Amanda Cabot's Blog, page 3

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 23, 2025

 

Have you heard of Sinks Canyon? It's the spot in western Wyoming where the Popo Agie River goes underground for a while. Even if it didn't sink into the ground, I'd find the bubbling water and the autumnal color of the bushes beautiful.

And then there's the river's name. Do you know how to pronounce Popo Agie? I was surprised to learn that it's po-po-je. 

If you'd like more information about Sinks Canyon here's a link.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 16, 2025

 

A series of posts about water in Wyoming wouldn't be complete without one of the Laramie River at Fort Laramie.

Even though the trees weren't there when the pioneers traveled the Oregon Trail, I can imagine what it looked like then and how grateful they were to reach the fort. Not only was there fresh water, but the sutler's store had supplies they'd need for the remainder of the journey west.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 9, 2025

 

Like the Flaming Gorge reservoir that I featured in last week's post, the Glendo reservoir was created by a dam. 

Located in the eastern part of the state, easily accessible from I25, Glendo State Park attracts people who want to camp, hike, mountain bike, fish or simply relax in a peaceful setting.

I chose this picture because in addition to showing the reservoir and the dam that created it, it has Laramie Peak in the background. You may recall that Laramie Peak was one of the landmarks on the O...

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 2, 2025

 

Wyoming is a semiarid state, and so we value our water, which is why this month's posts will focus on water.

Undoubtedly, the most famous water is the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone, but there are other beautiful but lesser-known bodies of water that are worth visiting.

This photo is from the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, which includes the 91-mile long Flaming Gorge reservoir. It's so large that it extends into Utah, and is noted for -- among other things -- excellent fishing. 

If y...

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 28, 2025

 

These are among my favorite wildflowers -- blue flax. According to the research I did, flax is prized for its stems, which can be used in making linen, as well as its seeds and oil. I enjoy it simply for the beauty of the flowers. 

We've reached the last Wednesday in May, so this will be the final wildflower post for a while. What's coming next month? I haven't decided, so please check back next week to see what theme I chose for June.

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 21, 2025

 

Do you know what kind of wildflower this is? I don't, but I'm impressed with both its beauty and the fact that it grows in less than ideal conditions. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 14, 2025

 

Continuing my prairie wildflowers posts, as you probably guessed, this is a wild cactus, a ball (or maybe it's a barrel) cactus. I'm always amazed at how many blossoms one small plant can have. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 7, 2025

 

If you're like me, when you hear the adage, "April showers bring May flowers," the flowers that come to mind are ones you or a neighbor planted. But those aren't the  only flowers that bloom in May. This month I'm going to feature May-blooming flowers that I found in the prairie. Yes, wildflowers.

These are Evening Primroses, flowers that -- as their name suggests -- start to bloom at dusk. They last only a day, frequently fading early the next morning, but while they're blooming, they're beauti...

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 30, 2025

 

As you enter Wyoming from the south on I-25, you'll notice two large statues on the exit leading to the state's welcome center. 

Entitled "The Greeting and the Gift," they depict the meeting of a Native American and a Mountain Man on the prairie. The Native American offers the gift of a horn, while the Mountain Man waves a greeting.

If you'd like more information, here's a link.

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 23, 2025

 

No series of posts about statues in Wyoming would be complete without Lander Lil, the Cowboy State's answer to Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil. 

Yes, she's a prairie dog, not a groundhog, and she's a statue, not a live animal, but each year on Groundhog Day, Lil can be depended on to forecast spring's arrival.