* Sunday, May 15th, 10AM – 5PM. Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Wildflower Festival. Festival activities include an expansive wildflower display inside the White Oak Pavilion, live music, guided nature walks by local naturalists, local food, arts and crafts vendors, The Art in Nature Trail. Emerald Chapter is a co-sponsor of this event and all members are invited to help prepare for this important event - see details. Tickets are available here.

* Friday, May 20th, 7:30PM - 9:30PM. Siskiyou Plant Communities. Presenter: Lauren Hallett. Serpentine systems, like those found in the Klamath-Siskiyous of Southwest Oregon, host rich plant communities with a high degree of endemicity. Lauren Hallett, assistant professor in the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Oregon, will discuss the unique management challenges facing serpentine ecosystems in the context of global change. This talk is co-sponsored with Eugene Natural History Society. ZOOM LINK.

* Saturday, April 30th, 10AM - Noon. Zumwalt Park. Leader: Ed Alverson. Join Ed for a spring wildflower tour of Zumwalt Park, a 74 acre Lane County Park located along the southern part of Fern Ridge Reservoir near Veneta. Zumwalt Park is a relatively undeveloped park on the shores of Fern Ridge Reservoir, and mowing of some open grassy areas is delayed to allow the native prairie species such as camas to bloom and set seed. We will explore the park’s remnant prairie flora as well as younger conifer forest. Location: Meet at the south entrance to the park at the end of Vista Drive. To get to the park from Eugene, go west on Hwy 126 toward Veneta, turn right on Ellmaker Rd., then right on Vista. To sign up, please register here.

* Wednesday, May 4th, 1PM – 2PM. Laurelwood Bog. Leader: Hugh Prichard The Laurelwood Bog is a native plant restoration project in its 11th year, located on the northwest corner of Laurelwood Golf Course. Hugh Prichard, co-owner with the city of Eugene, has planted 147 species of native plants, many of which are in full bloom. Hugh has offered to lead us on a guided tour to explain his transformation from weedy hillside to native plant demonstration area. The best access for this tour is through the front garden at 2671 Emerald St., in Eugene. Please park on the street and walk down the circular gravel drive. We’ll meet in the carport which also serves as an antique sign museum. Paths are well-barked; there is no need for waterproof boots but ground can be uneven. To sign up, please register here.

* Wednesday, May 18th, 5PM – 7:30PM. Dorris Ranch Weekday Walk. Leaders: Dave Predeek and Fraser McDonald. Amble along the Willamette Middle Fork Trail for a short distance and then tour the replanted hazelnut orchards with Fraser McDonald of Willamalane Park and Recreation District. We will cover about 3 miles over relatively flat ground. Dress for the weather. Wear adequate walking shoes. Bring drinking water. No sign-up needed.

* Saturday, May 21th, 1PM – 2PM. Museum of Natural and Cultural History Native Plant Garden. The property surrounding this museum, on the University of Oregon campus, bears an excellent native plant garden that is little known to the community. In partnership with the museum, Emerald Chapter members will be leading this short walk in and around the museum's Glenn Starlin Native Plant Courtyard. With over forty species, the courtyard offers a rich array of plant life that have provided nutrition and material for tools, shelter, and more for millennia. This is the first of a monthly series of walks at this location. Limited free parking is in a designated lot located just west of the mammoths on East 15th Avenue, and metered parking is available on the street. The address is 1680 East 15th Avenue on the U of O campus in Eugene. Sign-up is not needed, and the tour is free to NPSO members.

* Saturday, June 4th, 9AM – 5PM. Konnie Memorial Park in Swisshome. Leader: Ed Alverson. Konnie Memorial Park is in the heart of the Coast Range near Swisshome. This 145 acre park is located along the lower reaches of Lake Creek just above its confluence with the Siuslaw River. The park supports coastal rain forest communities as well as interesting habitats along rock outcrops and open river banks. Meet at South Eugene High School (parking lot corner of 19th and Patterson) at 9:00 am to carpool for this all day trip. Bring lunch and water and be prepared for off-trail walking. Sign up here.

* Saturday, June 18th, 9AM – Noon. Coyote Prairie. Leader: Diane Steeck. Visit the west Eugene wetlands in the height of bloom and look for rare birds and butterflies too. Diane was our speaker in February and highlighted many parks within city limits. This is one of Diane's favorite wetland prairie restoration sites and she's looking forward to sharing this special place with us. Meet at South Eugene High School parking lot (19th and Patterson) at 9:00 am to carpool. Wear hiking boots (clean - no weed seeds), and bring water, snacks and appropriate clothing for the weather. There is no trail at the site, so be prepared for uneven ground. We should be done with the trip by noon. Sign up here.

* Saturday, June 25th, 9AM – 5PM. Bristow Prairie. Leader: Tanya Harvey. Bristow Prairie is an area of great diversity in the Calapooya Mountains. The little-used High Divide trail runs south through old-growth forest, meadows and wetlands, and crosses a gorgeous south-facing rocky slope that is filled with colorful flowers in June and July before reaching Bristow Prairie. Depending upon the conditions and what is in bloom, we may follow the trail or we may start at the prairie and wander over to the rock garden area after looking at the multitude of interesting plants growing along the roadside. Meet at South Eugene High School parking lot (19th and Patterson) at 9:00 am to carpool. Bring lunch and water and be prepared for off-trail walking. For more info, including trip reports and a plant list, visit this website. Sign up here.

*PLEASE NOTE* - You can watch Emerald Chapter's recent program on how to use the iNaturalist app here. You can also view other previously recorded NPSO Emerald Chapter Programs here.