White Pine Chapter - Idaho Native Plant Society

The following is a list of events sponsored by White Pine Chapter or in collaboration with other organizations because our members have an interest. Please check with a contact if you have a specific question or wish to confirm event information.
For a list of events for other INPS chapters, please click on INPS.

Please mark your calendar with the dates of these meetings, presentations, and field trips. Additional information may also be communicated through chapter email notices, newsletters, and postcards and via public flyers and press releases. We look forward to seeing you on these educational excursions.
PDF format documents listed below require Acrobat Reader

2024 Schedule

Upcoming Events

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Wednesday, November 20, 2024. 7:00 pm PDT. White Pine Chapter Regular Meeting
Speaker: Bailey Hallwachs, Coordinator National Plant Germplasm System USDA-ARS
Location: Lecompte Auditorium, 2nd Floor, 1912 Center, 412 E. 3rd St., Moscow, Idaho

Bailey Hallwachs is from Cheyenne, Wyoming, she grew up on a working cattle ranch. She developed a passion for agriculture and taking care of the land through sustainable methods of raising cow-calf operations. She was in 4-H and FFA raising sheep and pigs. She also is from Alberta, Canada where her dad farms (alfalfa, canola, hay) and ranches. She received her undergraduate degree in Agroecology and Horticulture from University of Wyoming and her masters in Horticulture from WSU where she did physiological research on the impacts of grapevine red blotch virus on wine grapes in Oregon vineyards.

The Seeds of Success (SOS) program is a large collaborative effort to collect native seed on North American landscapes for use in restoration programs. This program is managed by the USDOI Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and involves many federal and nongovernmental organizations. One of the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) SOS collaborations is implemented by the National Plant Germplasm System's (NPGS) Plant Germplasm Introduction Testing and Research Unit (PGITRU) also known as the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) located in Pullman, WA on the Washington State University Campus. The SOS collections managed by the USDA ARS NPGS serve important roles in agricultural research and conservation of crop relatives. This presentation will be in-person. It will hopefully be recorded and uploaded to our chapter YouTube channel at a later date. An email will be sent out when that recording is available.

Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Hallwachs poster

Program is free and open to all.

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More information on upcoming events will be posted when information becomes available. It will also be sent to members via email. Virtual programs are generally recorded and posted on our You Tube channel. Please see the left navigation bar for a link.

Previous 2023-2024 Events

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Thursday, January 19, 2023. 7:00 pm PST, White Pine Chapter meeting
both in person in the 1912 Center and a ZOOM virtual presentation
Presenter: Dr. Bertie Weddell, Conservation consultant and author
Program: Climate-friendly Gardening with Native Plants
Physical location: Lecompte Auditorium on the 2nd floor of the 1912 Center in Moscow, Idaho

The universities in our region have pioneered the study of climate-friendly farming, and many of the same principles apply to our yards. How can we maximize carbon storage and minimize carbon emissions in our gardens? And how can we plan for the ways our native plant and pollinator assemblages may change as the climate changes?

Bertie she has been teaching, consulting, and writing about conservation in the Palouse and elsewhere for several decades. She is the author of the forthcoming Conservation in the Context of a Changing World.

If you do not plan to attend in person, please sign in to Zoom using the Zoom Link that will be provided soon in a member email (It can also be found on the poster.).

All are welcome.
Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Weddell presentation

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Climate Friendly Gardening with Native Plants by Bertie Weddell

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Thursday, February 23, 2023. 7:00 pm PST, White Pine Chapter meeting
Note this is a 4th Thursday, not our usual 3rd Thursday meeting

both in person in the 1912 Center and a ZOOM virtual presentation
Presenter: Dr. Joseph Kuhl, Director of Stillinger Herbarium, University of Idaho
Program: The Stillinger Herbarium: Inside the University of Idaho, 1889 to present
Physical location: Lecompte Auditorium on the 2nd floor of the 1912 Center in Moscow, Idaho

The Stillinger Herbarium was established when the University of Idaho was founded in 1889. The early years of the herbarium were guided by the first herbarium director Louis F Henderson. Between 1889 and 1906 the herbarium amassed upwards of 85,000 specimens. Tragedy struck in March of 1906 when a fire destroyed the Administration building housing the collection, destroying much of the collection. The collection grew slowly for much of the next half century, with notable contributors William H. Baker and J.H. Christ. In 1957 the Stillinger Trust was established, leading to a period of relatively rapid growth, largely under the directorship of Douglas M. Henderson (1972-1996). Today the collection houses over 180,000 vascular plant specimens, approximately 20,000 bryophytes and lichens and close to 15,000 mycological specimens. The current mission and future directions will also be discussed.

