What was going on underneath all the snow and ice? Plants waiting for their moment to start their spring growth. This is a Dichanthelium species, a grass that has a strategy of starting off with a basal rosette of leaves that hug the ground. This gives them a theoretical head start on growth because the microclimate at the soil level is a protected. Note the cute little feathery hairs along the edges of the leaves, the plant equivalent of a fuzzy sweater. 1/2 #grasses #nativePlants
Thanks to @futurebird for rocking my world this morning. Whew. This paper is quantitative evidence that mowing grasslands has a cost in insect diversity. Duh, you may say. But it throws yet another wrinkle into grassland management, since unmanaged grasslands tend to turn into forests over time through natural succession. Mowing has been an alternative to using fire for managed burns (not an option in high-density populated areas). #NativePlants #Grasses #Grasslands #invertebrates
2026FEB12

Over my favourite hill, the spirit bird flies.

#Melbourne / #summer / #grasses / #clouds

Wiggly reflections, Vallejo CA

#photography #water #reflections #grasses

Sony #hx99, Iso 80, S1/10, F6.3

In the north of the Netherlands we consistently got a cold stream of cold and clouds coming from the cold east. We barely saw the sun in January. And now the snow has already melted away, taking pictures during a cloud-covered sky is really hard. So all the light I can get, and put this in the picture. It was really, really hard to get this picture to work. Do you agree?

#Drenthograaf
#Drenthe
#theNetherlands
#Netherlands
#drenthelandschap
#clouds
#cloud
#glow
#Winter
#Water
#pond
#forrest
#grasses
#photography
#photooftheday
#photographer
#travelphotography
#naturephotography
#landscapephotography
#landschaftfotografie
#Silentsunday
#yellow
#sony
#hx99
#Tourism
#Echten
#RTVDrenthe
#Noorderland
#Natuurfotografie
#Pixelfed
#Mastadon