Lewis and Clark with Wallace W Hansen Native Plants of the Northwest

WALLACE W HANSEN

Native Plants of the Northwest

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Updated June 28, 2003

Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark's Bicentennial

Botanical Discoveries of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Buckbrush or Chaparral (Ceanothus sanguineus)

Collected on June 27, 1806 along Idaho's Lolo Trail

A favorite food of deer, hence the name "Buckbrush." Early settlers, coming years after the expedition, called this plant "soapbloom" because the flowering twigs produced a soapy foam when beaten in water. This occurs because the plant contains the toxin saponin, in modern times used for soaps and shampoos.

Related to our BlueBlossom, this shrub was labeled "Ceanothus atropurpureus" by Pursh. Notes on the label state that Lewis found "a large speceis of redroot now in blume" (Moulton, 1993: 7) on 10 Jun 1806 which is certainly this species. Apparently a specimen was not gathered until the party was traveling on 27 Jun near Hungery Creek along the Lolo Trail in Idaho Co., Idaho (Moulton, 1993: 55-59). The expedition traveled some 28 miles that day. It is possible the date "Jun. 27, 1806." on the sheet is incorrect. If so, the specimen probably was collected at Camp Chopunnish near Kamiah in Idaho Co., Idaho.

Pursh: "Ceanothus atropurpureus. Near the foot of the Rocky mountain, on Collins Creek. Jun. 27, 1806." Lambert: "Herb: Lewis & Clarck."

It's a good time to plant this Northwest Native shrub, available now at our low Spring Sale prices. See this and many other shrubs, trees, and perennials at the nursery and gardens now.

Buckbrush, Chaparral

(Ceanothus sanguineus)

Click on pictures for large views

At this time in 1806:

The guides have joined the Expedition and it's time to move on. The "Indians" (Native Peoples) give the Corps a show as a special treat:

Last evening the Indians entertained us with setting the fir trees on fire. They have a great number of dry limbs near their bodies, which, when set on fire, create a very sudden and immense blaze from top to bottom of those tall trees. They are a beautiful object in this situation at night. This exhibition reminded me of a display of fireworks. The natives told us that their object in setting those trees on fire was to bring fair weather for our journey.

We collected our horses and set out at an early hour this morning. One of our guides complained of being unwell, a symptom which I did not much like, as such complaints with an Indian are generally the prelude to his abandoning any enterprise with which he is not well pleased. We left 4 of those Indians at our encampment. They promised to pursue us in a few hours. At 11 A.M. we arrived at the branch of Hungry Creek, where we found Joe and R. Fields. They had not killed anything. Here we halted and dined, and our guides overtook us.

At this place the squaw [Sakagawea] collected a parcel of roots of which the Shoshones eat. It is a small knob root a good deal in flavor and consistency like the Jerusalem artichoke.

After dinner we continued our route to Hungry Creek and encamped about 1 1/2 miles below our encampment of the 16th inst. The Indians all continue with us and, I believe, are disposed to be faithful to their engagements.

Captain Clark, 25 June 1806

We collected our horses and set out early and proceeded on down Hungry Creek a few miles and ascended to the summit of the mountain where we deposited our baggage on the 17th inst. Found everything safe as we had left them. The snow, which was 10 feet 10 inches deep on the top of the mountain, had sunk to 7 feet, though perfectly hard and firm. We made some fire, cooked dinner, and dined, while our horses stood on snow 7 feet deep at least. After dinner we packed up and proceeded on.

The Indians hastened us off and informed us that it was a considerable distance to the place they wished to reach this evening, where there was grass for our horses. Accordingly we set out with our guides, who led us over and along the steep sides of tremendous mountains entirely covered with snow except about the roots of the trees, where the snow was partially melted and exposed a small spot of earth. We ascended and descended several steep, lofty heights, but, keeping on the dividing ridge of the Chopunnish and Kooskooskee rivers, we passed no stream of water.

Late in the evening, much to the satisfaction of ourselves and the comfort of the horses, we arrived at the desired spot, and encamped on the steep side of a mountain convenient to a good spring. Soon after we had encamped, we were overtaken by a Chopunnish man who had pursued us with a view to accompany Captain Lewis to the Falls of Missouri.

Captain Clark, 26 June 1806

We collected our horses early and set out. The road still continued on the heights of the dividing ridge on which we had traveled yesterday, for 9 miles or to our encampment of the 16th September last. About 1 mile short of the encampment, we halted by the request of the guides a few minutes on an elevated point and smoked a pipe. On this eminence the natives have raised a conic mound of stones, 6 or 8 feet high, and erected a pine pole of 15 feet long. From hence they informed us that when passing over with their families some of the men were usually sent on foot by the fishery at the entrance of Colt Creek in order to take fish and again meet the party at the quamash glade on the head of Kooskooskee River. From this place we had an extensive view of these stupendous mountains principally covered with snow like that on which we stood. We were entirely surrounded by those mountains, from which, to one unacquainted with them, it would have seemed impossible ever to have escaped. In short, without the assistance of our guides, I doubt much whether we who had once passed them could find our way to Traveler's Rest, in their present situation, for the marked trees, on which we had placed considerable reliance are much fewer and more difficult to find than we had apprehended. Those Indians are most admirable pilots. We find the road wherever the snow has disappeared, though it be only for a few paces.

After having smoked the pipe [probably Kinnikinnik. Wally] and contemplating this scene sufficient to have dampened the spirits of any except such hardy travelers as we have become, we continued our march and at the distance of 3 miles descended a steep mountain and passed two small branches of the Chopunnish River just above their fork, and again ascended the ridge on which we passed. At the distance of 7 miles, arrived at our encampment of 16th September last.

