Butterflyweed sets fire to the prairie in all its variations of bright orange, burnt yellow, and dark tangerine.
Butterflyweed (Asclepia tuberosa), Meadow Lake Prairie Planting, Lisle, IL.
If you’re lucky, you might spy a lone ant scrambling across the flowers, or a butterfly or two sipping nectar…
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), International Crane Center, Baraboo, WI (2017).
…or, later in the season, a monarch butterfly caterpillar, which uses this native milkweed as a life-giving nursery launch pad. Butterflyweed’s cousin, the common milkweed, is also coming into its own, with tennis ball-sized blooms that are as sweetly scented as anything you might find in the garden.
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Meadow Lake Prairie Planting, Lisle, IL.
Rattlesnake master wildflower buds promise spiky blooms any day now…
Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), Meadow Lake Prairie Planting, Lisle, IL.
…and purple prairie clover is both in bud and in bloom.
Queen of the prairie lifts her earliest magnificent blooms along the wetter prairie areas…
Queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra), Meadow Lake Prairie Planting, Lisle, IL.
…while that old rough-leaved prairie stalwart, wild quinine, glows bright white in the hot sunlight.
Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium), Meadow Lake Prairie Planting, Lisle, IL.
The story of the summer tallgrass prairie is rapidly unfolding each heat-seared day.
Meadow Lake Prairie Planting, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Why not go for a walk this morning and see what’s happening?
You’ll be glad you did.
*******
The opening quote is from the 1963 pop chart classic,“Heat Wave,” penned by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland, Jr., (Holland-Dozier-Holland) for Martha (Reeves) and the Vandells. It’s considered by some to be one of the first examples of the Motown sound which would later take America by storm, and garnered the group their first and only Grammy Award nomination for “Best Rhythm and Blues Recording (1964). “Heatwave” was also a hit 12 years later for Linda Ronstadt, charting to #5 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. It’s a good song for this steamy week in Illinois.
*****
A special note to Shelby, who attended the La Grange Park Library talk The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop last night and asked if I’d post more photos of my yard. Shelby, I hadn’t done much to the front yard until two years ago, when Jeff “gifted” me an anniversary front-yard prairie plot. To my surprise, it got a shout-out from Joey Santore, the force behind “Crime Pays but Botany Doesn’t.” Check it out here and you’ll get an idea of what’s going on in part of the front yard. Today is Jeff and my 41st anniversary, and he’s expanding that original prairie plot for me so I can add a few more prairie plants. Now, that’s the kind of gift I appreciate! And, as requested by Shelby, here’s what my backyard looked like this morning.
Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL (6-18-24).
It’s a work in process (and needs a good weeding right now!), with vegetable gardens, some traditional garden plants like zinnias and iris, and about 70% natives. Every day it gives me endless pleasure. I hope the prairie wildflowers and grasses that you, Shelby, and the other folks reading this blog plant in your yard or in containers give you the delight that my prairie plants do! If you don’t have a spot for plants, I hope you’ll visit one of the amazing prairie plantings in our forest preserves and parks near you. Thanks to everyone who came out to the library prairie conversation!
******
Join Cindy for her last class this June! She’ll be taking a break from teaching in July, but back with more programs and classes in August.
Thursday, June 27, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —“Beginning Dragonfly and Damselfly Identification.” Rain or shine (program will be indoor/outdoor if weather is nice; indoors if inclement weather). Hosted by the Morton Arboretum. For registration and class fee, visit here.
“There is something uniquely compelling about our few unspoiled natural communities… .” —Dick Young
*****
June skips along, unseasonably cool and windy. Impossible blue skies. Lengthening days full of sunshine.
Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Along our suburban street, ghost-like young trees and shrubs, wrapped in tulle, still startle me, although I’m getting used to them. The ghost wrap is to prevent the periodical cicadas from doing damage.
Young tree wrapped in bridal tulle, Glen Ellyn, IL.
I’ve already noted damage to some of my own, including the dying tips on my three-year-old northern spicebush shrubs. I’ve chosen not to wrap them, but rather, to literally let nature take its course. We’ll see if it was the right decision next year.
In the garden, I pick bowls and bowls of red raspberries, juicy and slightly tart. The tomato plants—among them Cherokee Purple, Supersteak, Sweet Million—are smaller than I’d expect for this time of year. Maybe the cooler weather? Or perhaps I’m just impatient. The fall-planted garlic unspools its scapes in rollercoaster curves.
I need to clip those garlic scapes now, so the strength of the plant goes into making fat bulbs. In previous years, I’ve cooked the scapes. but can’t report any real deliciousness. Anyone love them? Please let me know. Maybe I just haven’t tried the right recipe.
