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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
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More Advantages of Membership. ..
ATM at Community Center Building
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