April’s full moon is sometimes known as the “pink moon,” and it will be in full phase tonight. The Farmer’s Almanac tells us the nickname is from spring flowers, rather than the color of the moon itself. It’s also known, the Almanac says, as the “Sprouting Grass Moon,” “Moon of the Big Leaves,” and “Breaking Ice Moon.”
Almost full “pink” moon, Glen Ellyn, IL. (Cell phone photo)
Pink, you say? Yes, there’s plenty of pink in the woodlands and prairies right now. Let’s go take a look.
Over there—the prairie’s first shooting star in bloom.
Shooting star (Primula meadia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Soon there will be constellations of pink.
Shooting star (Primula meadia), Beach Cemetery Prairie, Ogle County, IL. (2022).
So much pink.
Shooting star (Primula meadia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (2018).
And! The prairie smoke wildflowers continue to delight. No signs of that thready “smoke” yet.
Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum), Plainfield, IN. (2023)
Or even that strange yellowish-green of blue cohosh?
Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
From the largest wildflowers…
Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2016)
…to the tiniest… .
Harbinger of spring (Erigenia bulbosa), Schulenberg Prairie Savanna, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2018).
…the prairies and woodlands are full of fleeting delights as April begins to wane. If you blink, you’ll miss them. There’s no time like the present to get out and see what’s in bloom. Tomorrow may be too late.
Why not go see?
*****
The opening quote is from musician Tom Petty (1950-2017), a singer, guitarist and songwriter, from his song “Wildflowers” from an album of the same name (1994). He was a member of the Traveling Wilburys in the 1980s, and the rock group Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976-2017). Petty was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
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Join Cindy for a program or class this spring!
Wednesday, April 24, 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. —“Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers,” presented by the Naperville Garden Club. Naperville Municipal Center, Naperville, IL. For more information about access to this event for non-members, visit the club’s website here.
Saturday, April 27, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here. (One spot left). (Weather dependent)
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.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Walk the tallgrass prairie in summer-like temperatures one evening after April showers. It’s a lesson in green. How many hues, shades, and tints can there be?
Shooting star (Primula meadia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
And of course, grass green.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Grass. So much grass.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
It ripples in the stiff wind; caresses my ankles as I hike. I try to identify the grass seedlings but give up. So many grasses. So many greens.
The wildflowers are often easier to identify. Nothing else looks like a mayapple.
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Even so young, the prairie wildflowers have distinct shapes, colors, and—dare I say it?—personalities?
Queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Queen of the prairie is certainly flamboyant. And purple meadow rue’s soft muted green, veined with amethyst, seems almost like she’s dressing up to go out somewhere.
Purple meadow rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Look at those fuzzy little seedling spears of prairie dock! You just have to reach down and touch them.
Prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Some of the earliest wildflowers are in full bloom. A few seem downright bizarre. Consider common valerian, which is anything but “common.”
Common valerian (Valeriana edulis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Or prairie smoke, which will put out long wispy pink plumes after the flowers are fertilized. It won’t be long now.
What about the golden Alexanders with their humble umbel flowers?
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) PrairieWalk Pond and Dragonfly Landing, Lisle, IL.
And speaking of humble, the violets are coming on strong. In the language of flowers, so beloved by Victorians, the violet means “modesty.”
Possibly a variation of the common violet (Viola sororia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
In the shaded edge areas of the prairie savanna, Virginia bluebells are in full swing. Look at that color!
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
A blast of warm temperatures a month ago boosted some of the woodland wildflowers that skim the edges of the prairie proper. Now, they are finishing their flowering season. Bloodroot can be found in bloom and in seed this week. Look now before the last flowers are gone.
Bloodroot (Sanguinara canadensis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
…it’s an exciting time on the tallgrass prairie. Why not go see?
Sunset, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
You won’t want to miss a moment of April.
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The opening quote is from the poet and playwright T.S. Eliot (1888-1965). Among his great works are The Wasteland and The Four Quartets. You can hear him read some of his work here.
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A Note from Cindy: I recently finished teaching “Prairie Gardens for the Home Landscape,” and one of the top questions I fielded was “How do I identify emerging prairie seedlings so I don’t weed them?” Here are four great resources to check out if you want to learn the seedling stage of many prairie plants.
Central Region Seedling ID Guide for Native Prairie Plants. (Various contributors, NRCS USDA) Spiral bound card set with color photography and glossy stock paper. Each card shows several photos of the seedling stage, mature leaf, and bloom. The information includes a description of the plant and distinguishing characteristics, as well as difficulty and bloom time from seed. You can download it for free here, or buy it already bound on sturdy stock paper for about $25 online.
