Tallgrass means tall

A visit to the spectacular Tallgrass Prairie Preseve in the middle of Osage County just north of Pawhuska gives a glimpse of what this country was like before fences and cattle. Thanks to the Nature Conservancy,http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oklahoma/preserves/tallgrass.html this is the largest remnant of such prairie on earth, of about 10,000 acres.

Few roads, and bison roam free--a herd of better than 2,500...none of which we saw. Yes, there are still some oil wells and private patches of ground, but it's wild and free and the only sound is the wind.

You cross cattle, er, bison, guards to drive down the gravel roads and 8-foot fences keep them in.

The prairie grasses star the Big BlueStem, plus the Small Blue Stem, Switch grass and some others. Big Blue Stem reaches from 6 to 10 feet high, but the root system is deeper. It was once a complete ecosystem, but that is now extinct, although here and in the Flint Hills of Kansas just north of here, it survives.

 We got out of the car to walk a nature trail, neatly mowed, and were soon surrounded with grass over our heads.

To make sure we don't get lost

 

 How tall is tall grass? Here's Susan.

It's beautiful when backlit by the sun.
And there are quiet cool spaces with water and shade too.

Headquarters is at the original ranchsite after a 20-minute drive down the gravel roads.

Check this site for a map http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oklahoma/files/tallgrass_map.pdf

Woodyard Farms in The Osage

Susan on the front porch of the Inn at Woodyard Farms Bed and Breakfast, just north of Pawhuska.

a friendly yellow tabby prowled at will.

The Osage hills formed a backdrop, and every morning, we could hear roosters crow.

My favorite spot, the front porch, where the autumn breeze is always pleasant.

And the view is peaceful. I worked on a watercolor using the table as an easel.

Our neighbors just across the fence made me feel right at home, naturally. They didn't seem concerned about Iowa State.

This is where we ate in the mornings, and I had the best waffle--a pumpkin waffle-- I've ever had, complete with blueberries, bananas, pecans, syrup, sausage and more.

There just wasn't enough to read, however. Innkeeper and owner Carol  Maupin has been running the place for 21 years. We learned about it in Oklahoma Today magazine.

There were lot of Catalpa trees, with big heart shaped leaves that rattled in the autumn breeze and magnified the sounds of raindrops. It's a misspelling of the Catawba Indians tribe name, which had the tree as a totem.

Osage hills, the photo

Here's where I was painting the previoous watercolor

East of Pawhuska on Okesa roaad, before the rain hits

Osage musings, and a star

I'm assuming every blogger in Oklahoma envies and admires Ree Drummond,  thepioneerwoman.com for her award-winning blog, started in only 2006, and now to be made a movie of.

Driving to the bed and breakfast this week across the wide-open spaces of The Osage on fall break, On scenic byway U.S. 60 east of Pawhuska, Susan and I passed this gate.

I told Susan, "I'll bet that's the gate to the home of Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman."

We stayed at the Inn at Woodyard Farms Bed and Breakfast, 918-287-2699--three miles north of Pawhuska--where I had the best waffle this morning I've ever had in my life, and which does not have  a website and has been in business for 21 years and which we saw in Oklahoma Today--, and also traveled to Bartlesville, Drummond's home town, and Susan bought her bookbook at the fantastic Woolaroc, Frank Phillips' gift to Oklahoma.

New York Times bestseller--what a success story

More photos and thoughts of bed and breakfast, The Osage, and Bartlesville, and Woolaroc coming soon.

Autumn in The Osage

Gate in the Osage Hills

9 by 12 Plein Aire watercolor on 300 # paper

I painted the start of this on Okesa road east of Pawhuska in the Osage nation yesterday, before rain moved in. It's wild and free.

Susan and I were in Pawhuska at a bed and Breakfast for fall break. What a scenic corner of Oklahoma. Even more special since we've seen the award winning play, August in he Osage.

Photos to come soon.