The Tallgrass Prairie Annual Reading Roundup

“So many books… so little time.”—Frank Zappa

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Over the past weekend we ate too much pie. We went for our annual holiday hike. Played a lot of board games. And now, at the end of the holiday weekend, snow has fallen and the temperature hovers in the low teens. It’s the perfect day for taking a “hike” through the bookshelves, and reading by the fireplace.

Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Almost every year since the beginning of this blog in December of 2014, I’ve written an annual prairie books roundup. As the always-awesome John T. Price writes in his book, The Tallgrass Prairie Reader, “the relative absence of tallgrass prairie literature…is another kind of extinction.” So I’m grateful whenever I see any new tallgrass prairie books hit the shelves of my favorite independent bookstore, or my beloved local library. And I’m thankful for all of you who still support books, whether in print version, electronic version, or listening to them on audio. Long may you read!

Butterfly milkweed (Ascepias tuberosa), Glen Ellyn, IL.

Over time, I’ve expanded the reach of this tallgrass prairie book round-up to also include others that encompass the larger prairie region, as well as our prairie peninsula. I also have a few classics that I reach for again and again. And yes—I might slip a few of my own books in there. (My publishers like that!).

Crosby bookshelf, Glen Ellyn, IL.

This is by no means a comprehensive list; rather, just a sampling. My hope is that you’ll find at least one new book to gift someone for the holidays, or to check out of the library for yourself. At the very least, I hope you’ll find a familiar favorite or two to remind you of the delights and joys of the tallgrass prairie and its communities. And of course, after reading this post, I hope you’ll share some of your tallgrass prairie must-reads in the comment section below.

Buffalo (Bison bison bison) in the fog, Kankakee Sands, Morocco, IN. (2022)

On Friday, Dec.1, I’ll be kicking off the last month of the year with a morning lecture, Bison Tales and Tallgrass Trails, at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, just outside Chicago. I’ve been immersed in bison books for the past several months in preparation for that program, and “herd” about others I’ve not yet investigated, so this particular book “roundup” is…er…well…”heavy” on the buffalo. Okay, enough bison puns. Let’s take a look.

Belmont Prairie, Downers Grove, IL (2017).

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It’s difficult to name anything Ken Burns doesn’t do well, and the companion book to his latest film The American Buffalo is a must read. Written with Dayton Duncan, Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo, is a treasure trove for any prairie lover, and an engrossing read for history buffs. The 217 color photos alone are reason to splurge and buy the book, or put it on your holiday gift wish list.

The four-hour film, The American Buffalo, is also available for live-streaming, purchase, or for DVD loan at your local library. It’s a real heart-breaker, so be warned you’ll have to reach for the Kleenex.

At this writing, you can still stream it on PBS by clicking here: The American Buffalo. I watched this intense two-part series on PBS in mid-October, and was grateful for a break in the middle to gather my thoughts and emotions. I came away with a deeper understanding of the relationships between bison and many Native Americans, as well as the importance of conservation. A short film, “Homecoming,” is also included which spotlights the InterTribal Buffalo Council and its work with sites like Nachusa Grasslands in Franklin Grove, IL, to restore buffalo to tribal lands “for cultural and spiritual enhancement and preservation.” Also very moving.

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An oldie but goodie is Dan O’Brien’s Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch (2002). In it, O’Brien tells his personal losses begin to be redeemed by bringing bison to his ranch and attempting to “make the land whole again.”

As a memoir, rather than a historical account or academic tome, this is an interesting contrast to some of the other bison books here. O’Brien approaches prairie restoration and bison recovery as a commercial rancher. Around 2001, O’Brien founded Wild Idea Buffalo Company and Sustainable Harvest Alliance on his ranch in South Dakota, where he previous ran cattle. He has a dream of supplying grass-fed bison as part of a healthy diet and as part of restoring the prairies of the Great Plains. O’Brien also appears in the Ken Burns’ documentary (above) The American Buffalo.

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If you’re up for a deep dive into academia, People of the Ecotone: Environment and Indigenous Power at the Center of Early America by Robert Michael Morrissey is a fascinating look at the prairie peninsula, and how the tallgrass prairie and bison were two powerful dynamics in the lives of indigenous peoples. Because he puts the heart of the ecotone in Illinois, as a prairie steward, I found this particularly relevant to my work and eye-opening in giving me more context for it.

