header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Take a Hike | Commentary by Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel
| Sunday, Jul 31, 2016

DianneErskineHellrigelWildfires, as we have recently seen, can burn acres of land and grow completely out of control in a matter of minutes.

Fire can be fueled by many things, including weather, dry brush, drought and wind. There are three conditions that must be met for wildfires to burn. First is an ignition source such as lightning, a campfire, a cigarette, a spark from a car or a tool such as a saw, downed power lines, the sun hitting a shard of discarded glass, or arson.

Most wildfires are started by humans. In fact, four out of five are caused by people, either by accident, through carelessness, or intentionally.

Four to five million acres of forest are damaged by wildfire each year. Although wildfires occur throughout our 50 states, they are most common in the West because of drought, heat, extremely dry brush and winds such as the Santa Ana winds for which we are known.

People tend to detest fire because it changes the natural landscape from green and inviting to black, grey and uninviting. Smoke can bring on asthma attacks and other breathing maladies. If poison oak is burned, the toxic oil, urushiol, can become airborne and cause problems for people who breathe it in, or who may come into contact with the oil once it has settled.

deh_fire2Fire burns homes, cars, businesses, factories, and it can kill people. It can also kill our local wildlife, leaving an uninhabitable, dangerous, lifeless zone behind.

But even the worst wildland fires have a good side. In fact, California needs fire to rejuvenate. Many plants cannot grow until after a fire has occurred. These plants are called fire followers. The heat from fire causes the dormant seeds of plants and pines to crack open, which allows the plants to grow. These seeds may have been waiting for years for fire to come along. The charred landscape is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which are perfect to launch these little plants into the brilliant hillside flower shows that so often follow a fire.

Some fire followers are: poodle dog bush, golden eardrops, bush poppies, fire poppies, white and pink snapdragon, whispering bells, popcorn flower, scarlet larkspur and many more. With rain, we could be seeing the type of floral display that has eluded us for many years.

deh_fire3Oak trees, even when burned down to the ground, can come back. You might notice the oak stump sending up sprouts in spring. Each of these little “stump sprouts” will form a new trunk.

On your next walk in open space, look for oak trees with multiple trunks. That tree was burned at some point, but it recovered to live many more years.

Pine trees do not recover as well with exposure to fire, and even if they struggle to come back, they usually become victim to beetles and die.

After every fire there is controversy: To plant or not to plant? That is the question.

Scarlet larkspur

Scarlet larkspur

There is a local organization that is paid well to plant pine trees in the forest following fire. While this sounds like a great idea, the truth is that 80 percent of those trees die. They are planted in the winter months and without consistent rain, they won’t make it.

Volunteers plant those trees, and they usually don’t do it correctly. They leave pockets of air in the roots and do not sufficiently protect the crown. There is usually not sufficient rain to keep those little trees alive. In my opinion, a 20 percent survival rate is not good enough.

Poodle dog bush

Poodle dog bush

Nature has a way of healing herself. After the Station Fire, I noticed lots of little baby trees popping up through the blackened surface. Interestingly enough, the poodle dog bush, a fire follower, was protecting those little trees with shade and breaking up the surface so that rain water would be available for those little trees. Poodle dog bush usually dies within eight years after a fire, giving the little trees long enough to be well on their way without the continued protection of the poodle dog bush.

If you’ve been affected by fire and hate seeing your green view-shed turned black, be patient. Nature will do her thing, and it will come back. Nature is a great healer.

 

Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel is executive director of the Community Hiking Club and president of the Santa Clara River Watershed Conservancy. Contact Dianne through communityhikingclub.org or at zuliebear@aol.com.

 

Popcorn flowers

Popcorn flowers

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

5 Comments

  1. Lou F says:

    Thank you for sharing this and the many other wonderful articles!

  2. Tessa Lucero says:

    Nice to know that there is some justification for the existence of poodle dog bush, horrid plant that it is.

  3. treehugger says:

    The poodle dog bush may be beautiful however DO NOT TOUCH it!
    It can cause allergic reactions much worse than poison ivy or poison oak.
    After the Station Fire a few L A County Sheriffs had a run-in with poodle dog bush. THe USForest Service needs to warn of its location along the trails. Lets just hope the Forest will be open for the public to enjoy the amazing wild flowers in the Spring.

  4. Michele Jenkins says:

    Educational, hopeful & lovely story Dianne.

  5. Thank you for the comments. Poodle Dog Bush is indeed a nasty plant to run into. It would be great if people were educated about the plant. It does have it’s virtues, but “Look, Do Not Touch” is good advice about this plant. When we hike in burn areas, I always point it out, as well as Poison Oak, Rattlesnakes and Poison Sumac! Long pants and long sleeves are advised for hiking wear if you are in a burn area. Poodle Dog Bush will usually start to die out after about 8 years, and will sit in wait for the next fire.

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Did you know that each year, Main Street in Old Town Newhall undergoes countless makeovers for different events, such as Light Up Main Street and the Fourth of July Parade?
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District includes the Santa Clarita Valley, issued the following statement Thursday in response to an announcement by Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel of a proposal to change how calls to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are routed.
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
Unlike our children who enjoy a week-long spring break, we adults no longer have that luxury.
Friday, Mar 15, 2024

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
SCVNews.com