Well, this isn't pampas grass, but it is close enough! I should also add that this is a very invasive species. It is taking over wetlands and roadside ditches alike. This is, however, a plant found world wide. It has been used for centuries for fences, thatching (on roofs), and many other uses. There is debate as to whether there is a native species here in North America, some believe so, other taxonomists disagree. It is, however, a beautiful plant, and clearly has adapted well to many different areas of the continent and is spreading fast. Many people collect the stems in the autumn, to use as decoration, and this is yet another way the seeds disperse and new colonies spring up.

The haiku is from "Haiku: An anthology of Japanese poems", by Stephen Addiss, Fumiko Yamamoto, and Akira Yamamoto.