Tallgrass Prairie Changes

“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” —C.S. Lewis

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It’s difficult to let go of the things we know and love.

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

I think of this as I hike the prairie this week, looking back at the summer season. I love the heat and spark of June. July. August. The vibrant color. The sound sizzle. The zip and buzz of insects in constant motion.

I struggle with change. Transitions can be daunting.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

And now, autumn. In Illinois, the forecast promises us one last week of warm temperatures before the cold settles in. But you can see the seasonal changes. Wildflowers and grasses in seed. Goldfinches have already traded their warm season wardrobe for the duller garb that will let them blend into the fall and winter woodlands and prairies.

Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) on stiff goldenrod (Oligoneneruon rigidum), Crosby’s front yard prairie planting, Glen Ellyn, IL.

You can see the autumnal changes in the Cup Plants, crisped and brittle…

Cup Plant (Silphium terebinthinaceum), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…the dotted swiss swatches of Prairie Dock leaves…

Prairie Dock (Silphium terabinthinaceum), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…the neatly packaged Golden Alexanders’ seed capsules…

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea), Crosby’s front yard prairie planting, Glen Ellyn, IL.

…and Rough Blazing Stars’ pom-pom seed puffs, which will gently blow apart in winter’s glacial breezes.

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

Change is in the air.

Although the numbers of prairie creatures and backyard wildlife I see have dropped off, there is still plenty of activity. As the prairie paths warm in the sun, they are the perfect place for garter snakes to catch a few rays.

Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Illinois’ snakes are cold blooded, which simply means their body temperature takes its cues from the environment. Snakes here will soon enter “brumation,” a sort of hibernation from which they’ll emerge in the spring. Many folks I know are happy about seeing less snakes; this prairie dweller is not a universal favorite. I can’t help but admire this one as I watch it seamlessly slip from the path and disappear into the grasses.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

As the prairie and garden slide into dormancy, it’s a joy to find the last bright butterflies of the season. I’ve not spotted a Monarch for several days. But in my still-vibrant backyard zinnia patch, an American Painted Lady stopped by this weekend to fuel up for the cold.

American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

In Illinois, these beautiful butterflies are seen from April to October. My terrific field guide, Butterflies of Illinois , tells me the last generation of American Painted Ladies like this one will either hibernate as an adult (although they won’t survive very cold temperatures) or the caterpillars will overwinter in the chrysalis stage. Each year, I learn, migrants of this species from the south will help repopulate Illinois.

Soon, all the butterflies will be gone. The skies will seem a little emptier for their absence.

Clear Creek Fords, Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

As each new season comes along, I want to hold the previous one tight. Savor every moment. Resist change.

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

It’s difficult to let go of the past. It’s impossible to know what’s ahead.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Thinking of the future this week is especially daunting. Walking helps.

Nachusa Grassland, Franklin Grove, IL.

And—-each season, I remind myself that once I move through the transition, so many wonders will unfold. They are out there, just waiting for me to go see them.

Waterfall Glen, Darien, IL.

Why not go for a hike this week? I tell myself to get out there. Embrace the transition. Anticipate the change. I know I’ll be glad I did.

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The opening quote is by C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), the British author of many children’s books and adult fiction and apologetics. He’s probably most beloved by readers for his “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, which I read aloud to my kids, and now my grandkids.

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Join Cindy for a class or program to close out 2023!

11/1 — 11am-12:30 pm: “Winter Prairie Wonders” hosted by Town and Country Gardeners in Libertyville, IL. (Closed event for members). To learn more about the club, click here.

11/6 — 11am-12:30pm: “Dragonflies and Damselflies” hosted by Elmhurst Garden Club (Closed event for members). To learn how to join this garden club, click here.

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. (SOLD OUT — call and ask to be put on a waiting list.)

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.

