It was a beautiful day for enjoying the prairie on the Flint Hills of Kansas!
Wishing you a lovely day!
Tag Archives: Flint Hills
Overcast Winter Morning On Konza
I realized recently that I haven’t been doing much photography lately. So I decided that I was just going to have to make a point to rectify that situation. An early riser, I decided to head out to the prairie to catch the sunrise this morning. (I hadn’t thought to consider the weather conditions first.) I got there just as the black of night was starting to lift. It was freezing cold and quiet, except for the sound of gravel crunching beneath my feet. As I headed uphill toward some of my favorite views, I was startled by a pair of does. It was exciting to be so close.
As the sky started to lighten, I could hear, but not see what I believe to have been a flock of turkeys, their calls so loud in the stillness.
The morning decided not to treat me to the colorful sunrise I had hoped for, yet the gray sky and low clouds made what color there was seem all the more vibrant.
It was a challenge trying to get good photographs this morning. I don’t do much low light photography.
This tree always strikes me when I pass it on the trail. It reminds me of a rhinoceros.
A little bit of unexpected color … .
A few more hills to climb … .
… and a bit of woods to pass.
Crossing the creek … and then heading home to warm up before the rain.
Wishing you a lovely weekend and hoping that you get a chance to do something that you’ve been wanting to do too!
So You Think Kansas Is Flat?
So you think Kansas is flat? Okay … most of the state is. But not the Konza Prairie which is located in the northern Flint Hills of eastern-central Kansas. This narrow chain of hills counts as its own ecoregion because it is home to the densest remaining tall grass prairie in North America. Early European settlers, unable to plow the area due to its rocky soil composition, used the region for grazing livestock thus leaving the grasslands intact. Due to dry conditions this summer, the grasses probably will not reach their full height. Nevertheless, this expanse of prairie with its soft, rolling hills is still something to see … and it proves that Kansas isn’t all flat!
The Konza Prairie is co-owned by The Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University. While much of the area is dedicated for use as a biological research station, fortunately there are several trails open to the public. The trails are frequently used by hikers and joggers, birders, and photographers and other artists out to capture the beauty of this land. If you have been following my blog this week, you’ve probably figured out how much I enjoy photographing this area. (I’ve also done a few paintings of the prairie.) However, my next post will be back to food.
A Taste of Morning 