Tickle Tails

 

 

It's that time of year again when tickle tails cover the earth. The coarse foliage erupts in July and rapidly produces the fuzzy inflorescence. A ride down almost any county road will set you asail in a sea of these things. They dry beautifully, but the truth is, they may be a little overdry now. The flowers produce seed quickly and if the seed is fully formed when when they are gathered, they shed badly. I wish I had picked a bouquet before now.

Fox tail grass

 

These grasses of late summer are fondly known to me as "Tickle Tail". As children we would tickle each other with them or pretend that they were worms. Running, laughing, and screaming followed. The best accepted name I have come up with is Fox Tail. I thought Fox Tail had a much larger plume, but for now I will let this name stand. (If you know what this is, let me hear from you.)They bloom in late summer and early fall and for me signal the changes that are coming. The crickets song and a fist full of these lovely stems make for happy nostalgia