Picture summer Western Washington University Survey and Monitor Project (“SAM”) students with sleeping bags and tents marching north from the Siskiyous to BC, sub-alpine (3,500′ to sea-level), inventorying plant species from historic herbaria geo-references  – starting with a list of 450+ native plants to Find, Photo, Log & eMail.  At the same time, NW nurseries are being visited, WNPS members will be mentoring and assisting WWU students, and seed collectors are contributing their findings.  2018’s 100% PLC funded SAM Project findings are in; 29% of Cascadia’s native plant species are still missing in 2019!

The SAM Project is overseen by Professor Eric DeChaine, PhD, Professor of Biology & Curator of the Pacific Northwest Herbarium, Western Washington University. Targeted plant species are coded (1st column, checked as #1-#7’s) in Bonhoeffer Gardens Flora Master List-03-10-19.  (Since this research summary was written, iNaturalist’s phone app has revolutionized the collection of data on Cascadia’s native plants.  In 2024 students began enhancing PLC’s online Native Plant Lessons with a 3rd level, far more complex, college level questions.)  It will soon be practically possible to “celebrate” the last plant alive of each of Cascadia’s 900 species.