Prairie Seedling and Seeding Evaluation Guide (Various contributors, Bonestroo) .Spiral bound, small book format with more than 50 tallgrass prairie wildflowers and grasses, and 25 common weeds. It also includes some basic information for evaluating your prairie planting. You can buy it from various sources online for about $13, or download the PDF for free here.
The Tallgrass Prairie Center Guide to Seed and Seedling Identification in the Upper Midwest. (Dave Williams, University of Iowa Press). Very specific seed and seedling ID notes, with a key system for 72 species including both forbs and grasses. Order it from your favorite indie bookseller for around $14 or from the publisher here..
The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants (Neil Diboll & Hilary Cox, University of Chicago Press). This invaluable book, hot off the press, is jam-packed with great information on choosing, growing, and getting to know different prairie plants in the home garden. Most of the 145 plant photo pages include the seedlings (first year), emerging mature plants, entire plant, flower, early seed head, and mature seed. There are countless pages of information for the prairie gardener on everything from deer resistant plants to using prescribed fire. At $35, it’s a bargain, and I love the “lay flat” binding. Order it from your favorite independent bookseller or here.
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Join Cindy for a class or program this spring!
Thursday, April 18, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here. (Weather dependent)
Friday, April 19, 8-9 p.m.–“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by the Midwest Pond and Koi Society.” White Fence Farm, Romeoville, IL. Optional dinner before the program; program is free and open to the public, but please visit here for more information.
Wednesday, April 24, 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. —“Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers,” presented by the Naperville Garden Club. Naperville Municipal Center, Naperville, IL. For more information about access to this event for non-members, visit the club’s website here.
Saturday, April 27, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here. (Limited tickets left). (Weather dependent)
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)
“The sun was going, and the world was wrong.”—Annie Dillard
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Pulitzer-Prize winning writer Annie Dillard writes, “Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him… .” Well, we settled for the “kiss” here in the Chicago region, where we had 94 percent coverage for about four minutes. And it was quite a kiss.
Eclipse shadows, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Jeff and I go for a walk on the prairie, just as the moon begins its journey between us and the sun. The prairie is so bright! Not a single cloud softens the harsh sky. Familiar plants seem otherworldly in that odd brilliance, that strange glow.
Solar eclipse, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Smithsonian Magazine tells us that Indigenous Americans held many different beliefs about eclipses. The Southern Paiute, with a nod to the embrace between the sun and moon, called it a “special day to reflect on what love means to you, to remove any anger you may have, and do a deed of kindness and an act of love.”
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), during the solar eclipse, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
The Cherokee, it goes on to say, believe the eclipse is “a giant frog in the sky trying to eat the sun.”
American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2023)
Ho-Chunk, according to the Smithsonian Magazine, were told to “respect both sun and moon eclipses” as a “time of transformation.”
Unknown dragonfly (Anisoptera), after emergence, in the teneral stage, Busse Woods, Schaumberg, IL. (2014)
We walk for a short while, then return home. There, we itch to turn on the lights. But we want to experience every moment. Rooms are shrouded in twilight.
Interior, solar eclipse, Glen Ellyn, IL.
We’re nearing 94 percent coverage. (See it here.) Our black kitten meows piteously, probably for a treat, but we wonder if he senses something is off. Or perhaps he’s tuned into our excitement? Or maybe we’re looking for oddities on this very strange afternoon? We marvel that it can still be so bright outside, although the light is…wrong.
The air looks a little pixelated, a little grainy. I rub my eyes, over and over, thinking I’ll see more clearly. That we’ll return to normalcy. But a solar eclipse is anything but normal.
Trout lily (Erythronium albidum), during the eclipse, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Hours later, it all seems like a dream.
Solar eclipse, Schulenberg Prairie Visitor Station, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
The next total eclipse I’ll have chance to see in the United States will occur in August, 2044. Although it seems like an eternity, the years will fly by, full of challenges and delights.
Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) during the solar eclipse, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
It’s difficult to imagine what the world will be like then, and even more odd to think I’ll be in my eighties. I hope I’m still around to see that next solar eclipse. But no matter what… .
Marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris) during the eclipse, Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.
…I’m glad I saw this one.
****
The quote from writer Annie Dillard (1945-) which kicks off this post is from “Total Eclipse,” found in Teaching a Stone to Talk, and which also appeared in the anthology of her work, Abundance. Dillard won the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction for Pilgrim at Tinker Creek in 1975.
