Author: Dishman Hills

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A Request for Support

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 17, 2020

The Grass Widow

Just like everyone in our community, the spread of COVID-19 caught DHC by surprise. Since the health and well-being of our community is of highest priority, we decided to close our office back in March and to postpone in-person events. One of those events that has now been postponed is the Annual Celebration Dinner, DHC’s largest annual fundraiser.

While DHC’s programs are continuing, we have noticed the unexpected loss of those funds usually raised at the Celebration Dinner – that’s why we come to you now, our community, with a humble request for support. We hope that if you were planning on attending the Celebration Dinner this year, you will consider making a donation in place of purchasing a seat or a table and making a donation in person at the event.

If you are not yet a DHC member and would like to join, now is a great time to do so. A donation of $35 or more to DHC will grant membership through 2020, and includes priority invitations to DHC programs, free admission to most events, and a subscription to our bi-monthly newsletter so you can stay up to date with the latest news. Most importantly, our members invest in our mission to connect and protect the Dishman Hills in perpetuity.

There are tax provisions to help. The stimulus bill passed by Congress allows an above-the-line deduction for up to $300 made to a charity like DHC – even if you use the standard deduction. And we are always well-versed in accepting gifts of real estate, stocks, and other items.

In 2019, 70% of DHC’s income was from donations, so we mean it when we say we couldn’t do it all without your support. DHC staff, Board members, and supporters alike are working hard to make sure our land is protected, programs continue to be offered, and operational expenses are covered.

To make a donation, CLICK HERE to visit our donations page, or mail a check to the following address: Dishman Hills Conservancy, PO Box 8536, Spokane, WA 99203. On behalf of everyone at DHC, thank you for your continued support of our organization and our mission to connect and protect the Dishman Hills as a treasured resource for the community.

The Grass Widow

Blog

Update on DHC Programs

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 16, 2020

BACK TO DHC HOMEPAGE

A Message from Jeff Lambert, Executive Director:

If the Dishman Hills Conservancy is a tree, what you see is our outreach to the community – hikes, nature walks, Kids in the Hills, the Celebration Dinner, and the Buttercup Hikes. We have decided to postpone those events to slow the spread of COVID-19. Staff and volunteers have invested time into planning, and we are ready to host these events when we can safely gather again.

The fact is what you see is only part of the Conservancy. As the oldest land trust in the State, there are roots that reach deep and wide. Those roots connect to our supporters and partner organizations. Below the surface, inspiration and hard work mix with enthusiasm to transform the funding and helpful institutions into the humus for growth.

The Conservancy has pivoted and the outreach work is going online and remote. An online education program for youth, self-guided nature tours, virtual hikes, and more are coming. The education mission is branching out into preliminary work on a nature center to go along with the traditional offerings.

Stewardship work will increasingly include habitat restoration and trail work with our partners such as the Audubon Society and Washington State. The new Phillips Creek trail system has been designed with the approval of Spokane County Parks. The Spokane Mountaineers designed the trail system in collaboration with Evergreen East and Washington Trails Association. DHC is also working on the trailhead and trail system for the Wilson Conservation Area.

Benefits of the Hills are obvious during the Stay-At-Home order. Outdoor areas provide much needed space for entertainment, exercise, and emotional well-being. DHC is working hard to increase opportunities for you to enjoy the Hills. We are actively engaging in conversations with land owners to pursue our mission to Connect and Protect the Dishman Hills by acquiring conservation land through purchase or easement.

Resources such as trail maps, self-guided tours, guidelines for social distancing & trail etiquette, and suggestions of indoor activities for families can be found here on our website (links). To keep up with the latest resources from DHC, watch for emails, explore our website, and be sure you are connected via Facebook and Instagram. Last but not least, please share our messages to help us get these resources out to our community during this critical time.

To make a donation to the Dishman Hills Conservancy to help ensure that our programs can continue and the Hills remain protected, CLICK HERE. Thank you for your continued support of our organization. A donation of $35 or more will grant you DHC membership through the end of the year, and includes a subscription to our bimonthly newsletter, priority invitation to programs such as guided hikes and nature walks – as soon as they are available – and free admission to most DHC events. Most of all, our members get the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping build a lasting treasure for our community in the Wild Heart of Spokane.