*****
It’s too pretty to stay inside—or even, to stay in my own backyard. On Sunday I head for Nachusa Grasslands, a 4000-acre Nature Conservancy site two hours west of Chicago. For more than a decade, I’ve volunteered there, collecting dragonfly and damselfly data. It was one of those idyllic June days, not too hot, just a little windy to keep the biting flies off.
Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
The dragonflies are out and about…
Eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
…including the tiny eastern amberwings, only about an inch in length.
Eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
It’s nice to see the common green darners, ovipositing and ensuring generation to come.
Common green darner (Anax junius), male in front holding female ovipositing, Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
The damselflies are eye-popping as well, including this unusual sighting of a river bluet damselfly.
River bluet (Enallagma anna), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
So many beautiful insects! Not just dragonflies and damselflies. There are so many butterflies and skippers flying. Common buckeye.
Common buckeye (Junonia coenia), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
An American lady, with her wings open…
American lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
…and then, shut.
American lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Looks like a completely different butterfly when the wings open and close, doesn’t it? Nearby, a viceroy tenses for takeoff…
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
…and a least skipper scouts the prairie for more blooms.
Least skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) on non-native white clover (Trifolium repens), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
A red admiral butterfly shows off its colors. Its wings look like velvet.
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
The butterflies are “puddling;” drinking minerals, salt, and liquids from the mud in the gravel two-track. This muddy lane is a favorite mass transit route for the herd of more than 100 bison, which—thank goodness—is nowhere in site today. So, I am free to hike through the wetlands and prairies with my clipboard without keeping a wary eye out for large charismatic megafauna. Bison have much been in the news recently, mostly stories of tourists trying to get selfies without regard for the danger. I feel a tremendous amount of respect for these creatures, which can run four times as fast as I can, and outweigh me by…well…never mind. Let’s just say bison weigh up to 2,000 pounds—the size of a Mazda Miata sportscar. They are nothing to mess with.
Bison (Bison bison bison) at Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. Taken from my car with a zoom lens.(2016)
The star of the Nachusa prairie show right now is not the bison, however. It’s the pale purple coneflowers. Legendary Illinois conservationist Dick Young, author of Kane County Wild Plants & Natural Areas, calls this wildflower “a graceful prairie classic.” They wash lavender across the acres of green, green grass, and they are in all stages of bloom. Each individual coneflower seems to have its own personality.
Confident.
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Happy-go-lucky.
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Calm.
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Franklin Grove, IL.
A little frazzled.
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Or the ones that remind you of those three besties you knew in high school that always seemed inseparable.
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
I never tire of these prairie stalwarts.
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) and other delights at Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
They are prairie ambassadors, for those who don’t necessarily “like” prairie. Most people recognize a prairie coneflower, and have a good association with it from our home gardens. Seeing acres and acres of them at Nachusa this week is food for the soul.
Pale purple coneflowers (Echinacea pallida) and other delights, Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Or, as Young writes, they are “jewels from the primordial crown of balanced prairie splendor.” He goes on to say of all unspoiled natural areas, “If one treads softly here, she or he can meld into the ageless unfolding natural drama and find a measure of wisdom and contentment that transcends our feverish accomplishments.”
Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.
Oh, Nachusa! What a glorious place you are in June, with your butterflies and dragonflies, your different habitats, and your bison and incredible flora. You remind us why Illinois is “The Prairie State.” And you prompt us to keep our tallgrass prairies healthy and vibrant for generations to come. Kudos.
******
The opening quote is from Dick Young (1924-2011) an expert botanist and author of Kane County WIld Plants & Natural Areas. Along with such Illinois’ legends Robert “Bob” Betz, Ray Schulenberg, Floyd Swink, and Gerould Wilhelm, Young helped bring Illinois native plants to the attention of people, and promoted their conservation. He was co-founder and director of the Kendall County Forest Preserve District, and Kane County environmentalist. The thousand-acre-plus Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia, IL, was named in his honor, as is the Dick Young Preserve Trail near Yorkville, IL.
******
Join Cindy for a program or class in June:
Wednesday, June 12, 7-8 p.m. —“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers” at Des Plaines Public Library, Des Plaines, IL. (In person) Free and open to the public. For registration details, visit here.
Thursday, June 13, 10-11:30 a.m. —“A Tallgrass Prairie Hike,” Hilltop Gardeners Garden Club, Oswego, IL (offsite, private event).
Thursday, June 13, 6:30-8 p.m.— “Potawatomi Prairie Perspectives” with Gina Roxas, Executive Director of the Trickster Cultural Center, and Cindy in conversation. (The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, Prairie Visitor Station– held outdoors, weather permitting). Registration and ticket costs here. (SOLD OUT; call to be put on the waiting list).
Monday, June 17, 7-8:30 p.m.–“The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop” hosted by the Lagrange Park Public Library.(In person) Free and open to the public. See here for details.
