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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Climate change: Rockies wildflowers blooming earlier

Pasqueflowers, also known as prairie crocus, are among the first blooms
to sprout from lowland meadows while the peaks of Glacier National Park
are still smothered with snow. (Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review)
Pasqueflowers, also known as prairie crocus, are among the first blooms to sprout from lowland meadows while the peaks of Glacier National Park are still smothered with snow. (Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review)

NATURE -- Looking at the bright side, maybe wildflowers can teach a few things to the tomatoes in our gardens.

Effects of climate change on Rocky Mountain wildflowers seen in Wyoming
A researcher studying plants in the Rocky Mountain West for nearly 40 years has found that wildflowers are blooming more than a month earlier than they did in the 1970s.  This apparent influence of climate change has a cascade effect on plant species and the bumblebees and hummingbirds that depend upon them.
--Casper Star-Tribune



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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