#Rocky Mountain penstemon

[rabbitcruiser]

International Day for Biological Diversity 

Biodiversity, or having lots of different kinds of life, is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Visit a local farmer’s market and see what your area has to offer.

Biodiversity, a simple word with some very broad reaching implications. Biodiversity, when split into it’s component parts, “Diversity” defined as “a range of different things.” and bio meaning “life”, quite simply means “A Diversity of Life”. It has been shown that ecological niches with good biodiversity flourish and are healthy.

History of the International Day for Biological Diversity

The International Day for Biological Diversity was first established in 1993, when the 29th of December was selected to serve as the day to educate the world of the importance of Biodiversity. This was later changed to the 22 of May in 2000. Too many winter holidays were interfering with countries holding meaningful celebrations.

The prevalence of monoculture farming in the world has led to some rather dramatic and drastic consequences. Unknown to most consumers, most of the world only consumes one type of banana, and that isn’t the same kind that was being eaten only a few decades ago. Due to monoculture farming, an entire species of banana was wiped out by disease, leading to the cultivation of our present strain. Without biodiversity, we’re currently set up for the same thing to happen all over again.

Each year a theme is selected to educate the world on the broad variety of topics that fall under the veil of biodiversity, from Water and Marine biodiversity, to Forest and Sustainable development concerns.

Celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity

Celebrating Biodiversity can be fun and delicious, especially if you take this opportunity to visit farmers markets and co-ops in your local area to try new types of produce. Whether you incorporate heirloom tomatoes into your gardening or cooking, or try one of the rainbow of colors of carrots out there that aren’t orange, biodiversity can bring a great new experience to your table.

Another way of celebrating biodiversity is to join a local park clean-up team and help to remove invasive plants from your local environment. These teams of volunteers will gather to remove plants that are impacting the local fauna’s biodiversity by taking over natural grow areas.

Another way to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity is to simply get out into the world and enjoy all the different types of life your local area offers. Even a local park can have an amazing variety of life you’ve never noticed, from the insects crawling through the grass and dirt, to the flowers we so clumsily lump together as ‘wildflowers’.

Whatever the case, get out there and celebrate the diversity of our natural world, not just on the International Day for Biological Diversity, but every day!

Source

[hedgewitchgarden]

Nacogdoches is one of dozens of Texas cities that have planted pollinator gardens, providing way stations for the long monarch migration

Take the people of Nacogdoches. Billed as the “Garden Capital of Texas,” the town of 35,000 has long promoted beautification efforts, including projects with the local Stephen F. Austin (SFA) Gardens. Nacogdoches recently went a step further, joining more than 600 cities nationwide in taking the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge. By signing on, leaders commit to expanding monarch habitat and educating residents about pollinators.

In making their improbable journey, monarchs need all the help they can get. East of the Rocky Mountains, the butterflies head south at the end of summer and, after overwintering in central Mexico from late October to March, begin their long return north. Milkweed, essential for monarchs, and other nectar-producing plants serve as way stations, providing nutrients and shelter en route.

Much of the monarch’s decline in recent decades can be linked to the disappearance of these way stations, often due to development. By designing and planting a series of pollinator-friendly gardens beginning in 2019, Nacogdoches became a champion of monarchs and other pollinators, sending a message of hope for many migrating species.

That positivity extends to the human population. “The four monarch gardens in Nacogdoches provided opportunities for a diverse group of people to learn about and plant these pockets of conservation,” says Dawn Stover, representative for SFA Gardens at the time of installation. “We had generations of gardeners making these projects come to life.”

Selecting native flora not only helps pollinators. It also educates home gardeners who might have overlooked certain plant species. “As people watch early-blooming penstemons give way to summer wild bergamot and giant cornflower, then transition to fall with goldenrod and asters, they become enchanted with the living world,” says Kim Conrow, past president of the Native Plant Society of Texas.

The Nacogdoches gardens—each registered as a Certified Wildlife Habitat®—were the result of an effort between the city’s Parks & Recreation Department, NWF’s Monarch Conservation Urban Outreach and Monarch Stewards programs, SFA Gardens and the Native Plant Society of Texas, with a donation by the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation. “[These gardens] are a way for us to celebrate the great partnership and collaboration with the communities to support monarch migration,” says Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón, climate-resilient habitats senior manager and monarch recovery strategist for NWF.

Nacogdoches is among dozens of Texas cities that have taken the NWF pledge—currently the second most of any state. Others include the Lower Rio Grande Valley city of McAllen, where the renowned Zapotec artist Irving Cano’s mural “Destino Monarca” was installed in 2022.

