That's all!
Until next time...
~Rebecca
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Monday, May 15, 2023
Thursday, September 15, 2022
A Tallgrass Prairie Morning
It was a beautiful morning on the tallgrass prairie this morning. The sun was just coming up as I was leaving for work. I left super early and took the long way around. Here are some of the sights that I enjoyed along the way...
Morning Sunrise Over Our Little Town
Sunshine Breaking Forth Over Tallgrass Prairie
Morning Sun and Tall Grasses
(Big Bluestem)
Roadside Wildflowers and Tall Grasses
Bur Marigold and Big Bluestem
(Bidens aristosa and Andropogon gerardii)
(Bidens aristosa and Andropogon gerardii)
Bur Marigold
(a.k.a Tickseed Sunflower or Beggar's Tick)
White-tailed Doe
A Nursing Doe
Until next time...
~Rebecca
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Monday, September 5, 2022
A Little Fog on the Prairie
It was a little foggy Saturday morning. I took these photos on my way into work and, as you can see, it got less foggy the further I went.
Until next time...
Twin Bucks
The Herd
A Lone Bull Amidst Sumac
Stepping Out Into the Open
Tallgrass Priarie
Sunshine in the Midst of Fog
Gossamer Threads Strung with Pearls of Dew
Until next time...
~Rebecca
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A Late Arrival
Thursday, September 1, 2022
A Late Arrival
Most bison calves arrive at Prairie State Park by late spring, but, occasionally, one comes along much later.
This little one arrived just a few days ago in late August.
I don't know if it's a boy or girl, yet, but it sure is a cutie!
Bison calves weigh between 30 to 70 pounds at birth and are a pumpkin-orange in color for the first few months.
Calves are protected, not only by the mother, but by the whole herd.
My co-workers and I call baby bison "pumpkins", but I recently heard another friend describe them as "pennies on the prairie." I kind of like that, too!
I hope your September is off to a great start!
Until next time...
~Rebecca
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Remington, Russell, or Me?
Exploring Homestead Hill and Beyond
Prescribed Burn - March 3, 2022
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Remington, Russell, or Me?
The Bison Trail, 1908, Charles M. Russell
I have had the pleasure of viewing many original works of western art by artists such as Frederic Remington and Charles Russell at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming, but wow! Last night, I felt like I was IN one of those paintings! What an amazing evening on the tallgrass prairie of southwest Missouri!
By the way...they're all me (except for the top one, of course) and they're all photos.
Until next time...
~Rebecca
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Exploring Homestead Hill and Beyond
Prescribed Burn - March 3, 2022
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Exploring Homestead Hill and Beyond
Homestead Hill...that's what we call it, because that's what it used to be...someone's homestead.
All that remains of that homestead now is a row of bright, yellow daffodils that, more than likely, lined the drive or a walkway that lead up to the house.
I've visited this spot a couple of times recently, but never went beyond the break of the hill. Today I ventured further.
From the top of the hill I could see a smattering of old bones...big bones...bleached white from the sun. Upon closer inspection the bones revealed the remains of, not one, but, two different bison.
The two sets of bones were several yards away from each other and both had been there a very long time. One set of bones was much larger than the other. One set, most likely, came from a
bull bison; the other from a cow or, perhaps, a juvenile animal that had not quite reached maturity.
This jawbone was found some distance away. It was probably dragged there by a coyote long ago.
As I made my way toward the creek I thought about Homestead Hill. Who had lived here? And how long ago? What were the people like that lived there? I imagined a fresh-faced, young farm wife planting those lovely daffodils.
I could almost see her, years later, standing in the doorway of her farmhouse, smiling at their sunshiny-faces...thankful to see them after a particularly long, cold, and snowy prairie winter.
As I neared the ridge above the creek I thought of my Grandma Viola. When I was a kid she and Grandpa lived on place very much like this surrounded by pastureland. She and I would often walk the pasture and make our way down to the creek just like I was doing today...only their creek was much deeper and wider than this one.
At the ridge's edge a deep ravine led down to the creek. It was much too steep for me to try to make it down. I continued on.
Along the way I passed this animal den. I have no idea what might live in it, but it was the largest den I've seen on the prairie.
Another thing I noticed along the way were these rocks. They were completely covered in lichen. Lichen indicates that the air quality here is very good!
Lichen Close-Up
Soon I came to a flatter, more gentler slope that led down to the creek. It was, obviously, a favorite crossing for the bison. Hundreds of hoof prints were left behind in the well- and, obviously, often traveled-ruts.
The creek wasn't wide here, but it was pretty.
After exploring a bit around the creek crossing, I made my way back to the ridge and followed a deer trail that ran parallel to the creek for a while.
It was fun exploring another never-seen-by-me area and I look forward to doing it again soon!
Until next time...
~Rebecca
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Prescribed Burn - March 3, 2022
Sunday, March 13, 2022
Prescribed Burn - March 3, 2022
Scenes From A Recent Prescribed Burn
@ Prairie State Park
Mindenmines, Missouri
Until next time...
Rebecca
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