My prairie co-steward, John, recommended this book to me, and as with all his recommendations, it was stellar. I was especially happy when I came across a photo in the early pages of a prescribed burn at Nachusa Grasslands from talented prairie photographer Charles Larry. Check out Larry’s website here for more great bison and prairie photography.

Anyone who wants to better understand the tallgrass prairie region should read and discuss this intriguing book. The bibliography will also spark more books and articles you’ll want to investigate.

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As Jeff and I were Christmas shopping at a local honest-to-goodness-real-live bookstore this past week, I happened across Return of the Bison: A Story of Survival, Restoration, and a Wilder World by Roger L. DiSilverstro. I was hesitant to plunk down the cash for a $21.95 paperback that I hadn’t heard (“herd?”) of before, but with my bison program coming up, I decided to risk it.

To my delight, the writing is excellent and it isn’t just another rehash of all the other bison books out there. I’m already half-way through it. Rather than focusing on the history of bison, this is a look at contemporary conservation efforts and the questions that must be asked for the future of all wild animals. It’s also another reason to support your local bookstores, where as you browse, you can stumble across good books you didn’t know you needed to read.

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This month, I attended an excellent webinar hosted by the Wild Ones which featured Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox, co-authors of The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants. Diboll is the president and consulting ecologist for the past 40 years of Prairie Nursery, Inc., in Wisconsin. Cox is a horticulturist, botanist, gardener, and photographer. Together, they are a force for nature.

Gardeners will appreciate the 148 color photos of prairie plants in all stages of growth, range maps, and necessary growing conditions. At 644 pages—whew!—this is a comprehensive reference book for anyone who wants to increase the diversity of their yard by adding prairie plants. Lots of good info here.

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Do your friends and family shake their heads over your love for the tallgrass prairie? Are your prairie volunteers wondering why they are cutting brush and collecting seeds? The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction from Northwestern University Press is a book that assumes no prior knowledge of prairie. I wrote it with the questions I first had in mind when I began volunteering on the prairie, and also, from listening to the questions that my Tuesdays in the Tallgrass volunteers asked me on our workdays.

I also wrote it for my friends who are prairie stewards, prairie volunteers, or just love the prairie to give their friends and families who are puzzled why they dedicate so much time and energy to “all those weeds.” Some of the chapters include quick looks at the history of the tallgrass prairie, starting a prairie at home, the importance of learning the scientific names of plants, and how to prepare for a prairie workday or prairie hike. It’s short and easy read. I hope you’ll check it out!

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Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit was the brainchild of University of Iowa’s Tom Dean, and we worked together incorporating photos and short writing and poems on the deeper emotional connections we both have to the tallgrass prairie. Many of the photos from this blog and some of the writings about our Illinois prairies are included in the book. Dean writes compelling about–and includes his own beautiful photos of—the Iowa prairies of his home state.

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And although it’s not specifically a tallgrass prairie book, I believe John Vaillant’s recent nonfiction finalist for the 2023 National Book Awards, Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World, is one everyone who works with prescribed fire should read. It will particularly resonate with prairie stewards and natural land stewards.

This is an incredibly well-researched look at the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, and a deeper dive into our changing climate and what we might expect from fire in years to come. After weeks spent this summer in the Midwest with unhealthy air quality and smoke-laden skies from Canadian fires, I believe it is a book for our time. At a minimum, it will help you understand how fire acts and how we respond to fires out of our control. Read it. You won’t be disappointed.

And, I can’t have a book round-up without mentioning one of my perennial favorite prairie books: The Tallgrass Prairie Reader edited by John T. Price.

This is collection of readings from and about the tallgrass prairie that will help build literary context for restoration work, or add depth to a hike through your local grassland. The 42 authors range widely from Osage Chief Black Dog, to Mark Twain, to Louise Erdrich’s haunting essay, “Big Grass.” Price arranges them with early writings first, followed by the 19th, 20th, and 21st Century prairie essays. (Full disclosure: I am grateful to be included by Price with the contemporary writers with an excerpt from my book about the Schulenberg Prairie, By Willoway Brook). Price’s book would make a lovely holiday gift for the prairie steward or volunteer in your life.

