Chris Helzer
@prairieecologist.bsky.social
I am an ecologist, conservation photographer/writer, and the Nebraska Director of Science and Stewardship for The Nature Conservancy. Humor, photography, and nature.
Environmental science
68%
Geography
17%
Photos of the Week – October 31, 2025
I got my first frost photography morning of the season yesterday. I'd been watching the forecast and had blocked out a couple hours on my calendar to make sure I had time to get out enjoy it. I woke up early and drove out to our family prairie well before sunrise. I'm glad I got there early because there was a terrific explosion of color in the sky before the sun came up.
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Photos of the Week – October 31, 2025
I got my first frost photography morning of the season yesterday. I'd been watching the forecast and had blocked out a couple hours on my calendar to make sure I had time to get out enjoy it. I woke up early and drove out to our family prairie well before…
I got my first frost photography morning of the season yesterday. I'd been watching the forecast and had blocked out a couple hours on my calendar to make sure I had time to get out enjoy it. I woke up early and drove out to our family prairie well before…
The Value of (Some) Non-Native (GASP) Wildflowers in Our Yard
This might be an awkward week to laud the value of having a non-native wildflower in my yard. I'm an invited speaker at the Indiana Native Plant Society's annual conference this coming weekend. It's probably (?) too late for them to cancel my appearance. I'm mostly kidding. Today's post is not intended to diminish the importance of native plants, either in ecological restoration or in suburban landscapes.
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The Value of (Some) Non-Native (GASP) Wildflowers in Our Yard
This might be an awkward week to laud the value of having a non-native wildflower in my yard. I'm an invited speaker at the Indiana Native Plant Society's annual conference this coming weekend. It's probably (?) too late for them to…
This might be an awkward week to laud the value of having a non-native wildflower in my yard. I'm an invited speaker at the Indiana Native Plant Society's annual conference this coming weekend. It's probably (?) too late for them to…
Photos of the Week – October 17, 2025
I've had too many hours in front of the computer this week and my eyes were complaining this morning. I looked outside and saw that some high clouds were nicely-diffusing the sun and decided that was enough of an incentive to take a prairie break. I scooted over to Lincoln Creek Prairie and spent about a half hour looking for milkweed seeds, milkweed bugs, and other treasures before heading back to the computer.
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Photos of the Week – October 17, 2025
I've had too many hours in front of the computer this week and my eyes were complaining this morning. I looked outside and saw that some high clouds were nicely-diffusing the sun and decided that was enough of an incentive to take a prairie break. I scooted…
I've had too many hours in front of the computer this week and my eyes were complaining this morning. I looked outside and saw that some high clouds were nicely-diffusing the sun and decided that was enough of an incentive to take a prairie break. I scooted…
Photos of the Week – October 10, 2025
The fall migration is in full swing through our prairies. Dragonflies, birds, butterflies, and more are moving southward. Going out on dewy mornings is a great way to check up on butterflies and dragonflies because I can find them immobile and covered in dew on their overnight roosts. This week was a big week for variegated meadowhawks (dragonflies), apparently. I found dozens of them at our family prairie one morning (more photos toward the end of this post).
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Photos of the Week – October 10, 2025
The fall migration is in full swing through our prairies. Dragonflies, birds, butterflies, and more are moving southward. Going out on dewy mornings is a great way to check up on butterflies and dragonflies because I can find them immobile and covered in dew…
The fall migration is in full swing through our prairies. Dragonflies, birds, butterflies, and more are moving southward. Going out on dewy mornings is a great way to check up on butterflies and dragonflies because I can find them immobile and covered in dew…
Photos of the Week – October 1, 2025
Over the weekend, my wife Kim ran 100 miles. On purpose. The Cowboy 200/100 race has become an annual event for people who think marathons are more fun when you string a bunch of them together end-to-end. There were lots of those people on the Cowboy Trail (an old railroad right-of-way) this weekend. Some of them were running 100 miles like Kim, but even more of them were running 200 miles.
