A hike among the grasses of the tallgrass prairie is the best way to discover the importance of this landscape.
The question struck me right between the eyes. It was even a little bit like a poke right in my eye. “What does one do in a tallgrass prairie?” At first that question upset me, but after a little reflection, I realized it was a legitimate one and deserved an answer.
The answer seems so obvious to me, and perhaps it does to you too, if you have spent some time among the tall grasses of the prairie and have taken strength from the experience. So when an outsider asks, and with more than a hint of condescension, what one “does” in the prairie, I get defensive. It’s sorta like someone looking at my lovely wife and sniffing, “what do you see in her anyhow?” Or perhaps it’s like me showing off a picture of my one-year-old granddaughter and hearing someone ask, “what is so special about her?” We all tend to get upset when someone heaps scorn on what we consider precious.
After a little more thought, however, I realized this analogy is a little over the top because it’s not a fair comparison. I have never met anyone who failed to see the beauty of my wife and even total strangers have praised the cuteness of my granddaughter. The prairie, on the other hand, is appreciated best when its character is understood fully. And outsiders who have never really looked at the prairie with some of that understanding might fail to see the value of the place. So please allow me the chance to respond to the question by discussing what I do in the tallgrass prairie.
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