Idaho Native Plant Society- Calypso Chapter

10/15/2026

The summer edition of statewide newsletter, Sage Notes, is available. If you didn't get a copy in the mail, you can find it on the Idaho Native Plant Society websitehttps://idahonativeplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SageNotesJune-July2026.pdf

Derek Antonelli, President, Calypso Chapter
Idaho Native Plant Society

UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2026 and 2027-
NOVEMBER: Whitebark Pine Seed Extraction. US Forest Service Nursery, 3600 Nursery Road, Coeur d'Alene. The Forest Service needs our help to extract seeds from the cones of this threatened species. The seeds will be used in the recovery of the species. Contact Molly Retzlaff, Nursery Manager, for details on how you can help out email [email protected]

MARCH: Calypso Chapter meeting, March 10, 6:00 pm: Idaho Fish and Game Office, Hunter Education Building, 2885 W Kathleen Ave, Coeur d’Alene, 7:00 pm. This is a week later than our usual March meeting. The presentation topic for this meeting has not been determined. Please submit ideas.

Whitebark Pine Seed Sowing. March 2027. US Forest Service Nursery, 3600 Nursery Road, Coeur d'Alene. The Forest Service needs our help to sow the seeds of this threatened species. The resulting seedlings will be planted out to help in the recovery of the species. Contact Molly Retzlaff, Nursery Manager, for details on how you can help out ([email protected]).

APRIL: Calypso Chapter meeting, April 7, 6:00 pm: Idaho Fish and Game Office, Hunter Education Building, 2885 W Kathleen Ave, Coeur d’Alene, 7:00 pm. The presentation topic for this meeting has not been determined. Please submit ideas.

April Plant Walk. The date and location for our April walk has not been determined. Please submit your ideas.

MAY: Calypso Chapter meeting, May 5, 6:00 pm: Idaho Fish and Game Office, Hunter Education Building, 2885 W Kathleen Ave, Coeur d’Alene, 7:00 pm. The presentation topic for this meeting has not been determined. Please submit ideas.

May Plant Walk. The date and location for our May walk has not been determined. Please submit your ideas.

Any questions, please email Derek Antonelli at [email protected]

-Lisa H

10/11/2026

There are crossovers between Idaho and Washington (East side) native plants. I found this to be an interesting source full of plant information. I especially appreciate the chart noting the traditional way these trees and plants were used in the Natives lives.
If you're also interested in learning about plant medicine, please like and follow the North Idaho Herbal Festival page and website. 🌱-Lisa Houser

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nsl3bt6UEHGLpNT3rYBF3x0NJPTN9G2hdZQwRp4N-mA/edit?gid=1060756428&fbclid=IwY2xjawU4ydxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMXd3d2F3MkZXQWxBNnNVemxzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEegcSjAHGWiq8yzSJDr-lItE_WuZrJDEU6TpxdSQrP_B8E-GVq6exXhIq9DsI_aem_u8ZNBIkcTBNKuAtm2NIBdQ =1060756428

Today I am making “The Big List” free to the public – an unparalleled resource for the state of Washington, cross-referencing every commercially-available native plant with extensive landscape, ecology, and ethnobotanical information. It also includes all of the vendors who have had the species listed as in-stock when I routinely do a survey of their online inventories – both as plants and as seed. This database tracks nearly a thousand species and subspecies of WA-native plants, over seven hundred of which were listed as in-stock just this past week. Over 2400 in-stock occurrences were recorded from twenty-five qualifying companies.

I've never been satisfied with having this wealth of knowledge hidden behind a consulting paywall, so I'm making it free to the public (https://tinyurl.com/GetTheBigList). If you are able and so inclined, the welcome page of the spreadsheet recommends voluntary contribution amounts for folks who are able to contribute to the ongoing work. But most importantly, I would prefer that you use it without paying than not use it at all.

The growing mass of details in the Big List database was getting pretty unwieldy, so you’ll see that I’ve split off three supplemental charts: plant vendors (who’ve had a particular species in stock), seed vendors, and caterpillars that would likely be able to use the plant as a host. The methodology for the caterpillars is detailed on the final sheet.

09/06/2026

FREE Ice Age Floods field trip will take place on September 17 from 8 a.m. to Noon at Farragut State Park.
This is a wonderfully informative car tour- I've been on it 4 times now! lol
Be sure to attend if you're at all interested in the landforms around our area. Very enlightening!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BetGCQLHc/

Send a message to learn more

09/01/2026

Our local native plant nursey has started their fall sale. So many great natives to choose from! What's on your list?

