Cultivating awareness, understanding, and stewardship of the Wenatchee River region
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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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 the 50th Earth Day and 25th National Poetry Month by attending a free event offered to the community by Wenatchee Valley College. Continue Reading →
Welcome to final week of our 10-week challenge, designed to encourage new naturalist discoveries as we continue to practice social distancing and wait for the coming vaccinations! March brings us the first signs of spring, while our mountains are still shining with snow. Try to get outside early when the mud is firm under foot! Continue Reading →
Welcome to Week 9 of our 10-week challenge, designed to encourage new naturalist discoveries as we continue to practice social distancing and wait for the coming vaccinations! March brings us the first signs of spring, while our mountains are still shining with snow. Try to get outside early when the mud is firm under foot! Continue Reading →
Welcome to Week 8 of our 10-week challenge, designed to encourage new naturalist discoveries as we continue to practice social distancing and wait for the coming vaccinations! March brings us the first signs of spring, while our mountains are still shining with snow. Try to get outside early when the mud is firm under foot! Continue Reading →
Welcome to Week 7 of our 10-week challenge, designed to encourage new naturalist discoveries as we continue to practice social distancing and wait for the coming vaccinations! March brings us the first signs of spring, while our mountains are still shining with snow. Try to get outside early when the mud is firm under foot! Continue Reading →