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What are some of your favorite new prairie book arrivals? Some of your tried-and-true prairie book favorites? Please leave a comment below and let everyone know. Prairies are all about community, and this blog is all about our shared love for the natural world. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

“Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvelous adventures we can have,” wrote author Lloyd Alexander.

Here’s wishing you many happy hours with a good tallgrass prairie book this winter!

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The opening quote is generally attributed to the ever-controversial Frank Zappa (1940-93), who was an American musician and composer, and often called one of the “eclectic music pioneers of the 20th Century.” He was also a film director and music video director, and designed album covers. Some music trivia: The band Deep Purple wrote their 1972 hit song, Smoke on the Water, after a Frank Zappa concert in Switzerland, where a fan set off a flare which burned down the venue and ended the concert.

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Join Cindy for a program as we close out 2023!

Friday, 12/1 — 10-11:30 a.m.: “Bison Tales and Tallgrass Trails” at the beautiful Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL.  There are a few seats left! A book signing will follow the program, just in time for the holidays. To register, click here.)

12/12– 6:45-8 p.m.: “Winter Prairie Wonders” hosted by the Buffalo Grove Garden Club. Free and open to the public! For more information, click here.

More classes and programs are at www.cindycrosby.com .

Giving Thanks on the Prairie

“Just think of the stories these seeds are carrying.”—Diane Wilson

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Lately I’ve been scanning my backyard, watching for pine siskins. Birding friends and my local Wild Birds Unlimited store staff tell me pine siskins have been sighted at numerous backyard bird feeders this autumn. In the Chicago region, they are an “irruptive” species. Which means? We don’t reliably have them each year. Sometimes they show up. Sometimes they don’t. So I check my backyard feeders regularly; scour the local prairies and savannas where I hike. No luck.

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

It’s possible we’ve had them in years past, and my eyes passed over them as one of our common backyard sparrows or finches. Kenn Kaufman calls them “a goldfinch in camouflage.” The Audubon Society notes the pine siskin’s song is that of a “hoarse goldfinch.”

American goldfinches (Spinus tristis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL. No pine siskins here. (Undated)

You have to really pay attention to notice a pine siskin: the fine yellow under the wing; the streaky bird breast. I’m grateful to know they are close by—somewhere—and that if I keep an eye on my thistle feeder, I may see one. Eventually. Until then, I keep my feeders filled with thistle and sunflower seed chips, and my field guide on the kitchen counter open to the pine siskin page. Anticipating.

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There were no pine siskins seen on my most recent hike, a late afternoon stroll across College of DuPage’s beautiful Russell R. Kirt Prairie. It’s just down the road from my house, and a favorite for a quick impulse walk.

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

My head has been full of planning for this week’s holiday gathering, when we’ll host family for several days. My mind spins with to-do lists, baking schedules, and finding enough of everything. What has happened to all the spoons? Bent, almost every one. (My bet is on late night ice cream sampling). What board games should we play after the big dinner?

I need a walk to clear my head.

Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

I hop in the car and drive a short distance to College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL the largest community college in Illinois with beautiful prairies planted all around.

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

The only other car in the lot is a friendly Glen Ellyn policeman, keeping an eye on the area. I wave, and check that it’s okay to park and hike today. Of course, he says. I’m off. College of DuPage has had more than 100 species of birds sighted in their ponds, prairies, and savannas. Maybe, today, there will be pine siskins.

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

It’s 2:30 p.m., but the sun is already low in the west. Daylight Savings Time has been a big adjustment this autumn, more than usual, and I’m not sure why. I’m grateful for the morning light but oh-my-oh-my these early darkening afternoons are lessening any motivation to do much.

Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

I’ve always had an affinity for the prairie as it tucks itself in for the evening. It’s my favorite time to hike. While we’re still a few hours from sunset, all around, birds are chattering and pulling seeds from the prairie grasses, getting ready for the long darkness ahead. I see a small group of birds perched in a tree. Could it be…pine siskins? I zoom in with my camera.

Mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Nope. Not even close. Just mourning doves. Nearby, a tree fills with starlings, their calls bright and loud.

European starlings (Sturnis vulgaris), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Their chatter keeps me company.

I have mixed feelings about starlings, originally brought to the United States by an eccentric wealthy socialite who wanted to ensure our country had all the birds mentioned in the works of Shakespeare. Today, many people consider them pests. But even Cornell University’s “All About Birds” information on the species notes that, when given a close look, European starlings are “dazzling.”

Although I’m paying close attention to birds on this hike, I can’t help but admire the way the sinking sun backlights the prairie seeds.

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

So many different types of seeds.

Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Each plant has its own story of survival.

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

Each wildflower or grass carries a tale of how it has been used over time. Perhaps it was used medicinally, such as the wild bergamot, which contains thymol.

Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Some prairie plants were used as food that—when prepared correctly—sated people’s hunger. Others are symbolic, like big bluestem, our Illinois state grass.

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Other prairie plants are promising as biofuels.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Several were used as textiles, like the Indian hemp. Its stems could be stripped, then used for fishing line, or string.

Indian hemp, sometimes called dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Oh, the stories these plants could tell!

Cream wild indigo (Baptisia bracteata), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

I think about these plants and their histories as I watch a little flock of juncos and a tree sparrow ply the mown grass path for prairie seeds. It was not too long ago I learned that juncos are actually sparrows!

American tree sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) and a pair of dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Cornell’s wonderful website, “All About Birds,” tells me dark-eyed juncos are “among the most abundant forest birds in North America.” This afternoon, they are among the most numerous birds I see on this prairie. Some people call them “snowbirds” because they appear in our region as heralds of cold weather. When we see the juncos, we know the warm season is drawing to a close, and winter is whispering in the wings.

Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

The juncos fly up into the nearby trees at my approach, flashing their brilliant white tail feathers. I love these little birds, in their black and white plumage. As I follow their flight, I notice a slash of scarlet.

Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

A northern cardinal sits in a leafless tree on the edge of the prairie. So pretty! I enjoy saying its scientific name “Cardinalis cardinalis.” So fun! Almost as enjoyable as saying “Bison bison.”

Fun, yes, but still…no pine siskins.

I inhale the crisp prairie air, and watch the clouds form and reform. Some clouds look almost braided. Others marble the blue. How does anyone get bored, with the skies changing from moment to moment?

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

Think of the time you could spend, walking and looking and admiring prairie wildflower and grasses seeds.

Tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

So many seeds. All so different.

Leadplant (Amorpha canescens), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

All ready to start the first chapter of their new stories in the coming spring.

Wait! I see movement in a tree nearby. Could it be?

Red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpas carolinus), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Foiled again. A red-bellied woodpecker. Not a pine siskin.

As I make my way back to the parking lot, I stop to catch my breath by the small pond. A few mallard ducks are doing their “bottoms up” trick. It always makes me smile.

Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

I love this time of year on the prairie, when everything is winding down. The abundant seeds are there, each year, promising hope for the future. I’m grateful for that.

What a beautiful world it is. What simple pleasures are found all around us. In the skies. On the prairie.

I didn’t find what I went looking for. But sometimes, the joy is in the journey.

Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) with an unknown rose (Rosa sp.), Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL.

And after time outside, the stresses of the week seems manageable again. Prairie hikes have a way of doing this.

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

I’m grateful for all the prairie has offered me this year. I’m thankful for the months still ahead, and all the joys and discoveries yet to be made.

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

And maybe, just maybe as I’m baking the pumpkin and cherry pies, I’ll look out my kitchen windows and spy…some pine siskens.

Enjoy the holiday week ahead, friends! Thank you for reading.

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The opening quote is from The Seed Keeper, a lovely and heart-wrenching novel by Diane Wilson. She is also the author of Beloved Child: A Dakota Way of Life and Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Past. Wilson is a Mdewakanton descent, enrolled on the Rosebud Reservation, and lives in Shafer, Minnesota.

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Join Cindy for a program as we close out 2023!

