25th Anniversary Annual Meeting

Montana Native Plant Society

June 29 - July 1, 2012

University of Montana's Lubrecht Experimental Forest

near Greenough MT

Hosted by Clark Fork Chapter

Join us in celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Montana Native Plant Society in what Meriwether Lewis called the “Prairie of the Knobs”, a spectacular glaciated landscape of rolling hills and numerous wetlands now known as the Blackfoot Valley!

or use the printable form available here.

Program Overview

Friday, June 29
3:00 - 6:00 Arrive, register, field trip sign-up
6:00+ Dinner and festivities at Blackfoot Native Plants Nursery: click for map
7:00 Board of Directors meeting at Blackfoot Native Plants Nursery
Saturday, June 30
6:30 - 8:00 Breakfast
8:00 - 4:30 Field trips (pack a lunch)
4:00 - 5:30 Annual Wayne Phillips Plant ID Contest
5:30 - 7:00 Dinner
7:00 - 8:00 General Membership meeting
8:00+ Silent auction, raffle, awards, and slide show
Sunday, June 31
7:00 - 8:00 Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 Committee meetings
9:00 - 11:00 Break camp, farewells, field trips depart

Field Trips and Activities

Sign-up for field trips will begin during registration on Friday. Since the number of people on each field trip is limited, plan to sign up as early as possible and have a few options in mind. Bring your own food, water and personal gear for your field trip(s). Take some great photos for the Saturday slide show in camp!

SATURDAY FIELD TRIPS - ALL DAY

Tour of the Swan Valley Wetlands. (easy) A trip through the Swan Valley to observe the federally-listed water Howellia as well as several rare fen orchids (including two of Montana's four lady's-slipper species) that occur in Point Pleasant Fen. Bring boots or footwear for wet habitats.

Garnet Mountains and Ghost Town. (easy) Visit 120-year-old Garnet, Montana's best-preserved ghost town and check out numerous wildflowers in Douglas fir and ponderosa pine forest with an open understory. Tour the ghost town for $3/person (kids under 15 free). Coincides with the annual Garnet Day celebration.

Kleinschmidt Lake South. (somewhat difficult) Hike through a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service preserve with lots of wildflowers and birds in moist grasslands and sagebrush steppe as well as many types of small wetlands.

Blackfoot Community Conservation Area. (moderate) An 11-mile mountain bike tour of the Blackfoot's community forest near Ovando on forest roads through a potpourri of native forests, grasslands and wetlands, as well as recent restoration projects. Bring your mountain bike and gear.

Bandy Ranch. (somewhat difficult) Hike through rough fescue grasslands and numerous pothole wetlands in rolling country with an excellent diversity of upland and wetland wildflowers and birds.

SATURDAY FIELD TRIPS - HALF DAY

Kleinschmidt Lake North. (moderate) Similar to, but a shorter hike than Kleinschmidt South. Spend time on the shore of Kleinschmidt Lake.

Morrell Ridge. (moderate) A 2-mile round trip hike along the crest of Morrell Ridge from Morrell Lookout to Morrell Mountain with amazing views and passing thru subalpine forests and parks with lots of cushion plants.

Sundance Ranch. (easy) Stroll around the beautiful fields and forests of the Sundance Ranch to view Kleinschmidt Flat prairie in full bloom and an extensive riparian revegetation project.

Ninemile Prairie. (easy) The famous Blackfoot River forms the south boundary of this small but diverse grassland. See grassland wildflower displays and then duck into the cottonwoods to look for riparian species.

SUNDAY FIELD TRIPS - ON THE WAY HOME

Ninemile Prairie. (Going east) See above.

Blackfoot Cliffs. (Going west) Explore cliffs and their wildflowers in lower Blackfoot Canyon.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN

Children are welcome on field trips under parental supervision. Parents can borrow discovery tools for kids' use along field hikes or in camp: binoculars; field microscopes; and, mini naturalist "toolkits". You may also register children for a "Kids in Camp" nature-education activity led by adult naturalist educators on Saturday morning.

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR PETS AT HOME

MNPS policy prohibits pets at MNPS functions.

LUBRECHT EXPERIMENTAL FOREST:

Lubrecht Experimental Forest (LEF), the base site for the 25th Annual Meeting, is primarily managed by the University of Montana and is used for education and research in forestry and related disciplines.

Lodging at Lubrecht: Three types of accommodations are available on a first-come, first-served basis during the meeting: tent or R.V. camping; dormitory-style cabins and boxcars; and, hotel-like double-occupancy rooms in the lodge. Lodge rooms have two twin beds (linens provided), are climate controlled and share bathrooms. Dormitory-style accommodations are available in the several cabins and boxcars. Those staying in a cabin or boxcar will need to bring their own linens and will share use of the bathhouse. Campers will also share the bathhouse.



	Example illustrations of lodging options at Lubrecht Experimental Forest. Camping and RV options are available as well, but are not pictured. Be sure to include your choice in your registration.

Getting to Lubrecht: The entrance to LEF is at mile marker 22.5 on Hwy 200 and it will take ~40 minutes to drive to LEF from Missoula. From Missoula Take I-90 to Hwy 200. Proceed on Hwy 200 through Bonner to just past the Garnet Range Rd. and the 22-mile marker. From Bigfork take Swan Valley Hwy (83) south to Hwy 200. Go west on Hwy 200 to just past the 23-mile marker. From Helena take Hwy 12 west to Avon. Take Hwy 141 north to Hwy 200. Take Hwy 200 west to just past the 23-mile marker. From Butte Take I-90 west to Garrison. Take Hwy 12 east to Avon. Take Hwy 141 north to Hwy 200. Take Hwy 200 west to just past the 23-mile marker. (Downloadable map to LEF.)

MEALS: Meals will be provided by both LEF and the Clark Fork Chapter of MNPS - Saturday lunch on your own.

Friday: After registering at LEF, join us at Blackfoot Native Plants Nursery (click for map) for a pot luck dinner and festivities - hosted by the Clark Fork Chapter and Kathy & Michael Settevendemie.

Saturday: continental breakfast in camp provided by the Clark Fork chapter; lunch on your own; and dinner (meat or veggie lasagna and fixings) by LEF staff in camp.

Sunday: hot breakfast by LEF staff in camp.

Silent Auction and Raffle Items needed for the 2012 Annual Meeting!

Here is your chance to donate to a great fundraising event for MNPS!

The Clark Fork Chapter is welcoming donations of all kinds for the silent auction and raffle-plants, arts or crafts, photos, seeds, baked or preserved goodies, informational or recreational tours, gardening tools or services, cabin rentals, books, cards, etc. If you (or your favorite business or hiking partner) would like to contribute a tax-deductible item or two, we would be much obliged if you would send the following information to Tarn Ream or give her a call (406-549-7933)...and, of course, last minute donations will also be accepted at the meeting (please try to drop off ALL items with Tarn ASAP at the registration desk on Friday night, June 29!)

· DONOR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, EMAIL

· Brief DESCRIPTION of each item/service to be donated

· SUGGESTED BID (your best guess of what you would hope your donation to yield):

· ITEM/SERVICE VALUE (and let Tarn know if you would like a donation letter for the IRS)

· DONATIONS CAN BE DELIVERED BEFORE THE MEETING: If this is easier for you, please contact Tarn.

Annual Meeting Photos

Click on the Caption at the bottom of the following pictures to go to a Picasa Album of photos from past annual meetings shared by generous annual meeting participants. Please enjoy the pictures and respect the talents and work of the photographers - i.e. please don't steal their work.

2011 Annual Meeting

2010 Annual Meeting

2009 Annual Meeting

2008 Annual Meeting