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Photos of the Week – October 1, 2025
Over the weekend, my wife Kim ran 100 miles. On purpose. The Cowboy 200/100 race has become an annual event for people who think marathons are more fun when you string a bunch of them together end-to-end. There were lots of those people on the Cowboy Trail (an…
Over the weekend, my wife Kim ran 100 miles. On purpose. The Cowboy 200/100 race has become an annual event for people who think marathons are more fun when you string a bunch of them together end-to-end. There were lots of those people on the Cowboy Trail (an…
How to Photograph Flat Prairies
For some reason, there are people who find it difficult to see the aesthetic beauty of places with limited topographic variability. First of all, that sounds like a "them" problem, doesn't it? Who needs mountains, or even steep hills to feel good about their surroundings? Not me. Not you. Then, of course, there are others who struggle to find joy in places without trees.
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How to Photograph Flat Prairies
For some reason, there are people who find it difficult to see the aesthetic beauty of places with limited topographic variability. First of all, that sounds like a "them" problem, doesn't it? Who needs mountains, or even steep hills to feel good about their…
For some reason, there are people who find it difficult to see the aesthetic beauty of places with limited topographic variability. First of all, that sounds like a "them" problem, doesn't it? Who needs mountains, or even steep hills to feel good about their…
The One-Hour Square Meter Photography Challenge!
Do you remember that square meter photography project I did? Twice? Whew, that was a lot of work. Don't get me wrong, it was more than worthwhile, but it was definitely a big commitment. I may try it again someday, but not right now. I continue to enjoy writing and talking about those two year-long projects and I hope to have another product or two come from those initial efforts.
prairieecologist.com
The One-Hour Square Meter Photography Challenge!
Do you remember that square meter photography project I did? Twice? Whew, that was a lot of work. Don't get me wrong, it was more than worthwhile, but it was definitely a big commitment. I may try it again someday, but not right now. I continue to…
Do you remember that square meter photography project I did? Twice? Whew, that was a lot of work. Don't get me wrong, it was more than worthwhile, but it was definitely a big commitment. I may try it again someday, but not right now. I continue to…
Hiring Now! The 2026 Hubbard Fellowship with The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska
It's time! We are now accepting applications for our 13th class of Hubbard Fellows. Please forward this to anyone you know who might be interested. I supervise our fellows each year, and can't wait to meet the next two. The Hubbard Fellowship was built to help people bridge the gap between what you learn in college and the skills and proficiency needed to start a career.
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Hiring Now! The 2026 Hubbard Fellowship with The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska
It's time! We are now accepting applications for our 13th class of Hubbard Fellows. Please forward this to anyone you know who might be interested. I supervise our fellows each year, and can't wait to meet the next…
It's time! We are now accepting applications for our 13th class of Hubbard Fellows. Please forward this to anyone you know who might be interested. I supervise our fellows each year, and can't wait to meet the next…
Celebrating Sticky Seeds
Early autumn is a season of surprise and wonder. Colors are changing and animals are scurrying all around, trying to check off all their pre-winter tasks. For nature enthusiasts like us, it’s also a great time to appreciate the complex and sophisticated ways plants move their seeds around the world. For example, there’s the unexpected prick of joy when you accidentally sandwich a heretofore unseen sandbur between calf and hamstring as you kneel down to re-tie your boot laces.
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Celebrating Sticky Seeds
Early autumn is a season of surprise and wonder. Colors are changing and animals are scurrying all around, trying to check off all their pre-winter tasks. For nature enthusiasts like us, it’s also a great time to appreciate the complex and sophisticated ways plants move…
Early autumn is a season of surprise and wonder. Colors are changing and animals are scurrying all around, trying to check off all their pre-winter tasks. For nature enthusiasts like us, it’s also a great time to appreciate the complex and sophisticated ways plants move…
Photos of the Week – September 2, 2025
August really flew by but it was a fun and interesting month. In addition to a full calendar of work and home events, I made time to explore several of my favorite prairies, including The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies, Niobrara Valley Preserve, and our own family prairie. I caught numerous sunrises and sunsets, foggy mornings, stormy evenings, and some bright overcast days.
