Prairie watching is addictive. The diversity on the landscape, from shoetop to horizon, holds one’s attention to the exclusion of the passing of time and matters of pressing concern. Studying the prairie is satisfying, especially aesthetically, but also intellectually. Reading the landscape through the species present, observing the season of bloom, deciphering the structure of the flowers, recognizing the visiting pollinators, investigating the size and shape of seeds, and experiencing the thrill of germinating seedlings are all part of getting to know prairies.
Paul Christiansen and Mark Müller, An Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants
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