The Prairie Ecologist

Essays, photos, and discussion about prairie ecology, restoration, and management

Photo of the Week – January 31, 2013

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Chris Helzer

Another photo from the archives this week – June, 1996, in fact. These cottonwood leaves were lying on the sandy bank of a small stream at The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve. A cluster of leaves had fallen from a nearby tree and were just starting to dry out and lose their color. There was something about the pattern of textures and colors that I really liked.

Cottonwood leaves at The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve, Nebraska.

Fun Fact: this is the only photo of mine that is hanging in our house.

Photo of the Week – January 17, 2013

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Chris Helzer

Ok, I know milkweed seeds have been done to death by photographers. I, personally, have somewhere around a zillion milkweed seed photos. But milkweed seeds in the winter? With hoar frost? And a snowy background? That’s just magic. How can I not photograph that?

Frosty milkweed seeds and pods. The Leadership Center Prairie. Aurora, Nebraska.

These photos are all from the same morning as those in last week’s photo of the week post. I’ve got even more from that morning saved up for future weeks… It was that kind of morning.