I don’t know about you, but when it comes to working outside, I prefer to take advantage of the cool mornings and evenings. I like to be inside during the hot part of the day to avoid sunburns and dehydration.

Many plants in Wyoming, particularly western Wyoming, use a similar strategy. They actively grow in the cool spring, shut down during the hot summer, and then perk back up in the fall.

Plants that use this strategy are called cool season plants.

Cool season plants are well suited to our Wyoming climate. They’re able to take advantage of soil moisture in the spring, when it’s most available because of snow melt and spring rains.

Along toward June and July, most of the water in the soil has been used up or evaporated due to the warmer temperatures. As this important resource is depleted, the plants go dormant.

Then along toward fall, we may get some more moisture from late season thunderstorms. As the temperatures drop, the cool season plants will go through a fall green up if there’s enough water.

It’s a good strategy that helps these plants make the best use of limited resources.

From the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, I’m Zola Ryan.