We invite you to come to the May 5th meeting for the Columbia Basin Chapter of Washington Native Plant Society and see how our 2019 restoration planting at the McBee trailhead fared. This will be a low-key, informal, field meeting starting at 5:30 on Wednesday evening and continuing until about 7:30ish. If you are so inclined, bring along a camp chair or two, some snacks/drinks or a picnic dinner. We will have time for some socializing in the parking areas. Given that we will need some space in the parking area for chairs/tables, I encourage folks to park at the lower pullout for horse trailers, or pull safely off to the side of the road across from the trailhead parking area.
We will also have two or three stations at the trailhead elevation to see wildflowers, learn identification skills, and learn about the biological soil crust. After socializing and seeing the wildflowers around the trailhead area, meeting attendees can take a drive up McBee Road to the Horse Heaven Hills ridgeline spotting wildflowers along the way. There will be some markers/flags along the road indicating species you can view, and those that are interested can continue to the top and take a short hike along the ridgeline to see the rosy balsamroot, thyme buckwheat, and other wildflowers as well as taking in the beautiful view.
If you are interested in attending, we do need you to sign up by emailing sagejld@aol.com so we can get a head count. We will have multiple leaders and follow Washington’s outdoor recreation guidance. You should bring along a mask for any close contact conversations or interactions. Note-- There are no restroom facilities at the trailhead, but there are portapotties at the park and ride that is just east of the Conoco station at the freeway offramp or inside the Conoco station for customers.
Directions: Take the Benton City exit (#96) from Interstate 82 and drive south 0.7 miles through Kiona on Webber Canyon Road to the graveled McBee Road. Turn onto McBee Road and drive 0.5 miles to a small parking area on the left. There are several trails in the area. The road past the parking area climbs to the top of the ridge for some great views and a different plant community. See the Wildflower Trail map for more detailed directions. Wildflower Trail map