Dr. Kuhl received his Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University, and Master of Science and PhD from University of Wisconsin, Madison. He conducted post doctoral research at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (Cornell University) and Michigan State University. He was employed by the USDA, Agricultural Research Service as a Research Geneticist for four years in Palmer, Alaska. In 2009 he joined the University of Idaho where he is an Associate Professor of Plant Genetics. Dr. Kuhl was excited to be appointed Director of the Stillinger Herbarium in Fall 2022.

If you do not plan to attend in person, please sign in to Zoom using the Zoom Link that will be provided soon in a member email. (It can also be found on the poster.)

All are welcome.
Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Kuhl presentation

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel The Stillinger Herbarium: Inside the University of Idaho, 1889 to present by Joseph Kuhl.

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Thursday, March 16, 2023. 7:00 pm PDT, White Pine Chapter meeting
both in person in the 1912 Center and a ZOOM virtual presentation
Presenter: Alan Martinson, Latah County Noxious Weed Superintendent
Program: Weeds and more Weeds - Almost everything you wanted to know about weeds
Physical location: Lecompte Auditorium on the 2nd floor of the 1912 Center in Moscow, Idaho

Program description: What is a weed? What is a noxious weed? How can I find out what this plant is? How can I control weeds? What is Integrated Pest Management and how does it work? What are some common weeds in Latah County? Find out when we talk about weeds, and more weeds.

Alan Martinson has been the Latah County Noxious Weed Superintendent since 2003. He is a lifelong resident of the Palouse and graduated from Pullman High School, and from Washington State University with a BS in General Agriculture. Alan worked 20 years in the fertilizer industry in Pullman before becoming the Latah County Weed Superintendent. Alan loves working with landowners to help them get their weed issues under control. He is on the Board of Directors for the Idaho Noxious Weed Control Association, representing northern Idaho.

If you do not plan to attend in person, please sign in to Zoom using the Zoom Link that will be provided in a member email. (It can also be found on the poster.)

All are welcome.
Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Martinson presentation

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Weeds and more weeds – Almost everything you want to know about weeds by Alan Martinson

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Thursday, April 20, 2023. 7:00 pm PDT, White Pine Chapter meeting
both in person in the 1912 Center and a ZOOM virtual presentation
Presenter: Michael Mancuso, President of INPS and professional botanist
Program: Homegrown: Idaho's Endemic Plant Species
Physical location: Lecompte Auditorium on the 2nd floor of the 1912 Center in Moscow, Idaho

Many people do not realize there are plants found in Idaho that are found nowhere else in the world. These Idaho endemics represent a unique part of the state's biological heritage. Every Idaho endemic plant species has a story to tell. Learn some of these stories during this presentation.

Michael has over 30 years of experience with the Idaho flora, first as a botanist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Conservation Data Center and later moving on to freelance botany work. Michael has a M.N.S degree in Biology with a concentration in botany from the University of Idaho. He is currently serving as president of the Idaho Native Plant Society.

If you do not plan to attend in person, please sign in to Zoom using the Zoom Link that will be provided in a member email. (It can also be found on the poster.)

All are welcome.
Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Mancuso presentation

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Home Grown: Idaho's Endemic Plant Species by Michael Mancuso

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Friday, May 5, 2023. White Pine Chapter Field Trip< ** Postponed until late May, early June **
Native Plants in Local Gardens & Yards: Tours

More information to follow. All are welcome.

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May11-13, 2023 Annual Native Plant Sale
Thursday, Friday, May 11-12 Online plant sale
Saturday, May 13 In-person sale at the Latah County Fairgrounds
Full details including the availability list, preview URL will be available on the chapter website about May 1. INPS White Pine Chapter website

Over 3000 plants and about 100 species will be available.

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Sunday, May 21, 2023. White Pine Chapter Field Trip ** Revised from May 7 **
Leader: Pam Brunsfeld, Retired Director of the University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium
Subject: The Spring Flora of Mary McCroskey State Park/Skyline Drive
Location: Skyline Drive, Mary McCroskey State Park

Mary McCroskey State Park (Skyline Drive) has an abundance of forest types, and grasslands. We will explore the floral diversity on this drive that covers habitats from a Thuja plicata (western red cedar) forest to Palouse prairie. A four page species list will be provided and all botany stops will be along the road.

Meet at the Rosauers parking lot, north end, at 10:00 am to arrange carpooling. The Skyline Drive entrance to the park on US-95 is about 30 miles north of Rosauer's in Moscow. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen and appropriate clothing for weather conditions.

All are welcome.

