Musings of a New Naturalist: Slow and Low on the Prairie
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Driving, biking, or walking the dog, I often sped past prairies without noticing them, save for some moments being entertained by the antics of prairie dogs. Appearing monochrome and relatively flat, the prairies around my new hometown in Colorado didn’t inspire my curiosity, until one day, I slowed down, got down low, and steeped myself in one, one that’s being restored after being farmed and then overgrazed.
I was smitten by the diversity and beauty of grasses and flowers, of Meadowlarks’ songs and coyotes’ howls. I wanted to linger and identify each new plant but, as the noon sun scorched and the wind picked up, I felt an instinct to flee, to seek shade. Instead, I stayed and marveled how this community of plants and animals survives and thrives despite the harsh conditions. A fellow naturalist later told me that a 50-degree temperature change was once recorded over 2 minutes on a prairie.
Now days, I jump at every opportunity to visit a prairie. They invite me to marvel at the tenacity and adaptability of life. They inspire me to look for and harness my own tenacity, to think about how I can adapt. I’m grateful for their invitation to slow down and look closely.