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Tonight! Tuesday, April 9, 7:30-9 p.m.—“Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers,” for the Northwest Audubon Society Annual Banquet, Highland Community College, Freeport, IL. Banquet begins at 6 p.m. You may also register for only the program, which begins at 7:30 p.m. For ticket and registration information, visit here.
Thursday, April 11, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here.
Thursday, April 11, 6:30-8 p.m..—“The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction,” with the Oak Park, IL, Library. Free and open to the public. Register here.
Thursday, April 18, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here.
Friday, April 19, 8-9 p.m.–“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by the Midwest Pond and Koi Society.” White Fence Farm, Romeoville, IL. Optional dinner before the program; program is free and open to the public, but please visit here for more information.
Saturday, April 27, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here.
“Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain… .” —John Claude Gummoe
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Can you hear it? The sound of thunder. Rain moves into the Chicago region. The thirsty prairies soak up every drop. Watch the just-burned landscapes turn emerald.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
That green! So bright. Technicolor. With notes of khaki, olive, and lime.
Willoway Brook, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Prairie streams and ponds rise and fill. The moving water adds its notes to the spring prairie music. And then… what’s that sound? A “whistlely-twitter?”
Little flocks of golden-crowned kinglets move through, flitting from branch to branch in the trees on the prairie’s edge. I love the collective noun for a group of them; a “dynasty” of golden-crowned kinglets. The scientific genus name, Regulus, means “little king.” And their calls! So high-pitched. Cornell Lab of Ornithology says the golden-crowned kinglet’s song is one of the first we are unable to hear as we age. So—I won’t take their song today for granted. Other birds are easier to hear as I hike: red-winged blackbird, killdeer, northern flicker, song sparrow. What a beautiful day to be out hiking the tallgrass prairie.
I admire the sprouts of green all around me, knowing the rain will continue to nudge new prairie plants into emergence each day. The tiny leaves are each so distinctive. Glade mallow.
The spicebush flowers arrive first, but you can see the new leaves not far behind. Down the slope, around the pond, the marsh marigolds continue to open.
Soon they’ll be a golden ring around my tiny, mud-bottomed pond. Nearby, my shooting star is being squeezed out by weedy burdock and a little non-native ground cover plant, sweet woodruff, that I wish I’d never put in 20 years ago. Looks like I have some work to do this spring.
Shooting star (Primula meadia) fights for position in Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.
I still have about 30 percent traditional garden plants in my yard, including two big peony plants. If I look closely, I can see the new plants thrusting through the soil. They look like red licorice twists, don’t they?
In the vegetable beds, a few chard plants have overwintered. Fall-planted garlic looks healthy and vigorous in its new spot, and—surprise!—I must have left some garlic cloves behind when I harvested it last July, as plants are coming up in the old location. Oops!
Difficult to say. The forecast calls for two-and-a-half inches of snow on Wednesday. That might dial things back a bit. But it keeps things exciting, doesn’t it?
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy these April rainy days. And all the good things they promise to bring.
*****
Today’s opening blog quote is from a hit song, “Rhythm of the Rain,” originally made famous by the American vocal group “The Cascades” and written by group member John Claude Gummoe. The song released in late 1962, and Billboard ranked it as its #4 song of 1963. The song featured a “celeste,” also called a “bell-piano,” the same instrument used in “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from “The Nutcracker.” The song was later covered by Dan Fogelberg, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Jason Donavan, and Neil Sedaka. The group’s name “The Cascades” was supposedly inspired by a box of dishwasher detergent.
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Join Cindy for a Class or Program this Spring!
Thursday, April 4, 7-8:30 p.m. —“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by Roselle Park Garden Club, Roselle, IL. Free and open to the public. More information here.
Tuesday, April 9, 7:30-9 p.m.—“Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers,” for the Northwest Audubon Society Annual Banquet, Highland Community College, Freeport, IL. Banquet begins at 6 p.m.. For ticket and registration information, visit here.
Thursday, April 11, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here.
Thursday, April 11, 6:30-8 p.m..—“The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction,” with the Oak Park, IL, Library. Free and open to the public. Register here.
Thursday, April 18, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here.
Friday, April 19, 8-9 p.m.–“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by the Midwest Pond and Koi Society.” White Fence Farm, Romeoville, IL. Optional dinner before the program; program is free and open to the public, but please visit here for more information.
Saturday, April 27, 9-11 a.m.—“Spring Wildflower and Ethnobotany Walk,” The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. To register, click here.
“The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.” —Albert Einstein
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March slams the brakes on spring. Where did those 70 degree days go? We’re deep into a more “normal” March now in the Chicago region, with wind, rain, and snow flurries. And a few welcome surprises.