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Wednesday, June 7, 2023. 4:00-6:00 pm. White Pine Chapter Garden Tours

Garden Tours: Visit yards incorporating native plants **Rescheduled for 4:00 to 6:00 pm on June 7** Come see examples of local landscaping using native plants. Knowledgeable guides will be available at each of these locations from 4:00-6:00 pm on June 7. We have 3 private yards and one school.

Stop 1 (to see three private yards): Find us at 1019 S. Lynn St. and receive walking directions to the yards. Please plan to park on Maybelle or Lynn Streets. It is about a 10-minute walk between homes. Only available from 4:00-6:00 pm on June 7.

Stop 2 (to see ambitious landscaping project in progress): Palouse Prairie Charter School (406 Powers Ave., Moscow). David Herbold and other parents are working to create learning environments as they develop the landscape around this relatively new school building. Students have been involved in the planting and in making signs. David will be on-site from 4:00-6:00 pm on June 7.

Visit these public spaces at this or other times on your own:

The Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center (2720 W. Pullman Rd., Moscow) has a collection of native plants from the Palouse in their courtyard. Visit during the museum’s open hours (see their website for current hours) at no charge. Enter into the Museum and then go into the courtyard beyond. Donations are appreciated.

The flagpole at the Moscow Federal Building (220 E. 5th St.) has native plants around it. This area was planted and is maintained by staff from the Latah Soil and Water Conservation District.

Palouse Prairie Charter School (406 Powers Ave., Moscow). Please plan to visit after school hours. The goal of this large project is to create learning environments as part of the landscaping around this relatively new school building. Students participate in planting and in making signs. Look for native plants in the large island in the parking lot and on the hillside above the parking lot (access using the sidewalk).
All are welcome.

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Sunday, June 11, 2023. 2:30 to 5:00 pm. White Pine Chapter Garden Tour, Burger family native garden in Pullman, WA
Host: Jutta Burger, Anke Burger's daughter
Address: 1520 NW Kenny Drive in Pullman (on Military Hill not far from the high school)
Carpooling: If you would like to carpool from Moscow please meet at the west end of the Big 5 parking lot at 2:00 pm. We will leave promptly at 2:10 pm.

Anke and Dieter Burger were among the first in this area to convert their front yard full of ornamental species to a mostly Palouse Prairie native garden using native species with a few residual ornamental species retained. Their daughter Jutta will show us the garden and describe the time and effort her parents put into the conversion. Anke became very proficient at growing natives from seed. She grew seedlings and potted many starts from her own garden which she donated to the chapter for the chapter's annual native plant sale. Each year she was one of the top plant donors. She was always gracious and shared her plants and her experience with numerous chapter visitors.

All are welcome. Please bring a hat, water and comfortable shoes. We will mostly be on the sidewalk and driveway although there are some narrow stone walkways.

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Thursday, July 6, 2023. 5:30 pm. White Pine Chapter Field Trip, Stage Family Forest on Moscow Mountain ** Revised schedule **
Leader: Helen Stroebel, one of property owners
Carpooling - Meet at Mountain View Park parking lot by 5:00 pm.
White Pine Chapter of INPS is sponsoring this field trip July 6, 2023 to the Stage Family Forest on Moscow Mountain. This property has two important and rare habitats for our area, a restored Palouse Prairie grassland and an open pine savannah forest that was recently burned in a wildfire. Helen Stroebel will share how these two habitats are doing and how they are being managed.

On August 30, 2021, a fire that started east of Moscow burned cross country and up onto the lower flanks of West Twin Peak, which is part of the Moscow Mountain Complex. It burned across various properties and would likely have continued, but its progress was slowed when it reached a thinned stand of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir owned by the Stage Family Forest LLC. Firefighters were able to contain it there and to extinguish it. The Stage Family Forest LLC has been under a Conservation Easement since 2003; the easement allows for active forest management to foster open stands of large ponderosa pine. Approximately 25 acres of their land under the Conservation Easement burned, but most of the larger trees survived the fire. During this field trip, we will visit the forest postburn. We will also visit an old field restored to Palouse prairie, which was partially impacted by the fire or by fire control efforts. This is a rare opportunity to see how these two habitats are doing almost two years after wildfire.

We will carpool for this field trip. Please meet at Mountain View Park’s parking lot at 5:00 pm. Remember to bring drinking water and hiking poles if you use them. This field trip, which will require a fair amount of walking, some on trails, but some on uneven ground, is expected to end by 7:30 pm.

All are welcome.

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Saturday, July 8, 2023. 10:00 am. White Pine Chapter Field Trip, UI Experimental Forest
jointly offered with Calypso Chapter, INPS
Leaders: Judy Ferguson, Derek Antonelli, Nancy Miller
Carpool: 9 am, Moscow Rosauers parking lot (north side of building marked parking slots near pharmacy drive through)

We will leave at 9:15 am. It will take about 35 minutes via US95 to Potlatch then via SH6 to near Harvard where we turn onto US-9 (Harvard-Deary Road). The entrance to the Forest Road 4713 (Flat Creek West Gate Road) is 4 miles after the turn onto SH-9.

