What Was Growing All Along

The quiet science and story of rattlesnake master

By Josh Singleton | Founder, serving as Lead Cultivator, The Neighborhood Garden Project

Two years ago, I scattered seeds across the prairie at our Katy location.

There was no fanfare.
No irrigation.
No protection.
Just seeds placed into the soil and trust that something might come in time.

And then… nothing.

At least nothing I could see.

Seasons passed.
Summer heat pressed down.
Winter moved quietly through.
Grasses grew. Other plants appeared. The prairie shifted and changed.

But the rattlesnake master never showed itself.

At some point, it would have been easy to assume it didn’t take.
That the seed failed.
That maybe the soil wasn’t ready.

But rattlesnake master carries a scientific secret that mirrors something deeper.

The Hidden Work of Rattlesnake Master

Rattlesnake master, Eryngium yuccifolium, is a prairie plant built for patience.

In its early years, it often does something remarkable.

It focuses almost entirely underground.

Before pushing growth above the surface, rattlesnake master develops a deep taproot, often reaching 3 to 6 feet into the soil. Sometimes even deeper.

While nothing appears above ground, the plant is:

• Establishing drought resistance

• Anchoring itself against wind and disturbance

• Connecting with soil microbes and fungi

• Building stored energy for future growth

• Preparing for long-term survival

In prairie ecology, this is one of the defining traits of long-lived native plants.

They do not rush upward.
They grow downward first.

Because in the prairie, depth determines survival.

And that means for one, two, sometimes even three years, a plant may appear absent… while it is actually becoming.

And Then, One Day…

This year, it appeared.

Small at first.
Easy to overlook.
Quietly emerging among everything else that had already taken shape.

And now, these buds.

Strong.
Intentional.
Alive.

Two years later.

Which means for two years, something was happening I couldn’t see.

Roots were forming.
The plant was establishing itself.
The soil was preparing.
The conditions were aligning.

All without visible growth.

My Journey Running Parallel

This feels deeply familiar.

Because my own journey has followed this same rhythm.

There have been seasons where nothing seemed to be happening.
Seasons where progress felt invisible.
Seasons where it would have been easy to assume the work wasn’t taking hold.

But like rattlesnake master, roots were forming.

Quietly.
Patiently.
Below the surface.

And now, looking back, I can see that what appeared to be stillness was actually preparation.

The Prairie’s Wisdom

Rattlesnake master is also known for something else.

Once established, it becomes incredibly resilient.

It tolerates:

• Drought

• Heat

• Poor soils

• Disturbance

• Competition

And when it blooms, it becomes a pollinator magnet, supporting:

• native bees

• butterflies

• wasps

• beetles

• beneficial insects

Its deep roots also help:

• Improve soil structure

• Increase water infiltration

• Build long-term prairie stability

All of this… from a plant that appeared absent for two years.

What the Prairie Is Teaching

In a culture that expects immediate growth, rattlesnake master offers a different story.

It reminds us:

Just because you don’t see growth doesn’t mean nothing is happening.

Roots may be forming.
Strength may be developing.
Depth may be taking shape.

Two years ago, seeds were scattered.

Today, something is emerging.

And it was growing all along.

Just like the prairie.
Just like the work.
Just like us.