Prairie Time

Winner Carroll Abbott Memorial Award presented by the Native Plant Society of TexasIn its prime the Texas Blackland Prairie formed a twelve-million-acre grassy swath across the state from the San Antonio area north to the Red River. Now roughly one tenth of one percent of this vast prairie remains in the form of small pockets tucked away here and there having once served as hay meadows or sprouting from rock too stony to plow.As Matt White tracks the ever dwindling parcels of tallgrass prairie in northeast Texas he develops deep connections with prairie plants and prairie people through unexpected discoveries and inspirational encounters. He stumbles upon fragments of virgin land and he uncovers remarkable tales of destruction and stewardship.From explaining what a prairie is to how to appreciate its beauty and importance White increases our awareness of prairies past and present so that we might champion their survival in whatever forms remain._____________________________________It seems fair that every region every landscape every place deserves a champion. The imperiled prairies of northeast Texas certainly have one in Matt White a native son and an unabashed prairie enthusiast. . . . As such he offers a credible voice and insight into the blackland prairie its history its residents its architecture and its natural diversity. His enthusiasm was obviously genuine. It was also infectious and encompassing. At times I felt like I was right alongside him at the moment of discovery.-Carter Smith Texas Parks & Wildlife DepartmentMatt White is the author of The Birds of Northeast Texas and is a ­regular nature columnist for the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald. He studies and grows prairie plants on his land near Campbell.