That Tallgrass Prairie Sizzle

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

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

Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

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

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

Let’s do it.

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

Willoway Brook, Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, L.

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

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

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

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

Who would have thought?

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

Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

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

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

…and the Ebony Jewelwing damselfly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Over the streams…

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…prairies…

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…lakes, rivers…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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, 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! We’re more than halfway there–thirteen more to go. So far, we’ve enjoyed visiting the following places:

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

The 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

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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?

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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.

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“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.

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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

Dragonfly Summer on the Prairie

“Deep in July…counting clouds floating by…how we thrive deep in dragonfly summer.”—Michael Franks

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It’s all smooth jazz on the tallgrass prairie this week, from sunrise to sunset.

Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

The prairie hits its groove as it swings through mid-July. In the dewy mornings, by a tallgrass stream….

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

…the vibe is especially mellow. Water flows over stones. A few cumulous clouds drift over. In the tallgrass, the dragonflies warm up their flight muscles. Ready for a hot and humid day.

Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (male) (Perithemis tenera), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

As the temperatures rise, the dragonflies rise with them. Time for breakfast. Dragonflies hover over our heads; patrol ponds.

Common green darner (Anax junius), East Side, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Often they perch nearby on a downed log…

Common whitetail dragonfly (Plathemis lydia), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

Or an upright twig.

Halloween pennant dragonfly (Celithemis eponina), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

No need to chase them today. If you startle one, it may fly off, then loop back to its original perch.

Their kissing cousins, the damselflies, stake out streams…

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

… hang out in ponds.

Familiar bluet (Enallagma civile), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

On the prairie, damselflies hover right above my boots.

Springwater dancer damselfly (Argia plana), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

As my eyes get older, it’s more difficult to see them. So tiny! But if I’m patient, and don’t rush my hike, there they are. Right in front of my eyes.

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

The eastern forktail damselflies, one of our most common species, are also one of the easiest to spot. Look for that bright green head and thorax, and the tiny blue tip of the abdomen. It’s bright amid the tall grasses.

Eastern forktail (Ischnura verticalis), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

Spreadwing damselflies are less common than the forktails on my hikes. I get a jolt of joy when I spot one half-hidden in a shady cool spot.

Slender spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

As I hike, I see more than dragonflies. Moths flit through the grasses.

Chickweed geometer moth (Haematopis grataria), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

Butterflies puddle in the gravel two-tracks through the prairie.

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

Wildflowers continue their exuberant displays…

Royal catchfly (Silene regia), Schulenberg Prairie, Lisle, IL.

Blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

…making it difficult to look at anything but blooms.

Biennial Gaura (Gaura biennis), Nachusa Grasslands, Franklin Grove, IL.

And yet. There’s so much to see on the July prairie.

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

Why not go take a hike and listen to that “smooth jazz” for yourself?

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Michael Franks (1944-) is a singer and songwriter, whose lyrics from the song Dragonfly Summer kick off this blog post. His songs have been recorded by Diana Krall, Ringo Starr, Patti Austin, Manhattan Transfer, Art Garfunkel, and Lyle Lovett — just to name a few. Listen to his song Dragonfly Summer from the album of the same name here.

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Join Cindy for a class or program this summer!

Virtual Summer Prairie Wildflower Walk: online Thursday, July 22, 10-11:30 a.m. Offered through The Morton Arboretum. No matter where you live, join me on Zoom to see the amazing summer tallgrass prairie wildflowers and hear their stories of uses in medicine, folklore, poetry, and even as love charms! Register here.

Tallgrass Prairie Ecology Online: Work through online materials and post your stories about prairie to the discussion boards beginning August 2; learn from other prairie stewards and volunteers about their challenges and success stories.  Join a Live Zoom with Cindy on Wednesday, August 11, from noon-1 p.m. CDT. The coursework is available for 60 days. Learn more and register here.

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Cindy’s book, Chasing Dragonflies, is on sale at Northwestern University Press for 40% off the cover price until July 31! Click here to order — be sure and use Code SUN40 at checkout. Limit 5. See website for full details!

Chasing Dragonflies

A Hike on the June Prairie

“Good day sunshine.” — John Lennon & Paul McCartney

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A little rain. A bit of sunshine this week, too—at last. Let’s hike the June prairie together, and see what’s happening after the spring storms.

Tallgrass prairies in the Chicago region crackle with activity. Angelica opens its firework flowers in the soggy areas.

Spiderwort is everywhere, both in bud…

…and in bloom. Its short-lived flowers only last a day or two, and often close in the afternoon.

Clouds of prairie phlox float across the low grasses in varied hues, from pearl…

…to palest lavender, with purple eyes…

…to hot pink. So many variations!  When the phlox mingles with the spiderwort, it makes me think of a Monet painting.

Not all the blooms are as jazzy as the prairie phlox. Intermixed with the phlox,  prairie alumroot spikes open small green flowers with orange anthers. Inconspicuous, until you look closely. The phlox is fragrant, but the alumroot is scentless. Notice the silvery leadplant photobombing the image below, plus some sedges sprinkled around.

Close to the stream, I see meadow rue heading skyward.  In a good wet year like this one, meadow rue will likely top out at six or seven feet tall. When meadow rue blooms,  the flowers remind me of fringed Victorian lamps. Today, they are mostly in bud.

Cauliflower fists of wild quinine buds are about to pop.

