Prairie Dock 2011

Three years ago I planted a small Prairie Dock seedling in the front yard.  It spent the first two years putting down roots.  Prairie Dock roots go very deep, reaching depths of 12 feet, making it a very drought resistance plant.  Finally, this spring it sent forth several huge spade-shaped basal leaves and a single stalk.  I knew this would be the year to watch the Prairie Dock grow above ground! 

In late June the stalk started to shoot up into the air.  It grew a foot over the course of a single week.  As of early August, it measured 10.5 feet from the ground to the tallest point!! 

It has survived several very strong windstorms, and the flowers are starting to open.