Phragmites

"Phragmites is a genus of four species of large perennial reed grasses found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world.  Phragmites stands can provide food and shelter resources for a number of birds, insects, and other animals.  The leaves, roots, seeds and stems of phragmites are edible. Young shoots can be cooked or eaten raw just like bamboo shoots. The young stems, "while still green and fleshy, can be dried and pounded into a fine powder, which when moistened is roasted like marshmallows."  Thank you Wikipedia!  So there is all the official information about these plants which I have seen all my life, living near Long Island Sound, both in Connecticut and in New York.  I never knew any of this more technical information.  I photographed this group on one of my walks, when I stopped at Scudders Pond, when it was overcast late in the day.  I love this photograph because it is "monochromatic" - almost all the things in the photograph are nearly the same color.  And I love the softness of everything as well.