Zen and the Art of Fire Resistant Landscape Design and Maintenance
Zen and the Art of Fire Resistant Landscape Design and Maintenance
Zen and the Art of Fire Resistant Landscape Design and Maintenance
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Zen</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Fire</strong><strong>Resistant</strong> L<strong>and</strong>scape<strong>Design</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Maintenance</strong>Tim NosalEnvironmental ScientistCalifornia Department <strong>of</strong> Fish <strong>and</strong> Game
Things to Consider…• Plants• Processes• <strong>Design</strong>ingL<strong>and</strong>scapes
Mixed Conifer Forest
Common PinesPonderosa pineJeffrey pineSugar pine
O<strong>the</strong>r ConifersIncese-cedarcedarIncense-cedarcedarDouglas-firWhite firWhite fir
Quiz: Worlds Tallest Pine• Sugar pine• Largest: 260’ in Yosemite NP• Distinctive silhouette can be identifiedup to 5 miles away• California is home to 20 species <strong>and</strong>subspecies <strong>of</strong> pine
Oak Woodl<strong>and</strong>
OaksCanyon live oakBlack oakInterior live oak
Almost OaksTan oakBush chinquapin
Quiz: Oaks in California• How many different species <strong>of</strong> oaksare found in California?– (a) 14– (b) 21– (c) 28
ShrubsCalifornia hazelnutGreenleaf manzanitaDeerbrushWestern choke-cherrycherry
Small shrubsSierra gooseberryMountain snowberryBear clover
What is it?
Urchin gall on oak leaf
FlowersSnowplantWild gingerSpicebushPurple milkweed
FlowersCalifornia pitcher plantMeadow deathcamasWater hemlockMystery!
Wildlife forage• Deer– New growth onshrubs, forbs <strong>and</strong>grasses• Squirrels– Oaks <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rtrees• Rabbits– Prefer open grassyareas
Wildlife forage species• Oaks• Ceanothus• Wildflowers• Native grasses• O<strong>the</strong>r native shrubs
Rare Plants• Many unusualplants in region• Often preferopenings, rockysoils
Rare PlantsFollett’s s monardellaCNPS 1B
Rare PlantsPleasant Valley mariposa lilyRed Hills soaproot
WeedsYellow star thistleItalian thistleHimalayan blackberryFrench broom
Plant Quiz
Poison-oak!oak!
5 minute break…
Processes• Historic– <strong>Fire</strong>– Climate(precipitation, wind,etc)– L<strong>and</strong>slides• Present– <strong>Fire</strong> suppression– Wildfire– Vegetation removal
Native Americans• Present in California10,000+years• Managed l<strong>and</strong>scape• <strong>Fire</strong>– Basketry– Hunting– Habitat conversion
<strong>Fire</strong> - Historic• Several millionacres annually• Frequent• Low intensity• Low fuel loads• Open understory
<strong>Fire</strong> Suppression (Present)•
Wildfire (Present)
Prescribed <strong>Fire</strong> (Present)
Brush Clearing (Present)• Mastication• H<strong>and</strong> clearing• Goats
<strong>Design</strong>ing L<strong>and</strong>scapes• Goals• Structure Elements• Methods• <strong>Maintenance</strong>
Goal 1 – <strong>Fire</strong> Safety
Goal 2 - Aes<strong>the</strong>tics
Goal 3 - Wildlife
Structure Elements• Trees• Shrubs• Grasses• Woody debris
Structure Elements
Structure ElementsLarge woody debrisStructural ShrubsdiversitySnags
Methods• H<strong>and</strong> clearing• Goats• Mastication• Prescribed fire
Methods: H<strong>and</strong> clearing
Methods: Goats
Methods: Mastication
Methods: Not…
Methods: Prescribed fire
<strong>Maintenance</strong> (Timing)• Annual– Small fuels– Mowing, h<strong>and</strong> clearing, goats• Occasional– Larger fuels– Mastication, prescribed fire
<strong>Maintenance</strong> (Tasks)• Early season• Dry grasses• Fallen trees• Branches• Ro<strong>of</strong>s
Information sources• CNPS– (California Native Plant Society)• Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs <strong>of</strong> California– (Stuart <strong>and</strong> Sawyer)• Pacific States Wildflowers– (Peterson Guide)• Calphotos– (Calphotos.berkeley.edu)• University <strong>of</strong> California– (http://groups.ucanr.org/SAFE/index.cfmgroups.ucanr.org/SAFE/index.cfm)
Change language