Columbia Basin Chapter - Washington Native Plant Society

Please Note: This is a listing of activities that may be of interest to our members and may include events that are not sponsored by the Washington Native Plant Society. This listing is provided as an information service only and does not necessarily imply endorsement of any event. Times and locations are subject to change without notice. Please confirm before attending. Unless otherwise noted, all events are open to the public.

Tri-Cities Activities

May 6, 2009, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. – Monthly Meeting. Meet at EAST Auditorium WSU Tri-Cities. The May speaker will be Dr. Richard Olmstead, Professor of Biology and Herbarium Curator at University of Washington. He will talk about “Building the Tree of Life from its Tips to its Root”. The Tree of Life is a metaphor for understanding life's diversity.

May 16, 2009, Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - Wildhorse Wind Facility Wildflower and Wind Farm Tour. Meet at the CIC Parking lot, WSU Tri-Cities to carpool. Jennifer Diaz has arranged a guided wildflower walk and turbine tour at the facility between Ellensburg and Vantage. Dick Ambrose, who has studies native plants for over 30 years will give a presentation and lead the walk. Please contact Marita Lih (mplih@charter.net)or 946-5998 if you are coming.

May 17, 2009, Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - Native Plant Garden Tour. Meet at the Fred Meyers north parking lot (near the nursery). We will tour several native gardens in the Tri-Cites. Please contact Mary Ann Simmons (msimmons_1@charter.net)or 946-8080 if you are coming.

Horse Heaven Hills (Hover Peak): Saturday - May 2, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Bob Fortman will lead hikes over a 250 acre site owned by Kennewick General Hospital. Hikes range from ½ mile to 2 miles, lasting 2-3 hrs. Bring water and a snack. Directions: Meet at Bob Fortman's house at 70301 Road 2410 PR SE, Finley. Take State Road 397 south from the Cable Bridge through Finley; at the end of SR 397, turn right on Piert Rd (Sandvik Special Metals Plant is on the left); continue of Piert Rd over the railroad over-pass; take the exit at the bottom of the overpass (continuation of Piert Rd); continue for about 1/3 mile, road curves to left and becomes Meals Rd; continue for ~2 miles; turn right on Tierney Rd (private road); turn left on Rd 2410; Bob's house is 1st house on left (70301). Give Bob a call for more information or if you get lost (509-948-3999).

Badger Mountain: Saturday - May 2, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Steve Link will lead a wildflower walk along the Skyline Trail on Badger Mountain (4 mile roundtrip). Meet at the Dallas Road parking lot (http://www.friendsofbadger.org/access.html ). Call 628-0709 for more information

Yakima Bluffs: Monday - May 4, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. This is a short, easy hike along the top of the bluff; sturdy walking shoes will suffice. Take the Queensgate North exit (Richland Wal-Mart); turn north on Duportail (toward Yakima River); just before end of Duportail turn left at dirt pile. Park off to the side. Map Email Donna (jenluc99@clearwire.net) or Shannon(mike.shannon@verizon.net)

Badger Mountain: Thursday - May 7, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Janelle Downs will lead a walk focusing on the shrub-steppe ecology along the Skyline Trail(4 mile roundtrip). Meet at the Dallas Road parking lot (http://www.friendsofbadger.org/access.html ). Bring appropriate clothes for the weather. Call 628-0709 for more information.

McBee Grade: Friday - May 8, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. Meet at the Park & Ride next to the gas station at the I-82 Benton City exit. We’ll drive our cars up the gravel McBee Road to the top of the Horse Heaven Hills south of Benton City, where hikers will park their cars and walk ~2 miles round trip along the ridge top with Janelle Downs, NPS member. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather. Call 628-0709 for more information.

Wallula Gap: May 9, 2009, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Join Bob Fortman for a hike on the Kennewick side of the Columbia River to Wallula Gap. Bruce Bjornstad describes the area in his book “On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods”: Ascend to the top of a precipitous, breathtaking, 800 foot-tall bluff face on west side of Wallula Gap, passing a complex maze of hanging coulees, rock benches, basins and abandoned spillways. Occasional ice-rafted erratics lie scattered about. Native plants (especially grasses) are extensive near the Gap. The hike will take about 5 hrs; bring water and a lunch. DIRECTIONS: Take State Road 397 south from the Cable Bridge through Finley; at the end of SR 397, turn right on Piert Rd (Sandvik Special Metals Plant is on the left); continue of Piert Rd over the railroad over-pass; take the exit at the bottom of the overpass (continuation of Piert Rd); continue for about 1/3 mile, road curves to left and becomes Meals Rd; continue for ~2 miles; turn left on Ayers Road; go about 1/4 mile and park on left. Give Bob a call for more information or if you get lost (509-948-3999).

