We’ve got snow on the ground, which normally gets me out the door and excited about photography. I’ve tried four times. Each time, I just wasn’t able to get into a groove. My first two attempts were thwarted by the forecast, which kept calling for the sun to emerge through overcast skies. Both times, I drove out to a prairie hoping to be there right when the sun broke through and waited in vain. The second two attempts were after the sun finally did come out, but, for whatever reason, I just wasn’t feeling it.

On all four trips, the one subject that attracted my eye was sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). That’s not a new phenomenon – sideoats has always been a minor obsession of mine, no matter what time of year it is. This time, I was hoping focusing on it would get my brain energized for other subject matter. That didn’t happen so much, but I did come away with a few interesting sideoats photos… So – here they are.

The last three photos here are all from the same single seedhead of sideoats grama at our family prairie. Surrounded by 100 acres of snowy prairie, all I felt like doing was making a close personal inspection of this one plant. I don’t know why.

As I’m going through my 2020 photos, it’s clear that I apparently had a minor obsession with photographing the sun this year. Not that it’s a bad thing, but come on, Helzer, find a new crutch!

Thanks again for all your voting on these images. My son, last night, asked me if I’m actually tabulating all these votes. I responded by showing him the spreadsheet I’m using to track results. So, yes. Please put the numbers of your favorite images from September in the comments section. I really do appreciate it.