We plan to meet members of Calypso Chapter of INPS at Road 4713 gate at 10:00 am. We will also meet Rob Keefe, Director of the UI Experiment Forest, at 10:00 am at the 4713 gate. He will unlock the gate and will take us to the Hemlock SMA and talk to us about various aspects of the UIEF. We are excited to see the Hemlock SMA as it is atypical habitat for this area. Then Derek will lead us on a hunt for a species that is found in North Idaho but has only one known occurrence in Latah County - on the UIEF: Geocaulon lividum. Ron Mahoney submitted a location for it in 1974. He found it in a pocket of subalpine fir/Oregon boxleaf (Paxistima myrsinites) habitat near the 4713 road. Derek will also lead us on a hunt for ferns. We will compile a species list of what we find.

Remember to bring your lunch, drinking water, a hat, and hiking poles if you use them. This field trip will require a fair amount of walking, most on good road. But, for those who want to search for Geocaulon lividum please be prepared to walk on uneven ground. (For those who enjoy birdwatching, a bonus is the number of bird species found on this Unit. You might want to bring binoculars as well as a hand lens for the plants. We found it useful to have Merlin's Sound Id app on our iPhone and Android smartphones.)

All are welcome.

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Thursday, September 21, 2023. 7:00 pm PDT, White Pine Chapter
Presenter: Nan C. Vance, Research Plant Physiologist, USDA Forest Service retired
Program: More than bees - why other insects matter
In person presentation and ZOOM virtual presentation
In person location: Lecompte Auditorium, 2nd floor, 1912 Center, Moscow, Idaho
Zoom link can be viewed on attached flyer and will also be sent in member email.

This visual talk is a result of Nan's retirement which has allowed her to hang out with native plants and their many associates. Armed with a camera and insatiable curiosity, she has examined not only plants of our region but some key visitors and their interesting behaviors. Through photos she will introduce us to some favorites all found within a radius of 100 miles: flowers and their friends: bees, wasps, flies and even a photogenic beetle that may have no redeeming qualities, except... Hope you enjoy.

Nan was formerly research lead of Biology and Culture of Forest Plants Team at PNW Research Station, Corvallis, OR. She served on graduate faculty Forest Science Department and Plant Science Programs at Oregon State University. Her publications covered plant physiology and ecology, pollination ecology, and restoration research in the inland northwestern US. Nan continues to study interesting and rare plants, insects and their relation to plants with the help of field photography. Because a changing climate places increasing pressure on remaining natural habitats she advocates for better understanding and support of natural habitats and processes that influence insects and their association with plants.

Flyer Nan Vance Presentation
Please post to help us publicize this event.

No recording is available: "More than bees - why other insects matter" was presented on September 21, 2023. Nan C. Vance, Research Plant Physiologist, USDA Forest Service (retired) gave such an interesting presentation about native plants and their many associated bees, beetles, other insects. Nan had some fascinating stories with excellent photographs. WE ARE SORRY THAT NO RECORDING IS AVAILABLE.

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Saturday, September 23, 2023. Volunteer Opportunity Location: Planting native shrubs at Harvest Park Food Forest with Moscow Parks and Recreation Department
Contact: Mark Heinlein by email

All are welcome.

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Sunday, October 8, 2023. White Pine Chapter Memorial Planting and Chapter Annual Meeting
Location: Idler's Rest
Contact: Penny Morgan for more information by email

Time: about 2 pm: Planting native plants at Idler's Rest for Marjory Stage Memorial

Time: about 4-5:30 pm: Annual Meeting of White Pine Chapter of INPS at Idler's Rest

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Thursday, October 12, 2023. 7:00 pm PDT, White Pine Chapter
Presenters: Penny Morgan, White Pine Chapter President, and Debbie Kadlec, Landscape Planner
Program: Homegrown National Park Discussion along with Tips for Establishing Native Plant in the Fall
In person presentation
In person location: Lecompte Auditorium, 2nd floor, 1912 Center, Moscow, Idaho
Zoom presentation cancelled.

Intrigued? Skeptical? Supportive? Homegrown National Park is an effort led by Doug Tallamy, an entomologist concerned about the loss of insects and songbirds. He advocates replacing some (not all) of the lawns in our yards across the nation with native plants and connecting these habitats together to benefit pollinators and people. Please watch the following recorded presentation before the meeting. Palouse Conservation District, Educational Archive, Networks for Life with Doug Tallamy. It is 50 minutes long with additional questions. Then, come to the meeting ready for lively discussion about his ideas. We will follow with tips for establishing native plants in the fall from seeds and transplants. We will have native plant seeds for you to spread in your yard.

