Tiny Tuesday : : Wild Grass

The grass in the fields and on the hillsides has gone from velvet to prickly, itchy and sneeze inducing, for those with allergies, although it is still green. Even the most modest of  wild grasses fascinate me during this phase as they form and develop their methods of reseeding themselves and traveling, via wind, bird or mammal.

If you look closely, this humble grass shows just how adaptable it is. The seed heads open and the seeds, hanging from the slenderest of stems fall to the ground, or as this morning, all over Ozzie's head when he stuck his nose into the clumps by the side of the trail. The grass dries to a yellow brown color and develops different ways of sticking to clothing and animal fur.  

There were some devastating wildfires in neighboring counties let summer. Some seeds germinate and thrive in burned soil and areas which have been cleared by fire. Meadows of wildflowers surrounded by the stark skeletons of burnt trees are beginning to appear where houses once stood, one bright spot in an otherwise grim landscape. Nature survives and rebuilds much faster than we can. 

This particular grass is fairly benign, but another common wild grass turns into 'foxtails' which develop one-way barbs that drive into dog's ears and noses, between their toes or wherever they can get a grip. We are constantly pulling them out of our clothing and our socks. Since they can't back out again, they drive forward at an astonishing rate and cause much misery.  

One of my favorites is 'rattlesnake grass"' because it lis such a perfect replica of  a rattlesnake's rattle. The range, variety and ingenuity of grasses and seeds has always fascinated me. I'm sure you will be seeing more as this weed season progresses….