Both the mural and the gardens are “conduits helping us to raise awareness about the situation of the monarch butterfly but at the same time increase native habitat in urban areas while we educate others,” Quiñonez-Piñón says. “We can see the demonstration gardens as creating art, too.”

[solarpunkswy]

Here are some plants native to Wyoming that you can put in gardens or seed bombs!

Sagebrush steppe

Badlands mules-ears

Indian paintbrush

Bitterroot

Porter's sagebrush

Blazing star

Fuzzy tongue penstemon

Rocky Mountain iris

Ute ladies'-tresses

Arrowleaf balsamroot

Showy milkweed

Columbian monkshood

Red windflower

Rock jasmine

Nodding onion

Spreading dogbane

Mountain deathcamas

Androsace septentrionalis

Anthemis cotula

Agoseris glauca

Orange agoseris

Amelanchier utahensis

Leafy Arnica

Please let me know if I got any of these wrong or if you have other flowers native to Wyoming!

[ghostoffuturespast]

Lots of birds and flowers this week. The prairie is enjoying all the rain we've had lately.

Two-Grooved Milk Vetch and a flower I don't remember, Blue Flax, Great Horned Owl, Red-Tailed Hawk, Broad-Tailed Hummingbird, Rocky Mountain Penstemon, Rocky Mountain Penstemon and a Deer skull, Prairie Bluebells, more Milk Vetch. And blue skies, an invasive thistle, and cheat grass as far as the eye can see.

[mbsposts]

20230613 Mesa Falls area Idaho

Rocky Mountain penstemon Penstemon strictus

[lasriohq]

LAS RIO’S 50TH ANNUAL BLOSSOM BASH

Welcome all townspeople, tourists, and newcomers alike! We - the people of Las Rio - invite you to our 50th annual Spring Blossom Bash, where we have activities, food, and much much more. There’s truly something for everyone; Spring is in the air! 

This Blossom Bash will take place from April 3rd - April 9th and it’s always just what  the town needs to welcome the warmer months back into Las Rio. While the food is always exactly the dream come true - nothing like stations of food fit just for the occasion, sandwiches, snacks, cold and warm drink station, and as always Polly’s world famous lavender tea! Stop on by Polly’s Emporium to try the drink for yourself. 

If food and drinks aren’t your thing and you’re someone that prefers to socialize, this would be the best time to check out the art and kite festival that’s set up on the West side of the town. Booths are set up for miles wide, decorated and full of the most prized possessions, art pieces made with nothing but love, and kites made out of recycled materials and painted the most vibrant colors. Make your own kite or your own art pieces to decorate your home. If art isn’t your thing, the night of April 8th check out our hot air balloon rides that are launching at sunset on the west side of the river. All donations given for this event will go towards the businesses of Las Rio for repairs and maintenance. 

To top it all off, our annual gardening event is being held on the East side of the river, and we don’t want Mrs. Lewis to win the grand prize for the largest cactus again. Enter your most prized plant possession into the contest for a grand prize. There will be gardening classes hosted, as well as the ability to help make the town beautiful with your own area to plant things you desire! Come on out and help make this event personal, but overall a great time. 

While the event is lasting a full week both in character and out of character, you all will be able to write threads for this event starting on April 3rd at 8AM and can write until the event ends on April 12th at 8AM. This will allow you all to write as much as you want to surrounding the event, and we can’t wait to see what you come up with. 

We know you probably have a lot of questions, so below is some things that we think could be helpful when you begin writing. Gardening- Some things that are available to be grown at this time of year in New Mexico are: peas, cabbage, spinach, carrots, broccoli, kale, arugula, radishes, cilantro, scallions, cilantro, and lettuce, but be sure your characters prepared them ahead of time. We are allowing this to be for both personal use, and also if your character is more like to do it for volunteer purposes, we’re allowing you to help plant things to give to those less fortunate and really capture the inclusiveness and closeness the town is supposed to represent. If food or vegetables aren’t your thing, some flowers you can plant are: Parry's Penstemon, Firecracker, Rocky Mountain, Pineleaf, Huskers Red, Scarlet Bulgar, Rondo Mix and Pikes Peak Purple and attract things like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Art & Kite Festival - For this, it’s kind of as basic as it sounds. This is just some booths set up with different types of art; along with art you can buy, we think it would be cool to have your character to be able to explore making those types of art work, so feel free to explore that side of it if that’s something you wish to do! Food & Drink - There will be an assortment of food, drinks and snacks with a range from poke, a coffee stand, italian ice and more. You won't leave hungry, especially if you check out any of the food trucks parked in different areas around town to meet your needs. (Use your imagination here too! The more Spring inspired dishes the better!)