Out on the prairie, growth slows down. You can see the burned soil greening up under yesterday’s rain and last week’s snow melt. Tiny seedlings, seemingly defying identification, are everywhere. Kneel down. Take a closer look.
Pale Indian plantain (Arnoglossum atriplicifolium), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Aha! Pale Indian plantain. Amazing to think it will be taller than me by August! And over there—what about these ferny fronds?
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
They could only be yarrow. Nearby, the native bloodroot is in all stages of growth.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
The name “bloodroot” comes from the scarlet juice or sap that runs through the plant. “Sanguinaria” means “to bleed.”
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Each bloom only lasts about three days. It’s another reason to go for lots of walks in the coming days, to marvel at and enjoy these pretty wildflowers before the blooms are gone for another season.
After last week’s post, I heard from many of you about the perils of “Siberian squill (Scilla siberica),” as well as appreciation for its spring color. This week, as I hike the prairie, I was again aware of just how much it is spreading in our natural areas. Can you see it?
I read up a bit, and control seems to be limited to digging it out (which has its own set of issues) or cutting off the flowers after they bloom, but before they set seed, a daunting task on larger natural areas. After listening to your thoughts from last week, I’m considering trying the “cut flower” method in my yard to see if it slows it down next year. It’s more difficult in a natural area, as the scilla intermingles with spring native wildflowers.
I keep on walking, shaking my head. It’s easier to control plants like garlic mustard, which aren’t quite so pretty, isn’t it? Let’s cross one of the tributaries of Willoway Brook, running shallow, cold and clear.
Willoway Brook, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
There’s still ice in the shaded edges, telling me that winter hasn’t quite loosened its grip. And yet… . continue to the gravel two-track. Look down around your feet.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Do you see it? “Early Whitlow grass” in bloom. Right in the middle of the path.
Early Whitlow grass (Draba verna), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
At this time of year, any flowers, no matter how tiny, are welcome.
A great blue heron silently flaps over. I listen to the crescendo calls of a northern flicker in an old black walnut. A “bobbin” of robbins land in the trees edging prairie, filling the evening air with their whinnying. Interspersed with the robins are the brown-headed cowbirds, singing in whistles and clinks. A killdeer scurries by, distracting me from her nest hidden on the prairie.
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Not far away, I see the first blooms of our native pasque flowers.
It’s a joy to see the outcome of so many years of planning, seeding, planting, and care. The pasque flowers traditionally bloom around Easter, and are some of the first prairie wildflowers to open. This year, with Easter on Sunday, March 31, they are early, but in relative sync with the holiday.
Come on, spring. Put your foot on the accelerator. You teased us with early warm days in February, and we were alarmed at how quick you were arriving.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Now, we’re ready for you.
*****
The opening quote is from Albert Einstein (1879-1955), by many accounts one of the greatest scientists of all time. After Hitler came to power in the 1930’s, Einstein (who was a German and Jewish, visiting in the United States) became an American citizen. He published hundreds of books and articles during his lifetime.
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Join Cindy for a Program or Class this Spring:
Friday, March 29, 10-11:30am—“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by Gardeners of the Shores, 64 Old Barn Rd, Barrington, IL. Free and open to the public.
Thursday, April 4, 7-8:30 p.m. —“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by Roselle Park Garden Club, Roselle, IL. Free and open to the public. More information here.
Tuesday, April 9, 7:30-9 p.m.—“Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers,” for the Northwest Audubon Society Annual Banquet, Highland Community College, Freeport, IL. Banquet begins at 6 p.m.. For ticket and registration information, visit here.
Friday, April 19, 8-9 p.m.–“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by the Midwest Pond and Koi Society.” White Fence Farm, Romeoville, IL. Optional dinner before the program; program is free and open to the public, but please visit here for more information.
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer inthe light and winter in the shade.”—Charles Dickens
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Happy first day of astronomical spring! Snow? Check. Flurries yesterday. Tornadoes? A few down south earlier this month.
It’s March. Anything goes. And this year, there are a few surprises. Let’s go for a hike and see what’s happening.
Merrill Loebner magnolia (Magnolia x Loebneri ‘Merrill’), The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
This weekend, Jeff and I stopped to admire the magnolias on our way to hike the prairie. Wow.
Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Some of them were sweetly scented. Others were just lovely to look at. It was a bittersweet enjoyment, with the looming forecast of frigid temperatures dooming them to a short display.
Anise magnolia (Magnolia salicifolia), The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
So we made the most of it. When magnolias bloom in Illinois, you must drop whatever you are doing and go see them. There are no guarantees that the fickle finger of fate might not zap them with cold temperatures overnight, and then? Done and gone for the season. So, we tuck their colors and fragrance into our memories until next spring rolls around.
Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
We jump back into the car, and continue on to the prairie. But wait—pull over by that woodland trail—is that Virginia bluebells in bud? A month early? It seems that way.
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), THe Morton Arboretum, near the Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.
I spy celandine poppy leaves, but the flowers seem further behind the bluebells. Usually, the native bluebells and native poppies bloom together in this part of the Chicago Region.
Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), near the Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
It will be interesting to see if they bloom early as well in this strange spring weather. And there—just across the road, by the Prairie Visitor Station— the non-native dead nettle is in full bloom.
Purple (sometimes called red) dead nettle (Lamium purpureum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Il.
Bright blue squill (Scilla siberica) and its almost-twin, glory of the snow (Chionodoxa forbesii.), carpets the woodlands and infiltrates parts of the prairie savanna. Both are cold-tolerant spring bulbs, which spread by bulb off-shoots and seeding. The squill is a concern for woodland stewards, as it may be invasive. I wonder about the glory of the snow, as well. It’s so abundant! And look at that invasive garlic mustard, coming up amid the Virginia bluebells.
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Siberian squill(Scilla siberica)and glory of the snow (Chionodoxa forbesii), The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
I have squill in my backyard, and I’m not proud of it. Should I try to eradicate it now? Will it create trouble here in my home landscape by escaping into natural areas? Or is it relatively contained in my suburban setting? The jury is still out. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Meanwhile, the prairie wildflowers are making their move. I love wild bergamot’s magenta seedlings.
Virginia waterleaf is already sporting its namesake leaves.
Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
And the bloodroot is in full bloom! I love how it comes up with the leaf wrapped around the bloom stem.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), The Morton Arboretum, near the Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.
On our way home, I notice that the fig buttercup (Ficaria verna)—sometimes called lesser celandine— is in full bloom on the edges of a local forest preserve that borders a nearby subdivision. This is a terribly invasive non-native plant; difficult to remove, and usually dealt with by spraying herbicide. I’ve watched it gradually take over the wet areas by the subdivision road over the past several years.
Lesser celandine/fig buttercup (Ficaria verna) on the edge of Willowbrook Forest Preserve, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Most years, lesser celandine blooms at the same time as my native marsh marigolds. When I arrive at home, I see the first marsh marigold blooms around my little backyard pond. Soon, they’ll be a ring of gold.
The two wildflowers are often confused. But, if you flip them over, you’ll see the three or four yellow-green sepals on the back of the lesser celandine…
Ah, spring. There’s so much to investigate. So much to learn. So much to enjoy.
Are you ready for it? Let’s get outside.
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Charles Dickens (1812-1870), whose quote opens today’s blog post, is regarded by many as the greatest Victorian novelist. Some of his writings include A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and David Copperfield.
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Join Cindy for a program or class this spring:
Wednesdays, March 20, March 27, and April 3), 9-noon, —“Prairie Gardens for the Home Landscape” hosted by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. (In Person) (Previously sold out—but just added two additional spots—call (630) 968-0074 to register).
Friday, March 29, 10-11:30am—“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by Gardeners of the Shores, 64 Old Barn Rd, Barrington, IL. Free and open to the public.
Thursday, April 4, 7-8:30 p.m. —“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by Roselle Park Garden Club, Roselle, IL. Free and open to the public. More information here.
Tuesday, April 9, 7:30-9 p.m.—“Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers,” for the Northwest Audubon Society Annual Banquet, Highland Community College, Freeport, IL. Banquet begins at 6 p.m.. For ticket and registration information, visit here.
Friday, April 19, 8-9 p.m.–“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by the Midwest Pond and Koi Society.” White Fence Farm, Romeoville, IL. Optional dinner before the program; program is free and open to the public, but please visit here for more information.
“The evening sings in a voice of amber; the dawn is surely coming.” — Al Stewart
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The sun is setting, the air is cool and crisp. Let’s go for a hike on the prairie, and see what’s happening.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Listen! The birds are settling in for the night. I watch the red-winged blackbird, clinging to a stalk of some prairie plant that still stands after February’s prescribed burn. When he calls, he holds his wings out, showing off the scarlet epaulets.
The sound of the red-winged blackbird is one of my favorite sounds of spring.
Who else is out there? There’s a Northern Flicker, with his chatter in the savanna. A killdeer calls his name, over and over. Downy woodpeckers, brown-headed cowbirds, and even a cardinal add their lyrics to the evening soundtrack. Everywhere, a scattering of robins pluck worms and look for beetles in the greening-up scoured by fire prairie. Their orange breast feathers glow in the last beams of sunlight as they skitter through the newly emerging prairie seedlings.
