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.