This week I wanted to take a look at one of the unsung heroes of the natural world, the humble grass family. I chose this subject after listening to friends complain about having to mow the lawn, to which I say if you don’t like mowing the lawn, let there be meadow.
Cheeky grasses peeping out between pavers and railway sidings in New York’s Highline Park, an amazing creation by master plantsman Piet Oudolf.
More of Piet’s amazing grasses at the Highline.
Delicate pink grasses on Staten Island.
The great grassy plains of Ebey’s Landing on Whidbey Island.
Tightly manicured grass of the Zen Garden at the Bloedel Reserve.
And last, but definitely not least, dreamy grasses in Manhattan‘s Battery Park, another of Piet Oudolf’s creations.
Don’t let the grass grow under your feet, start a grass roots movement with your own interpretation of this week’s theme. If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Grasses
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!
I hope you enjoy this week’s challenge!
xxx Ailsa
I doubt very much that the chief executives of any of the Fortune 500 corporations can name five edible plants, five native grasses, or five migratory birds within walking distance of their homes, or name the soil series upon which their house sits. And I would contend that if you don’t know where you are, you are in fact nowhere at all. – Paul Hawken
I recall feeling an almost delicious terror when one day I found myself alone in the midst of tall June grasses that grew high as my head.- Pierre Loti
Where's my backpack? 
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hi 🙂 grass from our garden
https://ladyleemanilasphotos.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/travel-theme-grasses/
Lovely selection of grasses, ladyleemanislasphotos, looks like you have a gorgeous garden.
https://chava61.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/travel-theme-grasses/
Ooh, I never heard of Wave Hill Gardens, but next time I’m there I shall pay a visit! 🙂
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What would the world be without grass? Here is mine: https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/travel-theme-grasses/
Stunning shot, makes me feel all summery. 🙂
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I love colours (and you have quite a bit in the photos for today’ s theme, Ailsa!) but my eyes&mind have kept returning to the last photo. Simply beautiful!
Here’ re mine: https://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/travel-theme-grasses/
Lovely shots, Ese, such a diverse range! Gorgeous. xxx
I’m glad people are rediscovering the beauty and varieties of grasses. They have so much motion even in the smallest breeze.
Lovely pictures
We are of the same mind, phil, there’s something so visceral about walking through long grasses and having them brush your hands or face, and the sound of the wind blowing through them, especially quaker grasses, is just glorious. No garden should be without them. xxx
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Pingback: Travel theme: Grasses | Indira's Blog
I love grassy meadows!! Imagine… rolling around in a summer meadow! Let there be many broken mowers and even more meadows!! 🙄
Hurrah, I’m with you, AJ, a fie on all mowers. 🙂
Hi, Ailsa! Haven’t got anything about grass as such, but I have a piece about an unusual use for it. https://travelrat.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/open-air-museum-sunnmore/
Wow, I love it, it looks great but I wonder how hard it is to maintain. 🙂
I think they haul a sheep or a goat up there from time to time 😀
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Hello Alisa wonderful selection from you this week. Travel Another wonderful presentation . Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it, Donna. x
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I love those pink grasses Ailsa. Here’s mine: https://almostitalian.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/sea-grasses-great-barrier-reef/
Gorgeous photo, Francesca, and such a sad story, the greed of mankind just never ends, does it?
I LOVE those pink grasses. Very nice and varied selection. I love this week’s subject and love how you chose it.
http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2015/07/travel-theme-grasses.html
I love your shots too, Klara, especially that sunset one. xxx
The pink grasses are so beautiful.
They’re my favourite, Colline. One day, I will create a garden filled with grasses. 🙂
It will look stunning.
One of my favourite photographic subjects is grass(es). (Instagram: @amosthemagicdog) Love them, thanks for highlighting them in your theme, and I love the quotes too!
I just had a peep at your shots, they’re lovely. I’m with you, I could spend forever photographing grasses, they’re so elegant.
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I have have been to NYC several times and I love it but I have yet to make it to the Highline. It is a must on my next trip to this wonderful city!
Oh Leanne, it’s stunning, hands down my favourite NYC park, I used to spend all my free time there. xxx
I can’t believe I haven’t made it there yet! I will some day!
The close up shots are amazing. They’re like abstract paintings. Also, Piet Oudolf sounds like the Latin name of some plant, so his vocation is quite appropriate.
He is one of my heroes, Pickleope, he works magic with plants. 🙂
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Grasses are indeed neglected and beautiful. I love your diverse collection. Here are some of my grass photos, from a long time ago, on a blog that is now closed.
http://glossyblackcockatoo.blogspot.com.au/2011_08_01_archive.html
Oh such lovely colours, thanks for sharing them with us. 🙂
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Yay! Our themes merged this week, and I’m delighted to blow a smoke signal from Ecuador! https://playamart.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/timeout-for-art-the-beauty-of-grass/
Z
We must have been channeling each other, Lisa. Oh boy, I just now got caught up on your more recent posts and heard about the dengue and chikungunya, how awful. So glad you’re on the road to recovery but good grief, girl, my thoughts are with you. Sending healing thoughts to you and to your friend Julie. I loved watching the evolution of your grass drawing and also loved the photos of MIndo cloud forest, it looks like an exceptionally beautiful area – despite the dreaded mosquitoes. xxx
buenos dias, amiga, and thanks for your kind words; sometimes we have to experience sickness in order to appreciate wellness, and this is one person who smiles each day when i ponder, “NO PAIN!” Thankfully the cloud forest is a bit too high for the dengue-carrying mosquitoes’ comfort!
Hi Ailsa, here is my entry:
http://wp.me/p3c0SB-2uB
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Wonderful theme and beautiful shots you have. Here is mine, from a rainforest: http://cocoaevenings.com/2015/07/25/travel-theme-grasses-lush-carpet/
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Another great challenge!
Here is my entry, short and sweet, a lot like the grass I guess https://nihongojapango.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/tending-the-lawn/
and here is a link to a blog I can’t take credit for but like the Highline, it is something I would dearly love to visit and see some day, It is rice paddy art, http://www.buzzfeed.com/kevintang/insane-works-of-japanese-rice-paddy-art#.wm3voR8qm6
in the north of Japan.
Great idea – if some plants nead to be more noticed – the beautiful grasses are!
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You have some lovely photos of the theme. Here’s mine, hope some will enjoy the bonus 5th Dimension song too: https://gwhphotos.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/travel-theme-grasses/
Pingback: Travel theme: Grasses | Leya
http://wp.me/p1hCI2-4vM
My favourites!
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Here’s my Brown wild grass from California. https://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/where-the-green-grass-this-time-of-year-travel-theme/
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Sorry, I deviated a bit from the grasses to the things we find in the grass 🙂 but great topic as usual, and really beautiful photos!
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