Here's the part that stumps me - I wanted to choose a grass that is also appropriate as a forage and or hay-producing plant.

Now, I don't want any of those farmers to invite their cows to my park, but I do want the ornamental garden to speak to the pragmatic agriculture of the state.

So for those of you who know their way around ornamental grasses more than I . . . do any of our ornamentals have a humble forage or hay history?

Thanks,

Yamila

PS - As if that's not hard enough, I also want the grass to be anywhere from 18" to 36" tall. If it's too short it will just blend with the lawn and if it's too tall I'll have visibility problems.

Linked below is a terrific source of information about native prairie grasses.

About Little Bluestem (S. scoparius [listed as A. scoparius]):
"This native grass provides nutritious grazing during the growing season and has been used for hay since the first days of settlement. Cattle have for many years been shipped from the south and southwest to fatten on the little bluestem ranges in the Kansas Fint[Flint?] Hills and the Osage hills of Oklahoma. Little bluestem produces from 3/4 to 2 tons of forage per acre and makes good winter grazing when supplemented with protein and minerals. Etc."

About Timothy(Phleum pretense):
"A native of Europe and Asia, timothy was commonly referred to in the New England states as "herd grass.""

"Throughout the area of its adaptation Timothy is grown extensively either alone or in mixtures with alfalfa and clover."

"This palatable, leafy grass is probably the most important tame hay grass in the United States and is more nutritious when cut in early bloom stage."

The book includes 59 species of grasses(native and introduced) if you want any more info.

Thanks you all for the responses. You've been immensely helpful.

Just to add to the info, I found out from another friend that Miscanthus varieties are commonly used as forage plants in Japan.