Plant Hunters: Lester Rowntree

This year we're learning about several plant hunters who have collected in the Western United States. Last time we learned about Scottish botanist, David Douglas (1799 - 1834), who collected in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California, and Hawaii (see Plant Hunters: David Douglas). This time we are learning about Lester Rowntree (1879 - 1979), who collected all over the state of California. In her article, Lone Hunter, Lester reports that she started her collecting endeavor simply to find out about California wildflowers.

Hardy Californians - by Lester Rowntree
Lester (1879 - 1979) is pictured doing field work, lower right.

Lester Rowntree was born Gertrude Ellen Lester in Penrith, England, where she lived in the Lake District and enjoyed gardening and the outdoors until she was 10 years old. In 1889 her family moved to a homestead in Kansas, United States, and two years later to Los Angeles, California, where she was introduced to California wildflowers. She attended a boarding high school near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she decided to adopt "Lester" as her first name. She married Bernard Rowntree in 1908 and lived in New Jersey, where she developed a garden and experimented with plants and seeds from California. In 1920 they relocated to Southern California and then in 1925 to Carmel in Northern California. Lester started a business propagating and selling California wildflower seeds. The couple divorced in 1931, when she was in her early 50s.

Lester recounts in Lone Hunter, that she realized after her divorce that she could live as she pleased ("free to trek up and down the long state of California, and to satisfy my insistent curiosity about plants, to find them in their homes meeting their days and seasons, to write down their tricks and manners in my notebook, to photograph their flowers, to collect their seeds, to bring home seedlings in cans just emptied of tomato juice"). She decided to follow the blooms all over the state, spending Mar. - Apr. in the dessert, May in the foothills, June in the Northern Counties, July in the higher mountains, and Aug. - Sep. in the alpine zone (her favorite). She travelled and lived in her car, carrying her gear with her. In Nov. - Feb. she would return to Carmel for the rainy season, spending her days reviewing her notes, writing, lecturing, and cultivating plants and seeds in her steep hillside garden. After about 20 years of her vagabond lifestyle, she retired permanently to her Carmel home and spent the remainder of her life in her home and garden.

Flowering Shrubs of California - by Lester Rowntree

I really enjoyed learning about this "lady-gypsy" as Lester described herself, at home in both nature and civilization. I especially appreciated reading her descriptions of plants in their natural environments in the various altitudinal zones of California. She understood the conditions that met a plant's requirements for water, drainage, light and shade, and described them in a lively and engaging style. One of her missions was finding plants that would do well "in the trade". She lamented human encroachment on their environments, observing that wherever man went, wild flowers disappeared. Even with scientific plant names continually changing, her accounts are a valuable resource for learning about plants in the California ecology, and could be valuable for comparison as climate changes. Lester described herself as a plant enthusiast and lived an inspiring life.

Learn More

• California Wild Flower Seeds, Lester Rowntree & Co., Carmel California, U. S. A., 1935. A seed catalog published for her business. The business wasn't a financial success, but provided an outlet for distributing seeds around the world.

• Hardy Californians, by Lester Rowntree. Peregrine Smith, Inc, Salt Lake City, 1980. The 1980 version was updated with new scientific plant names. The original 1936 edition was published by Macmillan, New York.

• Hardy Californians: A Woman's Life with Native Plants (New Expanded Version), by Lester Rowntree. Edited by her son, Lester Rowntree. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 2006. This version includes an autobiographical sketch by Lester's descendents, an introduction to her horticultural legacy, and updated scientific plant names.

• Lone Hunter, by Lester Rowntree. Atlantic Monthly, June 1939. 163 809-16 (available online with subscription). Lester supported herself by writing and lecturing. In this article, Lester describes her vagabond life collecting seeds and sending them all over the world. She started the endeavor simply to find out about California wildflowers.

• Flowering Plants of California, by Willis Linn Jepson. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA, 1966. Lester carried the original 1925 version of this reference with her on her plant hunting trips, and corresponded with Jepson on plant species.