Our meat being exhausted, we issued a pint of bear's oil to a mess with which their boiled roots made an agreeable dish. Joe Potts's leg, which had been much swollen and inflamed for several days, is much better this evening and gives him but little pain. We applied the pounded root and leaves of wild ginger, from which he found great relief.

Captain Clark, 27 June 1806

Hmmm, bear's oil and boiled roots. Captain Clark calls this an "agreeable dish." It would, at least, be nourishing and probably tasted just fine out in the wild country surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Note the wild ginger poultice used to ease the inflamation of Joe Pott's leg. Good medicine.

*Current events:*
Create an Event The Department of Interior has released their Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Funding Sourcebook. This document has been compiled to assist States, Tribes, and communities in locating potential, existing sources of Federal, State, and philanthropic support for Bicentennial projects. See this website for more information: http://www.lewisandclark200.org/news/currentnews.html

Discover Travelers' Rest Traveler's Rest State Park is just south of Lolo Creek, 1/4 mile west of Highway 93, at 6550 Morman Creek Road in Lolo. June 30, 2003 - July 3, 2003 Discover Travelers' Rest is a five-day event commemorating the anniversary of Lewis and Clark's visit to the area. A festival with reenactors and children's games on Sunday will be followed by four days of educational and exploratory events. Contact Information: 6550 Mormon Creek Road Lolo, MT 59847 Phone: 406-273-4253 Website: http://www.travelersrest.org Email: info@travelersrest.org

Lunch with Lewis Lunch With Lewis will take place at Nine Mile Prairie in Geenough, MT. Follow Rt. 200 (Bonner exit off I-90, 7 miles east of Missoula, MT) to milepost 26.5, turn west onto Nine Mile Prairie Rd. and follow 'Lunch With Lewis' signs for for 6.5 miles. It's 1/2 mile past Corrick River Bend Campground. A map to the event can be found at http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?email=1&mapdat July 5, 2003 (11am-4pm) On July 5, 1806, Meriwether Lewis and his 'Corps Of Discovery' passed through Nine Mile Prairie alongside the Blackfoot River, where they stopped for lunch, shooting an antelope and digging up quamash for their meal. Exactly 197 years later, he's doing it again on the exact same spot, but this time you're invited. Spend the afternoon in this beautiful valley, so untouched in the intervening centuries that today Lewis would recognize it immediately. A barbeque of faux-antelope (looks a lot like burgers) and faux-quamash (looks a lot like potato salad), plus soft drinks, will be available starting at 12:00 pm. At 2:00 pm, Lewis himself (played by a well-known character actor), will provide his renowned description of the great journey, and will entertain both you and your questions about this classic American adventure that played such an important role in both our local and national history. There will also several 'Talks and Walks' highlighting the many historical highlights found in the immediate area. Topics include remnants of the great Glacial Lake Missoula flood of 12,000 years ago; walking a section of the ancient Kokalahishkit Indian trail; and seeing places made famous in Norman McClean's classic 'A River Runs Through It'. A donation of $10 per person ($30 per family) will be collected onsite. NOTE: This is an undeveloped natural prairie grassland nestled in the surrounding mountains, right by the legendary Big Blackfoot River, less than an hour's drive from Missoula. Bring your chairs, beach blankets, and fishing gear and make a day of it. Contact Information: Contact Information: Blackfoot Chapter of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation 35701 Nine Mile Prairie Greenough, MT 59823 Phone: 406-244-5612

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Location: 1726 Washington Street, Oregon City, OR 97045 (503) 657-9336 (503) 557-8590 End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Website staff@endoftheoregontrail.org Description: The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was built in 1995 on the former Donation Land Claim of the first elected governor of the Oregon Country, George Abernethy. A merchant and miller by trade, Abernethy had a vested interest in the continued growth of Oregon City, so he permitted newly arrived emigrants to park their wagons, graze their oxen, and set up camp on a meadow behind his house. That meadow came to be called Abernethy Green, and for many of the early Oregon Trail emigrants, it truly was the Trail's end.
Directions and/or Additional Information: The End the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is easy to find, as the geology and patterns of settlement within the Willamette Valley have dictated the routes of major roads from Indian footpaths to modern highways. The simplest way to reach the Interpretive Center is to take Interstate 205 to Exit 10, which is signed for Park Place, Molalla, and State Route 213, the Trail's End Highway. Once off the Interstate, turn right at the first stoplight. The Interpretive Center is about half a mile down the road. You literally can't miss "the Big Wagons" on your left at 1726 Washington Street. Alternative approaches are via State Routes 213, 99-E, and 43. The Interpretive Center is just off the end of SR 213 -- turn left at the last light before the Interstate. Taking 99-E or 43 gives you the option of cutting over to Washington Street on the surface streets if you're familiar with Oregon City, but it's easier to take northbound I-205 to Exit 10 from both roads. Here's a handy tip for those arriving on 99-E: the entrance ramp from 99-E is a continuous lane that becomes the exit ramp for SR 213, so you are spared from having to merge with the through traffic on the Interstate.

*Back Issues:* To see back issues of *Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark*, click on this link to jump to the index.
*Commemorative Painting by Heidi Hansen:* The illustrated map below was created by renowned botanical artist Heidi D. Hansen especially for this website. Done in ink and watercolors, Heidi shows many of the plants Captain Lewis documented overlaid atop a map showing a portion of the journey. (Click on image for large view). All the plants pictured are available from Wally Hansen! See our Spring Sale site and our online catalog for more information.


Good luck and happy gardening! Wally