Deschampsia cespitosa, tufted hairgrass California native plant Sierra meadow with Castilleja miniata - Great Red Paintbrush.

I have no doubt the Garden of Eden was a meadow (with a very special apple tree).  Certainly heaven is a meadow.

The romance of a meadow has much to do with the fecundity of the earth, protected lushness; Mother Nature’s garden rooms. When we find them we are expected to have a rest surrounded by nature’s wild gifts, the flowers.

A High Sierra source of South Fork American River - Carex springs, California native plant meadow.

A High Sierra meadow, source of South Fork American River – Carex springs.

This is what I did recently in the Sierra Mountains, getting down at belly level for three days of communion with the flowers.  A report on the flowers is a post on Gardening Gone Wild. Full report coming in the Learning Center.

The reason to go, other than the obvious love for native plants and needing to get away from my computer, was to remind myself why meadows are so important to gardeners.  And wildlife.

Canada geese feeding on native grasses in California mointain meadow.

Canada geese feeding on native grasses in California mointain meadow.

In The American Meadow Garden I photographed meadows and grass ecologies across the country.  The American Meadow Garden, Timber Press book coverWhen we understand what plants our local climates provide we can have more success in gardens.

It has been so very dry here in California, but that does not mean nothing is growing.  High in the mountains, the meadows at the headwaters of our rivers are a testimony to the adaptability plants.

In nature meadows are a transitional ecology and eventually trees take their place.  Meadow gardens require work to keep them as gardens, but what glorious work.

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For Members of PhotoBotanic the extensive post The Summer-Dry Meadow is available in the Learning Center.

Membership is free.

Gallery Sierra Meadow