Two additional populations of blowout penstemon were found in central Wyoming, by a few hardworking and dedicated CBG interns.\u00a0 Yep, I happen to be one of those interns.<\/p>\n
For me, it all started on a cold, wet July morning in Rawlins, WY.\u00a0 I was to meet two other people at the old \u201ctown\u201d of Ferris.\u00a0 Down a winding two-track road I drove, with some bluegrass on the radio and the Ferris Mountains guiding my way.\u00a0 I finally met up with my group after a few miles and got out of the government rig to talk about our strategy for surveying the surrounding sand dunes for occupied blowout penstemon habitat.\u00a0 After some discussion it was decided that I would trek around with Emma, a CBG intern based out of Laramie, WY.\u00a0 Emma has spent much time looking at aerial photos of Aeolian (wind-derived) sand deposits in the state, with the goal of mapping all potential habitat for blowout penstemon in the state.<\/p>\n
After stuffing some rain gear, food and water into our packs, Emma and I headed towards the sand dunes that are scattered across the valley south of the Ferris Mountains.\u00a0 With the storm clouds building above us we made a pact to head back to the trucks if the rain became a nuisance.\u00a0 I had been out with Emma before scouting for blowout penstemon and had no luck, so I was unprepared to almost step directly on a plant less than 1 mile from where I left my truck.\u00a0 It was at this time that rain drops began to fall.\u00a0 After a high-five, we got out our pencils and paper, threw on our rain gear, and started to systematically survey the sand dune.\u00a0 Within 10 minutes we were soaked, and had only found a few additional plants.\u00a0 We discussed our pact about quitting once the rain became a nuisance, which it had become, but decided to keep on scouting for additional plants.\u00a0 After a few hours, we were smeared with sand, our fingers were turning blue, BUT we had found over 80 blowout penstemon plants that have never been documented before in the area.\u00a0 As we made our way back, the clouds began to break and by the time we arrived back to our trucks the sun was fully out.\u00a0\u00a0 We ate a late lunch, with our bare feet basking in the sun and our boots and socks strewn across the hood of the trucks to dry out.\u00a0 It was a good day.<\/p>\n
Beyond surveying, still working on updating the statewide programmatic biological assessment for blowout penstemon in WY and preparing for a meeting with the USFWS next week\u2026.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/100_06481.jpg\")
<\/a>Surveying for blowout penstemon in the sand dunes of central Wyoming.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>"Town" of Ferris, WY.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Two additional populations of blowout penstemon were found in central Wyoming, by a few hardworking and dedicated CBG interns.\u00a0 Yep, I happen to be one of those interns. For me, it all started on a cold, wet July morning in … Continue reading