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.
Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 p.m. “Bumblebees: Conserving Pollinators.” U.S. Geological Survey Research Ecologist, Tabitha Graves, will tell us about her research on bumblebees in the northwest, and recent efforts to monitor and research pollinators, including the western bumblebee.
Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. Utah Red Rock Desert Wildflowers. Montana Botanist and Conservationist, Peter Lesica, will take us on a virtual tour of his explorations of the Colorado Plateau country with all of its eye-popping wildflowers which are compiled in his most recently published book on the same subject. Change of Venue! United Way Meeting Room, Gateway West Mall, Kalispell. Enter on W side of building, N end. Questions? Contact Jen Hintz at jhintz2004@yahoo.com.
Every Thursday in May, 10 a.m. Swan River Nature Trail. Join Anne Morley for a gentle, two-hour spring birding and wildflower identification stroll. We wander two miles along the Old Swan River Road. Meet in front of Showthyme Restaurant in Bigfork. Info: Anne at 886.2242.
Tuesday, May 21, 6 p.m. Columbia Mountain Wildflowers. The Columbia Mountain Trail is a flower-lover’s paradise. Join Grete Gansauer and Ellen Horowitz for a 3-hour evening wildflower walk that travels through many habitat types, from moist, damp sites, to dry open slopes where we’re sure to find balsamroot in bloom. We’ll travel at an easy pace and make lots of stops to view big, bold blossoms & beautiful, unobtrusive ones. Moderate Difficulty (about 3 miles with less than 500′ elevation gain). Meet at 6 pm @ Columbia Mountain trailhead. Co-sponsored by the Montana Wilderness Association. Required registration opens April 29 at wildmontana.org/walks. Register early, this hike fills up fast!
Wednesday, June 5. 6 p.m. Whitefish Trail Wildflower Walk. Meander through the woods and learn about the wide array of colorful wildflowers that line the Whitefish Trail with Whitefish Legacy Partners and Diane Lundgren of the Montana Native Plant Society. Learn how to identify local flowers, and noxious weeds, using hand lenses and field guides provided during this 2-3 mile hike. This event is free and suitable for all ages and abilities. Meet at the Lion Mountain Trailhead at 6 pm. For more information visit www.whitefishlegacy.org, call 406.862.3880 or email margosia@whitefishlegacy.org.
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.
Saturday June 15, 9 a.m. Buffalo Lakes Naturalist Hike. This hike will focus on wildflowers and birds of the Badger-Two Medicine Foothills. Beautiful views into the northern Badger and southern Glacier National Park. The hike is co-sponsored with the Montana Wilderness Association and the Glacier Two-Medicine Alliance. 4-5 miles, less than 500’ elevation gain. Moderate difficulty. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Two Medicine Grille. Required registration opens April 29 at wildmontana.org/walks. Register early, hikes fill up fast.
Sunday June 23, 11:30 a.m. Lichen, Mosses and Fungi of the Flathead: Medicinal Properties and Identification. Discover the small wonders of the northwest Montana’s forests with student researchers from the Flathead Valley Community College, Antibiotic Potential of Flathead Fungi and Flora research project. Before learning about their unique findings, Skye Hatfield and Raser Powell will teach us about the lichens, mosses and fungi that inhabit northwest Montana, new and rare species that have been discovered here in the Flathead, and the groundbreaking medicinal properties of these diminutive creatures.
Plan on a short hike with several stops to observe lichen and fungi of the southern Whitefish Range. Meet at Swift Creek Trailhead. We’ll plan to be back at the trailhead after about 2 1/2 hours of exploring. This hike is family friendly and wheelchair accessible. All ages and abilities are welcome to join this hike and learn about this unique facet of forest ecology. Sponsored by Montana Wilderness Association. Required registration opens April 29 at wildmontana.org/walks. Register early, this will fill up fast!
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
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.
