Sage in the sun
Yellowstone has many areas considered to be "sagebrush steppe" including the adjacent valleys, Little America (where this photo was taken) and Lamar, often described as the "Serengeti of America" for the large number of animals it supports. Not many animals depend on it, but pronghorns depend on it and it is even said to flavor their meat, though it's not at all the same species of "sage" we use as seasoning. Deer, rabbits, and bighorn sheep will also partake in the strongly aromatic leaves. Bison, of which there are several thousand in Yellowstone, will eat it as a last resort.
These plants still have last summer's flowers, now spent, attached to them.
Sage in the sun
Yellowstone has many areas considered to be "sagebrush steppe" including the adjacent valleys, Little America (where this photo was taken) and Lamar, often described as the "Serengeti of America" for the large number of animals it supports. Not many animals depend on it, but pronghorns depend on it and it is even said to flavor their meat, though it's not at all the same species of "sage" we use as seasoning. Deer, rabbits, and bighorn sheep will also partake in the strongly aromatic leaves. Bison, of which there are several thousand in Yellowstone, will eat it as a last resort.
These plants still have last summer's flowers, now spent, attached to them.