• Flowering Shrubs of California: and Their Value to the Gardener, by Lester Rowntree. Stanford University Press, 1930.

• Lester Rowntree, by grandsons Lester B. Rowntree and Rowan A. Rowntree. Pacific Horticulture, 2023 (adapted from the introduction written for the 2006 edition of Hardy Californians).

• Lester Gertrude Ellen Rowntree (1879 - 1979). Wikipedia article provides an overview of Lester's life.

• Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden. The Carmel-by-the-Sea Watchdog, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Describes how to visit and volunteer at Lester's home and hillside garden in Carmel Highlands. Lester spent Nov. - Feb. at her home, between her yearly plant hunting trips. Here she experimented with the seeds and plants that she had collected in the field, reviewed her notes, corresponded, and wrote.

Dye Project: Mixing the Indigo Dye Vat

This year we're spending the dye season learning about and dyeing with indigo - a celebration in blue! Indigo is a historical dye that has been used for thousands of years by many cultures around the world. As we learned in A Brief History of Indigo Dye, dyeing with indigo is quite different from other dyeing techniques. One source describes it more like the art and science of making wine than extracting dye.

The dye is obtained from the leaves of the indigo plant, typically Indigo tinctoria, although other species can be used. The dye is invisible and attached to a glucose molecule. The leaves are soaked in water where they ferment, causing the glucose to split off. After soaking, the leaves are removed from the water and the indigo remains. Since indigo dye does not dissolve in water, the dye must undergo this process where it is ‘reduced’ and put into a liquid state with the oxygen removed.

Indigo dye comes from the leaves of (Indigo tinctoria) 

In the ‘reduced’ state the indigo dye liquid is a yellow green color, and in this form the indigo can penetrate the fibers of the fabric. When the fabric is removed from the dye vat it is initially this same yellow green color, but begins to turn blue as the oxygen in the air reacts with the indigo. As the indigo oxidizes it becomes trapped within the fibers, making the dye permanent.

Equipment and Supplies

I decided to take the easy route and use a kit for my first go at dyeing with indigo. The kit includes what I need for the dye vat. The indigo has been pre-processed, reduced, and turned into crystals that are water soluble. I’m using the Jacquard Indigo Tie Dye Kit (Natural Dye Method), available from Dharma Trading, Amazon, and other sources. Similar kits are also available. The dye vat can keep up to several weeks and dye more than 15 yards or 5 pounds of fabric, or 15 T-shirts.

Indigo dye kit

The Jacquard Indigo Tie Dye Kit (Natural Dye Method) contains what you need to mix the dye vat:

• Water-soluble, pre-reduced indigo dye crystals
• Soda ash – a fixer that raises the pH level and helps fabric better absorb dye. The increased pH level activates the molecules of the fabric so that they can better absorb the dye. This results in brighter and longer-lasting colors.
• Sodium hydrosulfite – a reducing agent that converts indigo pigment into a water-soluble form 
• Instruction manuals

Supplies for the dye vat include indigo crystals, soda ash, and sodium hydrosulfite

Some other supplies you need include:

• 5-gallon bucket with a sealable lid
• 36-inch-long paddle for stirring
• Latex gloves (keep your fingers from turning blue)
• Drop cloths (protect your work area)

Drop cloths help protect the work area from being dyed blue!

Mixing the Indigo Dye Vat

To set up the dye vat: 

1. Fill the 5-gallon bucket with 4 gallons warm water.
2. Stir in the indigo dye crystals, soda ash and sodium hydrosulfite.
3. Stir the vat, cover with a lid, and allow to settle.

Add warm water to the bucket

Step 1

Fill the 5-gallon (18.93 liter) bucket with 4 gallons (15.14 liters) of warm water. I use tap water here in the San Francisco Bay Area, but use distilled or rain water if that is what you typically use for your dye projects.

Key ingredients for the dye vat, including indigo dye crystals, soda ash, and sodium hydrosulfite

Indigo dye crystals

Step 2

Empty the pre-reduced indigo dye crystals, soda ash and sodium hydrosulfite into the water. Stir until dissolved. Stir the vat in one direction in a circular motion to prevent introducing oxygen. Take your time.