Sprouting prairie plants on the Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Willoway Brook runs cold and fast.
Willoway Brook, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
A recent deluge has left water standing across the prairie. The extra dose of rain helps push cut-leaved coneflowers out of the ground…
…and also–look!—a chorus of rattlesnake master leaves. Last week I saw a few green spears poking out of the prairie soil; this week they are everywhere.
I wonder. Are they descendants of flower bulbs some early farmer brought with her and planted here? Or have these snowdrops made their way from a contemporary home or Arboretum garden planting and found a spot to bloom on the prairie? It’s a happy feeling, knowing a farmer long ago may have walked and worked here, as I have, and watched the sun set in the savanna in the evenings as I am doing now.
Schulenberg Prairie Savanna, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
It’s the end of this beautiful day in March. But the beginning of spring on the tallgrass prairie. So many wonderful things await. Why not go see?
*****
The quote that begins this blog post is from Al Stewart (Alistair Ian Stewart) (1945-) a Scottish folk-rock musician probably most famous for his 1976 single, “The Year of the Cat.” Many of his songs revolve around historical events (“Fields of France”), presidents (“William Harding,”),or are poems set to music (“My Enemies Have Sweet Voices.”) Among the musicians he has worked with are Jimmy Page, Peter White, and Alan Parsons. Read more about Stewart and his music here.
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Join Cindy for a class or program:
Wednesdays, March 20, March 27, and April 3), 9-noon, —“Prairie Gardens for the Home Landscape” hosted by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. (In Person) (Sold Out). Call the Arboretum to be put on a waiting list: (630) 968-0074.
Friday, March 29, 10-11:30am—“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by Gardeners of the Shores, 64 Old Barn Rd, Barrington, IL. Free and open to the public.
Thursday, April 4, 7-8:30 p.m. —“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by Roselle Park Garden Club, Roselle, IL. Free and open to the public. More information here.
Tuesday, April 9, 7:30-9 p.m.—“Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers,” for the Northwest Audubon Society Annual Banquet, Highland Community College, Freeport, IL. Banquet begins at 6 p.m.. For ticket and registration information, visit here.
Friday, April 19, 8-9 p.m.–“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers,” presented by the Midwest Pond and Koi Society.” White Fence Farm, Romeoville, IL. Optional dinner before the program; program is free and open to the public, but please visit here for more information.
Wednesday, April 24, 10:15-11:30 am, “Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers,” presented by the Naperville Garden Club, Naperville Municipal Center in Naperville, IL. Visit here to register, for costs and more information.
Find more programs and classes at Cindy’s website.
“We create wonderful places by giving them our attention.” — David George Haskell
*****
Welcome, March. We’re glad you’re here.
Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Although there is plenty of winter ahead of us, psychologically March 1 is a spirit-lifter. It’s the first day of meteorological spring. Others hold out for the “calendar date” of astronomical spring, which is March 19 this year.
Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Whichever date you choose to begin spring, our gardens and prairies are already telling us it is underway.
Let’s take a hike together on the prairie and see what signs of spring we can discover.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. Notice the coyote scat on the trail.
A prescribed fire was set on the Schulenberg Prairie less than two weeks ago. To the casual observer, everything is ashes and soot.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
But look closely. Emerald grasses and tiny wildflower leaves spear through the soil. The prairie is ready for its “Green Room” appearance; the pause before its early wildflower show.
Willoway Brook, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Drop to your knees, and you might see the first pasque flower’s furry shoots.
The word “pasque” is from the French, referring to both Easter and Passover, when traditionally the pasque flowers bloom. I went back through my photographs of the Schulenberg Prairie’s pasque flowers, and found that in 2019, the pasque flowers were sprouting on April 8. That’s a month’s difference!
Pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (April 8, 2019)
Even though Easter is on the early side occurring on March 31 this year, our pasque flowers are way ahead of the holiday. Passover isn’t until April 22—so late!—so blooms won’t even be close. We’ll see what the weather throws at them in the next few weeks. Soon, they’ll look like this:
Pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (April 23, 2019).
Keep scanning the sooty soil. See those bright leaves poking through?
Listen! Do you hear them? Red-winged blackbird and robin cries fill the air, along with so many other bird calls.
