Grama Grass

Side Oats Grama

Hairy Grama

Not much to look at but impressive when you consider they were an important source of food for bison.  I'm always interested in how a plant was named.  These were named by two Spanish botanists, grama is a derivation of the Spanish word for grass. Photographed at Sheep Berry Fen, Pope Co., managed by the TNC of Minnesota.

Prairie Blazing Star

Blazing stars seem early this year although I have been away from the tall grass prairie for a few summers and this may not be the case.  Taken at Schaefer Prairie, McLeod County, managed by the Nature Conservancy of Minnesota.