Penny Morgan loves native plants and fostering biodiversity. She is a retired professor of fire ecology at the University of Idaho.

Debbie Kadlec is a landscape planner with years of experience working with people to create beautiful, healthy yards and gardens with both native and non-native plants.

Zoom presentation cancelled. Please attend at 1912 Center.

Flyer Homegrown National Park Presentation
Please post the flyer to help us publicize this event.

Recording and PDF available: A PDF of the Powerpoint slides for the first part of the presentation (including the presenters' notes) is available at Home Grown National Park Tips for Fall.

A very lively in-person discussion was not recorded about the video people watched before the meeting (go to Palouse Conservation District, Educational Archive, Networks for Life with Doug Tallamy or see link to the video above).

The second part of the presentation was recorded and can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Tips for Establishing Native Plants in the Fall by Penny Morgan

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Thursday, November 16, 2023. 7:00 pm PST. White Pine Chapter Meeting
Location: Lecompte Auditorium, 2nd floor, 1912 Center, Moscow, Idaho
Program: Pocket Prairies: Leveraging Small Urban Spaces as Vital Habitat and Seedbanks for Native Plants
In person presentation only, no ZOOM. It may be recorded for later upload to web.
Presenter: Chris Duke, Phoenix Conservancy

Three major issues threaten the future of Palouse Prairie, 1) A chronic shortage of native plants and seeds, 2) The ecosystem's own obscurity, and 3) Low availability of regular funding for restoration projects. Thanks in part to initial funding from the White Pine Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society,The Phoenix Conservancy (TPC) is addressing these issues through their Pocket Prairie project. By reestablishing native plants within the urban fabric of the Palouse, even the smallest yard or unused piece of land can become a vital island of habitat. These Pocket Prairies confer vital ecosystem services, create easily-accessible seed sources for ongoing restoration, greatly increase awareness of Palouse Prairie and native plants, and provide a regular source of funding for TPC's restoration projects around the Palouse. In this talk, Chris Duke will discuss this pragmatic approach for building a restoration engine to secure a future for critically endangered Palouse Prairie (and how early support from the Chapter helped make it possible).

Dr. Chris Duke holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Washington State University, a M.S. in Biology from Syracuse University, a BS in Zoology from Western Washington University. Chris is currently serving as the Executive Director for The Phoenix Conservancy. One of the co-founders of TPC, Chris has worked in the field and taught science at all levels across North and South America. His love of rainforests and passion for restoring degraded ecosystems stems from more a than a decade of global travel, and is a driving force behind his work with the TPC organization. Under Chris's direction as Executive Director since July 2020, The Phoenix Conservancy has grown exponentially despite unprecedented times, greatly increasing TPC's ability to restore endangered ecosystems each year.

Flyer Pocket Prairies: Leveraging Small Urban Spaces as Vital Habitat and Seedbanks for Native Plants

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Pocket Prairies: Leveraging Small Urban Spaces as Vital Habitat and Seedbanks for Native Plants by Chris Duke.

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December No presentation

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Thursday, January 18, 2024. 7:00 pm PST. White Pine Chapter Meeting
Program: Superbloom 2023
Presenter: Pam Brunsfeld
Location: Lecompte Auditorium, 2nd floor, 1912 Center, Moscow, ID

Presentation: The Mojave Desert of southern California experienced an exceptional "Superbloom" in March and April 2023. Pam Brunsfeld will share her visit to this area which included visits to the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve and Carrizo Plain showing photos of millions of annual flowers in bloom simultaneously.

Pam Brunsfeld has been a professional botanist for 50 years. She is the retired Director of the University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium, Systematic Botany instructor, Forest Service botanist, and currently owner of Brunsfeld Botanical consulting firm. Since her retirement in 2014 she has visited the Southwest deserts every year to learn a new flora and has been able to witness three superblooms. All are welcome.

Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Brunsfeld Superbloom

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Superbloom by Pam Brunsfeld

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Thursday, February 15, 2024. 7:00 pm White Pine Chapter Meeting
Program: The Ecological Importance of Mature Juniper Woodlands
Presenters: Eva Strand and Steve Bunting, Professors of Rangeland Ecology, University of Idaho
Physical location: Lecompte Auditorium on the 2nd floor of the 1912 Center in Moscow, Idaho

Stands of mature juniper woodland are rare on the landscape, but they contribute unique habitats for wildlife and add landscape level diversity throughout the Great Basin, U.S.A. Juniper grow slowly in the semi-arid western mountains, but they can become over 1000 years old. The oldest juniper tree is estimated to be over 3000 years in age. Prior to Euro-American settlement wildfire was more common in the landscape and the mature juniper stands were often located in rocky outcrops, plateaus between canyons, or other areas that were fuel limited or protected from fire spread.

