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Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
RVGC enjoys spectacle of area wildflowers
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Photo by Sheri Barile
Deer Creek Hills docent Chris Wasserman describes local habitats for the buttercup during the River Valley Garden Club meeting held March 23 at the RMA building, where she gave an 80-slide presentation on area wildflowers.
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By Sheri Barile
River Valley Times Reporter
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The River Valley Garden Club (RVGC) saw a presentation on wildflowers indigenous to Rancho Murieta and surrounding areas at its meeting on March 23. Deer Creek Hills docent and RVGC member Chris Wassermann spoke to approximately 35 in attendance and gave a presentation with slides showing more than 40 varieties of wildflowers that can be found on area hikes throughout the year.
Wassermann is also an accomplished artist who paints watercolors of wildflowers and makes note cards that include her artwork and the names of each variety. She brought a large sampling of these cards to display and sell at the meeting.
Wasserman arranged her presentation by seasons to represent the variety of landscapes locals might enjoy during any point on the calendar. “Almost every month of the year is represented by blooms of some sort,” Wassermann said. “Our area has a lot of wildflowers, and many different habitat areas that support them.”
Wasserman pointed to the oak woodlands, prairies with vernal pools and riparian (riverside) habitats that nurture the wildflowers found in the River Valley. “They each offer their own version of beauty,” she said. “Riverside habitats offer the lupines and California poppies, and in the prairies are the monkey flowers and goldfield.”
In her presentation of over 80 slides, Wassermann showed long views of wildflowers growing in their habitats, followed by a close-up of the bloom itself.
She also explained how changes in weather affect when and how wildflowers grow each season. “Last year was very dry until April, and then we got a lot of hard rain that really soaked the ground. The lupines bloomed all at once, and it was spectacular," she said.
Wassermann added, "This year the blooming has been more staggered because of frequent but light rain, which gives us a thinner bloom but a longer blooming season.”
Several members of the RVGC audience could be heard describing the presentation as both informative and inspiring. Marianna Hashorva was among them. “Her slides were fabulous, and I was amazed at how much she knew,” Hashorva said. “And she’s such a fabulous painter.”
Many RVGC members accompanied Wasserman on her wildflower tour in Rancho Murieta last spring. Sharon Barton is one member who recalled the tour. “She introduced us to so many wildflowers that you don’t even know are right outside your door,” Barton said. “Seeing her presentation brought it all back."
Wasserman, a RM resident for 11 years, said she has been interested in wildflowers since she was a small girl. She started sketching and painting wildflowers as an adult. In order to learn all the wildflower varieties in the area, Wasserman took a college class in field botany.
According to RVGC Publicity chair Carol Prinzo, Wasserman’s artwork will also be featured at a home garden site on the RM Women’s Club Spring Garden Tour April 23.
“The fields here in the springtime are just glorious,” Wasserman said. “We live in such a blessed area that we should really get out and enjoy what we have.”
The next meeting of the RVGC will be held April 27 at 7 p.m. at the RMA building.
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Online publication, Copyright 2005, The River Valley Times.
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