“Have you come to sing pumpkin carols?”—Linus Van Pelt
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Today’s the day.
In our suburban subdivision, the doorbell will ring non-stop. Our front porch will be crowded with unicorns and princesses, cowboys and Barbies. It’s Halloween.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to stay out of the Snickers bars until the kids arrive. A good reason to go for a hike before the happy haunting begins.
And what a treat! Even as the temperatures drop past freezing, and the forecast threatens snow in the Midwest, the prairies and woodlands put on a spellbinding show.
So many delights, it’s difficult to know where to look.
Each turn of the trail offers new eye candy.
Showers of gold carpet the world, making hiking slippery, and a little bit tricky. The crushed leaves are fragrant with decay. The smell of autumn.
If it rains? No worries. Raindrops sparkle, chasing away the gray of the skies.
A crow might ink its way across the sky as you hike, or you may glimpse a red-winged blackbird, silhouetted against the prairie like one of those old Scherenschnitte black paper scissored cut-outs.
Or perhaps you’ll spot a grackle. Not quite Edgar Allan Poe’s raven, but close enough. And its scientific name is fun to say.
If you listen closely, you might hear the call of…something…high in the trees.
“Whooo”-ever you are, you can’t fail to feel a tingle. It’s Halloween, after all!
If spiders aren’t your thing, think again.
Overnight, they spin the prairies and woodlands into pure magic.
Go ahead. Soak up the sights, smells, and sounds.
It’s your last chance for an October hike.
Enjoy those tricks of the autumn light.
Nature’s cauldrons full of colors.
The ghostly chills.
The thrills.
Goodbye, October.
Thanks for the magic.
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The opening quote is from one of the Peanuts gang, Linus Van Pelt, taken from the animated short special, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” (1966). Viewing this feature was a childhood staple of October, as many of Charles M. Schulz specials were at various times of the year. Looking back, I can’t believe it was only 25 minutes long. Remember Linus writing his letter to the Great Pumpkin? And Sally in the pumpkin patch? And Snoopy…well, I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it. Is there anyone who hasn’t? Happy Halloween!
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Join Cindy for a Class or Program at the End of 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 joining 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). Our last hike, #40, was at Brown County State Park, Nashville, IN, this week where we had our one-night honeymoon in a cabin in the woods, 40 years ago. Thanks to everyone who emailed and posted suggestions of places to visit over the past four months! Our 40 year anniversary celebration adventures may be over, but we plan to keep all of your hiking suggestions and visit some of your favorite places in the months and years to come.
Tuesdays in the Tallgrass 