Walla Walla Activities

Lower Tiger Canyon: May 2, 2009, Saturday at 8:00 a.m. We will introduce our new field guide to the wildflowers of the Blue Mts. Meet at the Whitman's Harper Joy parking lot. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather and water and a lunch.

Wallula Gap: May 9, 2009, Saturday, 8:00 a.m. Join Bob Fortman for a hike on the Kennewick side of the Columbia River to Wallula Gap. Bruce Bjornstad describes the area in his book “On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods”: Ascend to the top of a precipitous, breathtaking, 800 foot-tall bluff face on west side of Wallula Gap, passing a complex maze of hanging coulees, rock benches, basins and abandoned spillways. Occasional ice-rafted erratics lie scattered about. Native plants (especially grasses) are extensive near the Gap. The hike will take about 5 hrs; bring water and a lunch. Meet at Whitman's Harper Joy parking area to carpool.

S. Fork Walla Walla River: May 13, 2009, Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. Meet at the Whitman's Harper Joy parking lot. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather and water and a lunch.

Tiger Saddle Area: May 30, 2009, Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Meet at the Whitman's Harper Joy parking lot. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather and water and a lunch.

Every Friday at 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. - Gardening at the Demonstration Garden at the Blue Mountain Humane Society. Please call Laura at 525-1079 or Nancy at 529-2253 so we can let you in.

Other Local Activities

May 15, 2009, Friday 5:00 – 7:00 p.m – Wildflowers of Badger Mountain Field Trips. Kathy Criddle will offer 2 hikes up Badger. The first on April 17, will be on the Dallas Road side (a longer, but more gradual hike), the second on May 15 will go up the Shockley Road trailhead (a more strenuous hike). The hikes are offered through the Kennewick Community Education Program (class 904,Kennewick Community Education). Cost for the class is $15.

Washington Native Plant Society, Columbia Basin Chapter Serving the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla

