The Boulder-Denver area gets more sunshine than almost any U.S. location east of the Mississippi River. Even in May, our cloudiest month, we receive about 64% of possible sunshine. The sunlight and moisture interact with a variety of elevations and land forms to nurture at least five separate ecosystems in the vicinity of the NCAR mesa.

Ponderosa pine flourish in the sunny, dry expanses atop the mesa, and shrubs cling to the mesa sides. In the mountain canyons to the west, Douglas fir are well adapted to the reduced sunshine on north-facing slopes and the long-lasting snow cover produced by the shade. Deciduous trees predominate along rivers and canyon bottoms, where moisture is most readily available. Ferns and other leafed plants also thrive in shady canyons. Many wildflowers bloom each summer on the grasslands-the richest and most diverse of our local ecosystems.