Small Wonders in Missoula’s North Hills
Missoula phlox, or Phlox missoulensis; A species named after a town named after a beloved waterway the Salish call nmesuletkʷ, roughly translated to “cold water.”
May 07, 2026•6 min
Field Notes
Nature notes and inquiry from the Montana Natural History Center.
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Episodes
Montana Night Is Calling
I have chosen Montana as my home and embrace her seasonal night sounds, from silent snowfall on a barn roof to owls, nighthawks, and everything in between. The Montana night is calling and I must go.
Apr 23, 2026•5 min
Oh-Gee-My-Feet-Are-Cold Meadowlarks
Sometimes the ordinary would be broken when my mother pointed out the window and exclaimed, "Oh, look. A meadowlark!" She believed that seeing a meadowlark was a gift.
Apr 17, 2026•5 min
Weight of Death, Leaves As Flowers
It is February and still these branches are dressed in a flutter of leaves. Golden brown with a dark midrib and branching pinnate veins.
Mar 05, 2026•5 min
A Winter Solstice Vignette
The first archaeological evidence we have that points to organized observances of the winter solstice come from the Neolithic period—that era from about 12,000 to 6,500 years ago which hastened the Stone Age into those of Copper and Bronze
Dec 24, 2025•4 min
Seasonal camouflage and the consequences of transitioning color phase too early
Seasonal camouflage and the consequences of transitioning color phase too early
Dec 03, 2025•6 min
T̓at̓áyaqn (Bitterroot Salish) ventured to the plains yearly to hunt q̓ʷiq̓ʷay (bison)
Near Čmʔomʔotúlexʷ (Place of Smokey Land) or Yellowstone National Park, in -5-degree weather, I kneeled on my freshly skinned bison hide, which provided steaming warmth beneath me.
Nov 25, 2025•7 min
Flock Talk: Conversing with Crows
I like to talk to the crows, though I don’t know what we’re talking about. Researching the subject, I learned that they have over 250 different calls.
Nov 13, 2025•4 min
A Spotted Coat of Concealment
Summer brings more than blue skies and hot days to Montana. It’s during this time of the year that white-tailed deer fawns are born.
Oct 16, 2025•5 min
Tortoiseshell Butterflies
It was too soon for swirls of cascading autumn leaves, and the formation of this sudden dispatch had a certain energy to it. This orange blast of color moved with purpose.
Oct 09, 2025•5 min
Banding Together
Harriet the Osprey knew what was coming.
Oct 06, 2025•5 min
If I could only put that on paper.
There is a pine needle on my kitchen table. There is a pine needle in my soul. If I could only put that on paper.
Sep 24, 2025•4 min
Night Songs In Autumn
As the days grow shorter and nights turn cooler, I find myself drawn outdoors at sunset.
Sep 18, 2025•5 min
Echoes Of Home
As I watched these mountain bluebirds, likely catching those pesky mosquitoes for their dinner, I felt a familiar comfort in their presence.
Sep 08, 2025•5 min
Fireweed: A Cool Glass of Hope on a Hillside of Beauty
Fireweed’s vibrant flowers provide sweet nectar to native bees, flies, butterflies, and even honeybees, if their hive is nearby.
Aug 06, 2025•6 min
Oak Apples? The Role of Oak Galls in Shakespeare’s Plays
Oak gall ink was the most popular ink in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The Book of Kells from A.D. 800, the Magna Carta, and the Declaration of Independence were all written in gall ink.
Jul 30, 2025•5 min
Sometimes The Dog Knows Better !
My eyes slowly followed the tree down to the base when I saw that my dog was carefully pulling the berries right off the branches and swallowing them down.
Jul 22, 2025•6 min
The Missouri River from the Pleistocene to the Present
This amazing place has seen it all, from a giant sea to volcanoes and glaciers to today’s semi-arid desert.
Jul 16, 2025•4 min
Lessons of Curlycup Gumweed
Clueless as to what this was, I relied on a phone app for identification. Curlycup gumweed? Who came up with that creative name?
Jul 08, 2025•6 min
Black and White Feathered Bullies
On the suggestion of an experienced birder, I bought a wire wreath and stuffed it with unshelled peanuts. The magpies spent hours skirmishing with each other to grab a peanut. I reveled in the mayhem.
Feb 22, 2025•5 min
Chasing the Tulip Tree
There were tulip poplars, also known as yellow poplars or tulip trees. No tulip maples. I’d thought I’d seen the real thing in Washington, DC. No such beauties adorned my backyard.
Feb 19, 2025•5 min
The Mysterious Call of Great Horned Owls
Throughout history, people have been captivated by owls. There are 260 species of owls across the planet. They can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
Sep 18, 2024•4 min
Thunder Chickens
I’ve always been fascinated by ruffed grouse. For such a small, skittish-seeming bird, they have a hugely outsized presence in the soundscape of the forest.
Sep 11, 2024•4 min
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