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.