Friday, 12/1 — 10-11:30 a.m.: “Bison Tales and Tallgrass Trails” at the beautiful Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. (Please note! After selling out the program, The Morton Arboretum opened up a larger room, Cudahy Auditorium, next to the Sterling Morton Library, to accommodate more people. Registration is still limited, however. A book signing will follow the program, just in time for the holidays. To register, click here.)

12/12– 6:45-8 p.m.: “Winter Prairie Wonders” hosted by the Buffalo Grove Garden Club. Free and open to the public! For more information, click here.

More classes and programs are at www.cindycrosby.com .

Our Lingering Prairie Autumn

“Of all the seasons, autumn offers the most…and requires the least… .” – Hal Borland

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I hear them before I see them.

The first wave of Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) I’ve seen this autumn over Glen Ellyn, IL.

Jeff and I are out for a neighborhood walk when the cries stop us in our tracks. Sandhill cranes! It’s the first wave we’ve seen of the many cranes yet to come, moving in their cursive migratory swirls south. We stand on the sidewalk, looking into the bright sky and shielding our eyes against the sun, until they are out of sight.

Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) flying through sun halo, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2016).

Seeing the cranes is a sign of seasonal transition here in the Chicago region. It’s still autumn by the calendar and also, by the gorgeous weather we’ve had lately. This week we’ll hit 64 degrees! And the endless sunshine makes it seem even warmer. But the cranes remind me that winter is whispering in the wings.

Other signs remind me as well.

Crosby’s yard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Pulling the tomato cages out of the vegetable garden and stacking them in the shed. Digging the dahlia tubers—a gift from a friend this spring—and storing them for the winter. Pressing garlic cloves into the cold, wet earth of a raised garden bed for harvest next July. Collecting the swamp milkweed, rough blazing star, and other seeds from my prairie plantings.

Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera), Crosby’s front yard prairie planting, Glen Ellyn, IL.

And still autumn lingers. Dawdling. Lollygagging. The world doesn’t seem quite ready for winter, yet, does it?

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

How about you? Are you ready for it?

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

I may be rushing the seasonal transition a bit by putting out the pumpkins for the squirrels.

Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

I strip the autumnal decorations from the house and porch; swap them out for boxes of Christmas lights and pre-lit reindeer. And yet… .

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Autumn leaves and fall color keep hanging on. Each day, Jeff and I tell each other we need to go for a walk to see the last remaining fall color. “It will be gone soon. Let’s enjoy it now.”

But autumn’s delights just keep on coming.

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

I love rambling around in the November sunshine, the crisp wind blowing leaves off the trees into gold and scarlet confetti.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubus), Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove,IL.

As I hike, I see starlings wheel in impossible murmurations across the sky.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Danada Forest Preserve, Wheaton, IL (3/23).

Occasionally, the whole chattering flock lands to feed on something delicious, like the wild plums, or the fruits of the terribly invasive Callery Pear, sometimes called Bradford Pear, which still pops up in natural areas despite our stewardship efforts. Some believe starlings are one of the primary seed dispensers of this tree. Can you find the starling in this one?

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in the invasive Callery Pear tree (Pyrus Calleryana), Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Some of the grasses, now rainbowed in autumnal hues, will soon be bleached in the cold to come.

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Look! I tell myself. Soak up this color! Stay in the moment!

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

But, being a planner and long list-maker, I think ahead to colder weather. The holidays. Travel. Snow.

Snowfall on Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL. (1/23)

When I ask my friends how they feel about winter, the reactions are mixed. Some older friends dread it, and “snowbird” to warmer places, such as Arizona or Florida. Some of my prairie steward friends exult in winter, with its lack of insects, brisk days where you don’t sweat so much, and myriad opportunities for brush cutting. My grandchildren love the holidays, and opportunities for sledding, skiing, and hot chocolate.

Native plants gone to seed, Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Others embrace each day as it comes. Tranquil. Accepting.

Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

I want to be more like that. And, I think I’d miss winter in the Midwest, should I find myself living elsewhere. The transition of the seasons feels like a restart. A refresh. A chance to look at the past few months and see what’s been accomplished, and what has been neglected. An opportunity to make a new list of possibilities. To let go of some things that haven’t worked out and dream about what might lie ahead.

