All forms of life do something in order to survive winter in the Rocky Mountains – many animals choose to migrate, hibernate, or adapt. Trees can’t migrate, so they drop all their leaves and go dormant, which is similar to hibernating.
But, what about all the other plants that are in the landscape – mainly what happens to those beautiful meadows of wildflowers? Continue reading
That is a good question.
At some point in everybody’s life they probably asked themselves or someone else that question. How come the sky isn’t red, or yellow? Or even white? Continue reading
The cold, freezing, short days of winter in the Rocky Mountains are not the best time of year for most forms of life. It is not easy to survive and all forms of life have different strategies for how to survive it. Many animals migrate, hibernate or adapt.
But, what about those forms of life, such as trees, that can not simply leave the area or go underground into a nice, comfy den? How do they survive the winter? Continue reading
Fish live throughout the world in salt water oceans and fresh water lakes, and rivers. It is estimated that there are about 30,000 different kinds of fish in the world. The rivers and lakes of the Rocky Mountains provide home to many different kinds of fish, including several different types of trout. Some of those fish are native to the area, but others are invasive (meaning that at some point they were put there).
Here are some of the common fish in the Rocky Mountains: Continue reading
Winter is coming to the Rocky Mountains…
Some people get ready for winter by chopping wood, cleaning out the gutters, checking the insulation on the house, and buying new winter coats for the family. If it is going to be a really bad winter, then you may buy a new snow shovel or make sure the snowblower is working properly. Continue reading
Brown trout
Compared to other animals it is usually pretty obvious when you see a fish. If you look in a river, lake, or ocean and see something swimming around underwater without coming up to the surface to get air then it is most likely a fish.
But, do you know exactly what makes a fish a fish as opposed to some other animal? Continue reading
Fungi, fungus, mushroom, or however you want to say it are a really strange form of life and they are everywhere in the Rocky Mountains. Simply saying the word mushroom gets a strong reaction from people. It can cause them to make a disgusted face or it can cause them to smile as they think about eating them.
Whatever you think of mushrooms, fungi are incredibly important for a healthy environment and also help people in making many different kinds of food and medicine. Continue reading
Fungi have several things that make them fungi and not plants, mammals, or something else. Here are a few of the most important things that make a fungus a fungus: Continue reading
Hiking with kids is a day playing in the Rocky Mountains with your family.
There is nothing I enjoy quite as much as spending a day with my family out for a walk in the mountains. Exploring the mountains with your family is an adventure. You never know what you are going to come across on the trail – maybe you will see a big mammal grazing in a meadow or come across some really strange looking bug.
These hikes are some of my favorites in Utah. They are between 2 and 6 miles long, making them a bit hard for very small kids, but not too long for most five and six year olds. Continue reading
Why do flowers bloom at different times of the year?
Why do some birds migrate long distances and others stay in the mountains during the winter?
Why are there so many different colors of flowers? Continue reading