A highlight on the native grasses that grow on the side of the road...
As you drive in the country, it is easy to zone out as you drive from point A to point B. The drive may seem a bit dull as you pass by the bunches of trees, tall grasses lining the ditches and the fence lines on the side of the road.
Yet do not be fooled.
From a distance the grasses blend together, but up close you will discover fascinating colors, scents, and textures. A morning spent with Bill Carhart, the Twin Platte Natural Resources District (TPNRD) Grassland Stewardship Coordinator, out in the field will leave you in awe of the natural world that exists beyond the slab of concrete.
These native Nebraska grass species are a natural wonder. If you look close enough, you will find a plethora of colors in the autumn morning light.
The four grasses highlighted below were found in the ditch of North River Road. These grasses include, Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, Prairie Cordgrass, and Indiangrass.
BIG BLUESTEM
Big Bluestem is a taller grass with a seed head in the shape of a turkey foot. This grass type tends to grow 6 to 8 feet tall in areas that are not grazed. The base of this grass is filled with leaves that turn into beautiful reds, oranges and yellow-greens in the Fall (see photo above and below).
PRAIRIE CORDGRASS
Prairie Cordgrass is a grass that is native to Nebraska. The leaves tend to be fairly rough and coarse. This grass can grow anywhere from 3 to 8 feet and thrives in low wetland areas.
SWITCHGRASS
Switchgrass is native to the Great Plains and grows anywhere from 5 to 8 feet. If you look closely, this beautiful wispy grass will catch the light perfectly as it dances and blows in the wind.
INDIANGRASS
This grass has a vibrant color in the fall that turns into a reddish-tan throughout the winter months. It grows up to 7ft tall.
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