Goodbye, August Prairie

“It was that day when the end of summer intersects perfectly with fall.” —Ann Patchett

*******

High daytime temperatures which hovered around 100 degrees last week have given way to nights in the 50s. Grateful, we open our windows to the cool breaths of air.

Eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis), The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Hiking sounds like fun again.

Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester, IL.

Let’s go see what the prairies are up to.

Hiking Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester, IL.

A few tattered tiger swallowtails hang around the thistle nectar bar, possibly humming “staying alive, staying alive.”

Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) on pasture thistle (Cirsium discolor), Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester, IL.

If you’re an insect, there is so much to be done at the end of August on the prairie. Avoid birds. Answer any final mating calls. Eat. Eat some more.

Eyes seem to watch us from behind every leaf.

Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester, IL.

Overhead, green darner dragonflies swirl, fueling up for migration.

Green darner dragonfly (Anax junius) and a jet over Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester, IL.

In a few weeks, the swarms of dragonflies and troupes of monarchs will be gone.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus) on pasture thistle (Cirsium discolor), Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester, IL.

I wonder what they’ll be up against as they make their journeys, with Hurricane Idalia unleashing her winds and rain in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. Fly safe, little ones.

*****

After leaving Wolf Road Prairie, we realize we still haven’t had enough tallgrass for the day. I look at Jeff, and he looks at me. Russell R. Kirt Prairie is close to our house. Let’s go!

Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Once there, I scan the skies. Not a single monarch in sight this afternoon, despite the excellent work going on to record them on special wipe-off boards at the trailheads (kudos!).

Monarch sighting board, Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

But other little creatures are everywhere. Can you find one?

Biennial gaura (Oenothera gaura) and an unknown critter, Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

But the dragonflies—wow—they fill the prairie airspace here. Maybe we should be counting them! Green darners. Black saddlebags. Wandering gliders.

Wandering glider dragonfly (Pantala flavescens), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL. (2016)

We admire the wildflowers and grasses as we hike the circular paths, then head for home.

Green darner dragonfly (Anax junius) over Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

In our backyard, the birds continue their assault on the zinnias. I planted extra flowers this season, so I don’t begrudge them the seeds.

American goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Well…not too much, anyway.

The sparrows splash in the birdbath, and a bedraggled squirrel stops by for a fountain drink.

Eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

It should be a peaceable kingdom. But… not so much. Hummingbirds battle the wasps and bees at the nectar feeder.

Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) and pure green sweat bee (Augochlora pura), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

I should swap the little feeder out for the bigger one that has the bee guards. I’ve been too lazy lately to do it. As I watch, the hummingbird gives up and tries the the zinnias.

But someone else got there first.

Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) on Cut-and-Come-Again Zinnia (Zinnia elegans ‘Cut-and-Come-Again’), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

There’s always the hyssop by the patio. They love that. But wait!

American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) on purple giant hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

What’s a hummingbird to do? Ah well. Soon, they’ll be headed south, foraging through gardens and prairies as they go. They add such pizazz to the prairies and our backyards. I miss them already.

August has been such an amazing month. So many intriguing wildflowers!

Purple rattlesnake root (Nabalus racemosus), Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester, IL.

So many fascinating creatures.

American rubyspot damselfly (Hetaerina americana) DuPage River, Lisle, IL.

As the wildflowers go to seed…

Pasture rose (Rosa carolina), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

…and the grasses begin their rule on the prairies…

…there is an endless supply of discoveries to be made. What a beautiful world it is, at the end of August.

Wolf Road Prairie, Westchester, IL.

Why not go see?

****

Ann Patchett (1963-) is the award-winning author of Bel Canto (2001) and many other bestselling works of fiction, most recently Tom Lake (2023). As a child, she didn’t learn to read until third grade. Patchett lives in Nashville, TN, where she is the owner of Parnassus Books.

*****

Upcoming Programs and Classes

September 6 — The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop, hosted by Field and Flower Garden Club, Lake Barrington, IL. (Closed event for members)

September 11— Literary Gardens, hosted by the Long Grove-Killdeer Garden Club, Barrington, IL (Closed event for members)

September 21-– The Tallgrass Prairie in Art, Music, and Literature, hosted by the Lincolnshire Garden Club (Closed event for members).

