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.