Native Plants Fuel the Hummingbird Highway

North Central Washington is on the map for migrating neotropical Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds, as they fly thousands of miles from their wintering habitats in the mountains of Western Mexico northward, as far north as southern Alaska. During migration they fly during the day, and use early mornings and late evenings to fuel up on nectar, insects, and sugar water in feeders. Abundant nectar-producing flowers on early-blooming native shrubs like Serviceberry and Currents offer critical calories that fuel long-distant flight. Continue Reading →

70 Days in the Life of One Balsamroot

As I walk, I often think about this resilient and wide-spread native plant, that is found throughout the western U.S at a wide variety of elevations. You can still find fresh flower blooms on plants growing at 3000″ in mid-June in the Wenatchee Mountain while the mid-June Wenatchee Foothills plants have already shed their ripe seeds. Continue Reading →

Curious About … Serviceberry?

For just a short week in early April, the ravines in the Wenatchee Foothills are bursting with serviceberry blossoms. Continue Reading →

Curious About … Blooming Balsamroot?

Arrowleaf balsamroot is a long-lived perennial wildflower that blooms in the shrub-steppe. Many animals and insects use it for food and it is adapted to re-grown after wildfire. Continue Reading →

What’s in a Name: Why Our Region Has So Many Names for the Plant Communities

Depending on who’s talking, our landscape is called by many names:  the Columbia Plateau, the Columbia Basin Eco-region, Arid Lands, the Shrub-steppe Ecosystem, or simply, the sagebrush grassland.  Surprising, all Continue Reading →

Antoine Etienne and the flora of Etienne Creek

Register now for Don Schaechtel’s ZOOM talk for the Wenatchee Valley Chapter, Washington Native Plant Society on Feb. 2, 2022, at 7pm. The society’s mission is to promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington’s native plants and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy. The Wenatchee Valley Chapter invites the public to attend as a kick-off for Black History Month. Continue Reading →

Milkweed Mindfulness

Today’s guest bloggers have both been inspirated by showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), a native wildflower that grows in abundance along the Horan Natural Area trails. These encounters independently inspired Wenatchee writer Glen Carlson and photographer Bruce McCammon to create art generously shared and paired here. Continue Reading →