Join us for a trip to the Ellensburg to see native plants of the shrub steppe and forest habitats.  We will drive south along Umptanum Road to see bluebirds, raptors, and other bird species, as well as shrub-steppe wildflowers.  We then head up Observatory Road and walk out along the open flats along Manastash Ridge from the observatory to see desert parsleys, yellow goldstars, daggerpod, grass widows, white western spring beauty, white prairie stars, purple sagebrush violets, phlox lupine, brodiaea, balsamroot, bitterroot and much more. On the way back we will stop at Hayward Hill for more shrub-steppe plants. Bring a wildflower book, lunch and lots of water. Plan to be back by early evening. 

Meet before 7:30 a.m. at north end of the Issaquah P&R (I-90 exit 15, southeast corner of SR 900 and Newport Way) to carpool.  Co-leaders Len Steiner and Sunny Walter.  Please contact Sunny if you are planning to join us, 425-271-1346 or sunny@sunnywalter.com.

$20 per person for carpool.