September 26 — Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers, 1-2:30 p.m., hosted by the Itasca Garden Club (Itasca Park District Recreation Center). Free and open to the public!

September 27 — Literary Gardens, 7-8:30 p.m., hosted by the Barrington Public Library (Barrington, IL). Free and open to the public! For more information and to register, call 847-382-1300.

*****

A note to my wonderful readers: Jeff and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary by visiting 40 natural areas over the summer and fall this year. Please let us know where you think we should head to next. Thanks to everyone who has sent ideas! So far, we’ve enjoyed visiting the following places:

Kayaking at #1 Rock Cut State Park (Rockford, IL); hiking at #2 James “Pate” Philip State Park (Bartlett, IL); #3 Potato Creek State Park (North Liberty, IN); #4 Indiana Dunes State Park (Porter County, IN); #5 Indiana Dunes National Park (Beverly Shores, IN); kayaking Silver Lake at #6 Blackwell Forest Preserve (Wheaton/Warrenville, IL); hiking #7 Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #8 Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve (Winfield, IL), #9 Bluff Spring Fen (Elgin, IL), #10 Herrick Lake Forest Preserve (Wheaton, IL); Jeff’s family reunion at #11 Hawthorn Park (Terre Haute, IN); hiking #12 Turkey Run State Park, Marshall, IN) and at #13 Shades State Park, Waveland, IN; hiking and bison viewing at #14 Kankakee Sands, Morocco, IN; hiking at #15 Hidden Lake Forest Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #16 Peck Farm Park (Geneva, IL), #17 Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL); #18 Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove, IL; #19 Nachusa Grasslands (Franklin Grove, IL); reading in a swing along the Rock River at #20 Lowell Park (Dixon, IL); cabin overnight and hiking at #21 White Pines State Park (Mt. Morris, IL); hiking to the overlook at #22 Castle Rock State Park (Oregon, IL); enjoying the views at a prairie remnant gem #23 Beach Cemetery Prairie (Ogle County, IL); #24 Springbrook Prairie (Naperville, IL); watching eagles and hiking at #25 Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby, IL); watching the dragonfly migration at #26 Matthiessen State Park (Oglesby, IL); river overlook at #27 Buffalo Rock State Park (Ottawa, IL); #28 monarch and dragonfly migration at Wolf Road Prairie (Westchester, IL); and hiking #29 Russell R. Kirt Prairie at College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL). Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions last week.

That Tallgrass Prairie Sizzle

“…Burning summers when the world lies green and billowy beneath a brilliant sky, when one is fairly stifled in vegetation, in the color and smell of strong weeds and heavy harvests… .”–Willa Cather

*****

Late August promises to blow the tops off the thermometers here in the Midwest.

Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

With “real feel” over 110 degrees at times this week, a virtual hike on the prairie sounds good.

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

Let’s do it.

Head for the shaded prairie stream. Feel the temperature drop.

Willoway Brook, Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, L.

What’s that plant twining its way toward the water?

American hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

American hog peanut! What a hilarious name. Later, I read more about it, and discover it’s a host plant for the silver-spotted skipper.

Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL (2013).

Who would have thought?

Lean over the bridge, and watch the life of the stream.

Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

But some usual damselflies are missing. I’m not seeing two regulars of this prairie stream: the American Rubyspot damselfly…

American rubyspot damselfly (Heterina americanus), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL (2021).

…and the Ebony Jewelwing damselfly.

Ebony jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.(2021)

Plenty of stream bluet damselflies cruise along. But where are my old favorites? Completely absent. And then–oh no! Two unlucky variable dancer damselflies are caught in a spider web slung across the brook.

Variable dancer damselflies (Argia fumipennis), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

Drama! They are on the breakfast menu this morning in the circle of life.

Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

The life of a damselfly is so short. Not only is their natural lifespan only a few weeks; predators are everywhere. Swallows are ready to pick them off in an instant.

iNaturalist says Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and the Merlin sound app also says Barn Swallow, Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. I don’t see much orange here, though. What do you think?