The presenters have collectively conducted research in Idaho's juniper woodlands for three decades. They have published research documenting plant communities along successional gradients as sagebrush vegetation transitions to juniper woodlands including those plants unique to old-growth juniper. The presentation is illustrated with photos of some of Idaho's oldest trees.

All are welcome.
Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Mature Juniper Woodlands

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Mature Juniper Woodlands by S. Bunting and E. Strand

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Thursday, March 21, 2024. 7 pm PDT, White Pine Chapter Meeting
Program: Breeding and Raising White Pine Blister Rust Resistant Tree Seedlings
Location: Lecompte Auditorium, 2nd floor, 1912 Center, Moscow, Idaho
Presenter: Aram Eramian, Superintendent of the Coeur d'Alene Nursery, USFS

This presentation will primarily be about how the Nursery supports the US Forest Service Region 1 Genetic Resource Program in providing rust resistant Western White Pine and Whitebark Pine seedlings for reforestation and restoration programs. There will be a brief discussion of the history of the program and how blister rust was introduced.The bulk of the talk will be about testing candidate trees for White Pine and Whitebark Pine and how we produce seedlings for outplanting on lands managed by the Forest Service, Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. Additionally, he will discuss the production of native species for restoration purposes.

Aram Eramian has an extensive Forest Service career concentrating mostly in silviculture and fire ecology. He came to the Coeur d’Alene Nursery in 1992 and served as the Tree Improvement program manager for 11 years, Bareroot Production manager for 13 years before assuming the Nursery Superintendent role in 2016. Someone once told him "your career finds you". Aram thinks he understands that now.

All are welcome.

Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Raising White Pine Rust Resistant Seedlings

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Raising White Pine Rust Resistant Seedlings by Aram Eramian

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Thursday, April 18, 2024. 7:00 pm. White Pine Chapter Meeting
Program: Converting a Wheat Field into Palouse Prairie
Location: Lecompte Auditorium, 2nd floor, 1912 Center, Moscow, Idaho
Presenter: Tom Besser

Tom will walk us through his attempt to reconstruct Palouse Prairie on a few acres of a former wheat field. His project was initially seeded in September 2017 and so is about to start its 7th growing season. Why did they do it? How did they go about it? Which aspects went well and which not so well? Are invasive weeds going to do it in? He hopes this presentation will celebrate the beauty and resiliency of the native plant community as seen through the eyes of a non-botanist.

Tom is a retired WSU researcher in veterinary microbiology. He first became interested in native plants through chance encounters with native bunchgrass prairie remnants then later through participating in field trips and seeing presentations sponsored by the White Pine Chapter INPS and the Palouse Prairie Foundation. This project wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of the dedicated and passionate group of Palouse Prairie advocates who have done so much to write the educational materials and build the physical resources (seeds and equipment) that make projects like this possible.

All are welcome.
Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Converting a Wheat Field into Palouse Prairie

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Converting a Wheat Field into Palouse Prairie by Tom Besser

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Tuesday, May 7, 2024. White Pine Field Trip: Spring Flowers on Craig Mountain
** Postponed until Monday May 20 **
Hosts: Sally and Bruce Konen

Event postponed to Monday May 20 because of inclement weather forecast and few plants are blooming yet. Carpooling from Moscow: We will be leaving Moscow promptly at 8:00 a.m. from the Troy Highway side of the Eastside Marketplace on Monday, May 20. If you want to carpool from Moscow, meet us there by 7:50 a.m.

Directions: Take US-95 from Moscow to Sweetwater, Idaho (45 miles about 50 minutes), • Turn right onto Webb Road at Sweetwater (Webb Rd. is also known as Nez Perce County 506/ P2). • Travel 6 miles on Webb Road (do NOT turn onto Webb Ridge Rd) keep going on Webb Rd and turn left turn onto Waha Rd. • Travel 10.6 miles on Waha Rd and pull off at the turnout at Stagecoach Rd, which is about half a mile past Waha Lake. Sally and Bruce will rendezvous with us there. Try to pull in and leave room for other cars. It will take about one hour and 20 minutes from Moscow. Please plan to be there by 9:30 am.