Just like a tree, the DHC has roots that grow deep and wide.

wildlife

Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 16, 2020

Arrowleaf Balsamroot, ("Oregon Sunflower")

Do you know about the Arrowleaf Balsamroot? This plant is the first member of the composta/composite family to bloom in the Dishman Hills in the Spring. Each petal is actually a single floret bearing one enormous petal and several minute ones, giving the illusion of a ring of petals. All parts of this plant are edible. Its roots were boiled, dried, or ground for medicine. Its young leaves were eaten raw as a salad and its seeds roasted and ground into flour. Everything you see above the ground is connected to a very thick and long taproot.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot

wildlife

Spring Whitlow Grass (Draba verna)

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 16, 2020

Do you know about Spring Whitlow Grass (Draba Verna)? Spring Whitlow Grass is a member of the mustard family. The word verna comes from the Latin word vernus, meaning spring. It is thought that these flowers originated in Europe and naturalized to the Americas by European settlers. You will need very sharp eyes to spot this plant’s tiny flowers – see the pine needle for scale. Each of its four petals are deeply divided, giving the appearance of eight petals. They can often be found in the disturbed margins of trails. Spring Whitlow grass was the first plant to be observed to determine the importance of self-pollination to mutation and the creation of local strands.

Spring Whitlow Grass

wildlife

Yellow Bell (Fritillariai pudica)

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 16, 2020

Do you know about the Yellow Bell (Fretillaria Pudica)? What looks like six petals is really three petals and three similar sepals. Sepals are individual leaf-like structures, collectively known as the calyx, that fold over and protect the bud of the flower from damage and weather while developing. Yellow Bells are native to the Western U.S. and Canada. Its small bulbs were eaten fresh, steamed, or boiled and could be dried and stored as a winter food source. David Douglas, the botanist best known as the namesake of the Douglas Fir, first encountered this flower near the Spokane River in 1826.

The Yellow Bell

wildlife

Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum)

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 15, 2020

Do you know about the Glacier Lily? This species is known as Glacier Lily because it often appears at the edge of receding snow banks. It is often mistaken for the Fawn Lily (of variety candidum). The stem of the Glacier Lily often changes from green to a deep rust color. All parts of this plant are edible; foliage is a favorite of wildlife including deer, elk, and bighorn sheep. Bears use their claws to dig out the edible bulbs, which can be boiled or dried and used in stews and other dishes. Ground squirrels and other rodents dig up the bulbs and store the for winter consumption. Other common names include Trout Lily, Dogtoothed Violet, and Adder’s Tongue.

The Glacier Lily

wildlife

Grass Widow (Sisyrnchium inflatum)

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 15, 2020

The Grass Widow

Do you know about the Grass Widow? (Sisyrnchium Inflatum)? The Grass Widow is a member of the Iris family. This plant does well in the slightly acidic soil deposited by needles of the Ponderosa pine found around the base of the tree. Grass Widows compete with the Buttercup to be the first bloomer in the Spring. There is only one species of Grass Widow in the West, with two varieties: inflatum, found mostly to the East of the Cascades, and douglasii, found mostly to the West of the Cascades.

The Grass Widow

wildlife

Sagebrush Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus)

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 15, 2020

Do you know about Sagebrush Buttercups (Ranunculus Glaberrimus)? There are over 80 varieties of buttercups, and most are very hard to tell apart. This species, native in Eastern Washington, usually blooms in April and is poisonous when eaten raw; however, its seeds were ground into meal or flour as a traditional food source. Buttercups also provide an important source of food for the Blue Grouse, a species of forest-dwelling bird native to the Rocky Mountains.

Another fun fact: Buttercups are heliotropic, which means their flowers follow the sun over the course of the day. Have you seen flowers in your neighborhood? CLICK HERE to check out Weekly Challenge #1 from Dishman Hills Conservancy!

The Sagebrush Buttercup

Blog weeklychallenge

Weekly Challenge #1 – Flower Finding

Post author By Dishman Hills
Post date April 13, 2020

Snowdrops

Just because we’re stuck at home doesn’t mean it can’t be fun! The Dishman Hills Conservancy is presenting a weekly challenge series that encourages people to get outside for fun activities while practicing social distancing. Every week, we will introduce a new challenge involving scavenger hunts, photo competitions, nature education activities, and much more! At the end of every week, we will announce a winner and feature their photo(s) on our social media pages. The DHC is at our core a community organization, and we hope to make this difficult time a little more fun and engaging for everyone.

Each new Weekly Challenge will be posted here every Monday morning. To enter, simply read and follow the instructions that are posted along with any supplemental materials attached to the post. Take photos along the way, and submit a picture of the completed challenge to us. You can submit photos by sending us a direct message on Facebook, tagging us in your Facebook or Instagram post with @DishmanHillsConservancy, or by emailing Elijah Johnson, Communications Director, at Elijah@DishmanHills.org. Each unique challenge might have slightly different rules for entering – check back here for updates!

Weekly Challenge #1: April 13, 2020 – “What Do You See?”

Identify 5 different types of flowers in your neighborhood. If you see it, you name it! Need help? Here are some links to resources that will help you identify different types of flowers:

Good luck, and have fun!