08/13/2026

Cedar Mountain Perennials still has robust inventory ready to find a new home in your garden or other native plant project. They are great at helping you pick just the right plants for your project.

08/06/2026

Stevens Lake Plant Hike Cancelled
I received an email message from Derek Antonelli, President
Calypso Chapter, Idaho Native Plant Society:

Because of ongoing poor air quality, we are cancelling our plant hike to Stevens Lake near Mullan scheduled for this Saturday, August 8. We may reschedule the hike next month if there is sufficient interest. It's a beautiful hike up to a nice mountain lake that has great flowers. The difficult hike is worth the effort. The trail details are below. Let me know if you are interested in a September hike.

Email Derek with any questions of upcoming hikes or to get on his email list: [email protected]

-Lisa

07/07/2026

Sand Creek Bioblitz Saturday, July 18
We are joining Idaho Master Naturalists and the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society to conduct the bioblitz along Sand Creek in Sandpoint. We will attempt to record every living thing (plants, animals, insect) in the designated area.
Event meets at Popsicle Bridge in Sandpoint at 9:00 am.
We will carpool from the northeast corner of the Hayden Walmart parking lot (beyond the gas station) at 8:00 am. More details were in the email to members from Derek on June 19.
Join us at Walmart or in Sandpoint, but PLEASE RSVP to Derek at [email protected]. We need a headcount for the organizer.
Usually reminders: bring snacks/lunch, plenty of water, sun protection, bug protection and dress for the weather.

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06/05/2026

Introducing a bi-weekly post we're calling...FUN FACT FRIDAY!

There are 2 species of wild strawberries native to North Idaho: Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginana).

Woodland strawberries are mostly found in moist, shady areas. The leaves are coarsely serrated and deeply veined and appear bright green. It produces white flowers on stalks above the leaves. The resulting fruit is a cone-shape with seeds on the surface.

Virginia strawberries are found in drier, sunnier and more open areas but species overlap. The leaves are smoother with less severely serrated edges. The leaves are a bluish green. Virginia strawberries bloom early in spring with white or pink flowers below the leaves. The resulting fruit is round with embedded seeds.

Both species are spread by above ground runners. Both are valuable to wildlife—the flowers produce nectar and pollen and the vegetation supports moth and butterfly larvae. The berries are tiny, but very tasty (if you can beat the birds to them).

Visit the marshy area of English Point at the north end of Hayden Lake and you can see both species growing side by side.

Where have you found wild strawberries in North Idaho?

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06/04/2026

From Secretary, David Noble:
Calypso Chapter - Coeur d'Alene

Meetings are the first Wednesdays of March, April, May and October at 6 pm in the conference room of Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2885 W Kathleen Ave, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Upcoming Events in 2026: June – Octorber 2026

Idaho Botanical Foray, June 4 to 8, North Fork Campground, Owyhee County. Contact Derek if you would like the details on this event.

June Plant Walk. McKinsey (McKenzie) Conservation Area. Newman Lake, Washington, Saturday, June 13. We will carpool from behind Walgreens on Appleway at 9:00 am. We will meet 9:30 am at the trail head near 15898 N. West Newman Lake Drive, Newman Lake, WA, look for large parking area on east side of Drive.

INPS Annual Meeting, July 10 to 12, Mount Harrison, Cassia County. Watch the INPS website for details.

July Plant Walk. Lake Darling in the Cabinet Mtns, Saturday July 25. We will carpool from the northeast corner of the Hayden Walmart at 8:00 am.

August Plant Walk. Stevens Lake near Mullan, Saturday, August 8. We will carpool from behind Walgreens on Appleway, Coeur d'Alene, at 8:00 am.

Calypso Chapter meeting, October 7, 6:00 pm: Idaho Fish and Game Office, Hunter Education Building, 2885 W Kathleen Ave, Coeur d’Alene. The presentation topic for this meeting has not been determined yet. Please submit topic suggestions.

Officers
President: Derek Antonelli [email protected]
Treasurer: Laura Asbell
Secretary: David Noble

Contact: Calypso Chapter President Derek Antonelli with any questions.

05/27/2026

A great opportunity to help nature! -Lisa 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