Phlox Phlyer
Volume 21, Number 2 November 2015
the
Columbia Basin Chapter, Washington Native Plant Society
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P.O. Box 221, Richland, WA 99352
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www.cbwnps.org
Access to Rattlesnake Mountain The US Fish and Wildlife Service manages the portion of the Hanford Monument containing Rattlesnake Mountain. The 2015 Defense Appropriations Act includes a provision stating in part “The Secretary of the Interior shall provide public access to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain in the Hanford Reach National Monument for educational, recreational, historical, scientific, cultural, and other purposes, including--(1) motor vehicle access; and (2) pedestrian and other nonmotorized access.” The USFWS is asking the public for opinions and recommendation on how to implement this provision. The USFWS mission is to “Work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.” Rattlesnake Mountain and its surrounding slopes are amazing for their beauty and part of that beauty is provided by the wide diversity of plants across such a large area. Native plants are the “backbone” of natural habitats, providing food and shelter for everything from micro-organisms and insects to large mammals. But that “backbone” is fragile, susceptible to fires, invasive weeds, and being loved to death. The board of the Columbia Basin Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society feels very strongly that however the USFWS decides to allow access, one of their highest priorities needs to be protection of native plants and habitats. Whatever your opinion, we hope you’ll provide your comments by NOVEMBER 13 to USFWS. You can find additional information on providing your comments at http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/2015/2015-24193.html.
The Heritage Garden Program – Fall Lecture Series (Free) Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Richland Library (955 Northgate Drive; Richland WA). Registration deadline November 5, to print out a form go to: http://bit.ly/1jqAS3z , to register online go to http://bit.ly/1P29hSd or contact Erin Hightower at 509-736-6000. The series will feature talks by: Gail Redberg ~ Umatilla Tribal Native Plant, Bruce Bjornstad ~ Geologist, and Pamela Pavek ~ United States Department of Agriculture Plant Materials Center
Photographing WSU Herbarium Specimens – Mickie Chamness and Gretchen Graber
Many thanks to everyone that helped photograph herbarium specimens at WSU this month! We photographed all of the WSU collection and part of the PNNL collection. The equipment has to be returned, but we’ll borrow it again in a few months and finish the job. Let Mickie know if you would like to participate.
2016 WNPS Native Plant Calendar. Enjoy the beauty of Washington’s wildflowers
throughout 2016 with our WNPS calendar. The 2016 Calendar offers 13 months of terrific photos and a whole year of floral splendor. Buy one for yourself and some for those on your gift list. Calendars may be purchased at chapter meetings this fall and winter, or you may buy online with a credit card, or send in the order form at the end of the newsletter. 1