In some places in southern Idaho, sagebrush still stretches from horizon to horizon. It is so ubiquitous in the state that we seldom take notice. We should take notice, though, because it is under attack from civilization and the invasive species and wildfires it brings along with it.
Sagebrush, though not yet endangered, is experiencing rapid decline and fragmentation. That’s a serious problem for the 350 species that depend on it.
Today a little history of the plant.
Sagebrush is a multi-branched, gray-green shrub that stands from two to ten feet tall. You probably haven’t seen a ten-foot-tall sagebrush, lately, but they still exist in remote areas. That’s taller than a man on a horse. It has flowers, but they're so tiny you probably don't notice them. When sagebrush does bloom, it's not a sign of spring. Sage flowers in August and September, as many people with allergies can attest. When sagebrush blooms it releases pollen into the air. It's a common cause of hay fever in this area.
Pioneers, often sneezing, did find some uses for the shrub. Even green sage burns readily, so it went into a lot of campfires. At one point, the spare sagebrush trunks were converted into wooden sidewalks for the town of Meridian.
Settlers also learned that the land where sagebrush grew often had farming potential.
While domestic animals seldom eat it, sagebrush is a valuable food for antelope, elk, mule deer, moose, and sage grouse.
But no one was going to make a living off of sage grouse, so sagebrush had to go.
In 1870, the Idaho Statesman issued a challenge. Quoting here, “Who Will Try It! There are not a few men in this valley who are of the opinion that any portion of the broad tableland lying between the Boise and Snake rivers would if plowed a foot deep at this time and sown to wheat, yield a good crop next year without irrigation.”
Well, that might have worked in certain rare years. But trial and error proved that clearing the land with a team of horses and a grub hoe to get rid of sagebrush wasn’t enough. The soil was rich, all right, and would grow everything from wheat to apples and eventually suburbs, but it would take water. With irrigation canals and groundwater drilling, the desert has bloomed, though sagebrush is blooming much less than it once did.
Sagebrush, though not yet endangered, is experiencing rapid decline and fragmentation. That’s a serious problem for the 350 species that depend on it.
Today a little history of the plant.
Sagebrush is a multi-branched, gray-green shrub that stands from two to ten feet tall. You probably haven’t seen a ten-foot-tall sagebrush, lately, but they still exist in remote areas. That’s taller than a man on a horse. It has flowers, but they're so tiny you probably don't notice them. When sagebrush does bloom, it's not a sign of spring. Sage flowers in August and September, as many people with allergies can attest. When sagebrush blooms it releases pollen into the air. It's a common cause of hay fever in this area.
Pioneers, often sneezing, did find some uses for the shrub. Even green sage burns readily, so it went into a lot of campfires. At one point, the spare sagebrush trunks were converted into wooden sidewalks for the town of Meridian.
Settlers also learned that the land where sagebrush grew often had farming potential.
While domestic animals seldom eat it, sagebrush is a valuable food for antelope, elk, mule deer, moose, and sage grouse.
But no one was going to make a living off of sage grouse, so sagebrush had to go.
In 1870, the Idaho Statesman issued a challenge. Quoting here, “Who Will Try It! There are not a few men in this valley who are of the opinion that any portion of the broad tableland lying between the Boise and Snake rivers would if plowed a foot deep at this time and sown to wheat, yield a good crop next year without irrigation.”
Well, that might have worked in certain rare years. But trial and error proved that clearing the land with a team of horses and a grub hoe to get rid of sagebrush wasn’t enough. The soil was rich, all right, and would grow everything from wheat to apples and eventually suburbs, but it would take water. With irrigation canals and groundwater drilling, the desert has bloomed, though sagebrush is blooming much less than it once did.
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