{"id":7441,"date":"2019-08-09T17:11:12","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T17:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/?p=7441"},"modified":"2021-06-08T21:32:25","modified_gmt":"2021-06-08T21:32:25","slug":"cnhps-logo-part-1-bat-an-eyelash-blue-grama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/2019\/08\/09\/cnhps-logo-part-1-bat-an-eyelash-blue-grama\/","title":{"rendered":"CNHP\u2019s Logo Part 1: Bat an Eyelash, Blue Grama"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By:  Sierra Crumbaker<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(Colorado Natural Heritage Program)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <strong>A Closer Look at CNHP\u2019s Logo <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n\nIf you\u2019ve ever been to a CNHP event, you\u2019ve likely been offered a sticker of the colorful, round logo that embodies the ecology, botany and zoology work CNHP is committed to. (If you haven\u2019t been offered one, just ask \u2014 there\u2019s usually a whole box of them in the back supply room.) But after slapping it onto your water bottle or laptop, how closely do you notice what it contains?\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2018\/11\/cnhp_c_only_transparent-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7226\" data-link=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/cnhp_c_only_transparent\/\" class=\"wp-image-7226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2018\/11\/cnhp_c_only_transparent-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2018\/11\/cnhp_c_only_transparent-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2018\/11\/cnhp_c_only_transparent-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2018\/11\/cnhp_c_only_transparent-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2018\/11\/cnhp_c_only_transparent.png 2034w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>CNHP Logo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"730\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/08\/Photo-1-blue-grama-in-flower-crystal-strouse.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7442\" data-link=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/?attachment_id=7442\" class=\"wp-image-7442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/08\/Photo-1-blue-grama-in-flower-crystal-strouse.jpg 730w, https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/08\/Photo-1-blue-grama-in-flower-crystal-strouse-300x238.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><figcaption>Blue grama (<i>Bouteloua gracilis<\/i>) in flower. (Photo credit: Crystal Strouse)\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This and the following four blog posts are a mini-series introducing you to the animals, plants and landscapes of the CNHP logo and their value to our beautiful Colorado playground. On the chance someone asks you about the logo, you\u2019ll not only be able to explain the ambitions of CNHP, but some fun facts about these cool Colorado natives, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong> Blue Grama<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> The state of Colorado gets to claim many things as its own: a state fossil, a state mineral, a state animal . . . even a state tartan and a<strong> <\/strong><a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/statesymbolsusa.org\/states\/united-states\/colorado\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>state summer heritage sport<\/strong><\/a>. But did you know that Colorado also has a state grass? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> Officially granted its title in 1987, blue grama grass (<em>Bouteloua gracilis<\/em>) is an icon throughout Colorado, both west and east of the Rocky Mountains. This grass is nicknamed \u201clamb\u2019s eyelashes\u201d or \u201ceyelash grass\u201d due to the unique arrangement of sharp, curved spikelets off the rachis that give its inflorescence the thick but delicate appearance of an eyelash. This feature is easy to identify out in the field, and in the summer, tiny, green flowers can be seen hanging from the spikelets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n\nBeyond its stylish looks, blue grama is valued for being incredibly nutritious for native and domestic grazers and highly tolerant to drought \u2014 even more so than pasture grasses planted for livestock. In droughts and well into the dormant season, it still holds its nutrition unlike many other grasses, making it an excellent source of food for wildlife throughout the year. It is the quintessential upland prairie grass and does not do well with shade, saturated soils or flooding.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n\nWhile the grass averages a height of around a foot, it is just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the plant is below ground in an expansive root system (sometimes up to six feet deep!) that not only holds down soils during torrential rains and windstorms but provides a great environment for soil microbes and nematodes. These in turn maintain a healthy, stable soil and prairie.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n\nConsider planting blue grama and other native grasses instead of turf grass in your yard. Since Colorado has such a dry climate, utilizing drought resistant grasses helps cut back on water usage and eliminates extra costs required to maintain ornamental plants. It also makes for an inviting habitat to local animals and insects.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n\nIf you ever have questions about a plant, stop by the botany office at CNHP to ask one of the wonderful botanists. They can tell you all kinds of amazing things you\u2019d never dream of.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"margin-top-10 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here are a few more resources if you\u2019d like to know more about eyelash grass: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/plants.sc.egov.usda.gov\/core\/profile?symbol=BOGR2\" target=\"_blank\"><sub>https:\/\/plants.sc.egov.usda.gov\/core\/profile?symbol=BOGR2<\/sub><\/a><sub> <\/sub><\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/statesymbolsusa.org\/symbol\/colorado\/state-plant\/blue-grama-grass\" target=\"_blank\"><sub>https:\/\/statesymbolsusa.org\/symbol\/colorado\/state-plant\/blue-grama-grass <\/sub><\/a><sub> <\/sub><\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/coloradoplants.jeffco.us\/plant\/details\/99\" target=\"_blank\"><sub>https:\/\/coloradoplants.jeffco.us\/plant\/details\/99<\/sub><\/a><sub> <\/sub> <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"cnhp-display-div wp-block-heading\"><strong>This article is part of mini series about five species\/things in our logo that embodies the ecology, botany and zoology work CNHP is committed to.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right cnhp-display-div\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 30%\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"944\" src=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2018\/11\/cnhp_c_only_transparent_small.fw_-1024x944.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7224\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<ul class=\"project-page-list wp-block-list\"><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/2019\/08\/09\/cnhps-logo-part-1-bat-an-eyelash-blue-grama\/\"><strong>CNHP\u2019s Logo Part 1: Bat an Eyelash, Blue Grama <\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/2019\/08\/16\/cnhps-logo-part-2-natures-little-serial-killer-the-loggerhead-shrike\/\"><strong>CNHP\u2019s Logo Part 2: Nature\u2019s Little Serial Killer, the Loggerhead Shrike<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/li><li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/2019\/08\/23\/cnhps-logo-part-3-payson-lupine-and-silvery-lupine\/\"><strong>CNHP\u2019s Logo Part 3: Payson Lupine and Silvery Lupine <\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/li><li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/2019\/08\/30\/cnhps-logo-part-4-royalty-in-decline-the-regal-fritillary\/\">CNHP\u2019s Logo Part 4: Royalty in Decline, the Regal Fritillary<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li><li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cnhp.colostate.edu\/cnhpblog\/2019\/09\/06\/cnhps-logo-part-5-pinnacle-of-rocky-mountain-national-park-longs-peak\/\">CNHP\u2019s Logo Part 5: Pinnacle of Rocky Mountain National Park, Longs Peak <\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By: Sierra Crumbaker (Colorado Natural Heritage Program) A Closer Look at CNHP\u2019s Logo If you\u2019ve ever been to 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