Plant rescues. As sub-divisions pop up around Missoula, we work with developers to salvage native plants. The rescues go to public restoration projects, our seed orchard at Fort Missoula, or to volunteers' private gardens.
Gardening with kids after school. The Flagship Program in Missoula provides meaningful activities for kids after school (when most high-risk behaviors are likely to take place, like experimentation with drugs or alcohol). Several days a week, we work with kids to grow native grasses and wildflowers at the Fort Missoula Conservation Nursery. The kids plant their creations at restoration sites around town, and help sell the plants at semi-annual fundraisers.
Weed pulls. We all know that Missoula has a bit of an invasive plant problem! We have several on-going, coordinated weed pulling projects around town. We try to intersperse weed pulling with plant identification lessons and good conversation and company.
Seeding after weed management activities. Getting rid of invasive species isn't enough. In late fall and early spring, we scatter wildflower and bunchgrass seeds on areas that have been pulled or sprayed.
2008 Schedule of Native Grassland Restoration Events
Bring water, gloves, rain gear, and wear hiking boots and come learn about prairie ecology while providing stewardship for Missoula's urban natural areas. For more information on any event, please call 327-0405.
Click here for directions to the Conservation Nursery.
Tuesday July 24, 7 p.m. Wildflower and Wild Grass Seed Collecting Workshop. Meet at the Nature Adventure Garden at Fort Missoula. Get the early bloomers: collect seeds of prairie smoke, june grass, and more. This is a great activity for children and families. Seeds will be used in local restoration efforts, and volunteers may take some home.
Tuesday August 7, 7 p.m. Knapweed-eating weevils! Meet at the Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory Street. Join us in the air-conditioned MNHC to learn about the knapweed root-boring weevil. High school students from Darby will explain how they raise the insects, and give you some little critters to take home for your own knapweed.
Tuesday August 21, 7 p.m. Wildflower and Wild Grass Seed Collecting Workshop. Meet at the Nature Adventure Garden at Fort Missoula. Get the late bloomers: collect seeds of yarrow, blanket flower and more. This is a great activity for children and families. Seeds will be used in local restoration efforts, and volunteers may take some home.
Saturday September 22, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Missoula Celebrates National Public Lands Day! We're celebrating this event one week early to avoid conflicts with the UM Homecoming festivities. A whole bunch of volunteer opportunities abound, thanks to the folks at Parks and Recreation. Volunteer duties include picking up trash, dog waste, and pulling weeds, depending on your site.
Meet at the park or natural area of your choice at 9:30:
M trail (meet at the base of the M trail)Tower Street Natural Area (meet at the trailhead/parking area)
Playfair Park (meet in the Splash Montana parking lot)
Jacob's Island Bark Park (meet at the entrance)
Kim Williams Trail (meet at the mail entrance, just NE of the UM stadium)
Mt Jumbo's L trail (meet at Cherry Street trailhead)
For more information contact
Jason at
552-6271,
jpignanelli@ci.missoula.mt.us
or visit
http://www.missoulaparks.org/national_public_lands_day.htm
Saturday September 29, 1 p.m. Mt Jumbo Prairie Restoration Davy. Give back to one of our most heavily used public areas by helping restore the fragile native prairies along the L trail. Pull knapweed, scatter seeds, and cover up eroding trails. Meet at the Cherry Street Trailhead, bring work gloves and water.
For more information on any event: Contact the Montana Natural History Center at 327-0405