Frogs watch for an opportunity to snack on a damselfly or two. Zip. Snap! Yum.

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Knowing how short many of their lives are reminds me to appreciate prairie insects when I see them. The small, and the overlooked. As well as the beautiful dragonflies and damselflies. Speaking of which.

Possibly a leatherwing beetle, (Chauliognathus sp.) on rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

Over the streams…

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…prairies…

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…lakes, rivers…

Illinois River, Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby, IL.

…and ponds this week, several species of dragonflies mass for migration in Illinois.

Mostly Common Green Darner dragonflies (Anax junius) Matthiessen State Park, Oglesby, IL.

They’ll trade the sizzling heat for a more southern destination; a dubious swap. Where will they end their journey? The Gulf Coast? Central America? We know so little about dragonfly migration. Every year, when these swarms show up, it reminds me that the natural world is full of endless mystery.

Unknown bumblebee (Bombus sp.) on obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

And that’s just the beginnings of the mysteries that beckon to be unraveled on the tallgrass prairie, our landscape of home.

Common Whitetail dragonfly (Playthemis lydia), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

I like a good mystery or two. Pretty cool on a hot day.

****

The opening quote is by Willa Cather (1873-1947) from My Antonia. It contains many memorable passages about the tallgrass prairie, including one of my favorites: “More than anything else I felt motion in the landscape; in the fresh, easy-blowing morning wind; and in the earth itself, as if the shaggy grass were a sort of loose hide, and underneath it herds of wild buffalo were galloping, galloping… .”

*****

Upcoming Programs and Classes

September 6 — The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop, hosted by Field and Flower Garden Club, Lake Barrington, IL. (Closed event for members)

September 11— Literary Gardens, hosted by the Long Grove-Killdeer Garden Club, Barrington, IL (Closed event for members)

September 21-– The Tallgrass Prairie in Art, Music, and Literature, hosted by the Lincolnshire Garden Club (Closed event for members).

September 26 — Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers, 1-2:30 p.m., hosted by the Itasca Garden Club (Itasca Park District Recreation Center). Free and open to the public!

September 27 — Literary Gardens, hosted by the Barrington Public Library (Barrington, IL). Free and open to the public! For more information and to register, call 847-382-1300.

*****

A note to my wonderful readers: Jeff and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary by visiting 40 natural areas over the summer and fall this year. Please let us know where you think we should head to next. Thanks to everyone who has sent ideas! We’re more than halfway there–thirteen more to go. So far, we’ve enjoyed visiting the following places:

Kayaking at #1 Rock Cut State Park (Rockford, IL); hiking at #2 James “Pate” Philip State Park (Bartlett, IL); #3 Potato Creek State Park (North Liberty, IN); #4 Indiana Dunes State Park (Porter County, IN); #5 Indiana Dunes National Park (Beverly Shores, IN); kayaking Silver Lake at #6 Blackwell Forest Preserve (Wheaton/Warrenville, IL); hiking #7 Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #8 Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve (Winfield, IL), #9 Bluff Spring Fen (Elgin, IL), #10 Herrick Lake Forest Preserve (Wheaton, IL); Jeff’s family reunion at #11 Hawthorn Park (Terre Haute, IN); hiking #12 Turkey Run State Park, Marshall, IN) and at #13 Shades State Park, Waveland, IN; hiking and bison viewing at #14 Kankakee Sands, Morocco, IN; hiking at #15 Hidden Lake Forest Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #16 Peck Farm Park (Geneva, IL), #17 Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL); #18 Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove, IL; #19 Nachusa Grasslands (Franklin Grove, IL); reading in a swing along the Rock River at #20 Lowell Park (Dixon, IL); cabin overnight and hiking at #21 White Pines State Park (Mt. Morris, IL); hiking to the overlook at #22 Castle Rock State Park (Oregon, IL); enjoying the views at a prairie remnant gem #23 Beach Cemetery Prairie (Ogle County, IL); #24 Springbrook Prairie (Naperville, IL); watching eagles and hiking at #25 Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby, IL); watching the dragonfly migration at #26 Matthiessen State Park (Oglesby, IL); river overlook at #27 Buffalo Rock State Park (Ottawa, IL). Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions last week!

