little family on the prairie

One minute you're in a lush woodland.....

....and the next you're stepping into another world!

~ liv ~

 Today we spent the morning and afternoon

at our favorite nature preserve

out on the Piedmont prairie!

 ~ liv ~

Once common through the Piedmont of the East Coast

prairies are are now rare habitats.

There are many species of plants and animals 

that are only found in prairie habitat.

This prairie has two critically endangered flowers,

Georgia aster and Schweinitz's sunflower.

~ lela in sneezeweed - *not* endangered ~

Prairies offer "edge habitats" 

where open land meets forested land

These are zones of high biodiversity.

~ while unattractive, easements do provide edge habitat ~

If you're interested in learning more 

about this Piedmont Prairie

(and where my husband works)

please check out this link!

~ lela ~

We walked a long time through the prairie

before stopping in some of that edge habitat

for a snack and a rest

~ lazy little lotus ~

Laurel and Mike watch as Lela climbs a tree....

~ the blue eyed ones ~

... and I caught this funny picture.

Then back out onto the prairie.  

Liv enjoyed running her fingers through this soft grass.

She said that it looks just the place for faeries.

We made our way to a tiny pond

and broke out our fly-rod

and tied on a barbless grasshopper fly

in hopes of snagging a bream.

By now, the girls know the rules.

~ photo credit: mike ~

"Don't forget to give a fish kiss!"
and
"Quickly put her back in the water!"
and
"Bream have nasty spines, be careful!"

~ photo credit: mike ~

~ laurel catching a fish ~

While Mike and I took turns fishing*

the girls entertained themselves

by doing a little pond sampling.

~ success! ~

More play and exploration in the prairie grasses.

I have mentioned before how I feel

that this is a very valuable play-space for children.

~ liv ~

~ fledgling mockingbird ~

~ daisy, daisy ~

~ lela back in the sneezeweed ~

~ pretty little invasive exotic ~

~ old general store ~

~ wait, how did this one get in there? :) ~

Time to head back home, 

piggy-back rides for all three year olds!

Until next time,

Piedmont Prairie!

carrie