Rocky Mountain Gardens and Extension outline native‑plant, Master Gardener and conservation outreach

Staff at Missoula’s Rocky Mountain Gardens and the county Conservation District described a suite of educational programs and community services focused on native plants, pollinators, volunteer training and land‑management assistance.

An Extension speaker said Rocky Mountain Gardens is a public botanical garden of about 2.75 acres that planted its first plants in fall 2023 and now offers roughly 20 demonstration areas ranging from native and pollinator beds to drought‑tolerant plantings. The garden’s spring workshops and a new “ReWild” program promote regionally appropriate native planting; the speaker said the Missoula phlox was chosen as a flagship native that is locally special and that three natural populations exist, two of them not publicly disclosed to protect the plants.

Extension staff described the Master Gardener volunteer program, noting about 300 Master Gardeners are enrolled statewide with roughly 50 active volunteers in Missoula County. The Master Gardener class is a 12‑week, three‑hour weekly training; volunteers contribute outreach such as farmers market booths, garlic trials and plant clinics. A horticulture walk‑in clinic was described as open weekdays for plant identification and soil testing referrals.

Conservation District staff explained that the district implements the state Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act (commonly called the 310 law) and reviews permit applications and complaints for work in streams and adjacent areas. The district also described pollinator seed projects, a no‑till drill rental for soil conservation, Bear Smart outreach about wildlife‑safe trash management and a River Ambassadors program that coordinates river‑use stewardship with partner organizations.

Speakers emphasized hands‑on education, volunteer opportunities and partnerships with the Missoula Butterfly House and local conservation groups. No new ordinances, votes or funding allocations were announced during the presentations.