Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Welcome spring with Idaho?s wildflowers

Walks celebrate region?s flora and fauna


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

Wildflowers in the south valley. Photo by Chris Pilaro

The most welcoming sign of spring are the wildflowers that pop-up around the region's prairies and woodlands. Celebrating Idaho's natural beauty are a variety of scheduled walks sponsored this month and next by the Idaho Native Plant Society, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and The Nature Conservancy at Silver Creek Preserve.

This is the first year that Idaho is commemorating Native Plant Week, which began April 28 and ends May 5.

"The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of native plants in the region," said Tess O'Sullivan, program manager for science and conversation for Lava Lake Ranch. "We have a great deal of diversity in the Wood River Valley and the surrounding regions. It's important for people to know there is a local chapter for the Native Plant Society because we are always looking for new members."

The Idaho Native Plant Society is sponsoring Native Plant Appreciation week in order to create awareness for the diverse plant species and native plant ecosystems, which are critical to the well being of the region's native wildlife and natural heritage.

"We want people to learn more about native plants and become more involved with local groups who are working to protect them," O'Sullivan said. "Incorporating native plants into the landscape benefits the ability to reduce and limit irrigation. They only need the natural precipitation that occurs."

In addition, native plants are ultimately cheaper to maintain and provide a greater sense of place. An annual meeting for the Native Plant Society will take place at Craters of the Moon National Monument on June 16 and 17, which is likely to coincide with the monument's phenomenal spring bloom of purple monkey flowers, yellow wild buckwheat and white bitterroot.

At the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, a Wildflower Walk in the Stanley area will allow interested naturalists the ability to see early spring wildflowers such as mountain bluebells, American bistort and camas as well as shooting star s.

"As you go north of the SNRA (visitors center, south of Stanley) there are some very large yellow and white blooms (arrowleaf balsamroot and wythia)," said the SNRA's Bernice Hartz. "It depends upon how fast things are warming up, but I tell everyone you have to be patient."

Hartz admits that there are not many visitors this time of year, but it's a great time to walk along the streambeds. The SNRA has a variety of wildflower books available to identify native plants and flowers and suggests participants bring a field book along for the walk.

The Nature Conservancy at Silver Creek Preserve will be offering a wildflower and bird walks later in May where natural Idaho wildflowers such as sego lily and lupine among other native spring flowers will be viewable.

"Spring is an incredible time to see birds on the preserve, and the wildflowers are beginning to bloom," said Dayna Smith, Silver Creek Preserve manager. "We hope people are able to join us and see for themselves why Silver Creek is considered one of the finest spring creeks in the world."

Silver Creek has set up a blog for more information about what is happening in the area, which can be accessed by visiting idahonaturenotes.blogspot.com.

Spring wildflower walks

- Idaho Native Plant Society will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Hailey Park and Ride on Thursday, May 3. For more details, call 720-7110 or visit idahonativeplants.org.

- Sawtooth National Recreation Area will begin a walk at 9:30 a.m. at the Overlook for Stanley Creek, 5 1/4 miles west of Stanley on Hwy. 21, on Thursday, May 3. For more details, call, (208) 774-3000.

- The Silver Creek Preserve, 3 miles east of Picabo, will offer a wildflower and bird walk on May 19 at Silver Creek. For more details, call (208) 788-7910.




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