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Crespi Lab July 2021

Native Plant Walk with Palouse Matters Group

Biology graduate students Alexis Sullivan and Rachel Berner, and Caretaker Lewis Payne, had a lovely time on a native plant walk with the Palouse Matters group to explore our Palouse Prairie remnant on Smoot Hill. We look forward to future visits!

Palouse Matters is a new program in the Washington State University Center for Environmental Research, Education, and Outreach, organized by an interdisciplinary team of WSU faculty. The program allows undergraduate students to explore the geologic, ecologic, social, and cultural history of the Palouse Prairie to foster a stronger connection to place. Dr. Jolie Kaytes is an associate professor in the School of Design and Construction and is leading the project. She and her colleagues hope to illustrate how engage students in conversation about what it means to be part of a community. To quote Jolie from her interview for the article by Eric Lozaga, Jolie highlights…

‘”Many students graduate from WSU unaware of the region’s histories, cultures, and ecologies, or their own relationship to this place,” she said. “It’s a place that can be overlooked.”

“Yet, deep study of the area can reveal much about issues and history of the American West, geological time, environmental degradation, and tribal injustices, she said. “They illustrate how social, cultural, and biophysical processes shape all places,” she added.’

See below for photos from our Native Plant Walk.

Nature Walk at Smoot Hill with the Idaho Native Plant Society White Pine Chapter

Biology graduate students Alexis Sullivan and Rachel Berner, and Caretaker Lewis Payne enjoyed a Native Plant Walk at Smoot Hill with the White Pine Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society. Together, we observed and identified native plants, learned about the natural history of the ecosystem, and shared some laughs over the summer blooms. Thank you for visiting us here at the Hudson Biological Reserve!

The Idaho Native Plant Society describes itself as “a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting interest in native plants and plant communities, and collecting and sharing information on all phases of the botany of native plants in Idaho. We seek to foster an understanding and appreciation of our native flora and to preserve this rich heritage for future generations.” The White Pine Chapter of the INPS is based in Moscow, Idaho. Follow these links to their website and social media for more information.

See below for photos from our Native Plant Walk.

Native Plant Walk at Smoot Hill with Idaho Master Naturalists Group

A group photo of participants from the native

The Idaho Master Naturalists Group visited the Hudson Biological Reserve for a Native Plant Walk with Caretaker Lewis Payne and WSU graduate students Alexis Sullivan and Rachel Berner. We had a great time looking at plants, and learning about the ecology and geology of Smoot Hill. We tried some Biscuitroot, Lomatium sp., a native plant and First Food for Indigenous tribes. This time of year many beautiful native plants are in bloom including Zigadenus venenosus S. Watson var. gramineus (Rydb.) Walsh ex M.E. Peck (Grassy death
camas), Calochortus elegans Pursh (Cat’s ear), and Helianthella uniflora (Nutt.) Torr. & A.Gray var. douglasii (Torr. & A.Gray) W.A.Weber (False sunflower). Thank you Lewis and Clark Chapter members, come visit us again soon!

With the goal to “develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to actively work toward stewardship of Idaho’s natural environment”, the Idaho Master Naturalists Program is organized by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. This program provides community members with the opportunity to attend 40 hours of education about Idaho’s natural world, Naturalists will volunteer their service to the community for 40 hours for conservation. Volunteering activities include “Citizen Science, Conservation Education, Administration, Habitat Stewardship, and Chapter Formation and Maintenance”. There are 8 chapters within Idaho located in Sandpoint, Lewiston, McCall, Nampa, Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and Island Park. Their website states, “Anyone who enjoys and appreciates Idaho’s outdoors can be an Idaho Master Naturalist; teachers, hunters, recreationists, farmers, retired professionals, and . . . you!”

See below for photos from our Native Plant Walk.