RICHLAND -- The Columbia Basin Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society is holding a number of public events to mark Native Plant Appreciation Week.

* From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 12, walk through wildflowers and native grasses along the Wallula Gap while enjoying the vistas left after the Ice Age Floods. Meet south of Finley on Ayers Road. Bring a lunch.

* From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 19, take another trip to the Wildhorse Wind Farm will hopefully bring sights of the hedgehog cactus blooming. The farm is between Ellensburg and Vantage.

Meet at the Federal Building (corner of Swift and Jadwin) in Richland at 7:15 a.m. to carpool. Bring a lunch.

For more information, go to www.wnps.org/cbasin.