Curious About … Blooming Balsamroot?
Arrowleaf balsamroot is a long-lived perennial wildflower that blooms in the shrub-steppe. Many animals and insects use it for food and it is adapted to re-grown after wildfire. Continue Reading →
Tag: sagebrush-grasslands
Curious About … Yellow Bells?
Yellow bells are one of the early blooming wildflowers in the shrub-steppe. Continue Reading →
Curious About … Western Meadowlark?
Western meadowlark males have arrived to the Wenatchee Foothills’ shrub-steppe. They use songs and postures to establish breeding territories. Continue Reading →
Curious About…Why Cheatgrass has changed everything?
Before 1850, our shrub-steppe plant communities were adapted to frequent disturbance, such as wildfire. The resilient native long-lived shrubs, bunchgrasses, and wildflowers were adapted to either re-sprouting or re-growing from seed, in a decades-long predictable pattern of succession. However, with the introduction of non-native annual grasses, primarily cheatgrass, this pattern was dramatically disrupted. Continue Reading →
Curious About … Growing up in Sagebrush Country?
What is it like to spend childhood nestled in a landscape filled with sagebrush? Today, I’m sharing stories of two women who put pen-to-paper to say how growing up in Wenatchee’s shrub-steppe made a lasting impression as they were coming-of-age. Continue Reading →
Curious About…Shrub-steppe, Fireworks, and Wildfire?
Fireworks are a main cause of human-started wildfires in sagebrush county. Invasive grasses are putting sagebrush country at risk of severe wildfires. This vibrant ecosystem is vital for people and wildlife. We need to do our part to protect it, especially with fireworks this weekend. Watch and share this new video to learn what we need to do to stop the spread of invasive grasses and restore degraded sagebrush habitats. Continue Reading →
Curious About … Liking Shrub-steppe?
Plan to visit the CDLT Jacbson Preserve in the Wenatchee Foothills to experience a shrub-steppe ecosystem Continue Reading →
Curious About … Antelope bitterbrush?
Antelope bitterbrush is blooming in the Wenatchee Foothill’s shrub-steppe. Fragrant yellow blossoms cover each shrub. Rodents and ants cache seeds. Continue Reading →
Curious About … Western Skink?
Western Skink are common lizards in North Central Washington. These active little lizards are often characterized by their vibrantly colored blue tail, but this beautiful coloration is partly temporary and fades with age Continue Reading →
Curious About … Biological Soil Crust?
biological soil crust is an essential element of healthy soil. A mix of moss, lichen, and blue-green algae form a thin cohesive layer providing nutrients and water to sprouting seeds. Continue Reading →