Sunday, August 23, 2009

Tallgrass Time


It's the month of tallgrass lengthening. The big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) has shot up and its flowers are open on the tall spikes.


The Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is beginning to open its flower spikes too.


As I walk through the prairie pastures on the paths that Prairiewolf mows for me, the bluestem is at least head high, sometimes higher. Suddenly the paths feel enclosed, and I can't help but think back to the settlers traveling across the prairies. It's only been about 150 years, but what a different landscape experience they would have had compared to our modern experience of open, plowed fields, mile-gridded roads, and soldierly hedgerows marking the horizon.
What will be here in 150 more years?

2 comments:

qkslvrwolf said...

What's the sign say?

Gaia Gardener: said...

"I don't remember planting this!"