Now is Time to View Dance of the Grouse
Now is the time to observe Wyoming’s native sage grouse on their leks (courtship areas). During this annual ritual, (late March through early May), males are competing for mates.
The sage grouse is the ultimate Wyoming status-seeker. Sage grouse leks can attract more than 200 males. The dominant males are usually in the center of the lek. They are the ones who do most of the breeding. Spotting males is easy because the front of the bird is white.
Hens come to the lek when they are ready to mate. They are camouflaged so well that they can be difficult to see, but this feature makes nesting safer. After breeding at the lek, the hens lay about seven or eight eggs in a scrape on the ground, usually near some protective vegetation such as sagebrush. The hens incubate their eggs for 22-24 days. Young hatch downy and are ready to leave the nest as soon as their down is dry. Females guard the broods for about 10 weeks. During this time the chicks’ diet is composed of insects, especially grasshoppers. As they mature, their diet shifts to vegetable matter, mostly forbs in the spring and early summer, then sagebrush as herbaceous vegetation cures. During winter, the birds can be found in large flocks in areas of extensive sagebrush.
- Arrive at the lek at least one hour before sunrise.
- Don’t drive on or near the lek and park away from the edge of the lek.
- Turn off the engine and lights and stay in your vehicle.
- Use binoculars and spotting scopes to observe birds.
- Don’t make loud noises or sudden movements.
- Do not leave the lek site until the birds do.
- Keep your pets in the vehicle or, better yet, leave them at home.
- Do not trespass on private land.
- Postpone your visit if roads are muddy.
Master Gardeners Program Growing – Community Garden Viewing June 22
Congratulations to our newest Master Gardeners — Cindy Dragon, Melanie Valentine, Lisa Bomengen, Darcy Axtell, Gail Phipps and Becky Hutson. It is rewarding to see the program expanding. We look forward to seeing beautiful gardens and good things to eat!
The Community Garden in Hot Springs State Park will be open for public viewing during the June 22 100-year anniversary celebration.
Wyoming Game & Fish Education Changes Programs
Wyoming Game & Fish will not offer Youth Conservation Camp or the Forever Wild Educator Workshops during 2013. They are in the process of improving camp facilities and developing new standards-based conservation education lessons for 6-12 grade levels. The lesson plans and worksheets will be available in a downloadable format. Equipment required for lesson plans will eventually be available for checkout at your regional Game & Fish Department office. For more info: tasha.sorensen@wyo.gov.
For information on all the educational resources available from Wyoming Game & Fish, click here.
All Thermopolis Music Jam Sessions Now at Southside Station
The all-music jams are moving to the Southside Station, where the bluegrass music jams are also held. The first all-music jam at Southside will be held Fri., April 5, 6-8 p.m.
The all-music jams are held on the first Friday of the month for those who play electric or acoustic, any style.
The bluegrass jams are held on the third Friday of the month for those who play acoustic instruments, mostly bluegrass, with a little country and folk thrown in.
The jams are open to the public at no charge. Visitors and travelers are welcome. Bring an instrument – bring your voice – and join in the homegrown fun. The jams are coordinated by Ed and Phyllis Capen and are sponsored by Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation. For more information: 921-1820.
Bluegrass/acoustic jams are being held in Worland on the second Friday of each month at First Presbyterian Church basement, 15th St. across from the hospital, 6-8 p.m. Currently scheduled for March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8 and December 13, 2013.
April
5 – All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
12 - Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
19 – Bluegrass music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
May
3 - All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis 6-8 p.m.
10 - Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
17 – Bluegrass music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
June
7 - All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis 6-8 p.m.
14 - Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
21 - Bluegrass music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
July
5 - All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis 6-8 p.m.
12 - Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
19 – Bluegrass music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
August
2 – All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis 6-8 p.m.
9 - Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
23 - Bluegrass music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
September
6 - All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis 6-8 p.m.
13 - Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
20 - Bluegrass music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
October
4 - All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis 6-8 p.m.
11 - Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
18 - Bluegrass music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
November
1 - All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis 6-8 p.m.
8- Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
15 - Bluegrass music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
December
6 – All types music, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
13 - Bluegrass/acoustic music, First Presybterian Church basement, Worland, 6-8 p.m.
20 – Bluegrass, Southside Station, Thermopolis, 6-8 p.m.
100 Events Calendar Available
Happy 100th birthday to Hot Springs County this year. The community is kicking off 100 events to celebrate the year. Although work toward the county organization began in 2011, it was official and in place in 2013. In honor of that event, a 100th Anniversary Celebration will be held June 20-22. It will include a community gathering/buffalo feed, parade, artisans, local musicians and other activities to be announcedPosters are available for businesses. Call 307-864-4070.
Click here for a printer-friendly legal-size version. If you have difficulty trying to read or print out the legal-size version, email info@hsglf.org; and we will email you a file direct to your email address.
