Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Erica Guttman, coordinator of the Native Plant Salvage Project and one of the instructors for the Feb. 3 "Winter Twig Identification Workshop," examines twigs in Olympia for signs of spring life.

Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Osoberry and western hazel, also called beaked hazel, mix to form a winter display of buds.

Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Salmonberry twigs reach up in a zigzag pattern, caused by changes in the growth direction at each node.

Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Hanging catkins from a western hazel shrub display the male sexual organ found on some trees and shrubs that contain pollen.

Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Osoberry (also called Indian plum) buds display bright green and pink. Osoberry is one of the first native plants to flower -- often in February or early March with large clusters of tiny white flowers, followed by miniature plum-like fruits in early summer.

Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Pores called lenticels on this osoberry twig allow gas exchanges for the plant.

Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Vine maple reaches upward with budded branches at the U.S. Forest Service building in Olympia. Sometimes vine maple will twist and crawl along the ground if the canopy of the forest is too crowded.

Twig tour

Workshop offers look at winter interest of branches, buds

SARAH JACKSON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, January 26, 2002

OLYMPIA -- So you did what you were supposed to do.

You planted the ornamental grasses, conifers and leafy evergreens for "winter interest," and they've looked great enough so far.

But have you ever wondered about or noticed your yard's -- and garden's -- true twig potential?

Think about it.

All across South Sound, the darling buds of May come early. They've been growing and expanding for months, their new growth starting as early as summer.

That means, of course, that spring's on the way already.

Inside those budded bits -- right now -- Pacific dogwood blossoms, red huckleberry blooms and clusters of tiny, white osoberry flowers (to name a few) are just waiting to come out.

Never underestimate your twigs, urges twig enthusiast Erica Guttman, who serves as coordinator of the Native Plant Salvage Project.

Those twigs bearing buds bear beautiful clues to the season -- to the trained eye -- with subtle oranges, purples, pinks and greens.

"You see that spring is really coming -- even in January," Guttman said. "Things are changing, the buds are swelling, and you start to notice this every day. You can go out and see: We're just that much closer to spring."

First, however, gardeners must learn to appreciate -- and investigate -- those twigs.

That's why the salvage project with the Washington State University's Cooperative Extension office in Thurston County has stepped up to the plate to sponsor a free "Winter Twig Identification Workshop" on Feb. 3.

On a local nature walk, gardeners and families alike learn to identify about 20 of South Sound's native plants -- solely on twig characteristics -- in groups of about eight, plus an instructor.

Learn your winter twigs -- either by common or Latin names -- and you can gain identifying skills that provide a knowledge base for recognizing plants in other seasons.

Plus it's the perfect time of year for salvaging native plants.

"It's nice to have your attention drawn to these details that make the plants beautiful this time of year," Guttman said. "Unless you're kind of tuned into it, you're going to miss a lot."

Remember, too, winter reveals what spring and summer hide.

"People kind of look out in the winter and think: 'Yuck, everything is really gray.' But it's really not when you start to go out to look at each individual species," Guttman said. "They're sculpted. I really love to look at the silhouettes of these things."

Diane Skov, one of the workshop teachers and a Master Gardener for Thurston County, said the class gives people new eyes and new tools to see the woods.

"It's just magical," Skov said. "In the spring, they'll see these plants coming along. You get a whole different slant on your walk. Every shrub has a different form. With the leaves off, you can see into the forest. You can see bird nests and all this stuff. You get a different depth of vision."

Every year about 100 people join in the annual workshop sessions to spy naked shrubs such as red elderberry, western hazel, ocean spray and serviceberry. Skeletons of Oregon ash and the bald-hip rose make appearances as well.

Participants receive free handouts for the class, and there's also a booklet available (for $6 plus tax) called "Winter in the Woods."

Specially produced for winter twig identification, the booklet offers a glossary, drawings of budded twigs, defined terms, references and helpful tips on where to observe native plants locally.

"Grow Your Own Native Landscape," a book dedicated to identifying, propagating and landscaping with Western Washington's native plants, also will be available at the workshop ($6 plus tax).

Authors with the Native Plant Salvage Project dedicated much of the comprehensive, softcover book to salvaging techniques and guidelines.

Now, while plants are still dormant -- usually from December to March -- gardeners can embark on successful salvages either on their own or as a volunteer on one of the seasonal salvage events with Native Plant Salvage Project.

Salvage includes the transplanting of whole plants from their natural settings -- if the plants are in the way of a planned development or roadway expansion.

If you've ever wanted to learn more about natives, this is a great chance not just for gardeners but anyone who walks in the woods.

Just remember to dress warmly for the show.

"They are just all these amazing colors," Guttman said. "That's cool -- in and of itself. There's texture in the plants that you see in the wintertime."

Sarah Jackson writes for The Olympian and can be reached at 360-704-6871 or olyjax@yahoo.com.

Resources

- Register for one of the Native Plant Salvage Project's free "Winter Twig Identification Workshops." There's one from 10 a.m. to noon and another from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 3 at a local nature trail. Workshops, led by trained horticulturists, are free. Attendance is limited. Call 360-704-7785 to register.

- "Winter in the Woods: A Winter Guide to Deciduous Native Plants in Western Washington" from the Native Plant Salvage Project of the WSU Cooperative Extension of Thurston County ($6 plus tax). Call 360-786-5445 to order.

- "Grow Your Own Native Landscape: A Guide to Identifying, Propagating & Landscaping with Western Washington Native Plants" from the Native Plant Salvage Project of the WSU Cooperative Extension of Thurston County ($6 plus tax). Call 360-786-5445 to order.

- If you'd like to volunteer with the Native Plant Salvage Project, you can help your community and get involved in "action projects" on land that is scheduled for clearing. Call Erica Guttman at 360-704-7785 for more information.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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