MNHC Spring Luncheon: Growing Curiosity and Community

Date: Tuesday, April 21st
Time: 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Location: Missoula Fairgrounds, Home Arts Building – Catering by River and Range

Join us for the 14th Annual Montana Natural History Center Spring Luncheon to support our Summer Camp scholarship funds! Gather with friends for a good purpose and enjoy a lovely, fresh lunch in a beautiful setting. Taking advantage of our luncheon location, guests will have the opportunity to join experts on a tour (optional) of the nearby Rocky Mountain Gardens to learn more about Montana’s native plants and unique ecosystem.

All proceeds go directly to our camp scholarship funds. When you purchase tickets for this event, you are donating to make a real and tangible difference in a child’s life.

The Montana Natural History Center is committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to hear meadowlarks warbling, breathe in the vanilla fragrance of sun-warmed ponderosa pine bark, and fall in love with Montana’s wild places. Our compassionate, fun, and experienced Seasonal Naturalists help guide summer campers through Missoula’s natural spaces and encourage curiosity through the lens of an artist, writer, scientist, and naturalist. Your attendance at our luncheon means we can help break down financial barriers to ensure our camps are exceptional and accessible for all families in our community.

FIELD TRIPS
They're not just for kids and campers!
CHOOSE ONE GARDEN TOUR WHEN YOU PURCHASE YOUR TICKET
(Garden tours are listed as "free" because they are included in your ticket price)

• Garden Tours are optional and are offered as an added way for MNHC to show our gratitude for your attendance at our Spring Luncheon and support of our scholarship program. Sign-ups are first-come first-serve, so don’t wait to reserve your preferred option.

• If you would like to opt out of a tour, please choose the option: Opt Out of Garden Tours

• Tours will follow lunch. Each tour is 30-40 minutes long and requires roughly 10 minutes of walking outside (come rain or shine), with the exception of the INDOORS: NATIVE PLANTS and SPRING BLOOMS. This option remains at the Home Arts Building.

MNHC is guided by our values that promote learning, growing, and encouraging communities to discover new experiences and different environments in our natural world! We hope you will enjoy your garden tour and that it grows your connections and curiosity with our remarkable Montana!

Tours of The Rocky Mountain Gardens

Following our lunch, guests are invited to break into small groups and join botanists in a walk through The Rocky Mountain Gardens (optional). A HUGE thank you to the Missoula County Department of Ecology & Extension for volunteering their time and expertise to share the gardens with our spring luncheon guests! Choose from the following tour options.

1. ROCKY MOUNTAIN GARDEN TOUR
The Rocky Mountain Garden tours are similar in experience, but staggered to keep group sizes small and allow Q&A’s.

This guided tour introduces you to The Rocky Mountain Gardens that showcase the diversity of plants and gardening styles suitable for Missoula’s climate. With a focus on soil health and wildlife habitat, the gardens demonstrate practices that can be transferred to gardens, farms, and other landscapes.

• RM Garden with Steffany Rogge (TOUR 1) – starts at 1:55 PM

• RM Garden with Bryce Christiaens (TOUR 2) – starts at 2:00 PM

2. FRUITING TREES with Sandy Perrin
Join Sandy Perrin on a tour focused on fruiting trees in the garden that thrive in Montana’s unique climate. Learn more about care, and their important role in attracting pollinators and wildlife habitat in our region.

3. SPRING BULBS and BLOSSOMS with Molly Anton
Crocus and Alliums and Glacier Lilies, OH MY! The earth is starting to wake and April is a great time to learn more about caring for Spring bulbs. Come learn more about these early blossoms.

4. NATIVE PLANTS and POLLINATORS with Marirose Kuhlman
This garden tour focuses on the special relationship plants share with their pollinators. With a focus on native plants, this walk will leave you amazed at the abundance of native pollinator diversity, and how they interact with their plant partners!

5. INDOORS: NATIVE PLANTS and SPRING BLOOMS (Remains indoors at Home Arts Building)
Find out more about native plants and garden programs happening at The Rocky Mountain Gardens, including the upcoming Phlox Fest, celebrating Missoula Phlox (Phlox missoulensis), a species of concern that has only been within Missoula County.