Bouteloua gracilis or blue grama
Perhaps my favourite grass, blue grama is native to much of North America. Despite being relatively common, it still delights me everytime I see it, at least in part because of the chaotic, pointing-in-every-direction spikes. Although not as economically important as grasses such as wheat, rice, oats or barley, it is a valuable rangeland plant and an attractive drought-tolerant ornamental.
I didn’t quite get the effect I wanted with this photograph (I wanted more of the spikes set against the sky), but I was already on my stomach with the camera on the ground, so I suppose I would have needed to dig a hole to get the camera any lower. Such are the restrictions of photographing a low plant.
Photography / Conservation Resource Link: Why It’s Good to Talk – an article by Niall Benvie discussing the need for collaboration between nature photographers and scientists: “… photographer Daniel Dancer has … characterised the objectified, sumptuously-lit portraiture that fills so many nature calendars and books as eco-porn. This type of idealised imagery is imbued with a sense that nature is there simply for us to enjoy and that we are excused any moral obligations towards it other than “saving it” for our continued amusement. Scientists can provide the harmony to the photographic melody, in the process finding a voice for the communication of their ideas and concerns.” Benvie continues on to explain the concept and strategy of “photo-lobbying”.
I know what grass looks like!!??
Thanks for posting the photograph. Grasses are much underappreciated, I suppose, because they aren’t “showy.” Few people are aware of the astonishing variety of grass species and the differences in size, color, shape and size of the flower inflorescence, etc. We all too often overlook things because they don’t fit with the prevailing definitions of beauty or grandeur. That is unfortunate. Grasses, despite their often humble appearances, are fascinating (and beautiful) plants.
Matt
Blue grama grass is very drought tollerant and mixed with buffalo grass makes a nice turf. You can plant bulbs in this grass mix and have a sea of color in the late winter and early spring before the grass greens.
Very interesting and thought-provoking discussions of the relation between photography and environmentalism — at the linked-to article (in Daniel’s write-up), and following the links within that article (e.g. http://niallbenvie.com/).