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A note to readers: Jeff and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary by visiting 40 natural areas over the summer and fall. 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); hiking #30 Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (Wilmington, IL), #31 Fermilab Prairies (Batavia, IL); and #32 Danada Forest Preserve (Wheaton, IL); #33 Fullersburg Woods (Oak Brook, IL); #34 Dick Young Forest Preserve (Batavia, IL); #35 Lyman Woods (Downers Grove, IL); #36 Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve (Loves Park, IL); #37 Greene Prairie (Madison, WI; #38 Curtis Prairie (Madison, WI); and #39 Waterfall Glen (Darien, IL).  Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions last week! Our last adventure will be posted next Tuesday.

Frost Falls on the Tallgrass Prairie

“When the frost is on the punkin’.. .” —James Whitcomb Riley

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“I feel sad to see the trees lose their leaves,” one of my young granddaughters said to me as I drove her home from school last week.

White oak (Quercus alba) leaves, Lyman Woods, Downers Grove, IL.

We talked about the season of cold that was on the way. A time of rest. A time of letting go. We marveled at the beauty of the changing maple leaves, turning scarlet along the road where we waited in the school pick-up line. But in truth, I agreed with her. October always makes me feel a little bit melancholy. It is a season of goodbyes.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL, during the solar eclipse on 10/14.

Jeff and I gathered the last tomatoes from the garden last week before the frost. Now, we pluck them from a bowl on the kitchen counter, one by one, as they slowly ripen. We’re reminded that there will be no more until next July, knock on wood.

Red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), Schulenberg Prairie Savanna, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

In the backyard, the zinnias and dahlias plug along, their growth slowed by light frost, but still cheerful. I gather bouquets and bring them inside, defiantly orange, red, yellow, and pink against the shorter, darker days. The prairie and woodland wildflowers have mostly gone to seed, although the late asters, goldenrods, and bonesets hold on in sheltered spots. Even the gentians have finished their business.

Stiff gentian or agueweed (Gentiana quinquefolia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

The prairie grasses take center stage.

Canada wild rye (Elymus canadensis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

In my yard, I collect seeds of blazing star, showy goldenrod, mountain mint, butterflyweed; saving them for next year’s prairie plantings.

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Crosby’s prairie planting, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Goodbye, I whisper to the wildflowers as I collect their seeds. See you next year.

Blazing star (Liatris aspera), Crosby’s front yard prairie planting, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2022).

There are other farewells to make. This past week we said goodbye to poet Louise Glück (1943-2023), who passed away at 80. She won every prize under the sun, including her recent Nobel Prize in Literature (2020), and served as our United States Poet Laureate in 2003.

Likely an orange sulphur butterfly (Colias eurytheme) although they are tricky to tell apart from the clouded sulphur (Colias philodice), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

When I read the news of her passing, I pulled my old copy of The Wild Iris from the shelf. This 1992 volume, which won the Pulitzer Prize, is set in the garden and includes some ostensibly about tomatoes. “…it was my heart broken by the blight, the black spot so quickly multiplying in the rows.” Her dark poetry has an autumnal feel, perfect for October.

Autumn at Lyman Woods, Downers Grove, IL.

Whenever we lose a poet, a light goes out in the world.

Lyman Woods, Downers Grove, IL.

About as far away from Glück’s writing as you can imagine is folksy poet James Whitcomb Riley. As a child growing up in central Indiana, our teachers read many of his poems to us, including the iconic “When the Frost is on the Punkin.” A sample:

They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere; When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—; Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees, And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees; But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze; Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days; Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—; When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.

Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley, sometimes called starry Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum), Schulenberg Prairie Savanna, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Go back and read it out loud. Isn’t it fun to recite? The Poetry Foundation notes: “Neglectful of his studies, Riley preferred to take walks in the countryside, read books of his own choosing, and create rhymes, the first of which he sent to his young friends on home-made valentines.” He sounds like a kindred spirit.

Differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Of course, unlike Glück, a popular modern poet who is widely revered, Riley’s poetry is long out of fashion today. But hearing a line or two brings back my childhood; the smell of chalk dust, the murmur of the teacher, and the heft of a textbook. Do you have a favorite poet, or one who brings back childhood memories? (Leave me a note in the comments with your favorites.)

Common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), Schulenberg Prairie Savanna, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

As I think of the goodbyes we are saying this week: in the garden, in the prairies, and in the woodlands—and the farewells to those whose words have left an imprint on our minds and hearts—I also think of the firsts to come. The first snowfall, which sometimes happens in October here in the Chicago Region.

Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), Crosby’s backyard (2022).

I’ve yet to see the first junco at my feeders, although I hear they’ve arrived in our region. I know they’ll show up in my backyard any time now. Other seasonal firsts are just days or weeks away. It won’t be long before the first first sandhill cranes are headed south.

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis),Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, Medaryville, IN (2016).

Bittersweet.

Non-native Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) with the introduced seven-spotted lady beetle (Coccinella septempunctata), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Do you sense a foreshadowing?

Prairie dock (Silphium terabinthinaceum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Farewell to the season of warmth and growth. It went so fast.

Moon over Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Hello, season of reflection.

Welcome, season of rest.

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The quote that opens this post is from James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1960), and his poem “When the Frost is on the Punkin.” Some of Riley’s verses that I learned in school still rattle around in my head, like ones from “Little Orphant Annie”, more than 50 years later. You can read the full “punkin” poem, perfect for October, here.

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Join Cindy for a class or program to close out 2023!

10/19– 10:30pm-noon: “Literary Gardens.” Hosted by the Garden Club of Iverness, Palatine, IL. Free and open to the public! For more information, click here.

11/1 — 11am-12:30 pm: “Winter Prairie Wonders” hosted by Town and Country Gardeners in Libertyville, IL. (Closed event for members). To learn more about the club, click here.

11/6 — 11am-12:30pm: “Dragonflies and Damselflies” hosted by Elmhurst Garden Club (Closed event for members). To learn how to join the garden club, click here.

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. (SOLD OUT — call and ask to be put on a waiting list.)

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.

*****
A note to readers: Jeff and I are celebrating our 40th anniversary by visiting 40 natural areas over the summer and fall. Please let us know where you think we should head to next. Only two more to go! 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); hiking #30 Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (Wilmington, IL), #31 Fermilab Prairies (Batavia, IL); and #32 Danada Forest Preserve (Wheaton, IL); #33 Fullersburg Woods (Oak Brook, IL); #34 Dick Young Forest Preserve (Batavia, IL); #35 Lyman Woods (Downers Grove, IL); #36 Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve (Loves Park, IL); #37 Greene Prairie (Madison, WI; and #38 Curtis Prairie (Madison, WI).  Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions last week! Two adventures still to come.

Goodbye, August Prairie

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

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

Hello, August Prairie

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

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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?

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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.

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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.

******

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.

July on the Tallgrass Prairie

“The forces that create inertia in our lives are difficult to resist…wake up… .”—Twyla Tharp

******

Summer settles in.

Possibly the fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata), on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Let’s go for a hike and see what’s happening in the natural world.

Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL.

A hike in July is a good way to make discoveries.

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Herrick Lake Forest Preserve, Wheaton, IL.

You might stop and watch the dragonflies, like the abundant common whitetails.

Common whitetail dragonfly (Plathemis lydia), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Can you find them both below?

Common whitetail dragonflies (Plathemis lydia), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

July is a month to discover damselflies. The expected…

Ebony jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata), Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL.

…and the unexpected.

Male-form female eastern forktail damselfly (Ischnura verticalis), a first for me, Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

July’s kaleidoscope of butterflies may be as close as a walk through your backyard.

Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) on cut-and-come-again zinnia (Zinnia elegans), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Some show evidence of struggle. None-the-less, they keep on moving.

Possibly northern pearly eye butterfly ( Enodia anthedon) , Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL.

Take time to stop and admire July’s wildflowers in their rainbow colors.

Pink.

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Purple.

Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Orange.

Michigan lily (Lilium michiganense), Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL.

Blue.

Forget-me-nots (Myosotis), Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL.

Pearly white.

Flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata), Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL.

Look closely and you might see more than you bargained for.

Leconte’s haploa moth (Haploa lecontei) and insects on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL.

July, you’re so spectacular.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

So full of delights! So full of possibilities.

Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL.

Follow a new trail this month. Keep moving. Who knows where it will lead?