The Summer Prairie in Motion

“All landscapes are variable and dynamic… .” —Robert Morrissey

*****

August jogs along in her yellows.

Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

All that bright color!

Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Such an outpouring of golds.

Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), Springbrook Prairie, Naperville, IL.

There are blues, too, swinging to the summer’s beat.

Smooth solomon’s seal (Polygonatum commutatum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Dancing in the August heat.

Blue-fronted dancer damselfly (Argia apicalis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Spikes of lavender.

Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius) on blazing star (Liatris spicata), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

And a few dabs of purple here and there.

Ironweed, probably the smooth (Vernonia fasciculata) Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2021)

Summer. You’re a tease.

Black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes)on non-native cut-leaved teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus), Ware Field, Lisle, IL.

As I make my way across the prairie, I admire the butterfly while deploring the teasel it nectars on. Teasel. A non-native, aggressive plant which was originally brought over by Europeans in the 1700s as a useful ornamental, helpful in textile work. Today, it rampages across prairies and natural areas, and catches my clothes and scratches my arms as I hike cross-country. Ouch!

Seedpods dangle.

White wild indigo (Baptisia alba), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboreum, Lisle, IL.

The wind blows. They clatter. Then there’s a chatter. Who’s making that ruckus?

Oh, it’s you. Hey, wren.

House wren (Troglodytes aedon), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Cricket’s chirp. Cicadas hum their monotonous tune. The prairie path stretches ahead in the heat.

Springbrook Prairie, Naperville, IL.

Queen Anne’s lace and blue-blue-blue chicory limn the edges of every road.

Non-native common chicory (Cichorium intybus), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2021)

It’s as if the sky and clouds fell into the tallgrass paths. As prairie stewards, we shake our heads over these non-native wildflowers, but as visitors to this world, we can’t help but exult in the pearly filigree and bluebird blue.

Non-native and invasive Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

It’s a season of lushness. Abundance.

In my backyard, the squirrels and chipmunks are busy. I find a half-chewed cherry tomato on the swing. Another on the steps. Bunnies nibble the lettuce. A goldfinch tears off zinnia petals to get to the seeds; scattering the red, gold, and pink like so much confetti.

Zinnias (Zinnia elegans ‘Cut and Come Again’), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

“Garden for wildlife” they said. “It will be fun” they said.

Well.

Plenty of fruit and flowers for all.

Brandywine heirloom tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Brandywine’), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

The butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds don’t seem to mind the stripped zinnias; the nectar source is still intact.

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on non-native cut-and-come-again zinnia (Zinnia elegans ‘Cut and Come Again’), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2022)

So why not be generous? It’s all a marvel. Such output!

August’s profligacy. From my backyard to the vast Midwestern landscape.

Pale indian plantain (Arnoglossum atriplicifolium), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

These prairies.

Crosby’s backyard prairie, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Those skies.

Springbrook Prairie, Naperville, IL.

This summer day.

Cream gentian (Gentiana alba), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Hang on to each moment.

Familiar bluet damselfly (Enallagma civile), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

It’s August on the tallgrass prairie. You won’t want to miss a thing.

*****

The opening quote is by Robert Michael Morrissey, the author of People of the Ecotone: Environment and Indigenous Power at the Center of Early America (2022), an environmental history which explores changes to the tallgrass prairie and to the stories of indigenous people who call it home. Writes Elizabeth Ellis, “Morrissey crafts a compelling narrative that forces readers to rethink the histories of the tallgrass prairies and their peoples.” Morrissey is the associate professor of history at University of Illinois.

*****

Upcoming Programs and Classes

September 6 — The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop, hosted by Field and Flower Garden Club, Lake Barrington, IL. (Closed event for members)

September 11— Literary Gardens, hosted by the Long Grove-Killdeer Garden Club, Barrington, IL (Closed event for members)

September 21-– The Tallgrass Prairie in Art, Music, and Literature, hosted by the Lincolnshire Garden Club (Closed event for members).

