The Tour Of Knowledge is offering a free tour of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Tribal Native Plant Nursery on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m.
The Tribal Native Plant Nursery is located on the Umatilla Indian Reservation near Mission and operates under the guidance of CTUIR’s Department of Natural Resources Wildlife program to provide locally adapted native plants for cultural and natural resource and wildlife and salmon habitat restoration projects.
Since its establishment, the nursery has provided several hundred thousand native hardwood plants and trees for riparian reestablishment projects.
“We’re really looking forward to visiting CTUIR’S Tribal Native Plant Nursery and seeing the techniques they are using to cultivate native plants,” said Eileen Laramore, executive director of the Tour Of Knowledge. “I understand that they’re developing a program that will give people the opportunity to purchase plants from the nursery for home gardens.”
Through SOLVE’S Oregon Adopt-A-River program, the Tour Of Knowledge recently adopted the 220 acre Oxbow property north of Hermiston’s Riverfront park. That property has been designated as a riparian and salmon habitat restoration site by the Bureau of Reclamation. SOLVE ‘S Adopt-A-river program promotes habitat restoration by reestablishing native plants.
Transportation to the CTUIR Tribal Native Plant Nursery from Hermiston will be via the Tom Denchel Ford Country shuttle bus. Those wishing to ride the shuttle are asked to meet at the Hermiston Masonic Lodge parking lot at 8:45 a.m. Departure will be at 9 a.m. Attendees from Pendleton or those who want to take their own vehicles should be at the CTUIR Tribal Native Plant Nursery at 9:45 am. Take exit 216 off I-84, travel north approximately two miles and turn left after crossing the Umatilla River.
For more information contact Eileen Laramore, at 541-561-8979 or hermistonleo@yahoo.com.
