Flathead Chapter

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  The Flathead Chapter serves the greater Flathead, Northwest Montana, and Glacier National Park area. Monthly meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month in October, November, and January through April at Teakettle Community Hall 235 Nucleus Ave. in Columbia Falls. Programs start at 7 unless otherwise noted. We also encourage members to attend the 5:30 general meetings to discuss and plan Plant Society activities and business. Feel free to bring your sack supper. For for more information, contact Rachel Potter, 892-2446 or:

Jennifer Hintz
725 Twin Lakes Road
Whitefish, MT 59937
(406) 270-7028

Click here for a list of native plant gardens in the Flathead area.
Interested in Native Plant Landscaping in our area? Click here
When do our Northwest Wildflowers Bloom?... Here's a handy list.
 

Programs

Wednesday, 4/17 7 pm.  Montana Plant Geography Montana lies in the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains floristic provinces, but some of our floristic richness, especially our rare plants, comes from more distant provinces.  These plants find a home in distinct parts of the state.  Pete Lesica’s talk will explore the common and the rare, where they are found and how they got here. 
Wednesday 5/15 7 pm.  Native Plant Gardening with Laura Law Presentation and garden tour.

Events and Field Trips

Tuesdays, May-June, 10:00 am - noon. Bigfork Wild Mile Corridor Wildflower Walks. Join Anne Morley and Neal Brown on these gentle spring birding and wildflower ID strolls. The route is an easy 2 miles along the Old Swan River Road. Meet in front of Showthyme on Electric Ave. Info: Anne at 886-2242 or Neal at 837-5018.

Wednesday, 6/5, 7:00 pm. Native Plant Garden Tour. Join native plant gardener Bill McClaren for a tour of the FVCC and Central School Museum Native Plant Gardens. Meet at FVCC, behind Blake Hall. If raining, meet inside; tour is wheelchair accessible. Info: Bill at 257-2540, mccl@bresnan.net.

Thursday, 6/6, 10:00 am. Sprunger-Whitney Nature Trail. Learn about plants, birds and wildlife habitats along this gentle, 2-mile trail located in the Swan Valley, with botanist/naturalist Anne Morley. The trail meanders through low-elevation old growth forest. Meet at Point Pleasant campground south of Swan Lake. The campground is 0.5 mile south of mile marker 64 on Hwy 83. Bring water, lunch and appropriate clothing for unpredictable spring weather. Info: Anne at 886-2242.

Saturday, 6/8, 10:00 am. Johnson Mountain Terraces. Enjoy a 1- to 2-mile easy hike along a series of moist, mossy rock terraces with a variety of montane, grassland and diminutive plants. Meet at the rest area by the soccer fields across from Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. Bring lunch, water and your favorite plant ID book. Dress for changeable spring weather. Info: Betty at 892-0129.

Tuesday, 6/18, 6:00 pm. Moist Forest Habitat of West Glacier. Tara Carolin, a Glacier National Park biologist, will lead an easy 1-to 2-mile walk through moist forest habitat of West Glacier. Learn about a variety of native plants and see mountain ladyslippers and other orchids in cedar/hemlock and riparian habitats. Meet at the West Glacier Post Office. Info: Tara at 888-7863.


Sunday, July 7:  Flatiron Mountain (near Libby).  Join Jon Reny and Betty Kuropat for a 5-6 mile (round trip) moderate hike with about 1500’ elevation change. Part is on a forested trail; part is cross-country over grassy openings with great views and subalpine floral displays. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Mac’s Market, one mile north of Libby on Hwy 37. Bring lunch, water, and wind/rain gear. Trail-head is 25 miles from Libby. Call Jon (293-7339) or Betty (892-0129) for details and to sign up.

High and Dry: Gardening with Cold-Hardy Dryland Plants available at a discount

The Flathead Chapter has copies of this “thorough and engaging” book (see review in your Spring 09 Kelseya). For a $25 copy (cover price is $35), contact your chapter representative before the early November MNPS board meeting. Flathead chapter members can contact Betty to reserve a copy to pick up and pay for at the October 21 meeting. You can also send $30.00 (includes shipping) along with your mailing address to: Betty Kuropat, 2688 Witty Lane, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.

Glacier Discovery Square

The Glacier Discovery Square is the new center for Flathead Valley culture, history, community and visitor education, as well as the future home of the Columbia Falls branch of the Flathead County Library. It is in the town square and commerce center of Columbia Falls. This effort is being driven by the grassroots community organization, The First Best Place Task Force. Their name, "First Best Place," reflects the notion that the Columbia Falls area is the oldest community in the Flathead Valley.

A wide variety of diverse individuals and organizations have volunteered to contribute their skills and efforts to the task force. Among these groups is North Valley Music School, whose mission is to enrich the musical life of the community through music education and performance. They have been making music in Whitefish for the past 10 years and currently have over 600 students a year from babies to retirees. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce, Flathead Valley Community College, and the local Rotary chapter have joined the effort. Terry Divoky, Elizabeth Nauertz and Joyce Lapp from the Flathead Chapter of the MNPS have begun a partnership by consulting with the First Best Place Task Force to create native plant demonstration gardens throughout the Discovery Square. For more information about Glacier Discovery Square and First Best Place, visit http://firstbestplace.org/.