Kelsey Chapter

Kelseya uniflora, the mascot plant of the Montana Native Plant Society, is named for its discoverer, Francis Kelsey, namesake of the Kelsey Chapter. (Peter Lesica photo)

For more information about Kelsey Chapter programs and events:

Kathy Lloyd
503 State Street
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 449-6586

Interested in Native Plant Landscaping in our area? Click here  

Programs and Activities:

Wednesday, May 15, 7:00 p.m. Hike on Mount Helena to view spring wildflowers. Contact Amy at ExplorationWorks amys@explorationworks.org 406.457.1800 x 3 for additional information. This hike has been combined with the PPLT Hike on 5/23 - see below.

Tuesday, May 21, 5:15 p.m. Hike on Mount Helena is preparation for the Wildflower Week event the following day. Join Kelsey Chapter and the Helena National Forest for a brush-up on spring wildflowers. Contact Liz Burke at lizburke@fs.fed.us or 495-3713; or Bob Person at thepersons@mcn.net for additional information.

Wednesday, May 22 Wildflower Week on Mount Helena. The Helena National Forest partners with the Kelsey Chapter to present a half-day hike and 2 activity stations for 4th grade students. Wildflowers are identified by irrigation flags, and part of your hike will be spent taking students to two activity stations at the base of Mount Helena. The hike course is 1-mile, covering mainly the lower north portion of Mount Helena. Please contact Liz Burke at lizburke@fs.fed.us or 495-3713 if you are interested in helping with this event. Wildflower Hike Leaders Are Wanted!

Thursday, May 23, 7:00 p.m. Join Prickly Pear Land Trust for a spring wildflower walk on Mount Helena. Meet at the parking lot and trailheads. Contact Bob Person at thepersons@mcn.net for additional information.

Thursday, May 30 Students from C.R. Anderson are doing a Mount Helena vegetation survey, which is forestry oriented. This time the event will cover a mostly treeless area and look at forbs and grasses. Please contact Liz Burke at lizburke@fs.fed.us or 495-3713 if you are interested in helping with this event.

Thursday, June 27, 6:00 p.m. Prickly Pear Land Trust weed pull at the old shooting range on Davis Gulch. Call PPLT at 442-0490 for additional details.

June (date to be announced) The Discovery Foundation will host a hike to Lewis & Clark Pass. This hike always features incredible displays of wildflowers and great views. Contact Sam Chapman at samsarachapman@fs.fed.us for more information and to register. (Registration required due to number limits.) 

 

 Chapter Projects

The Flora of Mount Helena  The Flora of Mount Helena database includes most of the nearly 300 vascular plant species found on Mount Helena. The database is maintained by the Lewis and Clark Library and updated by the Kelsey Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society. Click here to access the database online.

The Flora of Mount Helena permanent specimen collection is housed in the Montana section at the Lewis and Clark Library in Helena. The collection is arranged alphabetically by scientific name. Nomenclature follows Dorn 1984. An index is provided that allows cross-referencing by common name and common family name. Click here for a pdf file of the species list.

The Flora of Mount Helena collection is a joint project of the Kelsey Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society and the Lewis and Clark Library. The Kelsey Chapter formally donated the specimen collection to the Lewis and Clark Library in 1999.

For more information about the collection or to make suggestions, call the Montana Native Plant Society at 406-449-6586.