Booths - While the specifics aren't listed, if you want your character to run some sort of booth set up around town, Rancho De Plaza will be full of booths of all sorts! Join Elijah at the face painting booth or set up your own! Hot Air Balloon Rides - The price for these hot air balloons are $2 for single riders or $5 for every ‘couple’ (double rider balloons) and the donations are being collected and dispersed evenly to local businesses by City Hall. Plan a date, watch the stars, or grab a balloon and get away from reality for awhile; the sky really is the limit when it comes to this fun activity. As always, feel free to have fun and explore all the possibilities. We can’t wait to see what you guys come up with! 

[nonbinary-nature-lover-jeri]

Scenes From My Walk - Close Up Rocky Mountain Penstemon growing by the Santa Fe River Trail/Path/Walkway at The Siler Road Bridge #ScenesFromMyWalk #PalmersPenstemon #PenstemonPalmer #Penstemon #Wildflower #NewMexicoFlowers #Wildflowers #WildflowersOfInstagram (at Santa Fe, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CerxuYaLEEb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[goblingarden]

new baby plants: blackberry, which aren't invasive in my area, valerian, chives, wild beebalm, sweetgrass, rocky mountain penstemon, yarrow, my bestie artemisia ludoviciana (which also grows down the street but i wanted it here too), monkshood, and one artemisia absinthium, who is in the corner of the yard where she can't cause too much trouble.

[gejianxin]

Rocky Mountain Penstemon This is a close-up of a Rocky Mountain Penstemon, an evergreen perennial that attracts bees and other pollinators.

[eda11y]

Rocky Mountain Penstemon by freelancewriterphotographer62

[rabbitcruiser]

Flower Day

Flower Day is celebrated annually on May 20. It makes a toast to the beauty of flowers and the ways they are useful to us. On the holiday, environmentalists and conservationists create awareness about flower conservation and what can be done to save endangered flower species.

History of Flower Day

We love flowers because of their awe-inspiring beauty and fragrance. They also play a significant role in romance, medicine, rituals, and religion. You can spot them at christenings, funerals, weddings, and parties, as corsages and boutonnieres at special occasions, and as home decorations and thoughtful gifts. They are also used at places of worship, especially by Hindus. It’s not uncommon to see religious shrines adorned with flowers.

There are also some flowers that regularly feature in our meals! Nutritious vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and artichoke are actually flowers. Similarly, some flowers are used as spices, such as crocus (or saffron), cloves, and capers. Hops are used in beer, and dandelion and elderflowers are used in wines and cocktails. Moreover, some flowers are used to make herbal teas, while others are used as metaphors. For example, red roses symbolize love, poppies of death, iris and lilies of burial, and daisies of innocence. Artists and poets have also sought flowers as muses.

However, caring for flowers is no mean feat! Flowers have their own unique requirements in terms of growth and health. Some flowers prefer to be in the shade, while others need sunlight. Still, others thrive in damp soil, while some require the soil to be on the drier side. Flowers are divas, but they’re divas that have held our hearts for centuries.

Flower Day timeline

2500 B.C. The Egyptians

The ancient Egyptians become pros at flower arrangement.

776 B.C. Flowers and the Ancient Olympics

Woven garlands and wreaths are awarded to victors during the Olympics.

1000 A.D. Flower Arrangements in Europe

Churches and monasteries are adorned with flowers.

1400 A.D. Renaissance Painting Feature Flowers

Flowers became a common motif in Renaissance art.

Flower Day FAQs

Why do we celebrate Flower Day?

Flower Day encourages us to show love and appreciation towards friends, family, and even strangers through the gift of flowers.

What is a signature rose?

A single perfect red rose clubbed with a baby’s breath flower is considered a signature rose. It is the most sought-after flower on Valentine’s Day.

On which holiday are the most flowers sent?

Christmas and Hanukkah account for the most flower gifts all year.

Flower Day Activities

Attend a flower arrangement event

Buy flowers

Plant flowers

Flower arrangement is an art that requires talent, patience, and hard work. So, celebrate Flower Day by attending a flower arrangement class.

What’s a better way to celebrate Flower Day than by buying flowers? Gift flowers to yourself and your loved ones. You could even buy some flowers to decorate your house!

Celebrate Flower Day by planting your very own flowers. Buy a couple of saplings of your favorite flowers and pot them around your house. Look up how to care for the flowers and watch them bloom!

