Wyoming Breezes

April 2023 Every year Tiger Salamanders migrate to a large pond in a local park - LaBonte Park. Locals have called the pond "Stink Lake" for years for good reason. Volunteers gather to help the amphibians cross busy streets during migration.  The University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute states on their web page: Each spring, volunteers show up at LaBonte Park on potential migration nights to patrol 9th and Canby streets. Salamanders are picked up off the roads as they cross and brought safely to the edge of LaBonte Pond. Volunteers spend however long they’d like helping to protect and conserve this population of salamanders. Are you interested in volunteering to help Laramie’s salamanders safely complete their annual migration? Children 8 years and above are welcome to become a volunteer if accompanied by an adult. Friday and Saturday were wet days with snow falling almost all day - good migration conditions for the salamanders.  The Tiger Salamander is Wyoming's sta...

dead tree on Albany County 31 August 2021 Standing alone on the side of the dirt road, this tree has a commanding presence. Large rocks are placed around its base as if to protect this unique landmark.  I’ve always found dead trees beautiful pieces of art - each one tells a story of struggle and perseverance. 

natural plywood covering a broken window Laramie, WY September 2019 This natural and unpainted plywood, covering a broken window on a building near the Eagles Hall in Laramie, caught my attention immediately.  In the woodgrain, I see "eyes" lots and lots of eyes - some that look like frogs and others that look like elephants and even humans. Do you see what I see?

August 2017 August 2017

Tiger Swallowtail June 2, 2018 find something beautiful in your surroundings  and pause to admire it

source Anyone who has travelled through the Rockies (Canada and United States) in the last decade has seen the devastation the mountain pine beetle has had on the National Forests. The tiny beetle has killed thousands of acres of lodgepole pine trees and created perfect conditions for massive forest fires. Yet . . . the creatures have also created beauty. beetle-kill pine What many people do not know is that the wood from the beetle-kill tree has a unique color and staining that can range from turquoise to brown. Slowly, people are starting to see the beauty of the "damaged" lumber, and it is being used in construction for paneling, cabinetry, doors, and other useful objects like . . . one-of-a-kind yarn bowls. beetle-kill pine yarn bowl December 2016 I saw a photo of the yarn bowls on the Cowgirl Yarn (Laramie, WY) blog and called immediately to order one of the most stained bowls with a characteristic blue stripe as a gift to myself. If you're inte...