Dressed To The Nines

Two fortnights ago hail storms pummel the Llano Estacado prairie. Quarter and penny-sized pellets leave pockmarks and small impact craters in the prairie soil. The furies of ice and wind decimate several years of straw and plant debris, raze early summer vegetation, bruise cacti, and strip yucca of seed pods. Picture knee to thigh-high vegetation reduced to nearly bare soil. Sprawling prickly pear cacti resemble high rise prairie condominiums. They tower conspicuously over their tableland realm.

Fortunately several weeks of soaking rains follow. Erelong the Llano makes a striking comeback. Shortgrass prairie graminoids and amaranth dominate. At first wildflowers emerge in widely scattered bunches. Buffalo Bur, Silverleaf Nighshade, Prairie Zinnia, and Small Palafoxia show the way.

Great things happen when nature and the human spirit meet. Hear the poetry of the prairie. Let her delight in your presence. Let her scented breath tussle your hair. Find her wisdom within Silver Sage, wildflowers, and clouds suspended in azure skies. A heart away from nature suffers. Allow the energy of a glorious sunrise to reach into your heart and free your soul. When the heart, mind, and soul communicate the conversation is poetry.

- © Ilija Lukić 2013 -

Zinnia Whoosh
(zinnia grandiflora, aka Plains Zinnia)

Pink Sunshine
(palafoxia callosa, aka Small Palafoxia)

New Mexico State Flower
(yucca campestris, aka Plains Yucca)

Arizona Cottontop
(digitaria californica)

Prairie Shuffle
(bouteloua gracilis, aka Blue Grama)

Twinkle Toes
(bouteloua gracilis, aka Blue Grama)

Prairie Morning
(palafoxia callosa, aka Small Palafoxia)

Candid Reflections
(solanum elaeagnifolium, aka Silver Leaf Nightshade)

In The Snake Cotton
(froelichia gracilis, aka Slender Snake Cotton)

Slender Snake Cotton
(froelichia gracilis)

Parched Trail

Rocky Mountain Zinnia
(zinnia grandiflora)

Silver In Black And White
(digitaria californica, aka Arizona Cottontop)

Stink Grass
(eragrostis cilianensis)

Shortgrass Prairie
(Buffalo Bur, Palmer's Amaranth, Sand Dropseed, Blue Grama, Cholla, Yucca, et alia)

Adorned Villains
(solanum rostratum, aka Buffalo Bur)

Sea Of Green
(amaranthus palmeri, aka Palmer's Amaranth)

Ears Of Grain
(amaranthus palmeri, aka Palmer's Amaranth)

Dream State
(digitaria californica, ala Arizona Cottontop)

Bow To The Heat
(amaranthus palmeri, aka Palmer's Amaranth)

Sunshine Comes Softly
(amaranth in cottontop and dropseed grasses)

Tickle Fest
(bouteloua gracilis, aka Blue Grama panicle)

Nightshade Sprinkles
(solanum elaeagnifolium, Aka Silver Nightshade)

Shady Respite
(Cooper)

Nasty Hombre
(solanum rostratum, aka Buffalo Bur)

It's Only Rock 'N Roll--But I like It
(solanum rostratum, aka Buffalo Bur)

Dressed To The Nines
(palafoxia callosa, aka Small Palafoxia)

Cotton And Horns
(froelicha gracilis, aka Slender Snake Cotton)