Mixing the indigo dye vat

Step 3

When dissolved, remove the paddle. To do so, slowly reverse the direction of stirring and drag the stir stick along the outer edge of the vat, and then slowly remove the paddle. Cover the vat with a lid and allow the vat to settle (at least 15 minutes to 1/2 hour, although an hour is best). The liquid becomes a yellow-green color. The seal and lid prevent the dye from oxidizing between dye sessions.

Cover the indigo dye vat with a sealable lid

Ready to Dye

Now that my indigo dye vat is prepared, I’m ready to dye!

Indigo dye vat

Learn More:

• “Indigo Dye Kit Instruction Manual”, by Jacquard Products.
• “Indigo Quick Start Instructions”, by Jacquard Products.
• "The Maiwa Guide to Natural Dyes" (use CTRL+F to find content about indigo).
• “Indigo: A World of Blue”, documentary by Maiwa Productions.
• “Indigo Workshop”, by Michel Garcia. Natural Dye Workshop II, by Studio Galli.

Alaska - The Last Frontier

My Aunt Char and I decided to visit Juneau, Alaska in early May to see my folks, my brother Dave, and sister-in-law Karen. It had been almost five years since we were all together in Alaska (see Bears and Unbirthdays and Eagle River and the Crab Feed) and just over three and a half years since some of us were together in the San Francisco Bay Area (see Thanksgiving Fun and Filoli at Christmas). Two and a half of those years were spent in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. With encouragement from Dave, Aunt Char and I made our plans to travel and booked our flights.

Neither of us had been on a plane for several years, so our travel skills were a little rusty. Plus, we'd heard so many harrowing tales of fights breaking out on planes over masking, crowded seating, and frequently-cancelled flights, so weren't sure what to expect. My husband dropped us off at the Oakland International Airport and we started our journey. Our flights turned out to be uneventful, and my brother and sister-in-law met us at the airport. They helped us with a car swap and quick "hello" at my folks place, and then we checked into our Extended Stay America hotel (within walking distance of the Juneau International Airport) and settled in.

Alaska Airlines - ready to fly

Our first outing was to Mendenhall Glacier about 12 miles "out the road" with Dave and Karen. The glacier has been receding for the last 70 years since our family arrived in Juneau, and the vegetation growing up during that time. It's been a wonderful lesson in natural history and plant succession, and always interesting to look for changes each visit. Cruise ships were scheduled to start arriving the next day, so the Visitor Center was closed and we had the glacier to ourselves. We walked out to the Scenic Overlook to snap some pictures and enjoy the beauty under overcast skies. We finished the day at my folk's place with a home cooked pot roast (one of Mom's delicious specialties); French vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate syrup, a splash of brandy, or both; and great conversation.

Walking the serpentine path to the Scenic Overlook

Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls

Taking pictures like a pro

Selfie at the Scenic Overlook

Visitor Center at Mendenhall Glacier

The next day Aunt Char and I headed to Overstreet Park to see the Tahku whale sculpture and walk on the Seawalk along Juneau's Waterfront. We caught the tail end of a celebration for the 30 new totem poles that are being installed along the Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail) leading to downtown Juneau. The sun came out, the mood was festive, and the totem poles were stunning. Some had motifs that I didn't recognize, which made me curious about their origins (perhaps from a different part of Alaska, or modern designs mixed with traditional). We could see three cruise ships down channel, including one arriving, and another leaving. We all regrouped at my folk's place for dinner, conversation, and a look at Ancestery.com (along with a bowl of French vanilla ice cream and toppings). Back at the hotel, Aunt Char and I reflected on the day and read our novels.

