Field Trips
July 9, Sunday. Brown Creek-West Ridge Day Hike. This loop route in Prairie Creek State Park goes up from Newton B. Drury Parkway to Rhododendron Trail, then back down, through stately forest, several miles. A clump of Ghost Pipe has been a special attraction in the past. Is it still there? Meet at 9:00 am at Pacific Union School (3001 Janes Rd., Arcata) or 10 am at the trailhead. Bring lunch and water. It’s good to tell Carol you’re coming: 707-822-2015 or theralphs@humboldt1.com.
July 30, Sunday. Seawood Cape Preserve Day Hike. With Wildland Conservancy staff we will enjoy a height-of-summer exploration of the Redwood and Sitka Spruce forests on this preserve just north of Trinidad. We will walk about 1.5 miles on relatively flat trails. Adventurous participants may opt to add a self-guided excursion along the adjacent coastal bluff. Attendance is limited. Meet at 8:30 am at Pacific Union School (3001 Janes Rd., Arcata) or 9 am at the Preserve. Bring lunch and water. Register with Carol at 707-822-2015 or theralphs@humboldt1.com to learn details.
Restoration Day
July 15, Saturday, 9 – 11 am. Rohner Park Restoration Work Party. Help preserve Fortuna’s exceptionally old second-growth Redwood forest by removing invasive plants. Meet at the Fireman’s Pavilion. Tools and gloves provided, but it helps to bring your own. Co-sponsored by the North Coast Chapter and the Fortuna Parks and Recreation Department. A third-Saturday event. Contact Steve: 707-601-6753.
Evening Programs
Evening programs will resume in September.
Native Plant Nursery
The chapter’s nursery is open for sales during regular workday hours on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, 10 am ‐ 1 pm. Please check out our website @northcoastcnps.org for nursery info and an updated plant list. Due to limited onsite connectivity, checks are the preferred method of payment.
The Garden is Calling
by Carol Ralph
If your garden is telling you to plant more native plants, to provide more caterpillars for birds, read Donna Wildearth’s article “Gardening for Caterpillars” in the April 2023 issue of EcoNews at yournec.org/econews/apr2023.
If you need help figuring out how to convert to native plants, find the document “Creating a Native Plant Garden” on the Gardening Advice page of our website for helpful links on topics including design, plant choice, replacing a lawn, and animal nuisances. If you especially want to attract butterflies or birds, check the documents listing the plants for them. On a nearby page the “Native Landscape Planting Guide” offers colorful design ideas and a list made by our chapter of the most reliable native plants for our region.
If you want to see gardens of native plants, visit some gardens listed in “Local Gardens to Visit,” again, on our website. Of course, the real inspiration comes from seeing native plants in natural settings. Visit our local reserves and parks!