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Photos of the Week – September 2, 2025
August really flew by but it was a fun and interesting month. In addition to a full calendar of work and home events, I made time to explore several of my favorite prairies, including The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies, Niobrara Valley Preserve,…
August really flew by but it was a fun and interesting month. In addition to a full calendar of work and home events, I made time to explore several of my favorite prairies, including The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies, Niobrara Valley Preserve,…
What Is High-Quality Prairie Anyway?
Does this look like a high-quality prairie? What about this one? What if I told you the first one was 2 acres in size and the second was part of a 20,000 acre grassland block? Would it affect your opinion if you knew the first site was isolated from any other prairie habitat by miles of cropland and was directly adjacent to a busy highway?
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What Is High-Quality Prairie Anyway?
Does this look like a high-quality prairie? What about this one? What if I told you the first one was 2 acres in size and the second was part of a 20,000 acre grassland block? Would it affect your opinion if you knew the first site was isolated from any other…
Does this look like a high-quality prairie? What about this one? What if I told you the first one was 2 acres in size and the second was part of a 20,000 acre grassland block? Would it affect your opinion if you knew the first site was isolated from any other…
Hiding On Their Favorite Plant
I've been working with prairies a long time, and there are some individual sites I've been studying, managing, or visiting for 30 years or more. Even so, I keep finding new species I didn't know about and stories I can't believe I'd not heard before. I made a quick trip to our family prairie last week to check on grazing progress and to enjoy a quiet evening.
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Hiding On Their Favorite Plant
I've been working with prairies a long time, and there are some individual sites I've been studying, managing, or visiting for 30 years or more. Even so, I keep finding new species I didn't know about and stories I can't believe I'd not heard before. I made a quick…
I've been working with prairies a long time, and there are some individual sites I've been studying, managing, or visiting for 30 years or more. Even so, I keep finding new species I didn't know about and stories I can't believe I'd not heard before. I made a quick…
A Frosty Mountain Morning
Kim and I just got back from a week in the mountains of Colorado. As part of the trip, we camped several nights in the Lost Creek Wilderness. A year ago, we learned some lessons about how best to vacation together in the outdoors, and I think we applied those lessons well this year. We set up a base camp from which Kim had access to running trails and I could quickly access photographic opportunities when the light was good.
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A Frosty Mountain Morning
Kim and I just got back from a week in the mountains of Colorado. As part of the trip, we camped several nights in the Lost Creek Wilderness. A year ago, we learned some lessons about how best to vacation together in the outdoors, and I think we applied those lessons well…
Kim and I just got back from a week in the mountains of Colorado. As part of the trip, we camped several nights in the Lost Creek Wilderness. A year ago, we learned some lessons about how best to vacation together in the outdoors, and I think we applied those lessons well…
Photos of the Week – July 18, 2025
Quick Announcement: We are hosting two Plant Identification/Habitat Management workshops in August. The first is at The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies on August 12 and the second is at the Niobrara Valley Preserve on August 19. During the workshops, you'll learn how to identify lots of prairie plants and get whatever additional information I can think of for each of them.
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Photos of the Week – July 18, 2025
Quick Announcement: We are hosting two Plant Identification/Habitat Management workshops in August. The first is at The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies on August 12 and the second is at the Niobrara Valley Preserve on August 19. During the workshops,…
Quick Announcement: We are hosting two Plant Identification/Habitat Management workshops in August. The first is at The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies on August 12 and the second is at the Niobrara Valley Preserve on August 19. During the workshops,…
Learning How to Live With Shrubbier Grasslands – Part 2: Experimentation
In Part 1 of this topic, I wrote about the uncomfortable situation many prairie stewards find ourselves in - that our grasslands are getting "shrubbier" and it's increasingly difficult to prevent that. Because the drivers for that change are mostly beyond our control, it seems obvious that we need to start thinking differently about grassland management. There are still plenty of grasslands where we should work to prevent woody encroachment.
