Montana's native plants and their communities
Phillips/Beardance Trail on Crane Mountain 9 am on Friday, May 15, near Bigfork Join Pat Jaquith to hike up to 6 miles on Trail #373 over varied terrain with a great assortment of colorful wildflowers. There are some steep sections, but we’ll be rewarded with great views of Flathead Lake. Bring water, lunch, and be […]
Mountain Bikes & Blooms Missoula Friday, May 15 - 5:30 pm Join us on for an evening mountain-bike ride to enjoy peak spring blooms! We’ll meet at 5:30 pm at Big Sky Bikes and bike to the Lincoln Hills-Mt. Jumbo trailhead. Or meet us at the Mt. Jumbo Trailhead around 6 pm. We plan to […]
Libby - Old Highway 2 trail Saturday, May 16 This low-elevation trail meanders through a mixed forested basin with minimal elevation gain, perfect for a relaxed outing. Along the way, we’ll explore the diversity of native and non-native plants, with a special focus on identifying spring wildflowers in bloom. The easy 2-to-3-mile trail offers beautiful […]
Paradise Valley - Hiking the Hogback Saturday, May 16 Climb the ridge trail atop this prominent geological feature on private land. The south face of this steep, knife-edged ridge hosts rocky, xeric plant communities, while the north side supports coniferous forest and associated understory plants. To sign up, contact leader Gretchen Rupp at beesgrmt@gmail.com or […]
Lion Creek trail - Condon Saturday, May 16, 9:30 am in the Swan Valley Take an easy hike up the Lion Creek Trail to view spring wildflowers with plant ecologist Maria Mantas. We'll visit open forests, shrubfields, and bedrock plant communities. Call Maria at 406-407-2045 for more information, to reserve a spot, and inquire about […]
Citizen Botany Revisit Survey for Clustered Lady Slipper - St. Regis Sunday May 17 – 9 am to 2 pm Are you curious about becoming a Citizen Botanist? Or already participating and want to join a group effort? Join Botanists Erynn McNeill and Ecologist & Clark Fork Chapter President Teagan Hayes on a rare plant […]
Tuesday, May 19, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Columbia Falls - Cedar Flats Trails -- FULL as of 5/14 Learn about forest plants and hunt for wildflowers on in our backyard, just north of town. The terrain is gentle, and our journey will be less than two miles. Limit 12 people. Contact Rachel Potter at […]
Berray Mountain - Noxon Saturday, May 23 This walk goes through a number of plant communities as you gain elevation. Last year, more than 35 species were recorded in bloom! Total distance of hike will depend on snow and the group's energy. Moderate, 4 miles total, elevation gain about 1,800 feet. Contact Eric Dickinson at […]
Monday, May 25, 6 pm to 8:30 pm Columbia Falls - Columbia Mountain Trail Join Ellen Horowitz for a 2½-hour evening wildflower walk. We’ll travel through a variety of habitat types, from moist forests to dry, open slopes. Expect an easy pace with lots of stops to view big, bold blossoms like balsamroot, and less […]
How to identify Prairie plants - Malta Tuesday, May 26 - time TBA Contact Kelsey Molloy for details about when & where.
“Butte Tough” Flora May 26 at 6 pm - Butte We’ll visit several heavy-metal-contaminated sites around Butte to examine native plant species that have adapted to thrive under extreme soil conditions. We’ll assess metal concentrations in soils and associated plant species, providing real-time insight into the contamination levels these plants are tolerating. For more information […]
White Pine Creek - Trout Creek Saturday, May 30 Moderate walking for less than a half-mile -- there's no trail to follow and it’s a bit brushy. But once we arrive, we'll find some rather uncommon orchids. Based on where people are traveling from, we may carpool from Libby or just meet up in Trout […]