As are those of the common milkweed. I turn the leaves over, but no monarch eggs. Yet.

As I admire the buds and blooms, I notice dragonflies perched to soak up the sun. Dragonflies have kept a low profile for the past two months; sulking about the windy, chilly, drizzly, and generally gloomy weather.  I discover a twelve-spotted skimmer…

…and also, a common whitetail. Both species will be ubiquitous by late June, but these first appearances always delight me. Welcome back.

As I look into foliage along the trails for more dragonflies and damselflies, I see clumps of what appear to be bubbles. Inside of the froth is a spittlebug. I pull one sticky mass apart with my fingers and gently admire a tiny green nymph. Later, when I’m at home, I read that the nymph will feed on the plant and eventually become an adult that looks something like a leafhopper, to which they are related. Although they are considered a pest, we don’t worry much about them on the prairie. They do little damage.

In the cool breeze, I’m grateful for the sun.  I snap off a red clover bloom and chew on some of the petals. Sweet. So sweet. Red clover isn’t a native prairie plant, but it’s pretty and generally not too invasive. We only pull it in our display areas at the front of the prairie.

The native yellow wood sorrel leaves are also irresistible, with their sour, tangy jolt to the tastebuds. Both the red clover and yellow wood sorrel are found in every Illinois county. Tough little flowers.

Brown-headed cowbirds often show up at my birdfeeders at home, as well as on my prairie hikes. They have several different trademark calls. This one sings a Clink-whistle! I admire it, glossy in the sunshine. Cowbirds are despised by many birders for their habit of laying their eggs in other bird species’ nests; letting someone else raise the kids. Ah, well.

The earliest spring prairie blooms are now in the business of making seeds.  Jacob’s ladder, which pulled blue sheets of flowers across the prairie just weeks ago, now carries clusters of sprawling seedpods. Except for the plant’s ladder-like leaves, it’s unrecognizable.

I pull a pod apart and check the tiny seed, pinching it between my fingernail and thumb. Still green. When the seedpods turn brown, I’ll bag them and use them to propagate other parts of the prairie where they aren’t as common.

Wood betony is another wildflower that has undergone a complete makeover, spiraling from yellow blooms into into soldier-straight rows. I mentally mark its locations for our work group’s seed collection efforts in a few weeks.

A common sight on the Midwestern prairies at this time of year is the remains of dogbane pods (or Indian hemp as it is sometimes known) that escaped the prescribed burns. Seedless now, it looks graceful, scything the breeze. My prairie work group collected last year’s dogbane stalks to experiment with making fiber this season. Native American’s knew dogbane could be used for twine, fishing line, and even fiber to weave clothing. I enjoy the way the pods catch the wind.

Wild coffee (sometimes known as horse gentian or tinker’s weed), has made an eye-catching mound in the knee-high tallgrass. Look closely.

You’ll see the dark reddish brown flowers, nestled in the leaf axils. Later this summer, the flowers will turn into small orange fruits tucked into the leaves. The dried fruits were used as a coffee substitute by early settlers.

The highlight of my hike is finding one of my favorite prairie wildflowers beginning to go to seed: common valerian (Valeriana edulis ciliata). I love its explosions of seed-spirals, and the way its stalk is beginning to transform from white to pink. As it ages, the pink intensifies until it is almost neon bright on the prairie.

So much to see. So much to hear. So many things to enjoy with all the senses. It’s difficult to do desk work. What if I miss something?

The prairie conjures up new astonishments every day.

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week brings.

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Paul McCartney and John Lennon penned the song, “Good Day Sunshine” for the Beatles’ 1966 album, Revolver. It’s a good cure for rainy day blues. Listen to it here and you’ll be humming it all day.

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All photos copyright Cindy Crosby and are from two different prairie hikes put together (top to bottom): butterweed (Packera glabella), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; great Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL;  prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) and prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii affinis) with the phlox, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; purple meadow rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum),  Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; 12-spotted skimmer dragonfly (Libellula pulchella), Fermilab Natural Areas Interpretive Trail, Batavia, IL; common whitetail (Plathemis lydia) , Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; spittlebug (possibly Philaenus spumarius) , Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; red clover (Trifolium pratense) , Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), Fermilab Natural Areas Interpretive Trail, Batavia, IL; Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans) seedpods, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), Fermilab Natural Areas Interpretive Trail, Batavia, IL; wild coffee or late horse gentian (Triosteum perfoliatum), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; wild coffee or late horse gentian (Triosteum perfoliatum) flowers, Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; common valerian (Valeriana edulis ciliata), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

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Cindy’s Upcoming Classes and Events

Tonight! Introduction to the Tallgrass Prairie, Tuesday, June 4, 7-9 p.m., Lake to Prairie Wild Ones, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N Midlothian Rd, Mundelein, IL 60060. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, June 6–9 p.m. — A Tallgrass Conversation, talk and book signing. Bring a picnic dinner for the social at 6 p.m. Talk begins around 7:30 p.m. Pied Beauty Farm, Stoughton, Wisconsin. Details here.

Friday, June 14, or Friday, June 28, 8-11:30 a.m., Dragonfly and Damselfly ID, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. Registration here (first session is sold out).

Thursday, June 20, 7-9 p.m. The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Charm Shop, Rock Valley Wild Ones, Rock Valley Community College, Rockford, IL. Details here. Free and open to the public.

See more at http://www.cindycrosby.com