It’s been a cold week, though we’re finally starting to warm up again. As a way to feel a little less chilly, I went back through some photos from the summer and found these three shots from late August. All three show indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) in a small prairie here in Aurora, Nebraska. It’s a distinctive and attractive grass, especially when it’s in full bloom. Enjoy!
Indiangrass in flower. Lincoln Creek Prairie, Aurora, Nebraska.
A similar shot of a different plant, but from a little further away.
This hover fly (aka syrphid fly or flower fly) was taking advantage of the pollen on indiangrass. While grasses are wind pollinated, that doesn’t mean flies and bees can’t feed on them as well (which has led to some negative impacts on bees from pest control strategies in corn fields – since corn is just a big grass).
The Prairie Ecologist 