it is hard to miss a black gnarled oak limb against a white january sky, or the outlines of cattail heads against a frozen shoreline. but these prairie grass stems, more air than stem at their feathery tips, are easy to overlook. i reached into a patch of unremarkable trailside clutter and out came this delicate bouquet.

unidentified prairie grass stems in winter

rice creek regional trail, saint paul, minnesota