Red Dirt Master Gardener News
Free Publication – Barnyards & Backyards
University of Wyoming Extension provides a great free publication, Barnyards & Backyards, for Wyoming farmers, ranchers and gardeners. You can get your free copy in Thermopolis at the Agricultural Extension office (behind the library) or the Hot Springs Conservation District office/USDA center at 601 Broadway, Suite A. You can also view the publications at http://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/. The online resource is searchable and has additional information that is really valuable.
Community Garden Spots to be Assigned April 5-6
Anyone can sign up for a spot in the Community Garden; you need not be a member of the Master Gardener program. PLOTS WILL BE ASSIGNED APRIL 5 5:30 p.m. and APRIL 6 The fenced area has raised beds and water. If fencing (critters), cost of water or space are a problem where you live, this is an excellent way to grow-your-own. Right now, it’s closed for winter; but space is limited, so you may want to request an application now before the beds are taken. A number of those who had beds last year overwintered their spots so some are already taken.
Master Gardener Program
A new Master Gardener class will begin in March 2013. Six prospective master gardeners have signed up. This is a semester-long intensive learning experience sponsored by University of Wyoming Extension with UW extension instructors. It is a great experience and will benefit even a backyard gardener.
Farmers Market
Red Dirt Master Gardeners, Hot Springs County, supports the local Farmers Market (July-September) and the Community Garden in Hot Springs State Park.There is a major push across the country to support local growers/farmers/ranchers. You need not be a commercial farmer — even produce from a backyard garden is welcome. However, there are some guidelines for the Farmers Market.
University of Wyoming Extension has a Wyoming Local Foods Guide with preservation tips and recipes (B-1224, 2nd edition, March 2012). Contact Barton Stam, Agricultural Extension, 307-864-3421, BrStam@uwyo.edu.
For more information: contact Carla Thomas at 307-864-3488.
Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation at Work for Community
In 2003, one of the recurring remarks that came out of the first Community Assessment sponsored by Thermopolis Economic Development Corporation (with help from Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce) was that there were not many programs in the community that were not sports- or outdoor-related.
Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation registered as a nonprofit in 2003. The group raised money through grants and donations to bring speakers, artists and performers to Thermopolis. We have held workshops, classes and exhibits. For three years, HSGLF sponsored the statewide Old-time Fiddle Contest.
We have partnered with Hot Springs County schools and Broadway Bygones to create a House Concert Series to help support the school programs and public performances. The partnership has made it possible to coordinate programs and bring more artists into the classroom and the community. It has also made it possible to take better advantage of the artists who come to Thermopolis.
Some performers have given mini-concerts at the Senior Center or the Pioneer Home as part of their programs.
HSGLF has supported regular monthly music jam sessions to get the community actively singing and playing.
We have even provided support for other local groups who wished to sponsor arts programs.
The Foundation has worked with the Hot Springs County Nature & Discovery Center Joint Powers Board in support of a facility in Hot Springs State Park that would provide a center to serve the community and visitors. A center would allow us to offer exhibits, classes, festivals and programs that are not possible at this time because there is no appropriate facility in our community.
We created a traveling exhibit and supported primary research on Native Americans in the Big Horn Basin.
We worked with UW Extension’s Master Gardener program and with Hot Springs State Park to develop a Community Garden.
We maintain a website, www.hsglf.org, with arts-related news and events.
These efforts require raising money and volunteering a great many hours. (And there never seems to be enough of either.)
Why should we bother? Because we know that the arts make a difference. Students who are exposed to the arts, who become involved in some way, learn to be more creative thinkers who are able to adapt better in today’s marketplace. They learn skills that often turn into a career. (Even though we are thought of as a Western cowboy state, there are more practicing artists earning a living in Wyoming than there are working cowboys.)
The arts are often named as a major factor in improving the quality of life in a community; and strong arts communities attract businesses of all kinds.
These activities can and do make a difference in our community. But it takes work to make the programs happen — and that includes participation. We urge you to help keep the arts fires burning. Attend programs; many are free. Bring a friend — a child — a senior. Volunteer to help; organizing and managing events takes a lot of hands helping.
Have an idea for an activity? The Foundation meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at Common Ground. For more information: 307-921-8120, 307-864-4070.
And we welcome donations. Each year the programs grow a little more expensive. As a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit, all funding goes into supporting and expanding programs and activities — making the community a more vibrant and interesting place to live and work.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Without your support, we could not make good things happen!
Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation supports the arts and natural sciences in the community and the schools. Numerous organizations provide the financial support that makes our programs possible. Please remember the good work that is done through their efforts!
- Wyoming Arts Council, with support from the Wyoming State Legislature
- Western States Arts Federation, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts
- Hot Springs County Schools
- Hot Springs-Thermopolis Lodging Tax Council
- Wyoming State Historical Society
- Wyoming Humanities Council
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