Forgotten seed caches sometimes sprout in the shrub-steppe. Rodents like deer mice, voles, and pocket gophers cache seeds from antelope bitterbrush and lupine that if un-eaten, sprout and grow in to the next generation of plants. Continue Reading →
During the Wenatchee Naturalist course, each participant visits their own field site and makes weekly field journal observations. At the end of the course, each person creates a presentation, sharing Continue Reading →
Chapter 7 brings three more stories of new deep connections to North Central Washington’s landscapes by three class members. Susan Douglas was our longest-distance commuter, driving 70 miles from Almira Continue Reading →
For me, late summer turned into a season of surprising reptile sightings. Here’s a snapshot of my close-up encounters with several of our native snakes and lizards. Many of us Continue Reading →
The foothills are softly greening up, bright yellow buttercups are in bloom, and male western meadowlarks sing loudly from atop sagebrush. From our human perspective, the harsh conditions of winter Continue Reading →
In our arid region of low rainfall, cold winters and hot dry summers, big sagebrush grows 5-8 feet tall, forming a canopy above a sea of grasses, smaller shrubs, and wildflowers. Wildlife species from birds to mammals to insects utilize sagebrush for food, shelter, and nesting materials. Continue Reading →
Since early March, our foothills have been ablaze with a sequence of blooming wildflowers. Starting with sagebrush buttercup, over 50 different kinds have bloomed and set seed during the three Continue Reading →
In my “Building a Culture of Conservation” column, I will focus on the Wenatchee foothills as a learning lab and introduce you to some of our valley’s remarkable native plants Continue Reading →