American robin (Turdus migratorius) (left) and red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
I turn on my Merlin sound ID app, and it helps me pick out others. Killdeer and brown-headed cowbird. The northern cardinal male, singing his spring song. A chattering of starlings. The expected Canada geese flying over. Honk. Honk. Honk. Downy woodpecker. And wait—Merlin also tells me there is a purple finch singing! But I look for it in vain.
Last season’s prairie dock leaf (Silphium terebinthinaceum) with new growth, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
As I listen, I breathe in the fragrance of charred earth and wet earth; the smell of a lush prairie growing season about to begin.
Keep your eyes open.
After the prescribed burn, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Spring on the prairie this year promises to be a wild ride, full of surprises.
Why not go take a look?
*****
David George Haskell (1969-) is a British-American writer and biologist, and the author of The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken. His essays and opinions appear in Wired, Orion, and The New York Times.
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Join Cindy for a program or class in March:
Wednesday, March 6, 7-8:30 p.m.—“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Prairie’s Frequent Fliers.” —Hosted by Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Wilmington, IL (Welcome Center, St. Road 53). Free and open to the public. (In Person)
Monday, March 11, 7-8:30 p.m. — “Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Prairie’s Frequent Fliers.” Hosted by Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter, Normal, IL. Free and open to the public! (In Person). See Cindy’s website for more details.
Wednesdays, March 20, March 27, and April 3), 9-noon, —“Prairie Gardens for the Home Landscape” hosted by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. (In Person) (Sold Out). Call the Arboretum to be put on a waiting list: (630) 968-0074.
Find more programs and classes at Cindy’s website.
“No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn.”—Hal Borland
*****
Ah, February! We hardly knew ‘ya.
Dogbane, sometimes called Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
And now, the month has almost flown.
European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Across the Midwest, prairies lie flattened; all dry grasses and spent wildflowers…
Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
…while others are blackened and fire-scoured after prescribed burns.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
It’s been a strange month. On Monday, Chicago’s own WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling was in awe over “May-like temperatures.” Up to 71 degrees Fahrenheit! Listen, and you’ll hear the sound of high temperature records shattering.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
We’ve alternated sunny days and snow flurries this month. Hailstorms and high temperatures. The sandhill cranes were migrating north yesterday, February 26, another reminder that spring is on the way; indeed meteorological spring begins this Friday, March 1.
Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) over the Crosby’s house, Glen Ellyn, IL.
February isn’t going out with a whimper. Instead, Tuesday’s forecast in the Chicago Region calls for damaging storms, a tempestuous swing of temperatures zinging past 70 degrees with a tornado risk, then temperatures plunging almost 50 degrees to 25 degrees with possible snow showers overnight. Wednesday’s predicted low temperature dips to 19 degrees.
Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
It’s enough to make you dizzy. It seems like mercurial March has come early, doesn’t it?
Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
I’m not a fan of goodbyes. It’s hard to let go of the month, knowing we’ll never have another February exactly like this one.
Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
At the same time, I’m looking forward to spring. To green. To wildflowers and flying things. Longer hours of light And a new month of change, growth, and possibilities.
Thimbleweed (Anemone canadensis), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
The signs are all around us.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
See you later, February.
Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage Natural Areas, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Hello, spring.
*****
Hal Borland (1900-1978), whose quote kicks off today’s blog post, was the author of numerous books of nonfiction, poetry, short stories, westerns, memoir, editorials and more. In his obituary, The New York Times called Borland “The chronicler of the seasons.” Borland won the John Burroughs Medal for nature writing in 1968 for Hill Country Harvest.
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Thursday, February 29, 7-8:30 p.m.—“Literary Gardens”— Hosted by the Downers Grove Public Library. Free and open to the public! For more information and to register, click here. (In Person)
Wednesday, March 6, 7-8:30 p.m.—“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Prairie’s Frequent Fliers.” —Hosted by Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Wilmington, IL (Welcome Center, St. Road 53). Free and open to the public. (In Person)
Monday, March 11, 7-8:30 p.m. — “Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Prairie’s Frequent Fliers.” Hosted by Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter, Normal, IL. Free and open to the public! (In Person). See Cindy’s website for more details.
Wednesdays, March 20, March 27, and April 3), 9-noon, —“Prairie Gardens for the Home Landscape” hosted by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. (In Person) (Sold Out). Call the Arboretum to be put on a waiting list: (630) 968-0074.
Find more programs and classes at Cindy’s website.
“Spring comes. The dragonfly is back on its path.” — Ken Tennessen
******
Monday started the week off with a swing toward warmer weather. Almost 50 degrees! It felt like a heat wave after the frigid plunge into the teens this past weekend. As I look ahead to the coming days and a flirtation with 60-degree weather in the forecast, my mind can’t help but turn to…
Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2017)
…dragonflies.
