Every time I see one of these huge puff balls, it brings me back to my 70’s childhood. We used to have to stop the car so my mom and grandma could climb into the ditch to pick them. Back home, they were given the AquaNet treatment and put on display.
Funny which moments turn golden as time goes on.
187/365: puff ball at the prairie garden
The prairie is teeming with monarda seed heads but each one is extraordinary in its own right.
61/365: single monarda
I love the linear quality of vines and they stand out among the upright stalks of so many prairie plants. I may have to wait for summer blooms to identify this one, though. Unless you know. If so, please let me know in the comments. Guesses welcome.
37/365: dry prairie vine
It took a closer look to see the tiny individual dried flowers on this liatris stalk. And a photograph to make me see its fruit: tiny seeds adorned with hairy parachute tufts to carry them off on the wind.
24/365: liatris fruit & flower
One of my favorite discoveries of the last 365 project was the beauty and variety of plants in their winter form. I’ve been looking forward to re-visiting this subject – always something more to see.
21/265: wild coneflower seed heads, broken
I mentioned that we made a trip to Morris, MN the other day. Today I’m excited to share the reason for our trip!
The University of Minnesota – Morris purchased these five pictures for the new, sustainable Green Prairie Living & Learning Community building on campus. That means the prints are also part of the University’s permanent collection!
These pictures are part of the ‘Winter Prairie’ series I worked on in 2013 featuring images from the urban prairie restoration garden near my home. I’m pleased that these wild prairie darlings are now permanently situated in their natural environment: a true prairie ecosystem in western Minnesota.
238/365: Winter Prairie Series Prints now in the University of Minnesota – Morris Collection
avant garden 365 