Pre and Post Conference Tours - "Plantsman’s Tour of Wyoming”
https://www.nargs.org/plantsman%E2%80%99s-tour-wyomingNote: The Post Conference Tour is sold out. The Pre Conference Tour is open.
June 17-June 21 and June 27-July 1: 5-day tour
Description:
Big Horn Mountains, WY: “Plantsman’s Tour” – led by expert leaders including Panayoti Kelaidis and Michael Bone on Post, Kenton Seth on Pre
Trip Overview:
June and early July is peak season for flowers throughout the Rockies, but never more so than in the State of Wyoming, which may resemble Colorado in rectangular shape, but has a fraction of the human population (although a good many more antelope)…
The Pre-Conference Tour will depart from the Denver Botanic Garden early the morning of the June 17 and return Tuesday, the 21st. Not only does the Pre-Conference Tour have the possibility to see Kelseya uniflora actually in bloom, but also Fritillaria pudica and many of the spring ephemerals that will be past during the Post-Conference one. Participants should plan to arrive in Denver the evening of June 16. The Post-Confernce Tour departs from Steamboat Springs after visiting Mike Kintgen's garden on Monday, June 27 and returns to Denver on July1. We will spend the first day traveling to Cody, Wyoming (which will be the base of operations for the trip). En route we will stop several times to admire the sagebrush steppe, which harbors a wealth of unusual endemic taxa. Lunch will be a picnic en route.
In Cody we will stay at Thomas the Apostle Retreat Center (link is external)—a beautifully situated complex with spectacular views of the Cody valley and comfortable rooms. We will be hosted by the Center managers, Jay and Caroline Moody—who have created lovely gardens surrounding the Center that are full of unusual native and adapted shrubs and perennials. The Center has many acres of pristine sagebrush steppe well worth exploring as well.
On the first day we will drive to the summit of the Bighorn Mountains, which are largely composed of dolomitic limestone in the area we will explore: this area is almost mythical for its wildflower displays—and there are many unusual and some very rare plants that are only known from here and a few neighboring spots: The gorgeous Jones’ columbine Aquilegia jonesii,Kelsey Moss (Kelseya uniflora) and the regional endemic rock brake fern (Pellaea occidentalis) are just a few of the gems we shall see.
The next day will be a circle drive over Beartooth Pass—one of America’s most spectacular highways which crosses many life zones and has a spectacular montane, subalpine and alpine flower displays—all of which should be at peak bloom. Here Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) has its nearly southernmost occurrence, as does purple heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis). For dozens of miles the road is ringed by a tapestry of wildflower color unequalled anywhere—a day you will remember!
A third day will be dedicated to time at the Retreat Center, optional visit to the world-class Buffalo Bill museum and hikes in the cushion rich steppe flora.
Come join us on this trip: we can guarantee you more flowers than you dreamed possible, and views to match!
Trip Details:
Price: $950 per participant
Includes: Guide, all transportation in a motorcoach, St Thomas Retreat and all meals
Group size: 20 participants
Group Minimum: 10 participants
Group Maximum: 20 participants
Physical Exertion Rating: Easy to moderate
Vehicle(s): fifteen passenger van.
