Join the Idyllwild Nature Center, as we celebrate 30 years of Wildflowers extravaganza! We will be hosting a meet and greet with the Filmmakers & Photographers of “Season of the Sand Blossoms,” Peter and Melanie Rhalter. This award winning 12 minute environmental art film is set to music and sounds of nature. The film immerses viewers in sights and sounds of the desert allowing for an amazing wildflower experience.

View,  What is That? is “Season of the Sand Blossoms”,  with subtitles to identify the more than 100 plants and animals shown.  Also view, Desert Gold, the 18 minute documentary, an internationally-recognized, award winning film. Scientists and Native American tradition-keepers tell the life story of desert wildflowers. Learn more about the films at Parkfilms.com

Friday May 23rd 6:00pm Reception, viewing and signing

Saturday May 24th 1:00pm Repeat viewing and Qs & As, signing and sales of DVD

Cost is $2.00 per child.

10:00am - 12:00pm

Topics to include:

Planter’s Potpourri - Walking through the world of plants, learn how their plumbing system works, the variety of products that come from plants , learn flowering facts, explore the plant downunder!

Little Critters & Bug Basics- come up with an Insect check list for sizes, shapes, colors & charateristics. Learn some body language for ants, What are the odds and ends of flies?

Bigger Critters- Mammal Miscellaneous- Learn basic Mammal Musts, Tricky Tracks & Signs. Habitats & Happenings.

For the Birds - Bird Bits & Banter, Feather Facts, Eggsexploration, Birding and a Life List.

Orienteering & Map Games, Making an Orienteering Dictionary, Hang & Seek game, Tell stories using a map. Trivia Orienteering.

Rocking & Rolling with Geology- Make Fossil casts, create a seismograph and an exploding volcano!

All programs are for children ages 7 yrs - 12yrs. Under 7 accompanied with an adult.

This annual event at the Idyllwild Nature Center features a kaleidoscope of color as native flowers and local artists display unique style and attributes dedicated to the flora of the Desert, San Gorgonio Pass and Mountains of the San Jacintos.

Volunteers will gather wildflowers from the desert to the San Gorgonio Pass and the San Jacinto Mountain range for identification and display. Guest speakers will discuss species, characteristics of plants and gardening tips. Traditional Native plant usages will also be featured. The Center will have Naturalist-led walks, kid-crafts, music and native plants throughout the weekend.

Speakers will be scheduled for 11:00am each day.

May 24th Saturday- Native Usage of plants with Alice Kotzen, Alice will share recipes, foods, and an array of tools and accessories that have been created utilizing native plants.

May 25th Sunday - Landscaper & Water Conservationist, Valerie Phillips, will share what makes for successful gardening for the mountains, plants that will thrive, conservation tips, drought resistent and critter friendly.

May 26th Monday- Join Interpreter Tracy Albrecht, from the Santa Rosa National Monument, for “Wildflowers under the scope” identify parts of plants and flowers also participate in wildflower bingo for prizes.

Folk music provided by Joey Latimer and Friends

Friends group Native plant and book sales

for further nature center info and driving directions, visit the Idyllwild Nature Center page

Join Archaeologist Daniel Mc Carthy and others at the Idyllwild Nature Center for a hands on experience as we learn about native usage of the acorn. Join in the fun as we gather, sort, shell, and ground acorns and make wiwish, the tradional meal for the Cahuilla. Bring and share your favorite acorn receipe. For the kids, a craft and various games will be on going through the day. Visit the nature center link above for Nature center info and directions.

Enjoy Labor Day weekend at the Idyllwild Nature Center with guest speakers, guided naturalist walks, crafts for the kids , relaxation and the fresh scent of pine surrounding you. Click the nature center link above for directions, or continure reading for event details.

Guest speakers and activities are :

Saturday August 30, 2008- 10:00am - 12:00pm Carolyn Meade Ed. Director of the Big Morongo Preserve. Kids love to see who ate who by participating in the disection of an animals belly..actually it’s a plastic glove with jello stuff and plastic parts inside but the kids will be charting and matching the pieces and parts to animals they believe was dinner or dined.

Sunday August 31, 2008- 10:00am - 12:00pm Dr. Bill Hayes from Loma Linda University with Live Rattlesnakes. He’ll be discussing myths and truths through Q and A with audiences participation. Learn about species, characteristics, venom, treatments, and queer actions and atributes of rattlesnakes.

Monday September 1, 2008 -10:00am - 12:00pm Dr. Kirk Olsen, also known as (DR. Bug Guy) from LA City College returns for Q & A with kids and adults on what makes a True bug? Learn the characteristics of Insects & Bugs. Have you come accross the Assassin & Kissing bugs?

Kid crafts for all three days begins at 10:30am and will continue throughout the day.$2.00 fee for crafts

The first annual Flint Fest at the Idyllwild Nature Center will feature a gathering of knappers from different regions exhibiting their skills as they demmonstrate the ancient art of stone tool making. Techniques include direct percussion, (hitting larger flakes from another stone) and pressure flaking (pushing smaller flakes off from another stone) . These demonstrations will reflect the processes used by local native amercans as well as people from around the world.

Highlights of the weekend activites include competitions, Best Of Show, and opportunities to purchase of modern made arrowheads, knives, and other stone and beaded work. Presenters will demonstrate techniques and provide informative talks on various related subjects. More information to come. Demonstrators or Participants contact, Shelley Kibby 951-659-3850 or James Bowden 909-557-5515

Join us at the Idyllwild Nature Center for a day of flutterbyes, we will be having a butterfly pavilon set a float with Monach butterfllies.

Children and parents are invited to enter the pavilion and offer nectar and a perch for magical moments. For information on how to sponsor a butterfly for $10.00 call the nature center. 951-659-3850

Saturday- Enjoy entertainment, Classical guitarist Bill Davila, Sunday & Monday- join Folk Musicians Joey Latimer & Friends. This annual event is an opportunity to view local artist exhibits, see native flower displays from Desert and Mountain areas.

Local artists Daniel Fiddler and Jan Jaspers - Fayer will be demonstrating and exhibiting their art and skills at sculpture, a clay table and a flower pounding table will be set up for children’s crafts. Artist,  Gerry High will join us again as he paints from scences in the forest.

Hear from the experts and identify the wildflowers and plants you’ve been seeing. Saturday- 11:00 am - learn about “Native Usage of Plants “with Alice Kotzen taste the difference with a sampling of plants - stirred fried yucca blossoms, pine needle tea, mananita jelly, nettle soup, wiwish, jojoba tea and more!

1:00pm - Forest Service Botanist, Kate Kramer will talk about the forest it’s recovery process, hear more on forest ecology.

Sunday presenters include, 11:00 am-  Nursery owner, Landscape Designer, Valarie Phillips will share ideas for planting with native plants and designing a water friendly garden.

1:00 pm - Join Interpreter Specialist Tracy Albrecht, Santa Rosa Mountains National Monument for a slide presentation on wildflowers with hand scopes for a pick a part session.

Monday Join Interpreter Wendy Langhans for a “Waltz  with the Wildflowers”

Native plants and drought tolerant plants will be on sale throughout the weekend. Entry fee applies, $2.00 for Adults $1.00 for Children 12 and under $1.00 for Dogs on leash