Meadowlark Nature Festival – Antelopebrush: Mystery and Magic

Tour Leaders: Don Gayton, Ariel Vernon, Miah Godek, Henry Michel

Antelopebrush is a quirky and fascinating shrub, found here and there in the South Okanagan. This plant, often mistaken for Sagebrush, is at the very northern edge of its continental range here. Also known as Greasewood or Bitterbrush, the shrub is an icon of cultural and ecological complexity: it interacts with microbes, ants, butterflies, rodents, ungulates, humans and fire. The tour will be hosted by a group of Antelopebrush devotees, including Indigenous knowledge keepers. Together we will explore three local Antelopebrush sites. Along the way there will be plenty of time for informal chats.

Bring long pants, walking shoes and a bag lunch. Our first stop will be the Fairview Townsite, and we can organize a carpool to the other sites.