The Camas Prairie - An Historical and Cultural Perspective

With Forest Shomer

Sunday, March 1, 2026. 3:30-4:30 pm

Kah Tai Prairie is a 1.4-acre remnant of the once vast prairies that carpeted the Kah Tai Valley between the Straits of Juan de Fuca and Port Townsend Bay. Though development has dramatically transformed this area, a portion of the original prairie remains within the Port Townsend Golf Course. The Olympic Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society has been working to preserve and restore this unique botanical site since 1986.

With years of work from dedicated volunteers, the prairie is a stunning sight in the spring and summer, with a variety of wildflowers and prairie plants on display. Regular work parties focus on stabilizing prairie plant communities and controlling weeds, with the goal of promoting herbaceous prairie species. The prairie is home to over 90 different species, 27 of which are prairie indicator species. To learn more about the Kah Tai Prairie, visit the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.

FOREST SHOMER is a professional seedman specializing exclusively in native-plant seeds of the Salish Sea bioregion. He began professional work with seeds in 1974, collecting, processing, and distributing seeds of native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses through his sole-owned INSIDE PASSAGE SEEDS. He is co-Founder of the nonprofit Olympic Peninsula Prairies (2018) and the recipient of a WNPS Mentzelia Award, “Made a significant contribution to native plant conservation, research, or education in Washington”.

This free series offered by Quimper Grange #720, examines "all things food & growing” in our area. For over 100 years, this Grange has supported the Jefferson County community through public programming, concerts, dance, rental space, and a 7,000 ft² Food Bank Garden, donating produce to help mitigate food insecurity. The Grange is at 1219 Corona Ave, PT. Doors open at 3:15 pm