Much of the Central United States is emerging from an ice storm that glazed streets and closed schools. On the positive side, it also coated our prairies (and everything else) with a beautiful layer of ice. As the sun came up yesterday morning, I was walking through one of our local prairies, surrounded by glittering, sparkling prairie plants.
Sunrise and icy prairie.
It was magical.
I had planned to walk around for an hour or so and take pictures, but ended up staying for four hours; leaving only because I got really hungry. I usually save my “Photo of the Week” post for Thursday or Friday each week, but I couldn’t wait to share some images from yesterday morning. I hope you enjoy them.
Stiff sunflowers and sunshine.
Indiangrass seeds.
Switchgrass
Stiff goldenrod
Indiangrass
Stiff goldenrod
I was surprised by this perfectly circular hole.
Switchgrass seeds.
Indiangrass seeds.
This ice boat seems to have sprung a leak.
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The Prairie Ecologist 
Chris,
Thanks for sharing the beauty.
Lovely! Thank you.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous!!
Jennifer Pospichal outdoor recreation products 402-289-0400 800-747-5437 1055 North 205 Street Elkhorn, NE 68022 jenniferp@outdoorrec.net check out our website! http://www.outdoorrecreationproducts.com [2017 LSI -We Play Today 031]
Good Morning Chris, loved the pictures which looked like a glass blower had made many.
Sent from my iPhone
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I traveled thru central Illinois by train many years ago after a blizzard. Similar ice sculptures lined the railway but my pictures did not capture the beauty like yours.
Cool pics!
such beauty!
Your photos are beautiful. I have never been to your part of Nebraska but I really appreciate the work that you do. Thank you!
Spectacular photos! Thanks for sharing — as always, a wonderful, calming gift in troubled times.
Thank you. several of these are outstanding. glad you had so much fun!
Your pictures are beautiful. It feels like I’m there. Would you share your camera settings and lens used for the close-ups please?
Hi Gisela. Settings varied by the shot, but ISO 250 with Apertures between 13 and 25, mostly, and shutterspeeds at 1/80 to 1/250. Mostly… Everything was shot with a tripod.
One word – WOW!
Right place + right time = awesome!
Extraordinary! Thank you.
Wow, what a spectacular morning! Wish I could have been there.
Beautiful!!! Breathtaking!!! Stunning!!!
The Sandhills weren’t treated to the magical beauty of the storm. It’s been pleasurable seeing other people’s interpretation of the icy coating.
Just as everybody else said, these are wonderful, thanks.
Marilyn McNabb
Captivating!
Absolutely beautiful! Love your photographs.
Love the pictures, as Lidna lou & I were walking the dog after the storm the conversation went like this. Do you suppose Chris got pictures of all this beauty. I said he wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this. You didn’t disappoint. Thanks Jack
Thanks Jack! I’m glad you liked them. Great to hear from you – I hope you’re both doing well.
Wow! I was in Florida last week and had heard about this storm but had not seen any images from it. These are stunning!
it seems our new climate is resulting in far more rain / freezing rain / than snow here in the upper Midwest. Sadly our snow cover has been nearly eliminated twice this winter from rain events: Christmas day we received an inch of rain instead of 12″ of snow and again this past weekend rain destroying the snow we had. The state Climatologist has some exact data on this: rain is now 3x more likely or something of that order. More opportunities for beautiful photography however!
I am glad I came across a link to this post. I am thinking the cold would have chased me in before my hunger. Thanks for posting these!
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This blew me away!