2020 NPSO Annual Meeting Cancelled Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the best interests for the health and safety of our members, the Cheahmill Chapter has decided to cancel the Annual Meeting this year. While the number of new cases should decline over the next several weeks and months, subsequent waves of COVID-19 are likely to recur once social distancing is relaxed. We are exploring hosting the meeting next year (2021) at Spirit Mountain Lodge and offering much the same program. If you have already sent in your registration form and payment, your checks will be shredded. Those whose checks were already deposited will receive a refund. We look forward to seeing all of you in 2021, hopefully at Spirit Mountain. Please stay safe and healthy through this difficult time.

NPSO 2020 Annual Meeting

May 29 - 31     Spirit Mountain Lodge, Grand Ronde, Oregon

Field Trips

Sunday May 19, 2024    9 a.m. - Noon                    Field Trip # 90

Difficulty:     Easy - A walk on sidewalks and paths around one building

Elevation:     None

Trip Description:     In this mature native plant garden at McMinnville Public Library, see a large selection of species for your home landscape. Its eleven natural-looking beds represent various ecological niches, from full sun to complete shade. In each well-designed section, interpretive signage explores ecological relationships. The garden demonstrates how native plants can be used at home without chemicals, little water, and minimal maintenance.

The garden demonstrates the huge selection of native plants available for domestic landscaping and represents different ecological niches, from full sun to complete shade. It includes species native to the Willamette Valley and up to 400 feet in elevation in the Cascades and Coast Range.

Among the 78 species represented in the garden are trees, such as incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) and Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia); shrubs, including ocean spray (Holodiscus discolor), and three species of Ceanothus; and forbs, including Nelson's checkermallow (Sidalcea nelsoniana), wild ginger (Asarum caudatum), shooting star (Dodecatheon hendersoni), and pink and white fawn lilies (Erythronium oregonum and E. revolutum).

Meeting Place and Time:     Trip # 90 leaves at 9 a.m. from parking lot west of Hotel. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before departure time to meet your group and arrange carpools.

Alternate Meeting:     Participants may also meet the trip at 9:30 a.m at the undercover entrance of Carnegie Room, McMinnville Public Library, 225 SW Adams St. (Highway 99W), McMinnville, Oregon 97128. If you choose this option, be sure to notify your trip leader in advance.

Driving Miles and Time from Spirit Mountain Hotel:     23 miles, 29 minutes to the library

Driving Directions:     Trip leader will provide detailed driving instructions.

Leader:       Rob Tracey

Founding member of the Native Plant Garden, lead gardener for 23 years, Cheahmill Chapter.

Plant Lists and Other Information:     Clink on the links below for more information about this trip.

Photo: Jim Culbert
Fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum)

Photo: Marna Porath
Adams Street entrance to Native Plant Garden with Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) and Tall Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium).

Photo: Marna Porath
Common Camas (Camassia quamash)

Photo: Marna Porath
Adams Street entrance to Native Plant Garden with Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) and Tall Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium)