back cover

Apr. 2004 - Vol. 65, No. 4

Back cover image

Prairie paint

In springtime, the prairies of Missouri explode with reds, oranges and yellows as Indian paintbrush blooms.The intense color comes from bracts that surround the plant's small, inconspicuous flowers.This photo was taken at Paint Brush Prairie Natural Area, south of Sedalia. -- Jim Rathert