By: Christena
Nature Stories, , ,

Observations of Fall Grasses

These grasses began their lives with tons of chlorophyll in their leaves this spring. They showed their backbones by staying green in the stifling 100-degree days of summer. As they began maturing their seeds were collected to be used to reseed areas that need restoration.

As the summer days turned into fall, these grasses put on a color show from golden tan to deep red-bronzes. While not maples or oaks towering over you as they turn their leaves all sorts of colors, these grasses have their own color show. You just have to get down on their level to appreciate all their hard efforts of living. My only regret this year is that I did not gather large bunches of each of them in all their phases of growth and photograph them in their combined splendor. 

These are my observations of Texas fall grasses.

Grass with sun reflection
When little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) turns red bronze.
When blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) turns a golden tan.
When silver bluestem (Bothriochloa laguroide) turns golden red.
When sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) turns a mixture of red and purple.
When big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) changes from blue green to deep red-bronze.
When white tridens (Tridens albescens) changes into golden hues.