Come Learn about Grizzly Bears
You’re invited to join us online Thursday, November 4th for a family friendly presentation and film “Why Bears?” with Dr. Chris Servheen. Continue Reading →
Admiring Aspen
Most of us come home from an outing in the Wenatchee Watershed with new questions that begin with “Why?” Recently, my “Why” was preceded by “Wow,” in response to seeing the golden beauty of an aspen grove, encountered amidst the rich greens of conifer-clad mountainsides, on a bluebird mid-October day. I wondered, why are some aspen leaves tinged with a pinky-red, yet most are a vivid gold? Continue Reading →
It’s time to fill your Nature Prescription
The Wenatchee Naturalist Fall eNews offers ways for you to fill your Nature Prescription to bring joy, learning, and mindfulness to your days. Continue Reading →
Forest Foragers of Whitebark Pine Seeds
September is peak conifer cone ripeness throughout the western U.S for dozens of species of pines, firs, and spruces. Locally, in the upper reaches of the Icicle River watershed, whitebark pinecones project from the tops of trees. The cones are deep red and covered in resin so they glisten in the sun. The seeds are large and desirable food sources for a variety of native wildlife. 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 →
Ideas for Beating the Heat
The extreme heat forecast for the coming week might provide an opportunity to stay inside and do some armchair natural history adventuring. This is National Pollinator Week , so you might want to learn a bit about our Pacific Northwest pollinators. Continue Reading →
Spectacular Wenatchee Rock Rose on Display
We locals like to call it Wenatchee Rock Rose, and others call it Tweedy’s lewisia. In all the world, it only grows in our neck-in-the-woods, something botanists call an endemic species. It turns out, our Wenatchee Mountains have the highest concentration of endemic plants in all of Washington. Continue Reading →
Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest- Celebrating the Founders
This weekend, the 19th annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest is underway! The Wenatchee Naturalist program is the proud sponsor of the newly minted “Founders’ Award,” created to honor volunteerism in support of festival. The award was inspired by the visionary team of people who came together in 2003 to launch the very first Bird Fest. Continue Reading →
Curious About … Shrub-steppe Lithosols?
I wish we had a more endearing term that “lithosols” to describe Columbia Basin habitats of thin, rocky soils!. Here, the wind deposits has deposited bits of soil in-between a pavement of lichen-encrusted basalt rocks. Each spring, a diverse display of native wildflowers create splashes of color worth exploring. Continue Reading →
Celebrate Earth Day and Poetry Month!
Celebrate the 50th Earth Day and 25th National Poetry Month by attending a free event offered to the community by Wenatchee Valley College. Continue Reading →