Thursday, June 27, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —“Beginning Dragonfly and Damselfly Identification.” Rain or shine (program will be indoor/outdoor if weather is nice; indoors if inclement weather). Hosted by the Morton Arboretum. For registration and class fee, visit here.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
…and the never-ending hiss-shrill of cicadas.
Periodical cicada (Magicicada spp.) on white wild indigo (Baptisia alba), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Break out the lemonade and lawn chairs. It’s June.
Pearl or northern crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos or cocyta) on non-native oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Schulenberg Prairie Savanna, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Lots of jam-making ahead! I’ve made progress with this year’s purchased plants still sitting on the porch, waiting for their assigned seats. This week, Jeff expanded the front yard prairie garden by a few feet, and I planted wild geranium, another butterfly milkweed, rattlesnake master, and a few more prairie smoke plants.
Crosby’s front yard prairie planting, Glen Ellyn, IL.
They join the golden alexanders, butterfly milkweed, common mountain mint, common boneset, rough blazing star, pale purple coneflower, purple coneflower, prairie smoke, sky blue aster, royal catchfly, wild quinine, june grass, ohio goldenrod, showy goldenrod, stiff goldenrod, foxglove beardtongue,and…well, I’m starting to forget what all is in there. We’ll see how things made it through the winter as the bloom season progresses.
In the backyard, I planted prairie smoke, a blazing star, and two sedges into a large container. In prairie classes and programs, gardeners ask me if they can grow native plants in containers. I’ve never tried it for myself, so that’s my challenge for this season.
Trying a native plant container garden for the first time, Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.
My inspiration comes from a wonderful webinar “Container Gardens: Native Plants in Urban Landscapes I attended put on by the West Cook Wild Ones this winter. Chicago Botanic Garden’s Dr. Jeremie Fant grows numerous and diverse woodland and prairie plants on his apartment patio in downtown Chicago, mostly with success. And he’ll save you a lot of money by also telling you about his failures! Check out his terrific webinar on Youtube here. My only regret is I didn’t buy more plants to put into my container. I may add more this summer.
First attempt at native plant container gardening, Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.
Of course, the big action right now is on the tallgrass prairie. Let’s go take a look.
Once there, I hike slowly, stopping and turning 360 degrees, trying to absorb all the blooms, blooms, blooms.
Canadian Meadow Garlic (Allium canadense), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Porcupine grass starts its slow bend to drill its seeds into the prairie soil.
Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius) on non-native red clover (Trifolium pratense)on the Schulenberg Prairie path, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
A question mark butterflies samples something a little less savory on the trail.
Question mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) on scat, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Cicadas whine and thwapp me on the back; little hitchhikers that follow me along the trail. Green darner dragonflies patrol, occasionally dodging a bird looking for a snack.
Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) on white wild indigo (Baptisia alba), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
And look! There’s a pale purple coneflower, almost in bloom.
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
The small sundrops aren’t numerous on this prairie, so I feel lucky when I spy one.
Small sundrops (Oenothera perennis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
Carrion vine flowers have begun their transition from bloom to seed. I sniff and sniff, but can’t get a whiff of their namesake fragrance.
Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.
There are amazing adventures there. Waiting for you.
*****
The opening quote is from John Steinbeck (1902-1968) from his last novel, The Winter of Our Discontent. He is best known for such books as the Pulitzer-Prize winning The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden, and the (said to be) non-fiction Travels with Charley. Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962; although he is recognized today and widely acknowledged as a great American writer, he was not always appreciated by his contemporaries.
*****
Join Cindy for a program or class in June!
Wednesday, June 5, 7-8:30 p.m. — “Bison Tails and Tallgrass Trails.” ONLINE only! Bensenville Public library. Free and open to the public. For registration details, call the library here.
Wednesday, June 12, 7-8 p.m. —“Dragonflies and Damselflies: The Garden’s Frequent Fliers” at Des Plaines Public Library, Des Plaines, IL. (In person) Free and open to the public. For registration details, visit here.
Thursday, June 13, 10-11:30 a.m. —“A Tallgrass Prairie Hike,” Hilltop Gardeners Garden Club, Oswego, IL (offsite, private event).
Thursday, June 13, 6:30-8 p.m.— “Potawatomi Prairie Perspectives” with Gina Roxas, Executive Director of the Trickster Center, and Cindy in conversation. (The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, Prairie Visitor Station– held outdoors, weather permitting). Registration and ticket costs here. (SOLD OUT; call to be put on the waiting list).
Monday, June 17, 7-8:30 p.m.–“The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop” hosted by the Lagrange Park Public Library.(In person) Free and open to the public. See here for details.
Thursday, June 27, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —“Beginning Dragonfly and Damselfly Identification.” Rain or shine (program will be indoor/outdoor if weather is nice; indoors if inclement weather). Hosted by the Morton Arboretum. For registration and class fee, visit here.
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 