Notice: If you wish to receive periodic emailed newsletters from the Flathead Chapter, please send a request to mnps.flathead@gmail.com and then add this address to your address book and/or safe contacts.
The Flathead Chapter serves the greater Flathead, Northwest Montana, and Glacier National Park area. Monthly meetings in general unless otherwise noted are the 3rd Wednesday of the month in October through April at North Valley Community Hall (also North Valley Physical Therapy)235 Nucleus Ave. in Columbia Falls.
For more information, contact chapter Vice President, Rachel Potter, 892 2446, or:
Tara Carolin, Chapter President 406 260 7533
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 and Events
For more information, check out the Montana Native Plant Society Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MTNativePlantSociety) or email us at: mnps.flathead@gmail.com.
Tuesdays, June 18 through August 27th. Volunteer at the Glacier National Park Nursery. Help with seeding, transplanting, weeding and cleaning, or work on a research or experimental project. Bring sack lunch, your favorite work gloves and clothes that can get dirty. Drop in and work an hour or stay the entire day. Meet at the GNP Native Plant Nursery beginning at 9am. Contact Glacier Native Plant Nursery (406) 888-7835 for any questions.
Thursday July 18, 10 a.m. Glacier National Park Weed Blitz. Join fellow citizens in removing invasive plants from priority sites in Glacier National Park. Park biologist Dawn LaFleur will train participants on identification and effective hand-pulling techniques for targeted weed species. Meet at the West Glacier Community Building; we’ll expect to finish around 4:00 p.m. The morning will be in the classroom, and in the field during the afternoon. Lunch provided; space is limited. Info and to sign up: Dawn, dawn_lafleur@nps.gov
Sunday, July 21, 9 a.m. Red Meadow Lake/ Lake Mountain, Whitefish Mountain Range. Join the search for the rare slim larkspur (Delphinium depauperatum) in subalpine meadows near Red Meadow Lake in the Whitefish Range. If we are lucky, we may even relocate a population of sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata) that was found in the same location over 35 years ago. After we have explored the wet meadows, we will hike to the Whitefish Divide and climb Lake Mountain where we will enjoy scenic views into Glacier National Park and the North Fork of the Flathead. Join Maria Mantas, plant ecologist, to search for these species of concern and document their occurrences. Moderate difficulty. Trip limit is 12 people. Call Maria at 406.407.2045 to reserve a spot and for details on meeting location.
Saturday, August 3, 11 a.m. Introduction to Native Solitary Bees. Join Leah Grunzke at Center for Native Plants for an introduction to native solitary bees! Leah will show us the types of solitary bees, how they differ from honeybees and bumblebees. Gardening tips to encourage native pollinator conservation, and how to establish and care for wild bee nesting sites. Leah is a botanist and educator based in Lewistown, Montana. She has spent the past two decades studying native plants and pollinators, working with nonprofit organizations on conservation outreach, developing curriculum for schools and informal science education programs. She also builds wild bee houses to accompany her workshops on backyard pollinator conservation. For more information about Leah visit http://montanaflora.blogspot.com/ Bring your lawn chair as seating is limited. Co-sponsored by and located at Center for Native Plants, 5605 US HWY 93 S, Whitefish.
August, Date TBA in June To Bee or Not to Bee? Creating Pollinator Habitat in Your Backyard. Come join the Flathead Conservation District for a free workshop and learn about pollinator conservation in your backyard. During this two-hour workshop, we’ll focus on how you can use native plants to provide forage, nesting, and overwintering habitat for our native pollinators – no matter how big or small your garden is! This workshop will take place at the Flathead Conservation District’s newly constructed demonstration garden. Due in part to a very generous grant from the Montana Native Plant Society, it will showcase a variety of native, pollinator-friendly plants and different design methods. Meet at Flathead Conservation District Office, 133 Interstate Lane, Kalispell. Questions, contact Hailey Graf 406.752.4220 or hailey@flatheadcd.org for date.
Further information
Here is is a plant list that Sally Thompson provided based on her book “People Before the Park” that details plants mentioned in a presentation to the Flathead Chapter in February 2017.
Don’t forget, for pictures, stories and updates on the Flathead Chapter or contact us at mnps.flathead@gmail.com.
