Springtime has come to Pattee Canyon, and the kids are noticing the yellow blooms of the Arrowleaf Balsamroot on the hillside and the Dr. Seuss-ian flowers of the paper birch tree by the gate. We’ve been hearing more songbirds, and enjoying nibbling on the fresh chives growing in our little vegetable garden.
 Arrowleaf balsamroot flowers. |  Flowers (or "catkins") of the paper birch tree. |
Some other new additions to the garden are the bumblebee home and water dish, two ways that we’re helping to create a hospitable environment for pollinators. The kids worked hard to build a sheltered underground home for a bumblebee family to move into, and filled the bee water dish with shiny glass marbles (normal rocks would work just fine, too), to give the bees a safe place to perch while they drink. The water dish helps them to save energy, so that they don't have to fly down to the creek in search of water, but can preserve their energy to pollinate the flowers in our garden and in the woods.
 |  If you're interested in learning more about pollinators and wildflowers in Montana, here's a link to a nice booklet put out by the Forest Service. What signs of spring are you seeing around your house? |
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