B on 33: Beautifying Our Byways

06/15/2026

Back at it again with another (not quite) Sunday flower of the week! This week; the Longleaf Phlox (Phlox longifolia)

Longleaf Phlox is a perennial wildflower with a light fragrance and adds soft color to native plant communities. Generally grows around 1 foot tall with narrow, linear leaves and clusters of 1 inch pale pink to lavender flowers. The flowers are tubular with five spreading lobes and bloom in late spring to early summer. It’s slow growing and long lived.

It’s native to western North America and is commonly found in dry plains, sagebrush communities, and open slopes. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils, thriving in dry to moderately moist conditions. It’s drought tolerant and deer resistant. It can be propagated by seed and requires minimal maintenance. Avoid overwatering, as it prefers drier conditions.

Longleaf Phlox attracts pollinators such as butterflies, moths, and bees, which feed on its nectar. It contributes to plant diversity and provides seasonal resources for native insects.

06/12/2026

It’s that time of year! The Tin Cup Challenge is back on. cftetonvalley an amazing organization has brought this amazing event back to this valley and Bon33 is all too happy to join in on the fun!

Every dollar helps this giving season and it goes to a great cause. In our case beautifying the byways of this fabulous place we are lucky to call home.

tincupchallenge.org

06/10/2026

After a good rain like we had yesterday, it’s great to go on a “noxious w**d walk” on your property, in your neighborhood, or on a pathway. Weeds are much easier to pull from moist soil. Bring a knife or gloves and a trash bag.

You’ll find spotted knapw**d (pictured) is out in full force but hasn’t flowered yet. Grab the whole clump and yank out as much of the taproot as you can. It is especially abundant on pathways (City of Victor - you’ve got a lot!)

Another one to chop off right now is Houndstongue - producer of those nasty burrs. If you see a flowering 2nd year houndstongue anywhere in the county, please lop it off and bag it. Don’t let it go to seed! It is a really bad noxious w**d. We’ll post more about it later.

For free help identifying any noxious w**d - or beautiful wildflower - we highly recommend downloading Picture This app or iNaturalist. Once you can identify specific w**ds, it’s much easier to control them in your neighborhood. **ds

06/09/2026

Making up for a lack of a flower on Sunday we’ve got one today: This flower is Rocky Mountain Penstemon (the purple flower pictured)

(Penstemon Strictus)

The Rocky Mountain Penstemon is one of the most striking native wildflowers of the western United States. Known for its tall spikes of vivid blue to violet flowers, this perennial plant is a favorite among gardeners, pollinators, and native plant enthusiasts. It naturally grows throughout the Rocky Mountain region, including the Tetons!

Rocky Mountain Penstemon has got a nickname; “beardtongue” because it belongs to the beardtongue family. The nickname comes from the fuzzy, sterile stamen inside the flower that resembles a tiny beard. This flower is the definition of a bee magnet! Pollinators love it! It also happens to be fairly drought tolerant with a long bloom season lasting from late spring all the way through the middle of summer.

06/06/2026

Come visit us today at the free community Conservation Fair/BioBlitz at the land trust from 1-4pm (Sat 6/6)

06/01/2026

Introducing a new series to help you all get into the “Native Plant” mood; Sunday Flower of the week!

Butterfly Milkw**d (Asclepias tuberosa)
Has clusters of small vibrant orange flowers and narrow long leaves, this perennial herb is a showstopper from late spring-summer! They Typically growing 1-3' tall in clumps. Unlike many other milkw**ds, it does not exude a milky sap.

Native to much of North America, it’s commonly found in prairies, open fields, and dry slopes. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and especially in sandy or rocky conditions; it's highly drought-tolerant once established.
This plant is a critical host for monarch butterly larvae and attracts a wide range of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

It plays an essential role in supporting pollinator populations. This little guy can be invasive, so plant in areas where it can spread without presenting problems to other plants. Roots have been used for medical purposes.

**d

05/27/2026

Join us on Sat June 6 for a free Community-wide event presented by Teton Valley Idaho Master Naturalists and partners:

Looking for the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon in

Teton Valley? us for the free BioBlitz Conservation
Fair on June 6th, 1:00-4:00pm!

Whether you are a seasoned naturalist or just looking for a fun family outing, the Conservation Fair is the ultimate drop-in celebration of our local wildlife and wild spaces. Come connect with neighbors and celebrate biodiversity!

Enjoy:

🌿 25+ Presenting Groups: Chat with the incredible
organizations and experts driving conservation and stewardship across our region.

🥾 Mini-Outings & Activities: Jump into hands-on activities,
explore fascinating displays, and take part in guided mini-outings.

🎁 Fun Raffle Prizes

🦉 The Big Reveal: Join us in celebrating the results of the
BioBlitz and share the live data gathered from the field!

📍 Where: Teton Regional Land Trust (1520 S. 500 W., Driggs, ID)

🕒 When: Saturday, June 6 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

💵 Cost: FREE! No registration required for the Fair—just show up!

05/25/2026

Join the IDF&G Monarch Monitoring volunteer project.

05/21/2026

Here’s our latest newsletter.

Our mission is to restore native wildflowers and grasses to benefit native pollinators, reduce noxious w**ds, and beautify our scenic byway.

05/20/2026

Featured Native: Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)

We love this delicate perennial favorite not only because of its pretty periwinkle color, but also because it blooms twice a year here! It typically grows 1–2 feet tall, has slender stems and narrow leaves, producing sky-blue, five-petaled flowers that bloom profusely from late spring into summer and then again in fall! Individual flowers only last 2-3 days at most but this native keeps on blooming over the course of 3-4 weeks!

Native American tribes—including the Shoshone—used the plant's stems and leaves to brew a tea traditionally used to treat eye infections and stomach disorders.