In some ways, this is a great time of year in the Platte River Prairies – we’re gearing up for prescribed fire, and clouds of migratory sandhill cranes provide background music as we prepare our prairies for the coming field season.  At the same time, the beautiful weather over the last couple of weeks has me yearning for wildflowers, and I know it’s going to be a while before we start seeing them.  The daffodils in my yard help a little, as do the little tiny blue flowers on whatever weed it is that grows along the edge of my foundation and sidewalk.  But I miss prairie wildflowers, and we’re at least a month away from the first of those.  Temperatures in the 70’s make it feel like there should be wildflowers blooming, but no matter how long I walk through the brown grass, I still don’t see any.

Stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus) in The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies back in August 2015.

So, I found comfort and joy by flipping through photos from last summer and looking at all the bold vibrant colors.  Here’s one of the images that hit me hardest as I scanned through those summer images.  Happy Spring!  (And hurry up, wildflowers!)