Author: Michael Farrell

A Little Prairie Bouquet

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Another Stormy Afternoon out on the Prairie. I was out Fiddling with Balky Technology and hadn’t planned on Shooting Anything. But when the Sky Gathers In and the Light goes all Crepuscular…

Les Petites Fleurs take on a Lustre.

A Hot & Humid Summer Solstice Afternoon

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With the Temperatures in the Nineties and after All the Rain,

Out at Nine Mile Prairie lots of Species are Bursting Forth in Glory…

Reproduction is Nature’s Imperative &

Occupies Our Minds & Bodies

In these Warm, Moist Times…

After a Big Rain in June

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An Early Morning Thunderstorm brought Hail and about Four Inches of Rain to the Prairie. I went out just as the Storm was ending. The delicate Prairie Rose Blossoms were Pretty Beat Up. But the Milkweed were just Shy of Blooming. One of the Lakes was Full Up. It continued to Thunder and Lightning East and West of the Prairie. So I skedaddled after a Few Dark and Damp Hours…

A Visit to Grandmother Cottonwood

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On yet another Damp Gray May Afternoon I walked across the Uplands noticing a Few New Flowers and Big Clouds Rolling over the Cold War Nuclear Bomb Bunkers and the Newish LES Power Poles, then Down into the Middle Draw past the Grove of Slender Middle-aged Cottonwoods where the Springs and Streams were Really Flowing. Nearby, over in the Big South Draw, is the Home of Old Grandmother Cottonwood. I first made Photographs of this Magnificent Tree in the 1980s. She and I are probably about the Same Age. And we Both have a Bit of Damage to Show for it. But this Wet Spring and all the Lush Green Foliage is Good for the Spirit and the Flesh…

Air, Earth, Fire & Water

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Another Wet and Cloudy Afternoon at Nine Mile. A few Little Sections were treated to Fire since I was last out. Many Species of Plants are showing the Youthful Vigor that comes with Plenty of Rain. Down in the Draws the Big Cottonwoods are sucking up the Flows while they can. Late in the Day the Clouds part for a Brief While. Any Day spent above the Ground is a Good Day…

Storm Clouds Gathering

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On an Early May Afternoon I went out to Nine Mile Prairie in between Two Storms. It had just Stopped Raining when I arrived and Dark Clouds were still Nearby. I had Three Hours to wander around and Look at the New Clouds Rolling in from the West before the Next Storm Began…

April in the West Draw

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On a very Cool and Overcast late April Day at the Mouth of the West Draw I visited my Old Friend, the Goner Cottonwood. Then by following the Water Upstream the Afternoon revealed bright New Blooms, some more recent Wind Damage & a few faded Remnants of the Old Year.

A Walk Among the Living and the Dead…

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“April is the cruellest month…” – n’est ce pas?

 

 

 

A Good Friday in the Rain

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As I Went Out on Good Friday Morning, the Rain began as soon as I was through the Gate and Walking across the Prairie. For the First Few Hours it was Merely Damp. But later in the Morning the Sound of Thunder and a Harder Downpour told Me: “Ite, Missa Est…”