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Learning How to Live With Shrubbier Grasslands – Part 2: Experimentation
In Part 1 of this topic, I wrote about the uncomfortable situation many prairie stewards find ourselves in - that our grasslands are getting "shrubbier" and it's increasingly difficult to prevent that. Because the drivers for…
In Part 1 of this topic, I wrote about the uncomfortable situation many prairie stewards find ourselves in - that our grasslands are getting "shrubbier" and it's increasingly difficult to prevent that. Because the drivers for…
Learning How to Live with Shrubbier Grasslands – Part 1: The Why
Back in 2022, I wrote a post about the increasing competitiveness of woody plants - especially clonal shrubs like dogwood, sumac, and others - in prairies. There are lots of factors that have led to more shrubs moving into grasslands, but increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere probably play the biggest role. Regardless of the reasons, more and more prairies are becoming something different than we've been used to.
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Learning How to Live with Shrubbier Grasslands – Part 1: The Why
Back in 2022, I wrote a post about the increasing competitiveness of woody plants - especially clonal shrubs like dogwood, sumac, and others - in prairies. There are lots of factors that have led to more shrubs moving into…
Back in 2022, I wrote a post about the increasing competitiveness of woody plants - especially clonal shrubs like dogwood, sumac, and others - in prairies. There are lots of factors that have led to more shrubs moving into…
Photos of the Week – July 3, 2025
Reminder - we are hosting two public field days at the Platte River Prairies and Niobrara Valley Preserve, respectively. The first is July 12 and the second is August 2. Read here for more information on both of them and click here for a detailed agenda of the Platte River Prairies event. These will be great opportunities to explore and learn about prairies with experts in a variety of topics.
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Photos of the Week – July 3, 2025
Reminder - we are hosting two public field days at the Platte River Prairies and Niobrara Valley Preserve, respectively. The first is July 12 and the second is August 2. Read here for more information on both of them and click here for a detailed agenda of the…
Reminder - we are hosting two public field days at the Platte River Prairies and Niobrara Valley Preserve, respectively. The first is July 12 and the second is August 2. Read here for more information on both of them and click here for a detailed agenda of the…
Photos of the Week – June 28, 2025
This was a really fun week, but it was one jam packed with social interactions. The America's Grasslands Conference happened just down the road and I gave a few presentations and several tours associated (officially and unofficially) with that. I also had a great time meeting new people and catching up with old ones. By the end of Thursday, though, my social engine was pretty much out of gas (I should probably think about upgrading to a more eco-friendly social engine).
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Photos of the Week – June 28, 2025
This was a really fun week, but it was one jam packed with social interactions. The America's Grasslands Conference happened just down the road and I gave a few presentations and several tours associated (officially and unofficially) with that. I also had a great…
This was a really fun week, but it was one jam packed with social interactions. The America's Grasslands Conference happened just down the road and I gave a few presentations and several tours associated (officially and unofficially) with that. I also had a great…
Post-Grazing Party: Part 3 – Helzer Family Prairie
As I said back in early May, I'm spending a lot of my photography time in three 80x80-foot plots this summer. Each plot in part of a prairie that was grazed intensively most or all of last year. I'm hoping to highlight why I enjoy exploring places where the growth of normally-dominant plants (especially grasses) is temporarily suppressed from last year's grazing.
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Post-Grazing Party: Part 3 – Helzer Family Prairie
As I said back in early May, I'm spending a lot of my photography time in three 80x80-foot plots this summer. Each plot in part of a prairie that was grazed intensively most or all of last year. I'm hoping to highlight why I enjoy exploring places…
As I said back in early May, I'm spending a lot of my photography time in three 80x80-foot plots this summer. Each plot in part of a prairie that was grazed intensively most or all of last year. I'm hoping to highlight why I enjoy exploring places…
Join us for the 2025 Platte River Prairies Public Field Day – July 12, 2025
It's time again for the annual Platte River Prairies Field Day. This event is free to the public and a great chance to explore prairies and learn about ecology and conservation. The field day runs from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. but you can come and go as you like. Click on this link to see the full day's agenda and more information.
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Join us for the 2025 Platte River Prairies Public Field Day – July 12, 2025
It's time again for the annual Platte River Prairies Field Day. This event is free to the public and a great chance to explore prairies and learn about ecology and conservation. The field day runs from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.…
It's time again for the annual Platte River Prairies Field Day. This event is free to the public and a great chance to explore prairies and learn about ecology and conservation. The field day runs from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.…
Exploring the Oglala National Grasslands
I took some time off last week. Some of that time was spent just hanging around the house with family, but late in the week, I took a quick overnight photography trip out to the Nebraska Panhandle. I stopped a few times on the way there and back, but my primary destination was the Oglala National Grasslands.
