Late afternoon light in December can bring beautiful warm color to prairie landscapes, turning drab brown into gold. I was lucky enough to be in one of our Platte River Prairies this week when the sun finally peeked out from behind the last bank of clouds at the end of an overcast day.
Winter prairie on the Platte River. Derr Sandpit Prairie Restoration.
We live in a beautiful world. Enjoy your holiday season!
The Prairie Ecologist 
From Austin, Texas:
Chris,
Thanks so much for providing us with such a heartfelt connection to the beauty and spirit of such an extraordinary part of our world. I can’t say thank you enough.
I hope and trust that you and your family will have a wonderful holiday this weekend.
Thanks Rick! Glad you enjoy the blog.
i almost always love your photo of the week. glad to subscribe.
Can’t wait for the sun to break through the clouds in NE OK.
Merry Everything.
Though your blog’s photographic background would be even better if it had mountains in the distance, you are fortunate to be working on America’s very best and most iconic landscape; and we are fortunate that you are sharing it with us. Thanks, Chris! Merry Christmas to you!
Mountains?? Come on, Ted. Don’t fall into the aesthetic trap of thinking that nature scenery needs mountains, waterfalls, or lakes to be beautiful! That’s like saying it’s too bad they don’t put pepperoni and mozzarella cheese on chicken teriyaki! Both pizza and teriyaki chicken are great – but for different reasons… : )
OK, Chris, fine then. No mountains. But my wife says, “How about a beach?” :)
Very funny…
:)
I thought so, too. :)
And to you and yours.
Ernie
My favorite time of day! Beautiful!
Continue the spirit throughout the New Year!
Hey Chris
I am a prairie girl ….. allways have been and allways will be….and all i need is another hill to stumble over to find the teasures there. No mountains…no water falls… nothing dramatic.
Thanks for the gift of this blog and the incredible photos you are giving us.
Happy new year
Karen
THANK YOU Karen.
And SO THERE to Ted. And his wife!
And you stay out of this, Trager.
Beaches…. honestly…
: )
Pingback: Photo of the Week – January 6, 2012 | The Prairie Ecologist