"To hear the timeless voice of the prairie, grab a handful of prairie 
grass and hold it above your head. Listen to the wind as it moves 
through the awns and seeds of the switchgrass. Watch how the 
linear blades of pastel Indiangrass are twisted and turned by the 
breeze. This is the voice of the prairie as it was born by millions of 
blades of grass, each one a vibrant reed—a vocal cord—the wind's 
vocal cord."—from the book

In its prime, the Texas Blackland Prairie cut a swath of twelve 
million acres across the state from near San Antonio north to the 
Red River. Perhaps less than one-tenth of one percent of this vast 
prairie remains—small patches tucked away here and there, once 
serving as hay meadows or sprouting from rock too stony to plow.

    Matt White's connections with both prairie plants and prairie 
people are evident in the stories of discovery and inspiration he 
tells as he tracks the ever-dwindling parcels of tallgrass prairie in 
northeast Texas. In his search, he stumbles upon some unexpected 
fragments of virgin land, as well as some remarkable tales of both 
destruction and stewardship.

    Helping us understand what a prairie is and how to appreciate its 
beauty and importance, White also increases our awareness of 
prairies, past and present, so that we might champion their survival 
in whatever small plots remain.

_________________________________________________________

MATT 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, Texas.


Number Ten: Sam Rayburn Series on Rural Life, sponsored by 
Texas A&M University–Commerce


What people are saying about this book

". . . an incredible tale of both destruction and hope . . ."—Lone 
Star Sierran, Summer 2006

"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."—Carter Smith, Texas State 
Director, The Nature Conservancy of Texas

"[White's] enthusiasm, which his style reflects, is contagious."
—James A. Grimshaw, Jr., Texas A&M University–Commerce

"White roams, studies, documents, and savors the remnants of 
what was once one of the greatest treasures of the continent. . . .
This is surely to become a bible for prairie restoration."—Scooter 
Cheatham, Useful Wild Plants, Inc.