******

The opening quote is by choreographer and writer Twyla Tharp (1941-) in her book, Keep it Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life. At the end of each day, she writes, she asks herself “How well did I marry what I wanted to do and what I actually did?…the life we choose pays dividends. The life that we let choose us will bankrupt us.”

*****

Hello Wonderful Readers: I’ll still be blogging, but I’m taking most of the month of July off from teaching and giving programs to continue my adventures with Jeff, visiting 40 natural areas over the summer and fall for our 40th anniversary this year. Look for classes and programs to resume at the end of July (see http://www.cindycrosby.com for details), and please let us know where you think we should head to next. Thanks to everyone who has sent ideas! So far, we’ve enjoyed hiking and/or kayaking at the following:

#1 Rock Cut State Park (Rockford, IL); #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). We’re a quarter of the way there!

The Prairie’s Frequent Fliers

“The prairie is a community…a dynamic alliance of living plants, animals, birds, insects, reptiles, and microorganisms, all depending upon each other.” —Paul Gruchow

*****

June is a great time to find flying critters on the prairie. Let’s look around.

James “Pate” Philip State Park, Bartlett, IL.

In a prairie stream, the river jewelwings flutter.

Male river jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx aequabilis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Close by, the ebony jewelwing damselflies strike dramatic poses.

Male ebony jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

That color!

Female ebony jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Iridescent.

A teneral common whitetail dragonfly rests in the grasses, newly-emerged. See how pale it is? It can’t fly for a bit. After the wings strengthen and its colors brighten, it will be off to cruise the skies for a few weeks, enlivening the prairie with its antics.

Teneral common whitetail dragonfly (Playthemis lydia), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

As you walk through the tallgrass, notice the ubiquitous eastern forktail damselflies that float at your feet. Males…

Male eastern forktail damselfly (Ischnura verticalis), The Morton Arboretum, Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

…and females.

Immature female eastern forktail (Ischnura verticalis), The Morton Arboretum, Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

Then marvel at the number of fragile forktail damselflies you see, with their exclamation marks on the thorax. They are having a banner year on the site I monitor. Why? Who knows?

Fragile forktail (Ischnura posita), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Alongside a prairie pond, butterflies puddle for salts and minerals. A Baltimore checkerspot…

Baltimore checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…and an American lady share the muddy shoreline, churned by bison hooves.

American lady butterfly (Vanessa virginienses), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

A least skipper nectars on a clover blossom nearby.

Least skipper (Anxyloxypha numitor), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

The soundtrack to our hike might be a song sparrow.

Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

…or a dickcissel’s strange and unmistakeable calls...

Dickcissel (Spiza americana), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

…or even the trickle-splash-trickle-splash of a prairie stream.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

It could also be the ker-plop of a beaver hitting the pond, followed by the smooth sound of fur slicing a “V” through the water.

American beaver (Castor canadensis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Wade in.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Feel the cool water’s chill. Shade your eyes against the hot sun, and look across the prairie. Notice the wildflowers all around you.

Pale purple coneflowers (Echinacea pallida), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Marvel at their complexity, as they cycle from bud to bloom to seed.

Bastard toadflax (Comandra umbellata), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

Breathe deep.

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

Such abundance! It’s summertime, and the prairie is full of flying things.

Probably the pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Blooming things.

Scurfy pea (Psoralidium tenuiflorum) Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Swimming things.

American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2018)

Each June day is packed with wonder.

Why not go see?

*****

The opening quote is take from the essay “What the Prairie Teaches Us” written by Paul Gruchow (1947-2004) in his book Grass Roots: The Universe of Home (1995). Gruchow also wrote such classics as Journal of a Prairie Year (1985), Boundary Waters: The Grace of the Wild (1997) and The Necessity of Empty Places (1988). If you haven’t read his writing before, this summer is a great time to begin.

****

“40 for 40”

Cindy and Jeff are celebrating 40 years since they tied the knot on June 18, 1983, by visiting 40 state parks, natural areas, and preserves in the next few months. This week:

#1/40: Cut Rock State Park, Rockford, IL (kayaking)

#2/40: James “Pate” Philip State Park, Bartlett, IL (hiking)

Let us know where you think we should visit next! We have 38 more places to go, and we’d love your recommendations.

