Lakeside, Nebraska

New colors added to my palette … The Sandhills of Nebraska!

I knew nothing of the Sandhills of Nebraska so I was delighted when Celia and Gary made their home in Lakeside my home.

Celia also provided me with the definitive history of Lakeside, the book Take a Blast to the Past.  Written by Toby (2nd grade), Sevanna (4th grade), and Julia (5th) in Lakeside’s one-room schoolhouse. (Now closed.)  Celia, as a volunteer, and Debbie, their teacher, assisted in the book production.  What I present in this blog is based on what I learned from their book – and from Celia and Gary.

Here is a 2 page spread from their book – full of wonderful drawings and concise text that even I can understand!

Here is Celia with Toby, now two years older, with his 4-H steer.

Here is Sevanna with her steer.

Here is Julia riding in a western horse show.  The kids got things right – anything wrong below is my own fault!

Meet the Sandhills

The Sandhills are big!  Big sky; big land – 20,000 sq. miles; big farms – 10,000 to 20,000 acres, maybe more.  Only thing “small” are the tractors because ranchers don’t plow the land.

These are true sand dunes.  Through geology, wind, water, and time the dunes formed and became covered with grasses.

These grasses are now the heart of the Sandhills. And the variety of grasses is key.  Deep rooted, they all hold water and sand.  Some green early, some green late (so there is always good grass for the cattle and horses.)  Some are drought-resistant, some love water.  Celia tells me, “interestingly, these grasses are perennials, so they ALL survive the heat of summer and the cold of winter, though many dry to dun coloring in the heat. They do,  however, grow anew at various temps and dampnesses. They dry and stay nutritious and can be grazed year round if the snow cover allows.”

Underlying these grasses and dunes is the huge Ogallala Aquifer – often only a few feet below the surface.  The multitude of lakes shows crucial availability of water.

So this is a beautiful, but fragile, ecosystem.  Destroy the grasses and the dunes can become a desert.  No plowing, no farming.  These are ranches which need to be big because the ranchers cannot allow the cattle to overgraze.

I know there are doubters – sand dunes can only be at the beach.

But look!  Pelicans!

And a pelican patrol!  Q.E.D. This must be the beach!

Back on the ranch …

A detail showing the variety of grasses.

And a final three images to illustrate the variety and the beauty of these  grasses.

The beauty is everywhere you look.

A photographer’s – and many ranchers – heaven!