In the Country of the Kaw A Personal Natural History of the American Plains

About this book

Gathering its waters from the plains of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, the Kaw is truly America's prairie river; the only one to arise entirely on the Great Plains and traverse all three major grasslands – shortgrass, mixed-grass, and tallgrass prairies. James Locklear's In the Country of the Kaw is a joyous exploration of the realm of the Kaw River, which stretches from the High Plains of Colorado to the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The book's first section profiles geology, landforms, and the region's woodlands and grasslands. The second explores the rich biological diversity associated with the land and its inhabitants' remarkable adaptations to the environment and each other. The final section is a collection of stories of human interaction with the landscape, how nature has shaped culture and culture nature. Locklear finds "astonishments" at every turn.

In the Country of the Kaw is also a call to seek the flourishing of the natural and human communities of the region. Locklear describes staggering, human-wrought environmental degradations, but also finds great hope in the resilience of nature and the inspiring work of conservation, preservation, restoration, and renewal being accomplished by individuals and organizations throughout the region. Locklear's relationship with the country of the Kaw stretches from his childhood in Kansas City in the 1960s to his current professional life as a botanist working in the Great Plains. A half century of rambling and rooting around in this region has given him a deep awe and affection for its uniqueness and goodness, which he conveys to the reader on every page.

Contents

Acknowledgments
Prologue

Part I the Face of the Land
1. Headlands
2. Heartland
3. Scarplands
4. Tree Folk
5. Setting Sail on the Star-Grass Sea
6. A Kaw Florilegium

Part II the Membership
7. The Days of Manure River
8. O Elkader!
9. Bird Sketches
10. Surprised by Shorbs
11. The Waters of Mother Kaw
12. Beautiful Contrivances
14. The Hard Places

Part III Nature and Culture
14. Paradise Undone
15. Community Ecologies
16. The Showalter Lilac
17 Lithophilia
18. The Greatest Day in the History of Beeler
19. Rock Towns
20. Stickers

Epilogue
Appendix A: Plant Names Mentioned in the Text
Appendix B: Animal Names Mentioned in the Text
Selected Bibliography
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

James H. Locklear is director of conservation at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE.