Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1998)
______ 3 UiE CI ac U mas P rínt Wednesday, October 21, 1998 Vine maple makes transition to fall beautiful SLADE SAPORA Contributing Writer Fall on the West Coast gives us very little to brag about. Compared to the eastern states, with their multitude of hardwood trees im parting a profusion of autumn col ors, we here out west appear to have a rather slow, uneventful tran sition into fall. There is one ex- ception to this rule though, and I would like to take a moment to pay homage to an all too often over looked member of our native gar den, and of our ecosystem at large. Vine Maple, Acer circinatum, is an amazingly common plant throughout western Oregon. It grows just about anywhere west of the Cascades, with the only excep tion being a few of the drier habi tats. Yet, many people still don’t know (and love) this plant! Vine Maples have maple-like, palmately-lobed leaves (shaped like an open hand with spread fin- gers) that are 3 to 4 inches in width; the edges of the leaves being slightly toothed, or rough. Typi cally, a Vine Maple grows from 10 to 20 feet in height, and takes the form of a tall shrub, or less often, a small tree. Vine Maples have smooth, gray bark and tend to twist as they grow upward. Getting back to fall colors, Vine Maples are the one variety of “tree” native to our region that en- ergetically produce a memorable fall coat. Most of our other native hardwoods fade from green to yel low to brown within what seems like only a few days, and the shades of yellows that we do get are any thing but breathtaking. Keeping this in mind, it shouldn’t be hard to pick out the Vine Maples as you are passing through the native gar den on foot, or through the moun tains on fossil fuels. Up in the hills this time of year, you should begin to see patches of fire-red color woven around the larger trees. In natural openings in the forest you can find large colonies of this tall shrub ignited with Halloween reds and oranges. The Vine Maples in the native gar den seem a bit less energetic than what is now happening in the mountains, but then again our con crete backdrop is no match for a hillside full of Firs and Hemlocks. Vine Maples are interesting plants to observe in their natural habitats. They tend to grow in groups, and their twisting nature gives these clusters some very quizzical, jungle-gym like forma tions. Their wood is also very tena cious. Although much too small for timber purposes (thank good ness), Vine Maples have been his torically used by people due to their stoutness and flexibility. Na tive Americans used the wood for making a number of daily imple ments, such as eating utensils, heavy-duty basketry, snowshoe frames and drum hoops. Euro American hikers, such as myself, prize the stout branches as choice walking sticks, guaranteed not to AMY PARRISH / Clackamas Print Acer circinatum, or Vine Maple, creates colorful fall foliage. buckle when vaulting rain flooded streams. Another point of autumn interest in the native garden is the quickly fading California Fushia, Epilobium canum. Its peak bloom is a few weeks passed, but there should hopefully be a few pinkish-cream blooms left by the time this goes to print. This plant is located directly in the center of the rock garden, just below the windows of the chemis- try lab. The California Fushia grows to only a foot or so in height, and spreads by horizontally growing roots. It appears in crowded clus ters and produces an amazing num ber of sizable flowers for such small plant. Stop and check it out if you haven’t already. It’s prob ably our last splash of color, aside from the occasional rainbow, for many months to come. Enjoy. Belgian waffles prepare students for life ROBERT SCHOENBERG Editor-in-Chief Making a Belgian Waffle with the new machines at Chartwells, once you get the hang of it, “is like riding a bike; if you know how you’re set for life,” said Food Manager Rick Traynor. The waffle makers were installed over the summer term. It isahelp-your- self process that involves pouring waffle batter onto the hot grids. Students and faculty are learning how to put the batter in, measuring out just the right amount, closing the lid and spinning the waffle maker over while a timer counts to three minutes. When done the waffle is pried out with a fork and covered with butter and syrup. “Everyone who has tried it has re ally taken to it,” said Traynor. ‘T have them myself for lunch about twice a week” The machines are common in res taurants and in University food pro grams. Traynor said he has used them before and that is why he brought them here to Chartwells. The machines are provided by a bat termix vendor. The waffles cost $1.85 at Chartwells and are available at any time. There are two machines, but one is in for some repairs at this time and should be back in a short while. AMY PARRISH / Clackamas Print Ryan Morey gives Daisy Hart a few pointers on waffle making. WIN 7 Beanie Babies Curly, Valentino, Peace, Erin, Princess, Fortune, and Glory Gladstone-Oak Grove Rotary Scholarship Raffle State Senator WINNER TAKES ALL • TICKETS COST $5 All money raised will be used for Scholarships to CCC For Tickets contact: Baldwin van der Bijl 659-6758 ext. 2367 or stop by Pauling 122 Tickets must be bought by October 29 Drqwing is noon October 30 A Meftslei-OuHteA, 4"tamai PoofWtetive Clackamas Federal Credit Union <£$> Jit AAuatdarfti Now Available !!! Student Loans Federally Insured More Advantages of Membership. .. ATM at Community Center Building No Minimum Balance on Checking No Monthly Fee • No Per Check Charge VISA Debit/Check Card Free 24 hour Computer & Phone Access Free Travelers Checks F Independent. Respected. Effective. All Staff & Full-Time Students Are Eligible to Join Oregon City • 656-0671 270 Warner Milne Rd. Milwaukie • 653-7788 10400 SB Main St. ______/ PaidJor by: Friends of Verne Dunam 169// S.E. River Road Milwaukie. OR 97267
