Monthly Archives: January 2024

Field Trip: Winter Twigs and Buds at Lake Whatcom

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Saturday, February 10th, 9am – 12pm

This Field Trip is now full. Please do not attend unless you have already confirmed your attendance with Allan Richardson. Thank you for your understanding!

Join us for a winter walk led by Abe Lloyd and Allan Richardson! This field trip will emphasize identification of deciduous trees and shrubs based on their twigs and buds (copies of a key will be provided). There is a diverse assortment of native and some non-native plants along the trail, including a dry stretch with native oak trees. Bring a hand lens (if you have one), snacks, and dress for the weather. Contact Allan Richardson at 360-305-5270 or asrichardson5 (at) gmail (dot) com to confirm.

Meet at 9:00 am at the North Lake Whatcom Park lower trailhead by the lake shore at the very end of Northshore Road (not at the usual main trailhead that comes first).

Photo of Sambucus racemosa by Abe Lloyd.

Volunteers Needed for Whatcom Conservation District Native Plant Sale – March 16th!

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The Whatcom Conservation District is seeking volunteers for this year’s Native Plant Sale held at Pioneer Park in Ferndale on Saturday March 16th!

Please consider contributing to this important annual event. This is a terrific way to exercise your knowledge and advocate for native plants! WNPS members have been an invaluable asset to the event in the past, bringing their knowledge of native plants to help community members select the right plants for their needs, sharing planting advice and ethnobotanical information, and more!


Volunteers are needed on the day of the sale as greeters, bare root helpers, pre- and post-checkout customer assistance, and clean up. The greatest need for volunteers is early in the day on Saturday, the busiest time for the sale.

See the Whatcom Conservation District flier below for more details and contact plantsale@whatcomcd.org to sign up with your name, contact information, and availability. To learn more about the native plant sale go to: https://www.whatcomcd.org/native-plant-sale.

Volunteer Invitation ’24Download

January 24th 2024: Seminar presented by the Biology Department at WWU focusing on seagrass!

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Chapter members may be interested in joining the following seminar focused on an important native plant, seagrass! Open to all, the seminar will be presented on Zoom by the Biology Department at WWU this upcoming Wednesday, January 24th, at 4pm. Details and Zoom link below!

“Ecological consequences of climate & communities on seagrass wasting disease dynamics” presented by Olivia Graham, PhD, Cornell University

About the seminar: Olivia J. Graham is a marine disease ecologist and Postdoctoral Research Associate at Cornell University. For her dissertation research, she studied seagrass wasting disease dynamics in eelgrass (Zostera marina), specifically looking at biological (herbivores, microbiome, host genetics) and environmental (ocean temperatures, salinity) drivers of disease in eelgrass meadows throughout the Northeast Pacific.

She is passionate about communicating and leveraging science to help inform the conservation and management of coastal ecosystems, especially in light of rapid climate change, and about mentoring and supporting the next generation of scientists.

For disability accommodation, please contact the Biology Department, 360-650-3627 or email at biology@wwu.edu

Zoom Link: https://wwu-edu.zoom.us/j/98080351166?pwd=aE01V29mRzFuMXBobHlqNzE4b0hLUT09

Meeting ID: 980 8035 1166

Passcode: 377803

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CHAPTER MEETING POSTPONED! Due to heavy snowfall, challenging travel conditions, and concern for our members’ safety, The Koma Kulshan Board has postponed this evening’s in-person Chapter Meeting (January 17). Aidan Hersh’s presentation “Bees and Pollinators Through the Macro Lens” will be rescheduled during our Spring 2024 Chapter Meetings – please stay tuned for the date! Thank you for your understanding!

Chapter Meeting: Bees and Pollinators Through the Macro Lens (in person)

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January 17, 2024, 7:00PM at the RE Store, 2309 Meridian St

CHAPTER MEETING POSTPONED! Due to heavy snowfall, challenging travel conditions, and concern for our members’ safety, The Koma Kulshan Board has postponed this in-person Chapter Meeting. Aidan Hersh’s presentation “Bees and Pollinators Through the Macro Lens” will be rescheduled during our Spring 2024 Chapter Meetings – please stay tuned for the date! Thank you for your understanding!

Many people are unaware of the fascinating diversity of bees and other pollinators around the world. For example, in the state of Washington alone there are upwards of 700 species of native bees. To the naked eve, many of these organisms look like nothing more than a mundane house fly. Through the macro lens, however, a vastly different world is revealed. In this presentation, Aidan Hersh will showcase the beautiful bees and pollinators of Washington and beyond. Aidan Hersh is a macro photographer and native bee enthusiast living in Bellingham. He serves on the board of the Washington Native Bee Society and the steering committee of the Washington Bee Atlas. He hopes that his photography will spark interest in the too often forgolten vet vitally important world of bees and pollinators. His photos can be found on Instagram @photo.by.aidan.

Photo by Aidan Hersh.

Field Trip: Stimpson Nature Preserve Photography Walk: Drizzle or Shine, Nature Awaits!

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***EVENT CANCELED DUE TO FREEZING WEATHER***

January 14, 2024, 11AM – 1PM, Stimpson Family Nature Reserve

Calling all shutterbugs and budding botanists! Join us for a fun hiking adventure through the enchanting Stimpson Nature Preserve. Whether you’re a seasoned lensman or a smartphone shutterbug, this adventure welcomes everyone to capture the beauty of Pacific Northwest native plants, drizzle or shine. (After all, drizzle just adds a touch of forest magic!) well meander along a scenic trail, keeping our eyes peeled for native plants, from towering cedars to delicate ferns. But the real magic happens when we pool our collective knowledge. Think of it as a nature bingo with friends, where identifying native plants becomes a shared adventure. This hike is designed to be a leisurely stroll, taking around two hours. But hey, if the forest whispers and the moss-covered trails tempt us to linger, we’ll gladly follow! So, pack your rain gear, grab your camera (any kind will do!), and get ready to immerse yourself in the wonders of Stimpson Nature Preserve or Maple Creek Park. We’ll see you there! Bonus tip: Wear comfortable shoes and don’t forget to bring a plant ID book and your curiosity! Contact: Deborah Baker, polarcollision (at) gmail (dot) com. Limit 10.

Photo by Deborah Baker.