John and Beth Ross are naturalists who are moved to poetic writing, in the traditions of Thoreau, Annie Dillard, and of course Aldo Leopold. Their descriptions are both scientifically detailed and poetic. The Wisconsin prairie is their inspiration, which they have studied and explored for many years.

John Ross, the writer, is time conscious: the book is organized around solstices and equinoxes, and early on he admonishes us that to truly experience the prairie one must be up before dawn. As we follow him in this close adherence to time we find that he leads us to a sense of timelessness, even eternity. In the process, we come to see the seasons in our own lives, and feel a sense of place in our own universe.

At times Ross shows us the prairie close in, on hands and knees. Other times the perspective is larger and we see the prairie in the context of the world that encroaches it on all sides. Finally, he brings us to realize that the prairie reflects the cosmos.

Beth Ross' photos illustrate the book perfectly. These photos also bring a sense of timelessness. It seems that because she walks the prairie often, she can afford to wait for the perfect light, the moment of blossoming, and it clearly shows in the luminous photos.

If you love nature and want to know more about the prairie, or know the prairie and want to find a sense of awe and inspiration, this book is for you.