Sally and Bruce have generously invited us to enjoy the spring flowers on their property on Craig Mountain. We hope you will join us for this enjoyable outing. Arrowleaf balsamroot, biscuitroot, and serviceberry are all currently blooming, so penstemon, anemone, and pussytoes should be starting to bloom in early May. Please bring drinking water and lunch. If you are interested in birds, bring your binoculars. Please wear sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Folks coming from the Lewiston area: please take the route which will get you to the pullout at Stagecoach Road. We will meet there at about 9:30 a.m.

Questions: reply to this email. Judy Fulkerson is the chapter contact.

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May15-18, 2024 Annual White Pine Native Plant Sale
As with last year's sale it will include shrub reserve opportunity, online sale with in-person pickup, followed by an in-person sale
Location: Latah County Fairgrounds Depot Building
Full details including the availability list, preview URL, and detailed instructions will be available on the chapter website about May 5. INPS White Pine Chapter website

The list of plant species that will be available in our 2024 plant sale will be posted on the event calendar and on the www.whitepineinps.org home page by Friday, May 3. It will be refreshed every few days so please check back for updates.

2024 Availability List.pdf

Over 4000 plants and over 100 native species will be available.

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Sunday, May 25, 2024 Whitepine Chapter Field trip. Wetland and Basalt Upland Field Trip
Hosts: Christine McDonald and Tara Oar.
Location: 2901 Brayton Road, Pullman, WA 99163 (McDonald)

Carpooling: We will meet along the south side of the Palouse Mall west of Chase bank to carpool at 9:30 on Saturday, May 25. It should take about half an hour to get to the west side of Pullman to the sites.

Christine and Tara are neighbors. Both are interested in native plants. Christine and her husband are restoring wetland habitat, and Tara and her husband are cherishing a remnant of basalt upland. We have been invited to see both on a field trip May 25.

Tara and her husband bought a house with a remnant of Palouse grassland over a basalt substrate. In the spring, this remnant was alive with wildflowers, arrowleaf balsamroot, biscuitroot and many others. Like every other plot of land, it also has weed encroachment, but because of the basalt these are primarily annual weeds. They do not want to use chemical control. They are protecting their prairie remnant from disturbance and construction.

Christine and her husband started the restoration of about 180 feet of wetland pond in 2022. They will be completing the planting this spring. They started by manually and mechanically removing reed canarygrass, bull thistle, and other weedy vegetation. They rescued native grass and forbs during the site preparation. In 2022, they planted soft rush, Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass and thick-headed rush. Sword-leaf rush, toad rush, fringed willowherb, lady's thumb, and marsh cudweed came in naturally. They transplanted several native species from other parts of their property. In 2023, they planted three species of native shrubs, Douglas spiraea, Douglas hawthorn and thinleaf alder. The goal of this project was to restore native vegetation along the bank of the wetland and the pond perimeter in order to increase species diversity for pollinators, amphibians, waterfowl, and other wildlife species that use the pond. The pond is eight to 10 feet deep year-round. They protect amphibians and other species by using nonchemical methods to control invasive species.

Please bring sturdy shoes, something to drink and a snack.

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Monday, June 10, 2024. White Pine Native Plant Yard Tours
Time: 4:00pm-7:00pm

Locations: Please see the starting locations in text below

We invite you to see examples of local landscaping using native plants. Get ideas and gain inspiration on how you might use native plants to benefit pollinators and birds, conserve water, and add beauty and diversity.

Visit one of these locations below to see the gardens and to pick up a list of additional private and public gardens to visit. The private gardens are available ONLY June 10th (4:00-7:00 PM). Knowledgeable guides will be there to answer your questions.

Location 1 (831 S Hayes St., Moscow). Steve Bunting and Penny Morgan have reconstructed Palouse Prairie in their yard as they have removed the lawn. Blooming flowers amid the bluebunch wheatgrass with ponderosa pine in the background mimic Palouse Prairie vegetation. Parking is limited on this narrow one-way section of Hayes Street, so we recommend parking on Lewis or 8th Streets. You can walk or drive to nearby yards, and drive to a pollinator walkway along D Street and a beautiful yard on the northeastern side of Moscow that features a mix of native and non-native plants.

Location 2 (804 East B St, Moscow). Kali and Kevin Armitage have loved having native plants in place of some lawn. The Phoenix Conservancy helped them remove sod and plant many native wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs on their corner lot, much to the delight of people walking by and the bees and birds flying nearby. From there, you can drive to see garden beds bursting with life at a local school, a church, and a demonstration garden. Or walk the grounds of a nature center to see their native plants and a small native plant nursery.

Location 3 (406 Powers Ave., Moscow). Parents and students have an ambitious landscaping project in progress at the Palouse Prairie Charter School. They are creating learning environments as they develop the landscape around this new school building. Students are actively involved in planting, making identifying signs, and learning from observation.

