Blog
As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.
I’ve always wondered how birds survive the winter cold. It seems impossible that their little bodies can hold enough heat to survive freezing temperatures. Even worse when constant snow cover makes it hard…
Read MoreThis is my first winter of prairie watching. I noticed how strong prairie plants were during summer wind storms. They bent but didn’t break. That same quality is true in the winter. Snow piles up…
Read MoreWalking through the prairie today, the word that came to mind was architecture. During the summer, I never looked past the swathes of yellow, dots of pink, pinpoints of blue in the blooms that blanketed…
Read MoreI have found it difficult to walk in my prairie these days. It is so dry and brown. Such a short time ago it was awash in brilliant yellows with surprising dots of pink, purple…
Read MoreWhenever we visit the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refugenear Prairie City, Iowa, we look for the buffalo. We have not been disappointed this year. The herd now numbers around 100 and it’s a real treat…
Read MoreIt’s fall in the prairie, but that doesn’t mean we’re done looking at new flowers. In fact, we appear to just be starting with many. Yes, the grasses are holding sway, but fresh blooms are…
Read MoreIowa is remarkably green for this time of year. An over abundance of rain has ensured we’re still cutting grass more frequently than the end of August normally dictates. My hostas look so fresh, you…
Read MoreJulie Andrews singing ‘The hills are alive …’ runs through my mind when I walk in the prairie. My prairie is alive – not so much with the sound of music, but with a myriad…
Read MoreI don’t know that I gave much thought to how tall prairie plants would be. Tall enough that I could see them easily from my office window, I hoped. The prairie has delivered that and…
Read MoreGale-force winds and torrential rains swept through central Iowa last night. Awakened by crashing thunder, I watched as lightening flashes illuminated a scene reminiscent of Gulf Coast hurricanes. As I watched, two questions came to…
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