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Meteorological winter begins Dec. 1, only a few weeks away. Astronomical winter isn’t until Dec. 21. I’m looking forward to the new season. But for now, I’m soaking up every unexpectedly gorgeous November day as it comes.

Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Downers Grove, IL.

Why not go outside right now and take a look? Let me know what you see, and how you feel about the coming winter.

It’s on the way.

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

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Join Cindy for a Class or Program at the End of 2023!

11/15 –7-8:30 p.m.: “A Brief History of Trees in America” hosted by the Downers Grove Organic Garden Club. Free and open to the public! For more information, click here.

12/1 — 10-11:30 a.m.: “Bison Tales and Tallgrass Trails” at the Morton Arboretum’s beautiful Sterling Morton Library in Lisle, IL. (Please note!: Last week, The Morton Arboretum opened up a larger room for this sold-out program! — registration is still limited, however. To register, click here.)

12/12– 6:45-8 p.m.: “Winter Prairie Wonders” hosted by the Buffalo Grove Garden Club. Free and open to the public! For more information, click here.

More classes and programs are at www.cindycrosby.com .

November Prairie Winds

“November at its best—with a sort of delightful menace in the air.” — Anne Bosworth Greene

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November is a transitional time on the tallgrass prairie. Let’s get up early and go take a look.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

The dawn hours may bring fog to soften the horizon lines.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Everywhere, seeds catch the light.

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Look around. Autumn has moved from its in-your-face brights to a more nuanced palette.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Imagine if Claude Monet or Vincent Van Gogh had visited the tallgrass prairie. What images they might have painted!

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Although the prairie is moving toward soft metallics—golds, bronzes, silvers, and pewters—…

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…there are still a few bold colors left, if you know where to look.

One of the prairie rose hips (Rosa sp.), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Step carefully. The trail cradles unexpected curiosities.

One of the puffball species (Lycoperdon sp.), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Although prairie seeds are still center stage…

Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…November winds are intent on scattering them to far-flung places. Some seeds are torn from their moorings, blown by the wind, then snag other seeds. Their juxtaposition offers a reminder of the diversity and contrasts of the prairie wildflowers.

Gray-headed coneflower seeds (Ratibida pinnata) with a milkweed seed (Asclepias syriaca), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL..

The milkweed seeds. So silky in flight! The gray-headed coneflowers. Those dry, lemony-scented crumbles. The breezes and November weathering continuously loosen the prairie seeds from their anchors.

Some seeds resist!

Stiff-leaved goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum) Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

But they won’t hold out for long. November winds are relentless.

Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Soon, the prairie wildflowers and grasses will be stripped to bare angles and curves.

The invasive non-native Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Listen. Do you hear it? The November prairie winds invite the dry white wild indigo pods to play percussion. All through the winter, you’ll hear this faint rattle.

White wild indigo (Baptisia alba), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Go ahead. Soak up the weakening November sun. Delight in the “earlier” daylight. Be astonished at the way November weather is by turns both menacing and mild. Brave the November winds.

Bison wallow, Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

The month is already going fast. Cherish each day.

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The opening quote is from Anne Bosworth Greene (1878-1961), a farmer, artist, and writer. Although she was born in Great Britain, she spent most of her life raising horses and Shetland ponies in Vermont. Some of her books include “The Lone Winter” and “Lambs in March and Other Essays.”

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Join Cindy for a Class or Program at the End of 2023!

11/10 –1-2:30pm: “A Brief History of Trees in America” hosted by Lombard Garden Club. Free and open to the public! For more information, click here.

11/15 –7-8:30 p.m.: “A Brief History of Trees in America” hosted by the Downers Grove Organic Garden Club. Free and open to the public! For more information, click here.

12/1 — 10-11:30 a.m.: “Bison Tales and Tallgrass Trails” at the Morton Arboretum’s beautiful Sterling Morton Library in Lisle, IL. (Please note!: Last week, The Morton Arboretum opened up a larger room for this sold-out program! — registration is still limited, however. To register, click here.)

12/12– 6:45-8 p.m.: “Winter Prairie Wonders” hosted by the Buffalo Grove Garden Club. Free and open to the public! For more information, click here.

More classes and programs are at www.cindycrosby.com.