Other Lichen Uses & Users Clothing, wound absorbent, diapers, model train shrubbery, and an ingredient in concrete, perfume, and deodorant. Some lichens are being studied as new sources of antibiotics and medicines. Camouflage for; lizards, moths, tree frogs and other insects. If you enjoyed this post, you might also like Bird’s … Read More
Tarplant | Spikeweed – Prolific Oil Producer & Drought-Tolerant to the Extreme
Within the California Floristic Province, there about 90 species of native tarweeds. Over millions of years, they developed to succeed in a variety of microclimates from sea level to mountain elevations. Tarweeds are part of California’s first native plants and are members of the sunflower family. “Large swaths of undeveloped California are populated with all variety of tarweeds, because tarweeds … Read More
Toyon – Rose Apples
Toyon, in the rose family, carries a name given to it by Native Americans and produces fruit related to apples. Because it ripens and turns bright red around the holidays, its common names are Christmas berry and California Holly. Toyon’s scientific name, Heteromeles arbutifolia, means “different apple.” There’s debate surrounding the plant’s association with the naming of Hollywood. [See link … Read More
Incense Cedar, the Pencil Tree
A burned, sometimes smoldering, Incense Cedar tree is one of the few places the Cedar Wood Wasp, lays its eggs. This insect is the only living species of its family, making it a ‘living fossil.’ Cedar is commonly used for building and fencing materials. Because the wood is pliable for gripping and resists splintering, it may be best known for its … Read More
Alonzo Delano – Grass Valley Champion & Gold Rush Correspondent
At age 43, after being sick with consumption, Alonzo Delano left his home and loved ones to join the mass of gold-seeking emigrants making the overland journey to California (1849). In Illinois, he sold bank stocks and commodities and lived with his wife and two children; Fred an invalid son of 16 and Harriet, a six-year-old daughter. After surviving the … Read More