5 Unique Facts About Flowers

Roses and apples

Flowers could ward off evil spirits

Tulip bulbs are versatile

The oldest flower was discovered in China

Sunflowers follow the movement of the Sun

The rose flower is related to the apple and peach family.

In some cultures, aster leaves were burned to ward off evil spirits.

They can be substituted for onions in recipes.

The Archaefructus sinensis flower bloomed around 125 million years ago in what is now known as China.

They move from east to west throughout the day.

Why We Love Flower Day

Flowers are beautiful

Flowers are muses

Flowers are important to us

We love celebrating and cherishing all things beautiful. When we look at flowers, they brighten our day instantly. Flower Day is celebrated in honor of flowers, which fill us with hope and joy.

During the Renaissance, flowers became the muses of various artists and poets. Even today, paintings, dresses, aprons, and other art pieces feature flowers. It is remarkable how flowers have inspired us with their beauty.

Flowers are not just objects of beauty; they are a source of nutrition and healing as well. So, on Flower Day, we can express our appreciation for flowers.

Source

[glaciernps]

Catch the buzz! It's Pollinator Week and here in Glacier we are lucky to have a plethora of pollinators. This includes a brain-boggling 22 species of native bumblebees. The entire state of Montana boasts 28 species of the genus Bombus, more than any other state in the country!

Bumblebees are eusocial insects, or insects living in colonies run by a single queen. Females have concave regions (‘baskets’) on their hind legs that allow them to collect pollen, which is then fed to their offspring. Males transport pollen that clings to their bodies, but they don’t collect it intentionally. Both male and female bumblebees eat nectar and pollen. Pollen is high in protein and typically eaten by the queen and her larvae. Nectar provides high-energy carbohydrates, sucked down by worker bees.

Now let’s get to know some of Glacier’s bumblebees!

Photo 1: Bombus ternarius, Tri-colored Bumblebee. Found widespread throughout Canada and in the northern U.S. They prefer to nest underground in existing holes. One of their favorite plants to forage? Vaccinium, the group that includes huckleberries.

Photo 2: Bombus flavifrons, Yellowhead Bumblebee. Distributed throughout Canada and the U.S. Rocky Mountains. Queen yellowheads sometimes fall prey to cuckoo bumblebees. The latter are brood parasites that usurp the queen and trick the whole colony into raising their own offspring!

Photo 3: Bombus balteatus, High-country Bumblebee. This rare bee lives at high elevations, mostly at treeline but also in the Arctic tundra. With its long tongue, it is adapted to visit alpine flowers with long petals, such as Rocky Ledge Penstemon.

Photo credits-- 1 and 2 by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, Photo 3 by Arnstein Staverløkk/Norsk institutt for naturforskning, Photo 4: NPS

[Image descriptions: Photo 1: Macro overhead view of an orange and yellow fuzzy bumblebee with black wings. Photo 2: Macro side view of a bumblebee with a bright orange butt. Photo 3: Macro overhead view of yellow-and-black striped bumblebee with long tongue. Photo 4: Closeup of bright purple flowers with long tubelike petals]

[ghostoffuturespast]

Starting top right: sunflower, Rocky Mountain penstemon, prickly pear cactus, yucca, barn swallow (my neighbor), a wasp that built a nest out of rocks.

[mbsposts]

20230613 Mesa Falls area Idaho

Rocky Mountain penstemon Penstemon strictus

[justabirdy]

🌿Wildflower Wednesday: Wasatch Beardtongue🌿 . Penstemon cyananthus . These beautiful blue flowers bloomed a few days ago, appearing almost overnight here in the Tetons with the beginning of our local summer season. Commonly called beardtongue for the shape of their flowers, these perennial plants are vibrant throughout the mountain hills. . Preferring the dry soils of the rocky mountain hills and our own sage flats, these sun loving flowers bloom for only about a month each year. . Penstemons are largely considered some of the most strikingly attractive native flowers in North America. Several species have also served Native tribes in medicinal purposes. ·https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Bw3TIF6mb/?igshid=wnps7x8hngd2

[nonbinary-nature-lover-jeri]

Scenes From My Walk - Rocky Mountain Penstemon and Flax growing together by the Santa Fe River Trail/Path/Walkway #ScenesFromMyWalk #RockyMountainPenstemon #Penstemon #Flax #BlueFlax #Wildflower #NewMexicoFlowers #Wildflowers #WildflowersOfInstagram (at Santa Fe, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeVGZl1ATHl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=