Presenter: Kira Taylor, Naturalist 

Tucked away in the northern reaches of Oregon's Coast Range, the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are an underappreciated wonder. In this presentation Kira Taylor, a long-time Coast Range resident and naturalist, shares some of her favorite hikes in the Tillamook and Clatsop, and the native plants found growing along these trails. She'll also touch on the history of these lands, from the formation of the Coast Range, through the Tillamook Burn, to their designation as State Forests. Highlighting additional resources, Kira provides the tools to plan your own hikes into this spectacular region.

Zoom Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArdO6vrDkoHtdqD4FBGLMQe0mZC1rLt5Yi

Presenter: Dane Miller, Data Analytics Trainer, Quaternary Paleobotanist

In 2010, during the construction of a reservoir near Snowmass Village, Colorado, bones of mammoth and other extinct species and a rich assemblage of vertebrate, plant, and other fossils were unearthed. Miller takes us on an insider’s journey into the intriguing and revealing world of paleontological and paleobotanical specimens found at the site, especially fossil conifers and their cones. His research on conifer macrofossils provides insights into the successional forest stages throughout the Pleistocene in Colorado. The Snowmass discovery offers insights into poorly understood climatic and ecological changes during the late Pleistocene at high elevations. 

Register here for the program. You'll receive an email with a link to join the session. Save it. 

Presenter: Michael Kauffmann, Educator, Author, Ecologist 

The Klamath Mountains contain some of the most exceptional temperate plant communities in the world. Within its geographic boundaries, over 3,500 taxa (species, subspecies, and varieties) of vascular plants, 35 conifer species, and 20 species of oak occur. Michael Kauffmann will highlight the plant communities across the region as explored in his new book The Klamath Mountains: A Natural History, which will also be available to purchase. In addition to ten different communities, he will share photos of the rare and unusual plants that call these places home.

Register here for the program. You'll receive an email with a link to join the session. Save it. 

Presenter: David Lewis, PhD

Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Indigenous Studies, OSU

Dr. Lewis has done extensive research on tribal histories. As a specialist in the history of Kalapuyans and other western Oregon tribes, he has studied momentous change to the Willamette Valley with the arrival of European settlers. He has tracked the changes and will share how the loss of water and fire in the environment has created challenges to the tribes and others as they devise projects to restore landscapes today.

Dr. Lewis is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde and author of the recently-released Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley.

Register here for the program. You'll receive an email with a link to join the session. Save it. 

NPSO Portland Chapter board members will share highlights of their year, and ALL interested members are welcome to share photos and stories of their favorite trips and trails. Gather your best shots, whether camera or phone, amateur or professional, plants or people, and be prepared to talk (5 minutes max) while a slideshow of your photos moves across the screen. We'll do all the work! 

Email Cheryl at cbrock2545@gmail.com ASAP for instructions. Please have your photos to us by Wednesday Dec. 6. 

Please register below, whether you'll contribute photos or just watch the show.

Register 

Presenter: Jesse Miller, Washington State Rare Plant Botanist

Often overlooked, lichens are diverse, beautiful, and play critical roles in ecosystems. Currently, lichens face a number of ecological threats that make their future uncertain in the Pacific Northwest. Jesse will focus on the effects of wildfire and will discuss management strategies to keep our rare lichens on the landscape for the long term. He'll also talk about how community scientists can help by documenting lichen distribution.

Click here to register. 

Join Chapter President, Willow Elliott to envision and plan the way forward for NPSO as we seek new leadership in creative ways!

Register for the event here, and find more info about the discussion here.

Presenter: Dr. Christine Buhl, Entomologist for Oregon Department of Forestry

Learn to recognize and help slow the spread of the mega-destructive emerald ash borer. First sighted in Forest Grove in June 2022, the EAB has proven deadly to all ash species in North America, including Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia). Dr. Buhl will also talk about the Mediterranean oak borer, a new threat which poses a similar peril to our native oaks.

Click here to register.

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT ON ZOOM!

Dr. Derron Coles, Exec. Director of The Blueprint Foundation will tell us about the workforce development program that is intent on reconnecting Black youth to nature and diversifying the “green sector” through urban green space enhancement projects.

Register on Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udO6trj4pG93_FclCURY7Fn5oeoTY37xq
You will receive an email with a link to the event. Save it!

Gardens, even in urban areas, can be hotspots of biodiversity, and native plants play a key role in fostering that diversity. Join Portland garden writer and photographer Amy Campion for an exploration of some of the best natives to plant in your wildlife-friendly Northwest garden and learn about the fascinating insects they support.