All winter, they’ve lurked as nymphs—many in the mud and sand of prairie ponds and streams. They’re “watching” the forecast just as I am; some ready to go through their last molt, clamber out of the water, then transform themselves into a completely different-looking creature.
Blue Dasher dragonfly nymph (Pachydiplax longipennis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL (2023).
As a newly-minted flier, rather than a citizen of the underwater world, they’ll delight us with their bright colors and their aerial acrobatics.
But for now, they wait.
Two Blue Dasher dragonfly nymphs (Pachyplexis longipennis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2023)
As I hike the tallgrass prairies in the middle of February…
Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
… I find myself wondering what the new dragonfly chasing season will bring. Perhaps a male Calico Pennant….
Male Calico Pennant dragonfly (Celithemus elisa). Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (2017)
Maybe it will be a Black Saddlebags dragonfly, one of our migratory species…
Black Saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (2014).
… or even the stunning Carolina Saddlebags dragonflies, which are an infrequent pleasure.
Male and female Carolina Saddlebags dragonflies (Tramea carolina) in tandem, Ware Field prairie planting, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.(Undated)
It’s almost certain that the first dragonfly I’ll see will be a Common Green Darner, Anax junius, returning from migration in the south and a descendant of one that left our Illinois tallgrass waters last fall.
Common Green Darner dragonfly (Anax junius), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2020)
Or, it will one of the Common Green Darners that stay here as nymphs all winter in Illinois, then takes flight in March’s warmer temperatures.
Male and female Common Green Darner dragonflies (Anax junius), Busse Woods, Schaumberg, IL (Undated).
Anticipation! As Carly Simon sings, “It’s making me w-a-i-t… .”
Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly (Libellula pulchella), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL (2018).
In the meantime, the February prairie holds its breath, waiting for spring.
Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis) Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Burn season is already underway at some tallgrass prairie preserves this week. For those prairies still unburned, it’s only a matter of the right temperatures, the right humidity, the right winds. And then?
Fire.
Prescribed burn, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2021)
We still have one more Tuesday in February. True spring is just a whisper of possibility. But when I went outside on Valentine’s Day last week I saw these blooming outside my back door.
Crocus (Crocus sativus) coming up through prairie dropseed (Sporobolis heterolepis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Our Valentine’s Day crocus bloom is the earliest we’ve seen in the years since we’ve planted bulbs. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Are you seeing signs of spring where you are, like I am? Let me know in the comments.
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Meanwhile, I’m enjoying these last prairie walks on the sometimes muddy, sometimes iced trails, before the prescribed fires wipe the last vestiges of our former prairie season away.
Prescribed burn, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2021).
The prairie is about to transform from a season of dried, bleached-out grasses and wildflowers…
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
…into a season of growth and color. Spring! Fire. Dragonflies.
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) on purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (2018).
It won’t be long. Change is on the way.
*****
Ken Tennessen, who wrote the haiku that’s quoted in the opening of this post, grew up in the North Woods where at a young age, he was intrigued with the life cycle of dragonflies. After earning a PhD in entomology, he continued dragonfly taxonomic research with dragonfly nymphs, authoring Dragonfly Nymphs of North America: An Identification Guide (Springer, 2019). His haiku is from the book, Dragonfly Haiku by Kobayashi Issa, Tennessen, and Scott King.
*****
Thursday, February 29, 7-8:30 p.m.—“Literary Gardens”— Hosted by the Downers Grove Public Library. Free and open to the public! For more information and to register, click here. (In Person)
Wednesday, March 6, 7-8:30 p.m.—“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Prairie’s Frequent Fliers.” —Hosted by Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Wilmington, IL (Welcome Center, St. Road 53). Free and open to the public. (In Person)
Monday, March 11, 7-8:30 p.m. — “Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Prairie’s Frequent Fliers.” Hosted by Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter, Normal, IL. Free and open to the public! (In Person). See Cindy’s website for more details.
Wednesdays, March 20, March 27, and April 3), 9-noon, —“Prairie Gardens for the Home Landscape” hosted by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. (In Person) (Sold Out). Call the Arboretum to be put on a waiting list: (630) 968-0074.
Find more programs and classes at Cindy’s website.
Cindy Crosby is the author, compiler, or contributor to more than 20 books. Her most recent is "Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History" (Northwestern University Press, 2020). She teaches prairie ecology, nature writing, and natural history classes, and is a prairie steward who has volunteered countless hours in prairie restoration. See Cindy's upcoming online speaking events and classes at www.cindycrosby.com.
Tuesdays in the Tallgrass 