You can see the wind gently blowing waves across the land. Prairies have hot summers, with temperatures sometimes reaching well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold winters when the temperature in some places may drop even lower then -40 degrees Fahrenheit. They will also receive a moderate amount of rainfall. The soil is deep, dark and very fertile, because of the growth and decay of many-branched grass roots buried deep in the ground. By holding the soil together, the rotted roots provide a source of food for living plants.
Many species come together to make up the thick cover of grasses growing across the prairies.
On the prairies of Oklahoma, which are mostly dry, you can see bluestem, dropseeds, June grass, needlegrasses, and side oats grama. Hundreds of species of other plants can also be found on the prairie. They add highlights of red, orange, purple, and other colors to the rolling land. Flowers such as asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, and sunflowers can be found. A few small trees, such as cottonwoods and oaks, provide a little shade.