Dave Benscoter, whose popular presentations about rediscovering “extinct” apples typically draw crowds, will discuss "The Lost Apples of the Inland Empire" at 1 p.m. April 9 at the Lewiston City Library, 411 D St., and via Zoom.
Benscoter’s Lost Apple Project, through which he searches for apples believed extinct in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, has rediscovered 29 apple varieties, according to a news release from the Nez Perce County Historical Society.
His talk, presented as part of the Confluence of History lecture series, will cover the first homesteaders to reach Walla Walla and the importance of nurserymen to early pioneers as well as the early history of Whitman, Nez Perce and Asotin counties and how nurserymen helped homesteaders there.
He'll also explain why the Inland Empire is such a hotbed for finding lost apple varieties and how a concurrence of factors makes finding apples, believed extinct, more possible now than at any other time.
To reserve a physical seat at the library, those interested can call the museum at (208) 743-2535 or email npccurator@gmail.com. The Zoom link for watching at home is at bit.ly/Benscoter, passcode 730341.