*****

Join Cindy for a program or a class!

“In Conversation Online with Robin Wall Kimmerer,” June 21, 2023, 7-8 pm CT via Zoom. Brought to you by “Illinois Libraries Present.” Cindy will be moderating the talk. The number of registrations available may be limited, so register here soon.

Beginning Dragonfly and Damselfly ID — Friday, June 23, 8:30am-12:30 pm CT, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. Registration and more information can be found here. This class is split between classroom and field work. Fun! You don’t need to know anything about dragonflies to join us.

More classes and programs at www.cindycrosby.com

A Spring Prairie Ballot

“Every spring is…a perpetual astonishment.”—Brother Cadfael

*****

It’s election day in the Chicago Region. After casting my vote, I’ll be ready to clear my head of being buffaloed by a deluge of ads, strident television commercials, and unwanted texts (how did they get my phone number, anyway?)

Bison (Bison bison), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

I’m casting my vote for a prairie hike. A vote for spring.

Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) with spring bulbs, Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL (2022).

What’s on the ballot today? Warm weather for starters. This past week (and possibly today) we can expect tornadoes, severe storms, high winds, hail, and a deluge of rain that makes keeping my kayak handy sound like a good idea. I plan to keep a close eye on the weather radar and listen to weatherman Tom Skilling.

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) over Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

In my backyard pond, the first marsh marigolds open.

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Typically, it’s the first native plant in my yard to bloom each year, following my non-native daffodils, crocus, hyacinth, and snowdrops. It’s important not to confuse my marsh marigolds with the non-native, very aggressive lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) which takes over wet areas in neighborhoods and forest preserves.

Invasive non-native lesser celandine, sometimes called fig buttercup (Ficaria verna) Willowbrook Wildlife Center, DuPage Forest Preserve, Glen Ellyn, IL.(2022)

An easy way to tell the native and the non-native apart is to flip a bloom over. The lesser celandine has three green sepals on the back of the bloom; the marsh marigold does not.

The aggressive non-native lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) on the left; the native marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) on the lower right. (2022)

Worth watching for this spring, and learning the difference.

Red admiral butterflies are usually quick to show up around marsh marigold bloom time.

Red admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2021)

I’m on high alert for the first one in my backyard. As I walk around in the mud, looking for early butterflies, I see the purple hyacinths are in bloom. Ahhh! What a heavenly fragrance.

Purple hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

But what’s this? Some of our backyard wildlife has sampled the flowers, then ruthlessly tossed them aside.

Broken stem of purple hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), on top of the prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Ugh. Looking closely, I find more hyacinth blooms, stripped and tossed into the prairie dropseed. My eyes narrow. I scan the yard for the culprit. Then, I look up.

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

“Who, me?” He’s blaming the chipmunks.

Moving away from the ruined hyacinths, I check the two native spicebush shrubs which seem to have escaped wildlife damage over the winter. The first flower buds are open!

Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Charming! I recently read that all parts of Lindera benzoin are said to be edible, including the buds, twigs, flowers and fruit. This pair was planted in 2021, sourced from Possibility Place Nursery, knowing that northern spicebush is a host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. I’ve never seen the spicebush swallowtail in my yard, but I have high hopes. How have my other native shrubs fared? No flowers on my witch hazel this year, but it’s still young. Next to it, the two-year-old native hazelnut shrub has its first catkins.

American hazelnut (Corylus americana), Crosby’s yard, Glen Ellyn, IL. Note the cut stems!

But—oh no oh no oh no—the bunnies have been busy. Lots of small branches sheared off. How could you? Wascally wabbits! The writer Michael Pollan once wrote in his book, Second Nature, that planting a garden clears the mind of any easy sentiments about wildlife, and nature in general. Hopefully, now that there is more green stuff available to eat, the eastern cottontails will leave my shrubs alone.

Meanwhile, Jacob’s ladder is in bud.

Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

And look at that shooting star! The bunchy leaves are crisp and healthy-looking.

Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadii or Primula meadia), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

I can’t wait to see the flowers in early to mid-May.

Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia or Primula meadia), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2018)

The few flowers I have in my backyard are beautiful, but they pale in comparison to those massed on the remnant prairies.

Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia or Primula meadia), Beach Cemetery Prairie, Ogle County, IL. (2022)

In the raised beds, last year’s Italian parsley is resurrecting. My parsley is an open-pollinated biennial, which means if I let it grow this spring, it will eventually set seed. I’m not sure I want to do that—parsley seed doesn’t cost much—but it might be fun to see the flowers. It’s a good host plant for black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.

Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

The garlic has put on noticeable growth. However, the raised beds need more compost and topsoil. Dirt has a way of settling.

Garlic (Allium sativum), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

There are some noticeable plant absences. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, where, oh where, is my prairie smoke? And what has happened to the prairie alumroot? It’s coming up, although a bit nibbled.

Prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

But no sign of the prairie smoke. Fingers crossed.

Out on the prairies, charred earth shows that the site staff and volunteers have been busy.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

The storms and showers forecast for today will quickly mist them with green. Spring is here, and on her prairie and garden ballot are a hundred thousand unfolding miracles each day.

Pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (Undated)

You only need to show up and pay attention.

Why not go see?

******

The opening quote is from Brother Cadfael, a fictional character in the book A Raven in the Foregate. His character was created by novelist Edith Pargeter (1913-1995) known by her pen name as Ellis Peters. “The Cadfael Chronicles” is a murder mystery series set in the Abbey of Shrewsbury during medieval times, and features this Welsh Benedictine monk, who joins the order after years spent as a soldier. The books were later adapted for television. Pargeter was the recipient of the Edgar Award and Silver Dagger Award for her writing, and authored many other books outside the series. If you haven’t read her books, I’d start with the first in “The Cadfael Chronicles,” A Morbid Taste for Bones.

******

Join Cindy for a Class or Program

Tonight! The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop: April 4, 7-8:30 pm. Free and open to the public. Presented by the Winfield Area Gardeners. For more information and location, visit here.

A Brief History of Trees in America: April 5 (Closed event for the Illinois Garden Council). Chicago Western Suburbs.

Literary Gardens — In Person — April 11, 7-8:30 p.m., Glenview Garden Club and Glenview Public Library. Free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Register here.

Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers — Monday, April 17, 5-6 p.m., Rock River Garden Club, Dixon, IL. (Closed event for members)

The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction — Tuesday, April 18, Algonquin Garden Club, 12:30-2 p.m. (Closed event for members)

Spring Wildflower and EthnobotanyWalk—Thursday, April 20, 8:30-10:30 am or Saturday, April 29, 8:30-10:30am at The Morton Arboretum. Registration information here. (Both walks SOLD OUT, ask to be put on a waiting list)

The Tallgrass Prairie in Popular Culture –Sunday, April 23, 2-5 p.m. The Land Conservancy’s 32nd Annual Celebration, High Tea at the McHenry Country Club, Woodstock, IL. Tickets are $45-$70 — available here.

More classes and programs at www.cindycrosby.com

A Tallgrass Prairie Valentine

******

“My own feeling for tallgrass prairie is that of a modern man fallen in love with the face in a faded tintype. Only the frame is still real; the rest is illusion and dream.”—John Madson

*******

Today, as we swap sweet valentine notes with friends, family, and loved ones, I’m writing to you, prairie.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2022)

Yes, you.

Belmont Prairie, Downers Grove, IL. (2022)

I’m talking to you, prairie remnants…

Beach Cemetery Prairie, Ogle County, IL. (2022)

…and backyard prairies, so lovingly planted…

Crosby’s backyard prairie, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2022)

…and front yard prairies, placed where neighbors can see…

Possibly the transverse banded drone (Eristalis transversa) on showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), Crosby’s front yard prairie, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2022)

…and street prairies, in the midst of suburban hustle and bustle.

Neighborhood cul-de-sac prairie, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2022)

Cemetery prairies, where the native plants hung on for dear life as the tallgrass was plowed all around.

Vermont Cemetery Prairie, Naperville, IL (2020).

Prairies of a hundred acres.

Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2022)

Prairies of thousands of acres.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2014)

Prairies tucked into the corners of churches and schools…

Prairie at Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2017)

…playgrounds and public spaces…

Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum), Prairie Walk Pond and Dragonfly Landing, Lisle, IL. (2018)

…in industrial parks…

Corporate prairie planting, Westmont, IL. (2018)

…and in places you might not expect.

International Crane Center, Baraboo, WI. (2017)

Old planted prairies that started a restoration movement…

Curtis Prairie, University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, Madison, WI. (2020)

… and prairies that remind us of the vision it takes to keep tallgrass alive in the hearts and minds of people.

Aldo Leopold’s “Shack,” Baraboo, WI. (2017)

Prairies that gave me new ways to think about the world.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2021)

Thank you, my landscape of home, for the thousands of hours of pleasure you’ve offered me.

Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), Kankakee Sands, Morocco, IN. (2021)

I’ve pulled your weeds…

Afton Prairie, DeKalb, IL. (2017)

…collected your seeds.

Planting pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2020)

Thank you for supporting the native bees…

Possibly the brown-belted bumblebee (Bombus griseocollis) on wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL (2020).

…and the butterflies…

Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) on Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2021)

…and the birds…

Dickcissel (Spiza americana) on great angelica (Angelica atropupurea), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2020)

…so many fascinating birds….

Northern harrier (Circus hudsonius), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2022)

…and myriad whimsical insects…

White-faced meadowhawk, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2014)

…by providing them with a healthy, diverse place to live.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2017)

Thank you for your blooms, which add color to my life from March to October.

Pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2018)

Thank you, tallgrass prairie, for days full of sound and motion…

American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2018)

…for nights full of discovery…

Trevor Edmonson leads the first Mothapalooza on the Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL (2019)

…for streams to wade through…

Early morning wading Clear Creek, Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL (2017).

…for helping me understand the role of prescribed fire that causes you to flourish…

Prescribed burn, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2021)

…and for endless bridges to adventure.

Bridge over Willoway Brook, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (Undated)

For the cool taste of mountain mint leaves in summer…

Common mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), West Chicago Prairie, West Chicago, IL. (2021)

…for the delights of prairie thunderstorms…

Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. (2019)

…and for giving the displaced and threatened a home.

Bison (Bison bison), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL (2016)

You’ve taught me to see the small things. To pay attention.

Citrine forktail damselfly (Ischnura hastata), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL. (2021)

Thank you, tallgrass prairie.

Orland Grasslands, Orland Park, IL. (2017)

This is my love letter…

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) at sunset, Russell R. Kirt Prairie, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2017)

…my valentine…

Fermilab, Batavia, IL. (2019)

…to you.

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The opening quote is by John Madson (1923-1995) from his beautiful, thoughtful book on tallgrass prairie, Where the Sky Began. If you haven’t read it, February is the perfect month to do so.

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Dragonflies and Damselflies —IN PERSON February 18, 10-11:30 a.m. (Note new earlier date). Hosted by Citizens for Conservation, Barrington, IL. For more information, click here.

Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers—In Person February 20, 7:15-8:45 p.m. Hosted by the Suburban Garden Club, Indian Head Park, IL. Free and open to non-members. For more information, contact Cindy through her website contact space at http://www.cindycrosby.com.

Literary Gardens —In Person March 7, 7-8:30 p.m.—Hosted by the ELA Library and Lake Zurich Garden Club. Location change — now at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Hawthorn Woods, IL. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit here.

Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers ONLINE — March 15, 7-8:30 p.m., Hosted by Bensonville Public Library. Free and open to the public, but you must register for the link by calling the library. Contact information click here.

Illinois’ Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers ONLINE –March 16, 7-8:30 p.m., Hosted by the Rock Valley Wild Ones. This event was formerly a blended program and is now online only. Open to the public; but you must register. Contact information is here.

See Cindy’s website for more March programs and classes.

*****

Bell Bowl Prairie in Rockford, IL, needs your help! Find out more on saving this threatened prairie remnant at SaveBellBowlPrairie.

