Prairie Sunset

Summer is over on the prairie.  I'm afraid I didn't get much blogging done these past months--busy with other things.  I'll do better next year.  The late summer grass was especially pretty.  The native prairie grass is finally taking over from the European interloper farmer's planted years ago.  This is a transition time.  Late afternoon was comfortably in the 60's with a south breeze.  Now, two hours later, the north wind has brought temperatures sinking through the 30's.  Happy Fall and happy Thanksgiving.  Love the Kansas prairie!

Prairie Flowers

No more snow.  Spring has a firm grip on the prairie.  Still no buffalo, but the prairie grasses are getting taller and the flowers are beginning to bloom.  The cool, wet spring is perfect for shrubs and flowers and I expect it to be a showy year.  Yarrow and poppies are out now, along with many others, and the cone flowers, blanket flowers, and black-eyed susans will be blooming shortly.

Cleaning Up

Working on the prairie can be hot and dirty.  When it's time to clean up do it the prairie way.  Use some of the very unique products from FoamOnTheRange.  You will be clean and smell like the prairie!

Blueberries on the Prairie

Prairie people have to eat.  So, since the buffalo are gone, blueberries are in order.  Acquiring and preparing a buffalo might be easier than planting blueberries, especially in a cold north wind!  Don't see the blueberries?  Well, they are more spindly than a buffalo.  Check back for updates.

First Day of Spring

Nature can be cruel! Notice the buffalo are still absent. Wise buffalo.

Spring

Thunder and lightning, the peepers peeping, new growth underneath last year's dried leaves; it must be spring!

Wind

On the prairie nothing nothing stays put.  The wind blows all the time.  Trees lean to the north.  North winds don't have much effect on trees because they tend to not have leaves when the north winds blow and the wind just whistles through.  But in the summer, when the south wind can get a push on the leaves, the trees get bent north.  Many prairie seeds are covered in fuzz like the familiar cottonwood or any of the wonderful native grasses.  What better to spread yourself around than to weigh almost nothing and be covered in fuzz, flying along in the prairie wind.  Even the buffalo moved with the wind.  Putting their backs to it they moved south to warmer climes with the cold north winds, and north in the summer ahead of the hot south wind.

On the prairie the wind is our constant companion, and it blows fiercely, dependably, and relentlessly. They say some of the pioneer women used to go mad because of the wind. Its relentless howling unnerved those unprepared for its rigors.  I guess the men just drank.

Seeds

Millions of seeds (I really didn't count them) scattered the past two days.  Funny how only a few flowers or grasses seem to come from all the seeds.  Guess that's the way of the prairie, birds and critters have to eat too.  Searching for anything that actually sprouts is always fun.  In the spring and summer I'll walk the wild part several times a day looking for new plants.

Hoar Frost in February

February

OK, I've tried to be positive about winter on the prairie.  It is natural; the prairie is what it is with, and in part because of, winter.  But I've had enough of February.  Maybe if it weren't for February, buffalo would still live here.

Snow on the Prairie

Winter may seem long and harsh on the prairie, and not very pretty to some.  But it is as natural as the color and rains of spring and the heat of summer.  Many prairie seeds need the freezing and thawing, the dry cold and the wet cold, and the freeze and thaw loosening of the soil to be ready to germinate in the spring.

There isn't much color now, mainly the clean white of the snow, beige and rust in the grass, and the bright red cardinals.  Lots of cardinals this winter, fluffed against the cold.

Eager

It's a wonderful day on the prairie!  Fifty degrees in January!  Catalogs and emails announcing native plant sales are coming in.  But it's all a tease.  When a day comes around when I actually have some time it is cold and wet and windy!  But spring is on the way.  This year I'll start planting in the outback and hope they spread over the years.  Wish I had a Buffalo to help with the grass.  Now there's a birthday idea!

Fog

Prairie and sunshine seem to go together, but there is fog too. And the past few days have certainly been foggy and wet, starting with a beautiful hoarfrost Monday morning. Many of the native seeds need the alternating moisture and freezing to be ready for sprouting in the spring. And I am ready for spring!

Many of my native plants, especially the grasses, I dig from along roadways in the area. I transplant them when they are dormant in the fall. They are already climatized to the area and they do very well.

There are also a few great online sources for native plants and seeds. My favorites are:

Prairie Moon Nursery, especially for seeds
High Country Gardens, wonderful plants and preplanned gardens, and a beautiful catalog

January 2010

It's been a cold week, just like a January week should be on the prairie.

With this page I hope to chronicle happenings at the Smith place through comments and photos. Mainly I'll follow the seasons through our native flowers and grasses, and our attempts to preserve our small part of the prairie.

The Christmas things should be out away but they are not. Dave has been in Kyrgyzstan for nearly three months now, and the Christmas decorations stay until he has his family Christmas. He'll be home next week.

Our prairie doesn't look so good right now; the ground is frozen and everything is brown. But there is life there and, next snow, I'll add to it by scattering seeds. Always exciting to see what spring brings.