Willow London believes that having access to the outdoors is an irrefutable perk to living in the Pacific Northwest. The Moscow native pointed out that nature is just a drive away from town. Mountains, forests, reservoirs and rivers can be found by heading in any direction and there are options much closer to home than many may realize.
The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute works to engage people with the environment. It manages two sites on the Palouse that London said bring nature closer to the community. London, community engagement coordinator for the institute, said what’s neat about the Palouse Nature Center is that it’s conveniently located in Moscow.
Found at 1040 Rodeo Drive, the 26.2-acre property is available from dawn to dusk seven days a week for anyone looking to get outdoors. It features a nursery, orchard, greenhouse and plenty of community spaces, she said.
Offices and buildings are found at the center of the property, while fields and ponds extend outward. In the main area, London said people can enjoy a reservable pavilion, greenhouse and artist studio. The greenhouse is a versatile place, she said, that can be used to host events and also grow plants.
The studio is a timber-framed building which she said is built without nails but lumber that fits together. Two of the structures have living roofs with gardens on top, London added. Nature trails wind throughout the premises and will lead people to an orchard where they can pick fruit at no charge, and a nursery where native plants are grown for restoration work.
London added plants grown at the facility are available to the public, who can browse a variety of shrubs, trees and foliage to take home. The center also offers other amenities, including an EV charging station, a compostable toilet facility, bikes and more. The institute’s Rose Creek Nature Preserve north of Pullman has a different feel from the center, London said.
The 22-acre property on Shawnee Road is a dedicated quaking aspen-black hawthorn-cow parsnip environment, she said, in the endangered Palouse meadow steppe ecosystem. The space includes trails that showcase native grasses, plants, meadows and fields. London said it’s a special place that can be used as an educational opportunity.
The rare habitat displays vegetation that once covered the Palouse. “It’s one of those things that you don’t realize until it’s gone,” London said. “It’s hard to imagine what it looked like 100 years ago before we changed fields into farms.
” Wildlife appreciates the preserve just as much as people. London said Rose Creek is a popular birding location because it attracts many birds. Year-round, London said birds like the American goldfinch, great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, California quail, northern flicker and more can be seen.
She added that a member of the Rose Creek committee created a website called Waxwing Imagery that includes all resident birds. “These places are just really beautiful, serene places to go,” London said. “To be in nature and escape life for a little visit.
” Pearce can be reached at [email protected] ..
