Every fall the aspen trees of Central Oregon light up the forest with their brilliant changing colors. There’s just something about their stark white bark, round yellow and orange leaves and delicate quaking sound that is so enchanting. But, did you know that aspens are more than your average tree? They provide year-round benefits to […]
Sarah Mowry
Posted inOutside
Butterflies of Central Oregon and Their Host Plants
Five species to watch for, and where to find them
Butterflies flitting about the forest, meadow, or your yard are a sure sign of summer in Central Oregon. Warmer weather and blooming flowers bring out a wide variety of these amazing, delicate creatures, making them easy to spot and watch. It’s the bright colors that catch many people’s eye, but did you know that all […]
Posted inOutside
Cue the May Flowers
What’s in bloom in the high desert and beyond this season
Longer days, warmer temperatures, and puffy white clouds mean that spring is finally here in the high desert. As the season progresses, so do our local wildflowers moving from tiny, early bloomers to larger, bolder blooms. The high desert is alive with color in May and June, so soak in this brief season of green, […]
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Save Water, Plant Native!
The planting and care of native plants adapted to the Central Oregon landscape
Water—or lack thereof—is a hot topic these days. According to the latest Oregon Climate Assessment, more than one-third of Oregon has been in a drought for the last 20 years, and we aren’t likely to return to what we all think of as “normal” water conditions. The situation in Central Oregon is especially dire for […]
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Early Spring Wildflowers to Welcome the Season
With fickle weather, the only sure sign that spring is really here is the arrival of colorful flowers
Spring in the high desert is a mercurial thing: sun and warm temperatures one day, followed by snow and sleet the next. The only sure sign that spring is really here is the arrival of wildflowers! Central Oregon, with its deserts and high mountain meadows, is chock full of wildflowers and a nice long season […]
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Is Climate Anxiety Bad for the Planet?
Heat domes, atmospheric rivers, bomb cyclones… It’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Lovers of the natural world know that the signs of climate change are everywhere. Record warm temperatures and low snow in winter, early wildflowers in spring (or winter!), smoky skies and fires in the summer, and the new lexicon of heat domes, atmospheric rivers, and bomb cyclones. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when we see […]
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Winter Nature Nights: Learn About the Natural World from the Comfort of Home
Annual Deschutes Land Trust series kicks off in January
By about the end of January, many Central Oregonians start dreaming about warmer temperatures, longer days and the arrival of spring and more time outdoors. But alas, as most of us know, spring won’t be here until June—OK, maybe May—so we have to dream about spring while making it through the rest of winter that […]
Posted inOutside
Winter Nature Nights: Learn About the Natural World from the Comfort of Home
Annual Deschutes Land Trust series kicks off in January
By about the end of January, many Central Oregonians start dreaming about warmer temperatures, longer days and the arrival of spring and more time outdoors. But alas, as most of us know, spring won’t be here until June—OK, maybe May—so we have to dream about spring while making it through the rest of winter that is still to […]
Posted inOutside
Larch Light Up the Forests
Golden needles shout fall and mark the turn of the season
Fall is a fleeting thing in Central Oregon. One minute you are lamenting the loss of summer and then before you know it, winter arrives and you didn’t get a chance to soak in the delights of the season. So, take heed: now is the time to enjoy fall, and one great way to do […]
Posted inOutside
It’s Leaf-Peeping Season
Soak in fall colors with the glorious vine maple
With fall officially here, the time has come to head out to catch some seasonal displays of color! Leaf peeping is a pastime for many people who revel in the changing of the seasons and nature’s last burst of color before winter. While Central Oregon’s fall colors may not compete with the glorious sugar maples […]