Flathead Chapter

 For for more information, contact Jennifer Hintz at (406) 270-7028 

Regular Meetings: The Flathead chapter meets the third Wednesday of each month. NOTE NEW DAY OF THE MONTH AND MEETING LOCATION -- Glacier Discovery Square in Columbia Falls at 540 Nucleus Avenue (old First Citizen's Bank building, enter through NW door).

Programs start at 7 unless otherwise noted. We also encourage members to attend the 5:30 pm general meetings to discuss and planplant society activities and business. For more information, contact chapter president Jennifer Hintz at 270-7028 or program chair Rachel Potter at 892-2446.

• Tuesdays in May and June: Bigfork Wild Mile Corridor Wildflower Walks. Join botanist Anne Morley from 10:00 am to noon for a gentle stroll of spring wildflower identification. This is an easy 2-mile hike along the Old Swan River Road. Meet in front of Showthyme at 10:00 am. Contact Anne at 886-2242 to RSVP or for more information.

• Every Tuesday, June 15th to August 24th: Volunteer Opportunity at the Glacier National Park Nursery.

  Help with seeding, transplanting, weeding and cleaning, or work on a particular research or experimental project. Bring a sack lunch, your favorite work gloves, and clothes that can tolerate dirt. Just drop in and work an hour or stay the entire day. Meet at the Native Plant Nursery at Glacier National Park. Contact Joyce Lapp at 888-7817 for details.

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/.