The year 2019 was amazing and thinking back on it makes me very grateful for my job, my colleagues, and my family. I was able to visit some incredible places, including both new and familiar sites, and I learned a lot from smart, energetic people everywhere I went. I also had wonderful opportunities to spend time with Kim and our kids at many of those places. While I usually do a poor job of including people in my photographs, their influence is strong in the memories I associate with each image. Here is the first half of my favorite photos from 2019. The rest will be coming soon…

This is the 108th post I’ve written in 2019. I strive for two posts a week, and – at least on average – managed to hit that this year. Of my 2019 posts, the one that seemed to catch people’s attention the most was the one about the roots of prairie plants. We’ve all been taught that prairies are resilient because the plants can draw water from very deep in the soil profile, but numerous research projects show they aren’t actually doing that. It’s intriguing to me, and apparently to many of you as well.

This was apparently a good year for interest in the belowground activities of prairies. The other 2019 post that was widely shared and discussed was from back in March, when I wrote about how prairie management affects soil carbon. Or, to be more exact, I wrote about how little we actually know about how prairie management affects soil carbon and how frustrating that is. Because we know so little, anyone who claims to understand it can get a lot of attention, regardless of whether their information is good or not (most of it’s not).

Whether you’ve followed this blog since its beginning in 2010, or have just recently discovered it, please know that I greatly appreciate all of you. I continue to be incredibly honored and gratified by the thoughtful and polite discussions that occur in the comments section of this blog – a sharp contrast from the well-deserved negative reputation of most internet comments sections. I have a lot of optimism about the future of prairies, despite the many challenges we all face. Much of that optimism comes from getting to know the people who care about prairies, both through meeting you in person and through reading your comments.

Thank you. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

• Chris Helzer

(Part 2 of my favorite 2019 photos coming soon…)

About 6 months ago, I spent a nice morning at Lincoln Creek Prairie with my camera. Looking back at photos from that morning this week was a nice way to escape the dreary brown of winter. The vibrant color and activity of late June starkly contrasts with the dormant prairie in late December.

It’s not that prairies aren’t fun to visit in December, but much of the enjoyment comes from reading the signs of what happened last year and what is poised to occur in the next. As opposed to the dynamics of the growing season, not much changes or moves in a winter prairie. A few animals are active, of course – mostly birds foraging for remaining seeds on or beneath last year’s flowers, and a few voles and other small mammals scurrying along the ground. Those animals tend to match the browns of the prairie vegetation…

Now and then, a little frost or fresh snow pops up to accent the otherwise dull vegetation, and I rush out to enjoy the prairie’s new costume. I’ve had a few such opportunities this winter, but they’ve been brief. The coming week’s forecast doesn’t look like it’s going to bring much precipitation either, and temperatures are supposed to be mild. It’s hard to complain too much – Kim and I are planning some hiking time at the Niobrara Valley Preserve, and that weather will be nice for that. Hopefully, though, there will be a little frost in the morning too, at least?

Here are four photos I haven’t yet shared from late June of 2019. I hope they help brighten your day. Have a great holiday season, everyone!