Todays post is to clear up a popular misconception about the National Grasslands in Texas. The Grasslands are not great expanses of grass as far as the eye can see. At least not today. The early settlers moved in with homesteading, farming and ranching. The establishment of national grasslands has saved old remnants and added to these by purchasing adjacent farms and ranches as they became available.
However, even in early history, the grasslands were/and are cut with rivers, streams, oxbow lakes, and wooded valleys(see photo below). White-tailed deer, small mammals, coyotes, bobcats, red fox, waterfowl, bobwhite quail, turkey, and songbirds thrive in the diverse habitats provided by the Grasslands. Largemouth bass, blue and channel catfish, and various sunfish species are common catches at the many lakes that dot the Grasslands' landscape.
A Wooded Valley Cutting Across the Grasslands
Photo from a small hill on the LBJ National Grasslands
You can see for miles under the clear sky!
Be sure to click on the photo and scroll to its bottom
to see some of the native grass.
Photo from a small hill on the LBJ National GrasslandsYou can see for miles under the clear sky!
Be sure to click on the photo and scroll to its bottom
to see some of the native grass.
As of 30 September 2007, the total area of all 20 National Grasslands(click here) was 3,843,037 acres (15,552 km2).
Click on the link and read the short article. It's really interesting.
Do you live near a native grassland or have you visited one?
Leave a comment.
For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.
Troy
.
40 comments:
Beautiful... so tranquil.
Yes, we have a tall grass prairie area in my town - East Gwillimbury, Canada. ;-)
Terrific shot! Does indeed look like the big open skies of Texas that I grew up with!
Happy SWF!
Sylvia
The grasslands are awesome providing much wildlife habitat under those Big clear blue skies of Texas. Nice capture and informative post.
Beautiful shot of a blue clear sky.
Gunilla in Sweden
Ah.. wide open spaces .. lovely
I love that blue sky against the green grass - beautiful!
Beautiful wide open spaces! And a little cooler than of late, I hope...?
Janice.
That is a lovely photo to appreciate your view of the horizon, just perfect for sky watch friday.
I do love to be able to look out and see forever. In Alpine Tx there is an area between there and Ft. Davis that is a grassland. I don't remember much about it as it was long ago when I was there but I do remember it being one of the neatest places. As dry as it is here, you don't expect to see "grasslands" but we have hardy native grasses.
Wonderful picture and thanks for the visit.
Very nice. Good Post
A beautiful photo of the grasslands. I have not seen them. Interesting info also.
No, I don't think we have any grasslands here in Maine. I do want to see some out in the west, though.
Your photo captured the scene very well.
Beautiful shot and a very informative post.
That looks like a lovely, diverse environment.
Beautiful shot!
There are a few managed grassland sites within an hour's drive of me. (Here's one of them.) New Jersey has been losing most of its farmland, especially in my area. So the little bit of grassland left tends to be in nature preserves.
Very beautiful landscape photo!
You are right..you can see for miles and miles.
Can almost see the curvature of the earth in the distance.
Bob
aka Eaglesbrother
Great shot of the grasslands and the sky. I'm sure there are a lot of birds hanging out there.
That's a pretty good view of the sky and grassland. And for that info, now we know.
Nice grassland and nature.
Troy: What a neat shot of big skies. Another first in, you ahve fast fingers.
I am betting the grass is not as pretty this year. Have not been out that way lately. It is a pretty area, usually.
Nice vista, those native grasses are quite tall.
I guess I have been in the LBJ grasslands and didnt know it. I have been up to Lake Bridgeport before.
Beautiful shot!
Beautiful shot !! So lovely !!Unseen Rajasthan
Miles of miles of wide, open landscape and clear blue sky - beautiful captured!
wonderful!
Too cool! You got to be first. You must have enjoyed walking in that prairie grass! Fun!
What a nicely extended landscape!
Beautiful picture!
Gr.
P-TER
Yes, I have lived most of my life around the Salt Grass Trail of Texas, as I lived in Austin county =) Now, just up the road in Harris!
Great pictures. We live near the Tallgrass Praire preserve but have never been.
That is an amazing sky. Thanks for sharing and happy Friday!!
Clear skies and beautiful panorama.
Very nice photo!
Nice. It looks like you can see forever.
In new Zealand, we have native grass and natives trees and shrubs.
Cool pictures. Looks like you can see forever there.
Aak, I've been away much too long. Grasslands are what have kept me here in the Midwest. Prairie restoration in its various guises has consumed thousands of hours of my time over the years. Some time I need to get down your way and see what Texas has to offer in the grassland department. It looks spectacular.
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