“Thou blossom bright with autumn dew… .”—William Cullen Bryant
******
September on the prairie opens with a suite of delights, despite the dry weather in the Chicago region. Skies this past week veered between a celestial milky ice…
…to a startling aquamarine fleeced with clouds.
In my backyard mix of traditional garden and prairie, a Cooper’s hawk keeps an eye on the bird feeders. She considers the whole spread her personal salad bar. The chipmunks and hummingbirds won’t get close, but the squirrels take a more laissez-faire approach. Not a bunny in sight.
Fall wildflowers and grasses fling themselves into the new month, bent on completing their cycle of bloom and set seed; bloom and set seed; bloom and set seed.
The low light filters through the now-golding tree leaves, a memo from nature that time is running out for warm season pursuits. I love the seed variety in the prairies and savannas. They range from sharp…
…to smooth.
Pale asters froth up like foamy cappuccinos.
As I hike the prairie trails, I look for some of my fall favorites. White goldenrod, which looks like an aster, is tough to find but worth the hunt. That name! Such an oxymoron.
Hyssop stands out in the savannas; a pollinator plant favorite.
But most of all, I delight in the gentians.
Welcome back.
True, the cream gentians have been in bloom for at least a month now.
But the blue gentians are an extra dollop of delight.
As I admire the deep, deep, blues, I think a William Cullen Bryant poem about fringed gentians:
“Blue-blue-as if that sky let fall
A flower from its cerulean wall.“
I don’t find fringed gentians on my walk today, but I’ve seen them in previous years. I do discover, nearby in the tallgrass, the Stiff Gentians, sometimes called “Agueweed.” They are almost ready to open.
Soon they’ll bloom, and add their tiny flowers to the prairies.
Cool breezes! That sunshine. What a day to go for a hike. I want to wander through the tallgrass, spangled with gentians, under September skies. Inhale prairie dropseed fragrance. Feel the tallgrass brush my shoulders. Feel the cares of the past week roll off my shoulders.
Is there a better way to begin the month? If there is, I don’t know what it would be.
Why not go see?
*******
The opening line is from William Cullen Bryant’s poem, To the Fringed Gentian. Click here to read the poem in its entirety on the Poetry Foundation’s website. You may know Bryant’s poetic line, “Truth crushed to earth shall rise again” — made famous by Dr. Martin Luther King Junior in his speech, “Give Us the Ballot.”
*******
September 9, 9:30-11 amβ in personββThe Tallgrass Prairie: Illinois Original Gardenβ Oswego Hilltoppers Garden Club, Oswego Public Library. Please visit the clubβs Facebook page for guest information, event updates pending Covid positivity in Illinois, and Covid protocol. Masks required for this event.
September 27, 7-8:30 p.m.βin personββThe Tallgrass Prairie: Illinois Original GardenβΒ Arlington Heights Garden Club. Please visit the clubβs websiteΒ hereΒ for guest information, event updates pending Covid positivity in Illinois, and Covid protocol.
Cindy your camerawork has become masterful. Lovely how well they tell the story.
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You are so kind! Thank you, Mike, for your continued support of Tuesdays in the Tallgrass, and your encouragement. Enjoy the prairie this week!
Cindy π
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Lovely dreamy photo of the bottlebrush grass — that’s a tough one for me to photograph. And white goldenrod — what?! That’s a new one for me…very interesting to learn about this.
So glad you shared pics of prairie gentian and jogged my memory of the ONE time I got to see that plant. The nectar guides inside are incredible!
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Thank you, Kim! I am always so inspired by your blog — folks, check out “Nature is My Therapy” — you’ll be glad you did! Enjoy this beautiful weather, Kim!
Cindy π
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Hello Cindy, Your weekly posts are so appreciated, your perspective and your pictures. I’ve encouraged several friends to enjoy them as well; thanks for helping make these last couple years more interesting, beautiful (and bearable). I was driving down Leask Rd at dusk last night and the mist was extraordinary. I’m attaching my (not fantastic by any means) iPhone grab of the moment, as best I could from the side of the road, leaning over the fence. I’m sharing it with you only because it’s inspired by your prairie musings, and gorgeous pictures. Thanks! David Littlehale
On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 6:41 AM Tuesdays in the Tallgrass wrote:
> Cindy Crosby posted: ” “Thou blossom bright with autumn dew… > .”—William Cullen Bryant ****** September on the prairie opens with a > suite of delights, despite the dry weather in the Chicago region. Skies > this past week veered between a celestial milky ice… Schule” >
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What a lovely note, David — thank you so much. I don’t see the photo, but I bet it is amazing! Thank you for telling me about it, and also, for how you pay attention to prairie. I’m grateful for folks like you that get excited by it, as I do!
Cindy π
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What I a lovely site. I discovered in while searching for information for my birder addicted ten year old grandson, Gavin I have now subscribed.Can you tell me anything about the bird feeding moratorium in northern Illinois? He loves to fill the feeders at his home in River Side and ours in River Forest.
Thanks,
Len
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Hello, Modemjunkie, and thank you for following the blog! I was so delighted to hear about your grandson who loves birding. How wonderful that you can enjoy birding together! I have fun filling feeders with my grandkids as well. As far as I know, we have been spared the bird die-off that has happened in so many states (the most recent article I found was here: https://news.wttw.com/2021/08/06/illinois-spared-mystery-bird-die-cause-still-unknown-officials-say However, it’s possible that things have changed since this article came out. I would follow Illinois Birding Network on Facebook to get current updates. You might also call Willowbrook Wildlife Center and see what they are discovering ((630) 942-6200) — good luck! Let us know what you find out. Thank you for reading, and for subscribing! Cindy π
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Thank you. I will follow up.
Enjoy this gorgeous weather while it lasts.
Len
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Take care, Len, and thank you for sharing your love for the natural world! So glad to have you and your grandson along for the hikes each week. Cindy π
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Good news. I reached out to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources today. The confirmed that based on current information it should be safe to feed the birds again and gave us some guidance. The kids are excited to be able to feed the birds again and Gavin looks forward to seeing coming along on your hikes.
Thanks again,
Len
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This is GREAT news — thank you for sharing!!! And thank you for reading, Len. Cindy π
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Hello, is it possible to attend your Illinois Prairie talk at Arlington Heights virtually, even if the event ends up being held in person? I live in Seattle so canβt attend in person π
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Hello, Lori! I will check — thank you for asking!
Cindy π
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Hello, Lori! If you’d like to attend, please contact me at phrelanzer@aol.com, and I’ll give you the contact info for the organization. They said you are welcome to attend, but need to call their representative. Thank you for your interest! Cindy π
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