Visit these public spaces at this or other times on your own:
See the native pollinator planting at the flagpole at the Moscow Federal Building (220 E. 5th St.) at any time. Staff from the Latah Soil and Water Conservation District noticed the lack of native plants around the building and planted the site in 2016. They have recently added native plants to the flowerbeds on the south side of the building.

The Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center (2720 W. Pullman Rd., Moscow) has a collection of native plants from the Palouse. All native plants in the courtyard behind the museum were labeled through an INPS White Pine Chapter grant. Visit the courtyard during the museum’s open hours (NOT OPEN MONDAYS). Enter the Museum and then go into the courtyard beyond. There is no charge, but donations are welcome.

Please bring a friend. You are welcome to share this email with others. Please print the poster and put it someplace where others will see it.

Poster link: Yard Tours poster

I hope that these yards will inspire you with ideas, for they are all quite different and fascinating. We've enjoyed getting them ready for you!

Penny Morgan, President, White Pine Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society

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Friday, June 14, 2024 thru Monday, June 17, 2024. INPS Statewide Annual Meeting, hosted by Calypso Chapter.
Location: Farragut State Park on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille
Updated information can be found on the Statewide Annual Meeting webpage. 2024 INPS Statewide Annual Meeting
The registration form can be filled out and mailed with a check to the Calypso chapter to ensure your participation. It is possible a Paypal option will be added in the near future.

All are welcome.

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Friday, June 21, 2024 thru Sunday, June 23, 2024. 17th annual Idaho Botanical Foray, hosted this year by Idaho State University Herbarium with help from Sawabi Chapter.
Location: Malad Summit area near the Utah / Idaho border

Updated information will be available on the Idaho Botanical Foray facebook page. It also may be mailed out when finalized.
Contact Paul Allen of Sawabi Chapter for more information by email.
All are welcome.

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Saturday, June 22, 2024. 3:00 - 6:00 pm. White Pine Chapter Field Trip
Palouse Prairie Reconstructed on a Wheat Field
Location: 3443 Foothill Rd, Moscow, Idaho, limited parking
For carpooling, meet at Moscow Rosauer's parking lot east side at 2:45 pm.
Leaders: Tom Besser and Kathy Potter

Two hundred years ago, much of the land between the Clearwater River and Spokane, west of the forested Rocky Mountain foothills, was Palouse Prairie. One hundred years later, tillable prairie land had been completely converted to agriculture due to its outstanding ability to support wheat crops. One hundred years after that, in 2018, Tom Besser and Kathy Potter planted three and a half acres of this wheatland with Palouse Prairie seeds to try to reconstruct a bit of Palouse Prairie. This field trip is an opportunity to see the results to date, in the 7th growing season after planting. As of the end of May, it is looking great with diverse flowering plants and lush bunchgrasses.

Meet near the Rosauer's sign on the east side of the Moscow Rosauer's parking lot at 2:45 pm to arrange carpooling, then caravan to the Besser/Porter home at 3443 Foothill Rd. Limited parking is available in the Besser/Potter driveway, but those comfortable with walking in the driveway should park just across the street at the MAMBA Headwaters trailhead parking area. To reach the prairie planting from their home will require climbing a couple flights of stairs followed by a short, smooth, but uphill path. Footing is irregular in the project area and may be obscured by vegetation. A mowed path around the periphery of the prairie is a bit smoother and footing visibility is better. Wear sturdy shoes and bring your walking sticks if you use them.

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Thursday, October 17, 2024. 7:00 pm PDT. White Pine Chapter Regular Meeting and Membership Annual Meeting
Speaker: Derek Antonelli, botanist, president of Calypso Chapter of INPS
Location: Lecompte Auditorium, 2nd Floor, 1912 Center, 412 E. 3rd St., Moscow, Idaho

Derek Antonelli is a well-known botanist in North Idaho. He is also the President of INPS Calypso Chapter in Coeur d'Alene, and he is the Lead for the North Idaho Rare Plant Working Group. He will present a program on identification of north Idaho wetland plants, including several willows and the rare water howellia Howellia aquatilis

This presentation will be in-person. It will hopefully be recorded and uploaded to our Chapter YouTube channel at a later date. An email will be sent out when that recording is available.

Please print and post a flyer to help publicize this event. Antonelli poster

Recording is available: The recorded presentation can be found on the chapter YouTube channel Identification of Idaho Wetland Plants by Derek Antonelli Program is free and open to all.

Attention White Pine Chapter members - please plan to come at 6:00 pm. for a short membership meeting and pizza. Please supply your own non-alcoholic beverages. Plates and napkins will be provided by the chapter.

PREF Creek May 0501012: Western white pine at
Priest River Experimental Forest taken by Russell Graham.