Alive... in a Cemetery

The Ohio prairie still lives in a remote cemetery. Standing among the tombstones in Smith and Bigelow Cemeteries, one is remined, this is the remainder of a once vast prairie. Like standing in an art museum before a Rembrandt or Monet, I suddenly felt very small and still in the presence of the century old oaks standing guard.

A chippy scolds us for disturbing the silence, then retreats to his grass-hidden lair.

Monuments from the 1850's pre-date man's passion for Ohio farm land, or at least his ability to readily claim the clay soil for agriculture.

Standing before the canvass of landscape, this living artwork depicts Ohio's prairies and the plant composition found centuries before white man. What planted garden could surpass this beauty?

Once thought to be extirpated from Ohio, Royal Catchfly, Silene regia still remains as a silent witness.

For more photos of American landscape and prairie musings, see Nina's incredible posting at Nature Remains.