July 2026 Backyard Bulletin

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We're in a month of duality. High alpine hikes, swimming holes, and garden bounty paired with raging fires, heat warnings, and relentless winds. It's not just lovely, it's not just painful, but it is July. Perhaps the most important duality this time of year is the fact that smoke and wildfire inherently create opportunities for community building. They present chance after chance to show up for each other. Perhaps you'll let your air conditioning keep your neighbors cool on a hot day, or use your dollars to support local farmers who can't take refuge from the smoke. Maybe you'll find ways to contribute to fire relief efforts on the Colville Reservation, or you'll share your raspberry harvest with a stranger. Actions big and small make a difference this time of year. Some things we can navigate alone, but fire season is something we have to navigate together.

~ Bridger Layton, Education Programs Manager

Photo: Adrian Kirkman