A Short Hike on a Prairie Kame

“What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life, by him who interests his heart in everything.” — Laurence Sterne

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Say “dry gravel prairie” and it doesn’t sound too exciting, does it? But a visit to the Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve in October is a reminder of just how beautiful these gravel prairies can be.

Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

On arrival, I spend a few moments reading about the site.

Interpretive sign, Sauer Family Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

The hill is about 30 feet high, and according to the forest preserve, is “situated on the leading edge of the great glaciers that moved through and retreated from this area” more than 10,000 years ago. It’s a stunning interruption of the flat prairies and cornfields all around.

Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

Listen! Crickets sing. Big bluestem and Indian grass sieve the wind.

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

A “marsh hawk”—also known as the northern harrier—flies over, looking for mice.

Northern harrier (Circus hudsonius), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

Planes from a nearby regional airport soar over too, their pilots looking for an afternoon’s adventure in the sky.

Plane over Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

Other fliers hang out low in the tallgrass.

Eastern tailed-blue butterfly (Cupido comyntas ), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

Showy goldenrod bumps blooms with Canada goldenrod.

Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) and Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), Sauer Family Prairie Kame/Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

The prairie brims with fresh flowers…

Tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

…and wildflowers going to seed.

Tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

And such seeds!

Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

Watch out for rattlesnake master, with its bristling globes that prick inquisitive fingers.

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium ), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

Listen for white wild indigo, rattling its seedpods. What, no seeds inside? Tap a pod and watch the weevils spill out.

White wild indigo (Baptisia alba macrophylla), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

Crush the gray-headed coneflower seedheads. Inhale the lemony fragrance. Mmmm.

Gray-headed coneflowers (Ratibida pinnata), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

A broad-headed bug patrols the bush clover.

Broad-headed bug (iNaturalist suggests it is Alydus eurinus ) on round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame, Sugar Grove, IL.

Leadplant’s leaves catch the light, showing off the silvery hairs that give this plant its name.

Leadplant (Amorpha canescens ), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

It’s my first prairie hike since I was unexpectedly sidelined six weeks ago. What a wonderful feeling, to be out on a tallgrass trail! What a gorgeous day to be outside.

Sky blue aster (Symphiotrichum oolentangiense), Sauer Family/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove, IL.

What a beautiful day to be alive.

******

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Laurence Stern (1713-1768), whose quote opens today’s post, was a novelist and cleric whose work was included in 18th Century anti-slavery literature. He struggled with tuberculosis or “consumption” most of his life.

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Save Bell Bowl Prairie!

Gravel prairies are rare in Illinois. It’s not too late to Save Bell Bowl Prairie, an important gravel prairie remnant in Rockford slated for demolition by the Chicago Rockford International Airport. Click here for simple things you can do to help protect this prairie from demolition.

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Upcoming Programs this Autumn

Tuesday, October 11, 2022 (7-8:30 p.m.)—The Tallgrass Prairie; An Introduction hosted by Twig & Bloom Garden Club, Glen Ellyn, IL. This is a closed event for members. For information on joining the club, visit their Facebook page here.

Friday, October 14, 2022 (10-11 a.m.)—-A Brief History of Trees in America. Discover the enchanting role trees have played in our nation’s history. Think about how trees are part of your personal history, and explore trees’ influence in American literature, music, and culture. Hosted by the Elgin Garden Club and the Gail Borden Public Library District, Main Branch, 270 North Grove Avenue, Meadows Community Rooms. In person. Free and open to the public, but you must register. Find more information here.

Thursday, October 20, 2022 (10:15-11:30a.m.)—The Garden’s Frequent Fliers: Dragonflies and Damselflies, Lincolnshire Garden Club, Vernon Hills, IL. This is a closed event for members only. For information on joining this club, please visit their website here.

Nature Writing II –Four Thursdays–October 27, November 3, 10, and 17, 2022, (9 to 11:30 a.m., in-person). Offered by The Morton Arboretum. Experiment with a variety of styles and techniques as you continue to develop your own voice. The same qualities of good writing apply to everything from blogs to books! No matter your background or interest, become the writer you always dreamt you could be. Register here.

Thanks to John Heneghan for the Northern Harrier identification in this week’s post.