Register on Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqcOyupjgrGNItrgaBe3QrK2Ykzc2xFpLS

You will receive an email with a link to the event. Save it!

Volunteer to become an NPSO PDX field trip leader!

Join us for our annual potluck followed by brainstorming our favorite hikes and explorations for the 2023 season. We will meet in Southwest Portland at the home on a chapter member—RSVP to npsopdxchapter@gmail.com and we’ll send you the address.

Plant expertise or experience not needed! We need you as an enthusiastic lover of native plants, a communicator, and an organizer. You can start as a co-leader mentored by other field trip leaders. If you don’t know the plants, you’ll get to know them soon enough. You’ll have plenty of help from our knowledgeable and enthusiastic participants who are uncritical, happy to share, and happy to be out in nature with you. Enrich your life and others’ lives, keep a tradition alive, and step up to help your chapter.

Contact us at npsopdxchapter@gmail.com if you have questions.

Bring a main, salad, or side dish to share. We’ll provide plates, utensils, beverages, and dessert.

Field trip leaders receive a 50% discount on NPSO T-shirts from our online store.

Sean and Kate introduce the Portland Botanical Gardens, an ambitious, nonprofit, multi-conservatory and multi-garden campus to be constructed in the Portland Metro area within the next 5 years. PBG will strive to serve as a resource in horticulture, climate research, and environmental justice. It will foster partnerships with international conservation organizations and local gardens to create a space where people connect, discover, and celebrate the beauty, strength, and resilience of plants.

REGISTER ON ZOOM:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlde2uqTsiEtE9xdJMc3DCxSIjK3TQlY7K
You'll receive an email with a link to join the session. SAVE IT.

Annual Members' Photo Show
....Including a Photographic Tribute to Russ Jolley on the anniversary of his 100th Birthday.

A longtime member has generously volunteered to produce this special online event. Amateur and professional, people and plants, camera or phone shots, all photographers are welcome. See what NPSO has been up to this year!

If you're an NPSO member and would like to submit photos, check your Calochortusnewsletter for instructions. Deadline is December 5. All are welcome to view this online event. Join NPSO

Register on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkdu2hpzgiGtHGBwynNw1DezadJVIpj3Hn
You'll receive an email with a link to join the session. SAVE IT.

Join current and future NPSO board members at Portland State University's Berry Seed Bank to learn about volunteering with the Portland Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon.

The chapter has five positions opening in February: President, Programs Chair, Field Trips Chair, Treasurer, Stewardship Chair, and Membership Chair.

Help us continue our mission to study, conserve, and enjoy Oregon's native plants. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP on Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/npso-portland/events/289512909/

Alexis Larsen from the Institute of Applied Ecology in Corvallis will speak on the Native Seed Network, a program dedicated to increasing awareness about selecting the right seed for large or small native plant projects. Her focus will be on the Institute's efforts to collect seed from native species for gene conservation and to develop seed farms that produce sufficient quantities to support large-scale restoration work.

NPSO Portland Chapter has no plans to cancel any event at this time. If you have COVID-19 concerns, please check here for recommendations.

NCPRD is dedicated to providing parks, trails, and recreation programs to boost the quality of life for the local community and public at large. The lands NCPRD manages include natural areas outside typical park settings. Elk Rock Island in the Willamette River (pictured here) and Mt. Talbert in Happy Valley are two examples. NPSO's Portland Chapter began partnering with the district on invasive plant monitoring and removal at these sites in 2019. Natural Areas manager Tonia Williamson will tell us about the successes and challenges of stewardship of these special places.

This will be a nice afternoon stroll in Forest Park to enjoy the outdoors and learn a little natural history. The Pacific Northwest is the land of evergreen trees, but can you tell them apart? Along this woodland trail are good examples of all four major northwest conifers. There are various size trees of each species so we can see everything from foliage details to how the mature crowns look at a distance. After this you'll surely recognize them planted around town but also on your next forest hike.

• What to bring
Rain gear, a ziplock bag to keep your mobile device dry, hand lens (I'll have extras to loan) and a rubber band for taking close-up pictures (I'll show you how), a bike if you have it.

• Important to know
The walk is easy, three miles total, 1.5 mile each way, only 200 ft elevation gain. Limited parking along neighborhood streets, so consider transit or bicycle. The trail is an old road bed, wide and good for slow biking. If there's heavy rain we'll reschedule, but a few showers just adds to the ambiance. Dress for the weather.
Sorry, no dogs. This is posted at the trailhead.