Monday we decided to look for what people envision when we say we are from Kansas. We made our kids get in the van and we drove two hours away to the Tallgrass Praire National Preserve.
The tallgrass praire used to cover much of America. When settlers started heading west to farm and develop, it was more than decimated. Today only about 4% of the original prarie land remains. Most of it is in the Flint Hills of Kansas, because the limestone it rests on was too hard to plow. There used to be millions of bison that grazed on the prairie land. Willa, who has taken Kansas history, told us that the prairie used to look black with bison before European settlers started killing them and leaving their bodies to rot on the plains after taking only their tongues. At the preserve they keep 14 head of bison as the beginning of a conservation program. We also learned that the root system of the prairie grasses is from 15 to 30 feet deep, even through the limestone. That depth allows the grasses to recover quickly after burns and droughts. There is a surprising strength and depth in what looks like just fields of grass.
When you are actually in it, the prairie is really quite peaceful. We saw a frog hopping by and a few hawks circling above, but not much else besides native grasses, small stands of trees here and there, and--if you are generous to plants like goldenrod--flowers. The praire is an understated ecosystem. Even the grasses that grew taller than we are were made less impressive by their slender and single stalks. This is no lush lawn, after all, but a naturally occurring hardy array of simple flora and widespread fauna. My kids thought it was boring. I thought it was beautiful.
The tallgrass praire used to cover much of America. When settlers started heading west to farm and develop, it was more than decimated. Today only about 4% of the original prarie land remains. Most of it is in the Flint Hills of Kansas, because the limestone it rests on was too hard to plow. There used to be millions of bison that grazed on the prairie land. Willa, who has taken Kansas history, told us that the prairie used to look black with bison before European settlers started killing them and leaving their bodies to rot on the plains after taking only their tongues. At the preserve they keep 14 head of bison as the beginning of a conservation program. We also learned that the root system of the prairie grasses is from 15 to 30 feet deep, even through the limestone. That depth allows the grasses to recover quickly after burns and droughts. There is a surprising strength and depth in what looks like just fields of grass.
When you are actually in it, the prairie is really quite peaceful. We saw a frog hopping by and a few hawks circling above, but not much else besides native grasses, small stands of trees here and there, and--if you are generous to plants like goldenrod--flowers. The praire is an understated ecosystem. Even the grasses that grew taller than we are were made less impressive by their slender and single stalks. This is no lush lawn, after all, but a naturally occurring hardy array of simple flora and widespread fauna. My kids thought it was boring. I thought it was beautiful.
What a cool project. Thank you for sharing with us. I'm glad to learn about the Flint Hills of KS. How many miles away did you have to go?
ReplyDeleteBully for Willa who took Kansas History. History is a wonderful teacher and guide for the future, a happy future. I hope at least one of your children will love history.
I loved having a little ecology lesson along with the history and family photos. This is one of my favorite posts from this whole year. You're a great writer.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting!This makes me want to go explore my own state more, especially since someone I live with is responsible for teaching Utah Studies. I really like your pictures too.
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