September 26 — Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers, hosted by the Itasca Garden Club (details coming soon).

September 27— Literary Gardens, hosted by the Barrington Public Library, 7-8:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information and to register, visit here.

*****

A note to my wonderful readers: Jeff and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary by visiting 40 natural areas over the summer and fall this year. Please let us know where you think we should head to next. Thanks to everyone who has sent ideas! We’re more than halfway there. So far, we’ve enjoyed hiking, bison viewing, reading, and/or kayaking at the following:

Kayaking at #1 Rock Cut State Park (Rockford, IL); hiking at #2 James “Pate” Philip State Park (Bartlett, IL); #3 Potato Creek State Park (North Liberty, IN); #4 Indiana Dunes State Park (Porter County, IN); #5 Indiana Dunes National Park (Beverly Shores, IN); kayaking Silver Lake at #6 Blackwell Forest Preserve (Wheaton/Warrenville, IL); hiking #7 Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #8 Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve (Winfield, IL), #9 Bluff Spring Fen (Elgin, IL), #10 Herrick Lake Forest Preserve (Wheaton, IL); Jeff’s family reunion at #11 Hawthorn Park (Terre Haute, IN); hiking #12 Turkey Run State Park, Marshall, IN) and at #13 Shades State Park, Waveland, IN; hiking and bison viewing at #14 Kankakee Sands, Morocco, IN; hiking at #15 Hidden Lake Forest Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #16 Peck Farm Park (Geneva, IL), #17 Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL); #18 Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove, IL; #19 Nachusa Grasslands (Franklin Grove, IL); reading in a swing along the Rock River at #20 Lowell Park (Dixon, IL); cabin overnight and hiking at #21 White Pines State Park (Mt. Morris, IL); hiking to the overlook at #22 Castle Rock State Park (Oregon, IL); enjoying the views at a prairie remnant gem #23 Beach Cemetery Prairie (Ogle County, IL); #24 Springbrook Prairie (Naperville, IL.

Hello, August Prairie

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.” — Sylvia Plath

******

August arrives on the tallgrass prairie.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

August! So glad you are underway.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Look at how you set the month in motion.

Black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

The garden kicks into high gear. Ripen. Ripen. Ripen. So much abundance.

Garden haul, Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

August is full of so many possibilities. Wade a stream. Explore somewhere new.

Prairie planting along the ford at Pine Creek at White Pines State Park, Mt. Morris, IL.

August, you are elegant.

Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

I love your big sky prairie views.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Your close up micro marvels.

Springwater dancer damselflies (Argia funebris), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

And so many amazements to see, in between.

Flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Go ahead, dive in.

Unknown bee (Bombus sp.) on Sweet Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum), Castle Rock State Park, Oregon, IL.

Who knows what you’ll discover, if you chip away at it?

Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), Wilderness Road at Castle Rock State Park, Oregon, IL.

August is full of surprises.

Royal catchfly (Silene regia) and other wildflowers, Crosby’s front yard prairie planting, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Wonders both big and small.

Biennial gaura (Oenothera gaura), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Why wait to go see?

*******

Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) was known for her poetry, novels, and short stories, many of them very dark and confessional. If you read The Bell Jar in high school English class, you might enjoy revisiting her poetry as an adult. Read more about her here.

*****

Join Cindy for a Class or Program in late July and August!

August 9 — Interpretation for Master Naturalists, hosted by the Illinois Extension and The Morton Arboretum (via Zoom). (SOLD OUT)

August 11 — The Tallgrass Prairie for Master Naturalists, hosted by the Illinois Extension and The Morton Arboretum (in person). (SOLD OUT)

August 14 — Dragonflies and Damselflies, hosted by MAPS– The Morton Arboretum Photographic Society, Lisle, IL. Free for MAPS members and their guests. Blended online and in-person program. 7-8:30 p.m. For more information and details, visit here.

