The natural environment and history of Kalispell’s West Valley area
by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
A few weeks ago on a walk through the Bear Paw Battlefield south of Malta, I photographed a bumble bee that I couldn’t identify. The community at iNaturalist agreed that it is an Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee. Curiosity peaked once again, I went on a search for more information.
by Pat Jaquith
pat@westvalleynaturalists.org
Members of the Orchidaceae (Orchid) family, there are several species of Coral roots that grow in our valley. In this article, I will introduce the ones I have seen.
Continue Reading →by Pat Jaquith
pat@westvalleynaturalists.org
Pinedrops, perhaps named for the sticky texture of its stem, makes its first appearance in woods and clearings near pine trees after many of the spring ephemerals have gone to seed. Its three stages of growth are so different in appearance it would be easy to overlook the fact that they are all the same plant.
Continue Reading →By Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
Although most people think of orchids as tropical plants, Montana is home to 31 species of orchids, almost all of which are found in the western part of the state. In the West Valley area of the Flathead Valley, the orchid you are most likely to encounter is the beautiful Calypso orchid. “Most likely” in this case does not mean common–they’re still a rare treat to encounter on a hike.
Continue Reading →By Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
One of the less common—and certainly one of the most unusual—flowering plants you might encounter in the valley is the spotted coralroot orchid. At first glance it may appear to be dead. It has no leaves, and it can be a deep brown color. But look closely and you’ll find an exceptionally beautiful orchid.
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