A couple weeks ago, I was out in the Nebraska panhandle for a few days with work colleagues. After our job duties were completed, I had the opportunity to wander around on my own at two different sites – The Nature Conservancy’s Cherry Ranch and Fort Robinson State Park. Here are some of the photos I took from those two gorgeous, expansive landscapes. I’ll start, predictably, with a mayfly.
I don’t know what species of mayfly this is, but there were many thousands of them at Cherry Ranch the evening we were there. They congregated in the air outside the windshields of our pickups as we toured our board members around the ranch.The Niobrara River is much smaller at Cherry Ranch than it is way downstream at the Niobrara Valley Preserve.This upland sandpiper was staring me down as I drove slowly past in a pickup. I took a few quick pictures before moving on, assuming it probably had a nest nearby.During my previous visit to Cherry Ranch, I photographed cliff swallows in their mud homes on the side of a (obviously) cliff. This visit, I got to watch them collecting mud – in their mouths – with which they were making those homes.Prairie buckbean, aka golden pea (Thermopsis rhombifolia) seemed to be having a great year in the panhandle. More prairie buckbean flowers.The yellow blossoms made a terrific foreground for landscape photos.As evening came on, the mayflies all settled onto overnight perches, which made photography a lot easier.Mountain lily, aka star lily (Leucocrinum montanum) was also having a big year, blooming in numberous large patches containing hundreds of plants each.Mountain lily has to be one of the most charismatic wildflowers of the western prairie, but you’ve got to get out early in the season to see it.Mountain lily with the setting sun behind it.As I drove out of Cherry Ranch, the sun was setting through the haze from Canada wildfires.Saturday morning, I climbed the turtle rock trail at Fort Robinson State Park, as the sun rose through smoky skies.A hazy view of the Fort Robinson headquarters from the turtle rock trail.A silhouetted tree against a rising sun? Or a dog-like creature with a fiery eye? (It’s the first one)It was impossible not to use prairie buckbean as foreground for landscape shots.Nebraska is so flat and boring, it’s amazing anyone wants to live here.Gumbo-lily (Oenothera caespitosa) is an evening primrose, not a lily, but is an amazing wildflower that thrives in very low-productivity soil conditions (if you can even call it soil).I was excited to find a bunch of gumbo-lilies at the top of the ridge.I mean…I could have stayed up on that ridge top all day.Oh look, more prairie buckbean. Whatever shall I do with it?This is an Anicia checkerspot butterfly. It is trying to warm itself in the morning sun.This is an Anicia checkerspot butterfly. It would like to haunt your dreams.
As per usual, my stay in the Nebraska panhandle felt much too short, but I needed to get home. If you’ve never visited that part of the world, I hope you’ll find a way to remedy that. It’s a great place to go during the ‘official’ tourism season between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but if you’re like me and abhor crowds of people, it’s an even better place to go before and after that season!
Plus, if you go early in the year, you can enjoy huge patches of mountain lilies in the prairie, discover gumbo-lilies on high ridge tops, and use prairie buckbean as the foreground for your landscape photography. Just be wary of those Anicia checkerspot butterflies.
I love this! I wonder if we have prairie buckhean here in the Sandhills? I will have to look for it. I’ve been photographing and enjoying all the narrowleaf penstemon here of late, I’ve been able to identify it thanks to your last post. 😊
Well, thanks. In Nebraska, I think buckbean is almost all in the panhandle, but there are at least a few records a little further east, so who know? I’m glad you’re enjoying the penstemon! It’s a pretty great time of year!
Great photos! I wonder if we have any buckbean here in the Sandhills? I have been photographing and enjoying the narrowleaf penstemon here as of late! It is having quite a year!
Awesome, thanks. Looking at the photos I could really imagine your ramble. But wary of the Anicia checkerspots? Humor as dry as the Nebraska ridge top?
Fabulous photos! I LOVE the mayflies. They remind me of dragonflies, one of my photo addictions. I found a mayfly here once. Once. He was darn cool too!
Great pic- love to see them in person sometime. What are the best publicly accessible places in western Nebraska where there are good floral displays similar to what you are showing here?
No chance Anicia checkerspot butterfly, you’re cute and your colors are striking and fashion forward: orange, cream, brown on fuzzy wings, hello.
No butterfly nightmares for me.
The Prairie Ecologist 
Great photos. I especially admire the red setting sun behind the windmill.
Excellent!!!
Great photos!
Beautiful photos – thank you!
I love this! I wonder if we have prairie buckhean here in the Sandhills? I will have to look for it. I’ve been photographing and enjoying all the narrowleaf penstemon here of late, I’ve been able to identify it thanks to your last post. 😊
Well, thanks. In Nebraska, I think buckbean is almost all in the panhandle, but there are at least a few records a little further east, so who know? I’m glad you’re enjoying the penstemon! It’s a pretty great time of year!
Great photos! I wonder if we have any buckbean here in the Sandhills? I have been photographing and enjoying the narrowleaf penstemon here as of late! It is having quite a year!
Awesome, thanks. Looking at the photos I could really imagine your ramble. But wary of the Anicia checkerspots? Humor as dry as the Nebraska ridge top?
Fabulous photos! I LOVE the mayflies. They remind me of dragonflies, one of my photo addictions. I found a mayfly here once. Once. He was darn cool too!
Great pic- love to see them in person sometime. What are the best publicly accessible places in western Nebraska where there are good floral displays similar to what you are showing here?
This brought a big smile to my face this morning. A great start to a beautiful June Nebraska day.
You have outdone even the fabulous Chris Helzer with this post.
No chance Anicia checkerspot butterfly, you’re cute and your colors are striking and fashion forward: orange, cream, brown on fuzzy wings, hello.
No butterfly nightmares for me.