September 6 — The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop, hosted by Field and Flower Garden Club, Lake Barrington, IL. (Closed event for members)

*****

A note to my awesome readers: Jeff and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary by visiting 40 natural areas over the summer and fall this year. Please let us know where you think we should head to next. Thanks to everyone who has sent ideas! We’re more than halfway there. So far, we’ve enjoyed hiking, bison viewing, reading, and/or kayaking at the following:

Kayaking at #1 Rock Cut State Park (Rockford, IL); hiking at #2 James “Pate” Philip State Park (Bartlett, IL); #3 Potato Creek State Park (North Liberty, IN); #4 Indiana Dunes State Park (Porter County, IN); #5 Indiana Dunes National Park (Beverly Shores, IN); kayaking Silver Lake at #6 Blackwell Forest Preserve (Wheaton/Warrenville, IL); hiking #7 Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #8 Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve (Winfield, IL), #9 Bluff Spring Fen (Elgin, IL), #10 Herrick Lake Forest Preserve (Wheaton, IL); Jeff’s family reunion at #11 Hawthorn Park (Terre Haute, IN); hiking #12 Turkey Run State Park, Marshall, IN) and at #13 Shades State Park, Waveland, IN; hiking and bison viewing at #14 Kankakee Sands, Morocco, IN; hiking at #15 Hidden Lake Forest Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #16 Peck Farm Park (Geneva, IL), #17 Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL); #18 Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove, IL; #19 Nachusa Grasslands (Franklin Grove, IL); reading in a swing along the Rock River at #20 Lowell Park (Dixon, IL); cabin overnight and hiking at #21 White Pines State Park (Mt. Morris, IL); hiking to the overlook at #22 Castle Rock State Park (Oregon, IL); enjoying the views at a prairie remnant gem #23 Beach Cemetery Prairie (Ogle County, IL).

Night and Day on the Tallgrass Prairie

“It is that range of biodiversity we must care for—the whole thing—rather than just one or two stars.” —David Attenborough

*******

Good morning from the tallgrass prairie!

Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) on purple coneflower (Echinacea pupurea), Ware Field, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Look around you.

Blue-form female blue-fronted dancer (Argia apicalis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Look closer.

Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina) on Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Listen.

American goldfinch (Spinis tristis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

The insect chorus tells you. August has arrived.

Ware Field prairie planting, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Figwort buzzes with activity.

Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) on late figwort (Scrophularia marilandica), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

The backyard garden hums.

Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) on cut-and-come-again zinnia (Zinnia elegans), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Summer’s rollercoaster hits the top of the seasonal track. Pauses.

Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) and Indian hemp/dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), Ware Field, The Morton Arboretum, Wheaton, IL.

Hold your breath. Here we go.

Familiar bluet female damselfly (Enallagama civile) munching an unknown insect, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Time begins its gradual descent toward autumn.

Rattlesnake master (Erynguim yuccafolium) with blazing star (Liatris sp.), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

The first New England asters are in bloom. Already?

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae),Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Early goldenrod paints the spaces between white wild indigo, twined with river grapevine.

Early goldenrod (Solidago juncea) and white wild indigo (Baptisia alba) with river grape (Vitis riparia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

It’s the height of summer.

Great St. John’s wort (Hypericum ascyron), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Let’s hang on to these moments as long as we can.

Stream bluet damselfly (Enallagma exsulans), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Enjoy any day that opens with clean air. Sunshine. Low humidity. We’ll not take them for granted again.

Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Sooner than we think, summer will be behind us.

Halloween pennant (Celithemis epipona), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Seize the day. While summer lasts.

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Sunset arrives on the tallgrass prairie. Most of us head for home.

Springbrook Prairie, Naperville, IL.(2020)

But last week, I spent a few hours on the prairie after dark. Each summer, our band of prairie volunteers sets up a sheet and special lights to join “National Moth Week” in learning what moth species are out and about. “Moths!” you might say. “Aren’t those the bugs that eat our wool sweaters and damage our crops?”

Well, yes, some moth species might. However, moths are much more than pests. Moths are important pollinators. Each moth species may have different host plants, coloration, and lifestyle habits.

Peppered moth (Iridopsis larvaria), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

A few bats flapped around our moth set-up, then flew off into the savanna as darkness descended. The sheet began to ping with tiny insects. Then, an unexpected arrival. Two Vesper Bluet damselflies!

