7 to 10 days. When the bean plants are about three inches tall, begin to water pot C with saltwater. Continue to water pots A and B with fresh water. Observe for 7 to 10 more days. What happens? You can learn more about halophytes at your local library or on the internet. Adaptations of plants and animals will be a highlight of the lessons and activities that will take place at The Outdoor Education Center. For more information about the OEC, contact Christine Kirk, Outdoor Education Center Director, at ChristineK@outdooreducationcenter.org or call or 714-546-4990 x 134.

WILD Workshop for the OEC
On February 24, the Outdoor Education Center hosted a Project WILD workshop for teachers K-12. BSA Volunteer and Sierra Vista High School teacher Bill Janeway facilitated the workshop at the Newport Sea Base.

Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife. The goal of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age in developing awareness, knowledge, skills and commitment resulting in informed decisions, responsible behavior and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment. Since 1983 Project WILD has certified more than 1,000,000 teachers.