Plant Life

The ranch is rich in its variety of plants, large and small.  The most common tree on the ranch is Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta, also known as Jack Pine).  Old-growth Ponderosa Pines (Pinus ponderosa, also known as Western Yellow Pine) remain on the ranch from the days of the Vandevert family.  Many new ponderosa have been planted since 1998. See the extensive discussion of ranch forestlands in the Stewardship Plan.

Understory vegetation includes bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), rabbit brush (Ericameria nauseosa), wild currant (ribes), spirea, woods rose (Rosa woodsii), and varieties of sedges, rushes, forbs, and grasses. Willows that grow low along the river include Coyote Willow (Salix exigua) and Flame Willow (Salix x “Flame”).  Aspen trees (Populus tremula) and Oregon Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) flourish in landscaping. See the Tree and Shrub Gallery for photos.

Also see the wildflower galleries for photos of over 30 different flowers identified on the ranch so far.