“In early June, the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.”
—John Steinbeck
*****
Meteorological summer comes in for a landing…
…with its soundtrack of sunshine and storms…
…and the never-ending hiss-shrill of cicadas.
Break out the lemonade and lawn chairs. It’s June.
In the garden, the raspberries are almost ripe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Porcupine grass starts its slow bend to drill its seeds into the prairie soil.
Butterflies zip by me, intent on nectar missions.
A question mark butterflies samples something a little less savory on the trail.
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.
And look! There’s a pale purple coneflower, almost in bloom.
The small sundrops aren’t numerous on this prairie, so I feel lucky when I spy one.
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.
Have you been for a hike on the prairie lately?
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.
More programs and classes at http://www.cindycrosby.com.
Tuesdays in the Tallgrass 