Vesper bluet damselfly (Enallagma vesperum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Because we monitor and keep data on dragonflies and damselflies during the daylight hours, I had never seen this crepuscular species. It flies in the late afternoons into the evenings, and may mate and oviposit after dark. For this dragonfly chaser, it was like Christmas in July.

And then came the moths.

Some with unusual-shaped wings.

Honest Pero Moth (Pero honestaria), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Pink ones.

Raspberry pyrausta moth (Pyrausta signatalis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Moths apparently wearing fur ruffs.

One of the grass tubeworm moths (Acrolophus sp.), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Moths like stained glass.

Oak besma moth (Besma quercivoraria), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Moths with racing stripes.

Pink-barred pseudeustrotia moth (Pseudeustrotia carneola), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

So many diverse moths! Each one a work of art. I was reminded of how little we know of the prairie—and the world we live in—as it is after dark.

Mothapalooza on the Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

After a few hours, the moth action was just getting started. But we were bushed. We shook out our sheets, packed our gear and headed home, feeling a little more astonished about the natural world. So much variety! So much to learn. And that’s just moths. Think of all the wildflowers, grasses, insects, birds, lichen, fungi, mosses, and other members of the prairie community out there, waiting for us to discover more about them.

Calico pennant dragonfly (Celithemis elisa), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

It would take several lifetimes to explore a single prairie—or even—our backyards.

Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

I don’t know how anyone could ever be bored. Do you?

*****

Sir David Frederick Attenborough (1926-), whose quote opens this blog today, is the host of numerous nature documentaries, including Planet Earth, and the winner of three Emmy Awards for documentary narration. He’s also the author of many books, including A Life on our Planet. He also has approximately 30 species named for him, including a Namibian lizard (Playtisaurus attenboroughi).

*****

Join Cindy for a Class or Program in late July and August

August 3 — Dragonflies and Daiquiris, hosted by the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. (SOLD OUT) 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call and ask to be put on a waiting list.

August 5 — Nature and Art Retreat, hosted by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Founders Room, Thornhill Education Center. Cindy will be leading the writing section. There are only a few spots left!  Register here.

August 9 — Interpretation for Master Naturalists, hosted by the Illinois Extension and The Morton Arboretum (via Zoom). (SOLD OUT)

August 11 — The Tallgrass Prairie for Master Naturalists, hosted by the Illinois Extension and The Morton Arboretum (in person). (SOLD OUT)

August 14 — Dragonflies and Damselflies, hosted by MAPS– The Morton Arboretum Photographic Society, Lisle, IL. Free for MAPS members and their guests. Blended online and in-person program. 7-8:30 p.m. For more information and details, visit here.

*****

A note to my awesome readers: Jeff and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary by visiting 40 natural areas over the summer and fall this year. Please let us know where you think we should head to next. Thanks to everyone who has sent ideas! We’re almost halfway there. So far, we’ve enjoyed hiking, bison viewing, and/or kayaking at the following:

Kayaking at #1 Rock Cut State Park (Rockford, IL); hiking at #2 James “Pate” Philip State Park (Bartlett, IL); #3 Potato Creek State Park (North Liberty, IN); #4 Indiana Dunes State Park (Porter County, IN); #5 Indiana Dunes National Park (Beverly Shores, IN); kayaking Silver Lake at #6 Blackwell Forest Preserve (Wheaton/Warrenville, IL); hiking #7 Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #8 Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve (Winfield, IL), #9 Bluff Spring Fen (Elgin, IL), #10 Herrick Lake Forest Preserve (Wheaton, IL); Jeff’s family reunion at #11 Hawthorn Park (Terre Haute, IN); hiking #12 Turkey Run State Park, Marshall, IN) and at #13 Shades State Park, Waveland, IN; hiking and bison viewing at #14 Kankakee Sands, Morocco, IN; hiking at #15 Hidden Lake Forest Preserve (Downers Grove, IL), #16 Peck Farm Park (Geneva, IL), #17 Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL); and #18 Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove, IL.