Blog- Signs of Spring

Aspens are blooming down in Casper! Keep an eye out for these unusual fuzzy flowers.

Aspens are blooming down in Casper! Keep an eye out for these unusual fuzzy flowers.

Signs of Spring

By Steven Grunwald

Spring is beginning to arrive on Casper Mountain in 2020! New species are beginning to pass through on their seasonal migrations north or join us here for another beautiful spring and summer on Casper Mountain. You may have already noticed that day after day there is more sunlight and the sun is getting higher in the sky. After the spring equinox in late March, where the day and night are equal lengths, days get progressively longer and longer until late June. The longest day of the year is called the summer solstice, and it usually takes place around June 21.

Spring has been known as a time of regrowth, rich with colors and the wonderful welcoming of migratory birds, animals and insects. The temperature rises as plants sprout up from the soil between our boots. Trees produce leaves which make energy or food from the sun by a process known as photosynthesis. Insects come out of their winter dormancy, and bears will wake up from hibernation in search of food. Spring is the return of life to a land frozen under winter’s snowpack. This all sounds pretty great and I bet you are wondering how you can learn more about spring, right?

Spiny Phlox is one of the first Wyoming wildflowers to bloom after snow melts in the spring.

Spiny Phlox is one of the first Wyoming wildflowers to bloom after snow melts in the spring.

Crocuses are a common flower blooming now in yards across Casper.

Crocuses are a common flower blooming now in yards across Casper.

Here at Casper Mountain Science Program we got you covered on all the exciting natural events of spring! We are going to keep you aspiring scientists informed about how “sprung” spring is up here on the mountain. We have set up some photo and data monitoring points and collected information on wind speed, temperature, and snow depth right here on the mountain. We will be posting pictures about the new wildlife that we see and you at home will be able to compare the weather at your house to up here on Casper Mountain. Each day, the day-length is increasing between 2 to 3 minutes. That doesn’t sound like a lot but it adds up and by the end of April we are going to have about 40 extra minutes of daylight. That is only 15 days away! Listen out for the fantastic music of the songbirds, watch for the terrific flow of winter water runoff, and be careful of the hungry black bears searching for a snack!