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Exploring the Oglala National Grasslands
I took some time off last week. Some of that time was spent just hanging around the house with family, but late in the week, I took a quick overnight photography trip out to the Nebraska Panhandle. I stopped a few times on the way there and back, but my…
I took some time off last week. Some of that time was spent just hanging around the house with family, but late in the week, I took a quick overnight photography trip out to the Nebraska Panhandle. I stopped a few times on the way there and back, but my…
Photos of the Week – May 21, 2025
I'm already missing my square meter plot and that whole project, but I'm soldiering on and finding other fun photographic opportunities. It's been fun to watch the growing season jump into full speed, despite really dry conditions. We've gotten some good rain across much of the state this last week or so, but most of the state is still in drought conditions.
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Photos of the Week – May 21, 2025
I'm already missing my square meter plot and that whole project, but I'm soldiering on and finding other fun photographic opportunities. It's been fun to watch the growing season jump into full speed, despite really dry conditions. We've gotten some good rain…
I'm already missing my square meter plot and that whole project, but I'm soldiering on and finding other fun photographic opportunities. It's been fun to watch the growing season jump into full speed, despite really dry conditions. We've gotten some good rain…
The Penstemon Lumberjack Mystery
Shell-leaf penstemon in a restored grassland at the Platte River Prairies back in 2021. One of my favorite wildflowers is the spectacular shell-leaf penstemon (Penstemon grandiflorus). It's one of the showiest of the opportunistic wildflowers in our prairies. Shell-leaf penstemon thrives under heavy grazing, in sandy and/or low-productivity soils, or other places where most other plants struggle. Every year, as the month of May progresses, I watch closely for the first blooms so I can get out and photograph them.
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The Penstemon Lumberjack Mystery
Shell-leaf penstemon in a restored grassland at the Platte River Prairies back in 2021. One of my favorite wildflowers is the spectacular shell-leaf penstemon (Penstemon grandiflorus). It's one of the showiest of the opportunistic wildflowers in our prairies.…
Shell-leaf penstemon in a restored grassland at the Platte River Prairies back in 2021. One of my favorite wildflowers is the spectacular shell-leaf penstemon (Penstemon grandiflorus). It's one of the showiest of the opportunistic wildflowers in our prairies.…
The Post-Grazing Party – Part 2
Earlier this month, I wrote about a project I'm undertaking this year to illustrate what we see happening in prairies that enter their first year of growth following a long period of intense grazing. The ways prairie plants and animals respond after that kind of grazing are some of the most fun and fascinating interactions I see in grasslands. You can read the full background of the project in…
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The Post-Grazing Party – Part 2
Earlier this month, I wrote about a project I'm undertaking this year to illustrate what we see happening in prairies that enter their first year of growth following a long period of intense grazing. The ways prairie plants and animals respond after that kind of…
Earlier this month, I wrote about a project I'm undertaking this year to illustrate what we see happening in prairies that enter their first year of growth following a long period of intense grazing. The ways prairie plants and animals respond after that kind of…
Photos of the Week – May 8, 2025
This week, I've found two different brief opportunities to poke around some local prairies with my camera. Both prairies were nice remnant (unplowed) grasslands with a good diversity of early season wildflowers, native sedges, and other little treasures. My first stop was at Gjerloff Prairie, a terrific loess hills prairie owned and managed by Prairie Plains Resource Institute. It's only about 20 minutes north of my house here in Aurora, so it's a site I know pretty well.
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Photos of the Week – May 8, 2025
This week, I've found two different brief opportunities to poke around some local prairies with my camera. Both prairies were nice remnant (unplowed) grasslands with a good diversity of early season wildflowers, native sedges, and other little treasures. My first…
This week, I've found two different brief opportunities to poke around some local prairies with my camera. Both prairies were nice remnant (unplowed) grasslands with a good diversity of early season wildflowers, native sedges, and other little treasures. My first…
The End of the Square Meter Photography Project
Well, it's all over. Yesterday (May 4, 2025) marked the conclusion of my square meter photography project. I spent an hour or so at Lincoln Creek Prairie last evening trying to capture some final images before the sun literally set on this amazing journey. Between May 5, 2024 and May 4, 2025, I visited my little plot 131 times. If you do the math, that averages out to a little more often than once every three days across the year.