Home About Us Activities Plant Walks In Flower Newsletter Contacts Books Photos Membership Links	Activities... Please Note: This is a listing of activities that may be of interest to our members and may include events that are not sponsored by the Washington Native Plant Society. This listing is provided as an information service only and does not necessarily imply endorsement of any event. Times and locations are subject to change without notice. Please confirm before attending. Unless otherwise noted, all events are open to the public. Tri-Cities Activities May 6, 2009, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. – Monthly Meeting. Meet at EAST Auditorium WSU Tri-Cities. The May speaker will be Dr. Richard Olmstead, Professor of Biology and Herbarium Curator at University of Washington. He will talk about “Building the Tree of Life from its Tips to its Root”. The Tree of Life is a metaphor for understanding life's diversity. May 16, 2009, Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - Wildhorse Wind Facility Wildflower and Wind Farm Tour. Meet at the CIC Parking lot, WSU Tri-Cities to carpool. Jennifer Diaz has arranged a guided wildflower walk and turbine tour at the facility between Ellensburg and Vantage. Dick Ambrose, who has studies native plants for over 30 years will give a presentation and lead the walk. Please contact Marita Lih (mplih@charter.net)or 946-5998 if you are coming. May 17, 2009, Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - Native Plant Garden Tour. Meet at the Fred Meyers north parking lot (near the nursery). We will tour several native gardens in the Tri-Cites. Please contact Mary Ann Simmons (msimmons_1@charter.net)or 946-8080 if you are coming. Plant Walks - Horse Heaven Hills (Hover Peak): Saturday - May 2, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Bob Fortman will lead hikes over a 250 acre site owned by Kennewick General Hospital. Hikes range from ½ mile to 2 miles, lasting 2-3 hrs. Bring water and a snack. Directions: Meet at Bob Fortman's house at 70301 Road 2410 PR SE, Finley. Take State Road 397 south from the Cable Bridge through Finley; at the end of SR 397, turn right on Piert Rd (Sandvik Special Metals Plant is on the left); continue of Piert Rd over the railroad over-pass; take the exit at the bottom of the overpass (continuation of Piert Rd); continue for about 1/3 mile, road curves to left and becomes Meals Rd; continue for ~2 miles; turn right on Tierney Rd (private road); turn left on Rd 2410; Bob's house is 1st house on left (70301). Give Bob a call for more information or if you get lost (509-948-3999). Badger Mountain: Saturday - May 2, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Steve Link will lead a wildflower walk along the Skyline Trail on Badger Mountain (4 mile roundtrip). Meet at the Dallas Road parking lot (http://www.friendsofbadger.org/access.html ). Call 628-0709 for more information Yakima Bluffs: Monday - May 4, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. This is a short, easy hike along the top of the bluff; sturdy walking shoes will suffice. Take the Queensgate North exit (Richland Wal-Mart); turn north on Duportail (toward Yakima River); just before end of Duportail turn left at dirt pile. Park off to the side. Map Email Donna (jenluc99@clearwire.net) or Shannon(mike.shannon@verizon.net) Badger Mountain: Thursday - May 7, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Janelle Downs will lead a walk focusing on the shrub-steppe ecology along the Skyline Trail(4 mile roundtrip). Meet at the Dallas Road parking lot (http://www.friendsofbadger.org/access.html ). Bring appropriate clothes for the weather. Call 628-0709 for more information. McBee Grade: Friday - May 8, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. Meet at the Park & Ride next to the gas station at the I-82 Benton City exit. We’ll drive our cars up the gravel McBee Road to the top of the Horse Heaven Hills south of Benton City, where hikers will park their cars and walk ~2 miles round trip along the ridge top with Janelle Downs, NPS member. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather. Call 628-0709 for more information. Wallula Gap: May 9, 2009, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Join Bob Fortman for a hike on the Kennewick side of the Columbia River to Wallula Gap. Bruce Bjornstad describes the area in his book “On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods”: Ascend to the top of a precipitous, breathtaking, 800 foot-tall bluff face on west side of Wallula Gap, passing a complex maze of hanging coulees, rock benches, basins and abandoned spillways. Occasional ice-rafted erratics lie scattered about. Native plants (especially grasses) are extensive near the Gap. The hike will take about 5 hrs; bring water and a lunch. DIRECTIONS: Take State Road 397 south from the Cable Bridge through Finley; at the end of SR 397, turn right on Piert Rd (Sandvik Special Metals Plant is on the left); continue of Piert Rd over the railroad over-pass; take the exit at the bottom of the overpass (continuation of Piert Rd); continue for about 1/3 mile, road curves to left and becomes Meals Rd; continue for ~2 miles; turn left on Ayers Road; go about 1/4 mile and park on left. Give Bob a call for more information or if you get lost (509-948-3999). Walla Walla Activities Lower Tiger Canyon: May 2, 2009, Saturday at 8:00 a.m. We will introduce our new field guide to the wildflowers of the Blue Mts. Meet at the Whitman's Harper Joy parking lot. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather and water and a lunch. Wallula Gap: May 9, 2009, Saturday, 8:00 a.m. Join Bob Fortman for a hike on the Kennewick side of the Columbia River to Wallula Gap. Bruce Bjornstad describes the area in his book “On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods”: Ascend to the top of a precipitous, breathtaking, 800 foot-tall bluff face on west side of Wallula Gap, passing a complex maze of hanging coulees, rock benches, basins and abandoned spillways. Occasional ice-rafted erratics lie scattered about. Native plants (especially grasses) are extensive near the Gap. The hike will take about 5 hrs; bring water and a lunch. Meet at Whitman's Harper Joy parking area to carpool. S. Fork Walla Walla River: May 13, 2009, Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. Meet at the Whitman's Harper Joy parking lot. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather and water and a lunch. Tiger Saddle Area: May 30, 2009, Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Meet at the Whitman's Harper Joy parking lot. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather and water and a lunch. Every Friday at 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. - Gardening at the Demonstration Garden at the Blue Mountain Humane Society. Please call Laura at 525-1079 or Nancy at 529-2253 so we can let you in. Other Local Activities May 15, 2009, Friday 5:00 – 7:00 p.m – Wildflowers of Badger Mountain Field Trips. Kathy Criddle will offer 2 hikes up Badger. The first on April 17, will be on the Dallas Road side (a longer, but more gradual hike), the second on May 15 will go up the Shockley Road trailhead (a more strenuous hike). The hikes are offered through the Kennewick Community Education Program (class 904,Kennewick Community Education). Cost for the class is $15. See what other WNPS chapters across the state are doing! The WNPS web site now includes pages for Local Chapter Programs, Local Chapter Field Trips, and Local Chapter Plant Sales.