Field trips will focus on wild plants

Pond lily by JOHN LOSCH

DRIGGS — The Idaho and Wyoming Native Plant Societies and Teton Regional Land Trust will host educational field trips Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25 that focus on wild plants in two states. Attend the Saturday afternoon outing to Woods Fen or the Sunday field trip to the Squirrel Meadows area. Or, enjoy both with a camp-out at the Caribou-Targhee National Forest Squirrel Meadows cabin Saturday night. There is room for eight in the cabin (first come, first served) and room for tents or RVs,

First is a trip to Woods Creek Fen near Driggs on Saturday, July 24 Meet at 12:45 p.m. at the Land Trust office in Driggs and carpool or just meet at 1 p.m. at Wood's Creek Fen on the north side of Bates Road. Expect your feet to get wet, bring sandals or boots, bug spray, sunscreen, a hat and drinking water.

Spend the afternoon botanizing and learning about fens and peatlands with wetland ecologist Natalie Kashi and University of Montana Research Associate Dr. Michael Merigliano. Wood's Creek Fen is a rare calcareous fen that supports dynamic biodiversity and many rare plants. See cottongrass, orchids, Kelsey's phlox, alpine meadow rue, and simple bog sedge, to name a few.

On Sunday, July 25, take a trip to the Squirrel Meadows area east of Ashton. Klara Varga, botanist, will lead this trip to some of the best botanizing sites to be found in this part of Idaho and Wyoming. Visit a fen at Loon Lake, enjoy the pond lilies at Indian Lake, and identify and discuss the wildflowers found in this area.

Meet at 11 a.m. at the Squirrel Meadows cabin 24 miles east of Ashton just off of the Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road — the last ten miles are gravel.

To sign up and for more info, contact Emily Nichols - Emily@tetonlandtrust.org.

This is part of the online edition of Henry's Fork Country.

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