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Spokane Natives LbNA #23621 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jul 8, 2006
Location:
City:Spokane
County:Spokane
State:Washington
Boxes:2
Planted by:colls & DB
Found by: Pond Scum
Last found:Mar 20, 2009
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFar
Last edited:Jul 8, 2006
Here's a couple letterboxes celebrating the native species of common plants in the Spokane area. Anywhere in Spokane where you find dry and rocky terrain, you will find these plucky survivors.

Serviceberry can grow to a 40 foot tree, but more commonly is found as a 10-15 foot bush. The bush bursts with white cloud of blooms in early spring. Ripe berries are seedy and appear in late July and early August. Native Americans dried the berries to preserve them.

Arrowleaf balsamroot is one of our most conspicuous wildflower blooming in April, May, and June. It grows in 2-foot clumps of large silvery arrow-shaped leaves. Three-four inch heads of golden flowers are lifted on woolly stems above the mound of leaves.

Getting kinda close: Head west on the Sunset Highway, turn right onto Government Way. Turn west onto Greenwood, just south of the cemeteries. Keep to the right and continue up Greenwood to Rimrock Drive. At the top of the hill,
turn right onto Rimrock and enter Palisades Park. Stop and take a good look at the map, it's your best bet for finding the way. You are looking for trail #101, the section of the trail that heads downhill from Rimrock Drive.

Drive about .9 mile to a wide spot in the road. The second trash can on the west side of the road also sits here, but who knows if it's there in the dead of winter. If you see Buzz, the rock, you've gone to far.

Park and enjoy the view. It can't be seen from a car, but within 100 yards of the trash can there is a trail that decends downhill. Once you are past the sign that marks scenic highway (trail) #101, take the first right into a quiet getaway. Next to the serviceberry bush, at the foot of the rock wall, you'll find your first prize, Amelanchier alifolia.

Back on 101 continue down hill to the hall that houses a gallery of modern art. At 125° from the edge of the concrete, sit on the first sitable log, lean back and reach back, Balsamorhiza sagittata is waiting just for you!

Note: Use caution if you continue down the path. The trail changes to #123, and about 100 yards from the hidden prize, members of the Spokane Archery Club use the area to practice target shooting. During the weekend of July 14, 15, and 16, they are hosting a tournament and expecting 150 archers with bows and arrows. Muggles abound, please be careful.