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The End of the Square Meter Photography Project
Well, it's all over. Yesterday (May 4, 2025) marked the conclusion of my square meter photography project. I spent an hour or so at Lincoln Creek Prairie last evening trying to capture some final images before the sun literally set on this amazing…
Well, it's all over. Yesterday (May 4, 2025) marked the conclusion of my square meter photography project. I spent an hour or so at Lincoln Creek Prairie last evening trying to capture some final images before the sun literally set on this amazing…
Introducing a New Photo/Storytelling Project – The Post-Grazing Party: Part 1
As I wrap up my square meter photography project (May 4 will be the last day of the 2024-2025 edition), I've been thinking about what I want to do next. The other day, I came up with an idea and I'm jumping in with both feet. I think it'll be fun and informative, but I'm telling you about it now because that will help me stick with it.
prairieecologist.com
Introducing a New Photo/Storytelling Project – The Post-Grazing Party: Part 1
As I wrap up my square meter photography project (May 4 will be the last day of the 2024-2025 edition), I've been thinking about what I want to do next. The other day, I came up with an idea and I'm jumping in with both…
As I wrap up my square meter photography project (May 4 will be the last day of the 2024-2025 edition), I've been thinking about what I want to do next. The other day, I came up with an idea and I'm jumping in with both…
Photos of the Week – April 22, 2025
Life is funny sometimes. Last week, I spent a morning setting up some research plots aimed at helping us learn how to suppress the growth and spread of deciduous shrubs in grasslands. When I finished, I walked about 50 yards to a patch of wild plum (a deciduous shrub) and spent a half hour photographing an incredible abundance of pollinators using the patch as a source of food.
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Photos of the Week – April 22, 2025
Life is funny sometimes. Last week, I spent a morning setting up some research plots aimed at helping us learn how to suppress the growth and spread of deciduous shrubs in grasslands. When I finished, I walked about 50 yards to a patch of wild plum (a deciduous…
Life is funny sometimes. Last week, I spent a morning setting up some research plots aimed at helping us learn how to suppress the growth and spread of deciduous shrubs in grasslands. When I finished, I walked about 50 yards to a patch of wild plum (a deciduous…
Photos of the Week – April 8, 2025
Across much of the Midwest and Great Plains of North America, the blooming of eastern pasqueflower is a pleasing indicator that a new growing season has begun. For photographers like me, it also helps break a long fast from showy wildflowers that typically runs from late October through early April each year.
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Photos of the Week – April 8, 2025
Across much of the Midwest and Great Plains of North America, the blooming of eastern pasqueflower is a pleasing indicator that a new growing season has begun. For photographers like me, it also helps break a long fast from showy wildflowers that typically runs…
Across much of the Midwest and Great Plains of North America, the blooming of eastern pasqueflower is a pleasing indicator that a new growing season has begun. For photographers like me, it also helps break a long fast from showy wildflowers that typically runs…
Celebrating Seeds
I've been seeing a lot of brand new plants germinating from seeds during the last couple weeks. Looking at all those cotyledons (first leaves) poking out of the ground makes me reflect on the massive amount of good fortune it takes for any seed to actually turn into a new prairie plant. Prairie dandelion seeds (Nothocalais cuspidata). Seed production is a high risk, high reward strategy for plants, and even that's a huge understatement.
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Celebrating Seeds
I've been seeing a lot of brand new plants germinating from seeds during the last couple weeks. Looking at all those cotyledons (first leaves) poking out of the ground makes me reflect on the massive amount of good fortune it takes for any seed to actually turn into a new prairie…
I've been seeing a lot of brand new plants germinating from seeds during the last couple weeks. Looking at all those cotyledons (first leaves) poking out of the ground makes me reflect on the massive amount of good fortune it takes for any seed to actually turn into a new prairie…