April Prairie’s Grand Finale

“April is a promise that May is bound to keep… “.—Hal Borland

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It’s evening on the Belmont Prairie, a tallgrass remnant in Downers Grove, IL. Everything is drenched in that strange light that comes right before sunset.

Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

The grasses ripple in the light breeze. Bumblebees buzz. A common green darner dragonfly patrols, looking for a late evening snack.

Common green darner (Anax junius), Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL (2023).

In the distance, a train rumbles. A fly explores the starry Solomon’s seal.

Unknown fly on starry false Solomon’s seal (Smilacina stellata), Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Everywhere, is the smell of wet earth following the recent rains. Spring is in full swing.

The beautiful prairie violet is in bloom! What a treat. You can distinguish it from its heart-leaved violet cousins by its deeply palmated leaves.

Prairie violet (Viola pedatifida), Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Hoary puccoon is in bud and bloom.

Hoary pucoon (Lithospermum canescens), Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

As far as the eye can see, the tallgrass is dotted with its orange flowers. Belmont Prairie has the most hoary puccoon I’ve seen anywhere in my prairie rambles. Supposedly, the word “puccoon” means it was used by some indigenous tribes for dyes. What a strange name for a lovely prairie flower!

Hoary pucoon (Lithospermum canescens), Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

I move from flower to flower, like a pollinator.

Hoary pucoon (Lithospermum canescens), Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

They’ll be gone in a week or two. Enjoy them now.

This little prairie parcel, at less than a dozen acres, is hidden in the midst of subdivisions, a park, and sandwiched between interstates and highways.

Everywhere, the tiny blue-eyed grass is in bloom.

One of the blue-eyed grasses (Sisyrinchium sp.), Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Many are closed, but a few are still open.

One of the blue-eyed grasses (Sisyrinchium sp.), Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

They are so tiny! You have to drop to your knees to really appreciate them.

Wow, April. Didn’t you go by fast! You sure did put on a show. It’s tough to say goodbye.

Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Thank you for the joy and beauty you offered these past few weeks. May will have a lot to live up to.

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The opening quote comes from prolific writer and journalist Hal Borland (1900-1978). I have several of his books on my bookshelf, most of them gifts from a lovely reader of this blog (Thank you, Helen!). Several of them are the “through the year” type of format with daily readings, which is a lovely way to follow the seasons. In addition to his journalistic pieces and essays, he wrote poetry, fiction, and short stories. Borland won the John Burroughs Distinguished Medal for Nature Writing in 1968 for Hill Country Harvest. He was a passionate naturalist and a writer for the New York Times.

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Join Cindy for a Program or Class in May

Thursday, May 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m.–“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (prairie and woodland). Register here. (Weather dependent)

Tuesday, May 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m.-“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by the Joliet Garden Club, Barber and Oberwortmann Horticulture Center, 227 North Gougar Rd., Joliet, inside the main greenhouse. Open to the public.

More programs and classes at http://www.cindycrosby.com.