The news is coming out in a slow trickle. Quite a contrast to what residents of Casper can see with a glance at the river which runs right through the entire town. If you live along the North Platte River, you know we are facing record high flows similar to last year. In an effort…
Category: Wyoming, general
Wolves in Wyoming
It’s certainly a tinderbox topic. Raise the subject of wolves in Wyoming around any dinner table and you’ll hear very passionate opinions. I have to say, I’m not up to speed on the controversy. As a student at the University of Wyoming, I attended some of the early discussions and meetings regarding the reintroduction and…
Meadowlarks
The Crocus are blooming, the Robins and Meadowlarks are back. Spring is coming to the Rockies.
Start Indoors Eight Weeks Before Last Frost
The tulips, daffodils and grape hyacinth are coming up. The end of March marks a time in Wyoming when many commonly used garden flowers should be started indoors. It’s about eight weeks until we can be assured of frost free night time temps. A quick look through the propagation lists reveal Ageratum, Aster, Calendula, Coleus,…
Native Antennaria: A Ground Cover with Beautiful Texture
I’ve waxed starry eyed about Antennaria as a ground cover before, but I couldn’t find the photo I took that really highlights the amazing texture of this plant. Imagine this creeping between native stone pavers in an informal patio setting. The texture is almost exotic, while the gray-green color is truly Wyoming native!
Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja is by no means an easy genus to identify for an amateur like me. There are over 200 species in the United States and 17 in Wyoming. Probably everyone in Wyoming is familiar with Castilleja linariifolia, our state flower. It is bright red to orange-red and is truly spectacular in its sagebrush dominated native…
Native Plant List for Wyoming
For those just getting their feet wet in gardening with natives or landscaping with natives, the following list found at PlantNative.org is a good place to start. It’s not easy finding plant lists specific to Wyoming. I have no trouble finding native gardening information for California, or even Colorado, but most of the plants used…
Amelanchier alnifolia Research to Help Diabetes
Well I have said here before, the native tree commonly called Serviceberry, Saskatoon berry, or June berry (Amelanchier alnifolia), is a small to mid sized, graceful, airy native tree of Wyoming. I think it would make a great specimen tree in the landscape, especially under areas with large, towering trees. Over at Home Made Wilderness…
Penstemon for Astounding Blue
I’m an amateur botanist, but I’m pretty sure this is Penstemon glaber and P. angustifolia, respectively. For astounding blues, I don’t think any hybridized plant can beat them. I don’t think I have ever seen a flower with the sky blue of Penstemon angustifolia, a Wyoming native that likes poor, dry, sandy soil. I was…
Oil and Gas in the Wyoming Range
The proposed oil and gas drilling in the Wyoming Range west of Pinedale, Wyoming presents a new wrinkle in the permitting process. It seems the oil and gas companies are trying to strike a deal with potential opponents before they come to the table with federal land agencies. As long as the public review process…
Red Twig Dogwood in Wyoming Winter Landscape
We just received one of those picture perfect snowfalls. Each and every branch, twig and stem exquisitely layered with white, sparkling snow. It doesn’t happen often in my part of Wyoming because our snowfalls are usually accompanied by wind, but yesterday we awoke to still, stormy skies that slowly delivered the snow for most of…
Wyoming Life 