Ahkuh appears to leap out of the channel

Festive crowd at Overstreet Park

Haida Raven Pole
(Carver: TJ Young, Haida Master Artist, Hydaburg)

Tsimshian Pole
(Carver: David R. Boxley, Tsimshian Master Artist, Metlakatla)

Ishkahittaan Pole - detail of a frog
(Carver: Jon Rowan, Tlingit Master Artist, Klawock)

Lots of cruise ship activity in Juneau, Alaska (I count three)

On another day, Aunt Char and I did a few errands and then headed for town to visit my brother and sister-in-law. They've been enjoying afternoons around the fire pit, so we were glad to get in on that. We visited with son Richard and his dog Rex, swapped stories and memories, and watched for wildlife (a raven came around hoping for a handout). Back at my folk's house we enjoyed delicious takeout from Canton Asian Bistro, ice cream with toppings, conversation, and then watched a couple of episodes of Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators. At the hotel, Aunt Char and I finished the day companionably reading our novels.

Fireside reflection

A hopeful visitor

On our last day in Juneau, my Dad recommended we drive up to Eagle Crest, the local ski resort on Douglas Island. After a few errands, Aunt Char and I drove out Douglas Island to see the grand sweeping views of the Chilkat Mountains. On our way back we drove up to Eagle Crest, enjoying the tail end of the snow season. The resort was closed for the day but we could still see the two main ski lifts and the paths down the mountain. We picked up Mexican food from Mar y Sol in downtown Juneau, and regrouped at my folks' place for a delicious dinner, margaritas, ice cream and toppings, and conversation on our last evening together. Back at the hotel, Aunt Char and I packed up in preparation for an early morning departure (but still found time to read our novels)!

View of the Chilkats from Douglas Island

Kayaks

Selfie on Douglas Island (Mendenhall Glacier in the distance on the right)

Eagle Crest Ski Resort on Douglas Island

Still some snow on the mountains

Family fun and fabulous Mexican food from Mar y Sol

Aunt Char and I made our early morning flight with no problems. We simply walked across the street to the airport (I've never done that before), checked in, and then ate breakfast at Tailwind Concession (avocado toast for Aunt Char and a breakfast sandwich for me). We enjoyed our flights and brief stops at the Seattle and Portland airports, and then seeing my husband at the Oakland International Airport when we arrived. It was difficult to say goodbye to my family and beautiful Juneau, Alaska, but it was so good to be together after such a long separation. I have so many wonderful memories of our reunion and look forward to the next one!

The house that Mom and Dad built

View from the yard (notice the island flower bed to the right of the stairs)

Skunk cabbage poking up through the ground

Fiddleheads on Mom's favorite stump

The woods in the side yard

The trip boosted our confidence and desire to travel further afield again. Aunt Char booked another trip as soon as we returned home, this time to Phoenix, Arizona to see family!

Birthday Flowers: Roses

The birth flowers for the month of May are roses and honeysuckle. The bold fragrance and range of colors makes the rose a favorite any time of the year, and a special tribute to anyone born in June. Colors range from deep red, to shades of pink, yellow, orange, and the palest white. The general meaning for roses includes love, beauty, honor, faith, devotion, romance, and happiness.

June - Roses

As with other birthday flowers, the color of roses can also convey special meanings:

• Red - love and passionate love
• Yellow - friendship
• Pink - grace, joy, admiration, and gratitude
• White - purity and innocence
• Orange - passion and enthusiasm

The number of roses you send also has meaning:

• 1 rose - love at first sight
• 2 roses - deep, shared love
• 3 roses - I love you
• 6 roses - I want to be yours
• 7 roses - I'm infatuated with you
• 9 roses - eternal love
• 10 roses - you're perfect

Roses (Rosa spp.) are woody perennials with prickly stems (often referred to as thorns), alternate leaves, fragrant flowers, and a fruit called a rose hip. The rose fragrance is captured in perfume, toiletries, and candles. Rose petals are used in sachets and potpourri, and sprinkled over bath water. Rose water adds a floral essence to cooking, and the rose hips make a delicious jam. Roses are popular to give, and to grow in the garden. With 300 species and thousands of cultivars from which to choose, you're sure to find something for your garden. The history of roses and rose cultivation is long and fascinating, and worth looking into!