I spent last week in Houston, attending The Nature Conservancy’s Global Science Gathering. It was a great meeting and I came away with lots of ideas for thought-provoking blog posts. This isn’t one of them.
One night at dinner, in the midst of a wide-ranging discussion, a friend mentioned participating in a challenge to turn scientific journal articles into poems. Without really meaning to, I immediately composed a bad limerick about the value of fire in prairies. (I’m not really right in the head.) Since that night, my brain keeps trying to write more limericks about prairies. Rather than keep all the fun to myself, I thought maybe we could turn it into a communal activity.
As a result, I’m introducing The Prairie Ecologist’s first annual Prairie Limerick Contest. Send me your best prairie-themed limericks in the comments section below and I’ll pick out my favorites to share in an upcoming post.
Here’s an example to get your creative juices flowing:
Joe loved prairies with flowers and bees,
But his poor kids were filled with unease
“We hate this,” they chorused
“Let’s move to the forest!”
He said “Sure, just get rid of the trees!”
I should mention, this contest is sponsored by Pete’s Plants, a totally fake company that offers everything you need for establishing a backyard prairie garden or large-scale grassland restoration project. In addition to their sponsorship, Pete’s Plants even provided their own limerick (below). Thank you to Pete and all his staff!
The Prairie Ecologist 
This is great! Here’s one to start things off. Happy Thanksgiving!
With bluestem so bushy and bold,
and Indian grass turning gold,
the prairie’s rich treasure
provides far more pleasure
than goods that can be purchased or sold.
Hmmm.. better change that last line to “goods that are purchased or sold.”
This makes me laugh, because I thought I was not quite right in the head either after going off on a limerick-based blog post a little less than a year ago…http://dyckarboretum.org/2017-dyck-arboretum-year-review-limerick-style/. I love your blog, Chris!
There once were some young Melissodes
Females–called Thistle Long-horned Bees
They hated the name
“Hey–we’re not the same!”
It’s the males that have lengthy antennaes.
Ok, I’ll bite.
There once was a man who photographed prairie creatures,
Often up closely to show off their features.
The public was amazed,
but the cattle just grazed,
confused by the antics of one of our best teachers.
Maybe one edit: “but the cattle just lowed and grazed”
Those cows that are happily grazing,
Purport to do something amazing!
More carbon in soil,
And yet I recoil
When methane so loudly is blazing!
Those cows that are happily grazing,
Purport to do something amazing!
More carbon in soil,
And yet I recoil
When methane so loudly is blazing!
There’s this Helzer guy named Chris
known as The Prairie Ecologist.
He teaches us much
about prairies and such,
so his blogs should never be missed!
Winter burns are held dear in my heart
As one of the many features that set prairies apart
The diesel to gas may be two to one
But closing a ring-fire is second to none
Behold the glorious prairie ablaze
To shift the mosaic of plants for bison to graze
And best of all, the mop-up doesn’t take days!
So — I amused myself while doing dishes. And, yes — there is a native Texas brome: Bromus texensis.
When grasses start whispering poems,
their stories at last will be known.
They gather together
through fair and rough weather —
the bluestem, the muhly, the brome.
OK — one more.
Through sunshine and rain the monarch’s sweet reign
delights both the eye and the soul.
Aloft and a-flutter
this swift fly called ‘butter’
avoids all demands for a toll.
Such fun!
I wish I had a prairie
With its own prairie fairy
She’d lay down free seeds
And magic the weeds
Making management so much less hairy
Asclepias sullivantii, Liatris aspera,
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium.
Verbena hastata
Callirhoe involucrata,
Eupatorium perfoliatum.
Whether grazing with bison or cattle,
One’s decision can cause a pitched battle.
But in prairies today,
Both grow fat on good hay,
And will rarely be felled by atlatl.
First rate, Karen!!!!! Kudos.
Moats, Moats, Scott Moats
He,s not a rapper
He,s a prairie chicken trapper
Has a chicken in the sack
and has to get back
to Missouri, in a hurry
has the pedal to the medal
and he works at broken kettle
Moats, Moats, Scott Moats
And the chickens go, Whoop, Whoop
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