Prairie Plantings at May’s End

“If people looked at the stars each night, they’d live a lot differently.” —Bill Watterson

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It’s gardening season at last in the Chicago Region. After a spate of chilly nights, which kept me from planting some of my more tender veggies, everything is finally in. Most everything, that is.

Seed packets— always too many for our small backyard. Lots of dreams here.

Fall-planted garlic is sailing along. Somewhere, I made a note of what type I planted. Somewhere.

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

I love green onions, and my Egyptian Walking Onions, planted years ago when we first moved here, continue to flourish. They are as much art in the garden…

Egyptian walking onions (Allium x proliferum), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

…as they are utility players; emergency onions that sub in recipes when we run out of the bigger supermarket bulbs.

Egyptian walking onions (Allium x proliferum), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Those swerves and curves! The plants will have tiny bulbils at the end of each stem which weigh it down, those bulbils plant themselves to start the process of “walking” all over the garden again. So much fun. In the same raised bed, our everbearing raspberries (“Joan J”), now in their second year, are flowering and fruiting. My mouth waters just thinking about fresh berries.

Rasberries (Rubus idaeus ‘Joan J‘), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Near the house, the stinging nettles I wrote about two weeks ago that made a surprise appearance in our yard are still in place, with caterpillars webbed into at least a dozen leaves. I’ve made my peace with keeping the plant until it looks like the red admiral butterfly caterpillars are finished with it—or maybe July, whichever comes first. We’ll see. Imagine my surprise when I saw our backyard wasps visiting the leaves! Evidently, they are a caterpillar predator. Uh, oh…

Probably a paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus or Polistes dominula) on slender stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis), feeding on the red admiral caterpillars, (Vanessa atalanta), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Drama reigns. I turn my eyes from this horror show and focus on the lovely flowers blooming all around me instead. Nature has such contrasts. The non-native garden traditional garden plants are having their moment, especially Siberian iris, reliably blooming right around Memorial Day. My native blue flag iris near the pond won’t be far behind.

Siberian iris (Iris sibirica), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Peonies are in bud…

Peony (Paeonia sp.), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

…and in bloom.

Peony (Paeonia sp.), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL. The name of this peony has long been misplaced!

My yard is about 70% native plants; 30% traditional garden plants. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to test a cultivar of one of the prairie natives for its value to butterflies, birds, and bees against the natives themselves. With this in mind, I purchased the most outrageous “nativar” I could find locally— “Rainbow Sherbet” coneflower from the “Double-Dipped” series of Echinacea. I also purchased the native purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)…

The great Echinacea face-off —- which will the pollinators and birds prefer?

…and I already have the pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) growing in my front yard prairie planting.

Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Crosby’s front yard prairie planting, Glen Ellyn, IL.

I’ve talked to conservation organizations and garden clubs about avoiding the native plant cultivars so prevalent in the nursery industry; especially doubles like “Rainbow Sherbet,” as they are said to have multiple issues (less value to wildlife as only one). This particular echinacea is touted as “loaded with nectar for pollinators.” So, this season, I’m going to see for myself. My plan is to keep notes on what insects and birds visit the different coneflowers throughout the summer and fall. Stay tuned for the “Coneflower Contest.” How will the pollinators vote?

As I look for an ideal spot for the two new coneflowers where I can easily keep an eye on them, I notice our native pawpaw tree has….could it be…fruit? Tiny developing pawpaws! That’s a first for our backyard. Will they mature? We’ve always had flowers, never fruit. Fingers crossed.

Pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

How exciting!

Back in the vegetable garden, I plant the Bush Lake green beans in a block between the zinnias and tomatoes. I had sworn off putting in so many tomato plants this season—and yet it seems my idea of restraint is nine plants. What can I say? They looked so good at the nursery. And who can resist the heirloom tomato Brandywine, with its iconic potato leaves?

Brandywine tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Brandywine’), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Or the “Patio” tomato, which loves containers? Or those sweet yellow cherry tomatoes? Despite the lateness of the month, I did plant some kale (it seems to handle the long summer heat pretty well if I cut it back and may make it to fall) and the always dependable rainbow radishes from Park Seed. A few kohlrabi, bok choy, some arugula, and spring onions are also in. It seems a bit late for lettuce, but we’ll see how it goes. I have a penchant for the butterheads; I planted Tennis Ball, the beautiful Merveille des Quatre Saisons that I can’t do without in the garden, and Little Gem — all favorites. I can always pull them early if they begin to bolt.

I also expanded our front yard prairie planting to include three pale beardtongue, a prairie milkweed, and four prairie smoke plants, one a thoughtful gift. Watering is critical for a new prairie planting the first year, so I’m liberal with the hose. Later, I’ll let them fend for themselves.

Crosby’s front yard prairie planting (gradually expanding!), Glen Ellyn, IL.

Water has been a big issue these past two weeks. Out on the prairie where I’m a steward, we planted 24 new pasque flower plants. However, the critters—perhaps thirsty for the water we soaked them with when planting—dug up six of them and tossed them aside. Ouch! By the time I went back to check the following week, they seemed to be goners. We’re going to try some little cages on a few of them to see if that helps. I feel for the wildlife; Willoway Brook nearby is running low and choked with algae. I wouldn’t want to drink that, either. But hey—stay away from our planting, critters!

Pasque flowers (Pulsatilla patens), Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

In the evenings on the prairie, the silvery mounds of cream indigo seem to glow. Blue-eyed grass and bastard toadflax are everywhere, and prairie phlox, while a little sparser than in previous seasons, is still a show-stopper. In the mornings, the Ohio spiderwort washes parts of the prairie in blue.

Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

On these last days of May, I try to walk the prairie in the evenings. The long shadows of the fire-resistant black walnuts and oaks stretch across the lush grass, seemingly to beckon me inward. Birdsong (aided by my Merlin app) from cedar waxwings, indigo buntings, Baltimore orioles, and other birds lull me into a contentment that sometimes eludes me during a busy day at home.

Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

Night follows. On Memorial Day, tipped off by friends, Jeff and I stood in the driveway just after dark, and watched the International Space Shuttle arc overhead. Its staff of astronauts, traveling 17,500 miles per hour, will see 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. (Click here to see how to sign up for alerts for where and when to see it where you live). The shuttle circles the Earth every 90 minutes, but it’s the first time we’ve ever seen it move through the night sky.

International Space Station over Glen Ellyn, IL.

What a wonder! So much is happening all around us that we don’t even notice, both in the vast constellations of the universe and the black dirt of our backyards.

Night sky petunias (Petunia cultivars ‘Night Sky’), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

June is on the way.

Great angelica (Angelica atropurpurea), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

But how astonishing are these last day marvels of May.

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The opening quote is from Bill Watterson (1958-), the creator of the award-winning comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes,” which ran from 1985-1995. He ended his run with the comic on December 31, 1995, saying he was eager to begin working at a “thoughtful pace, with fewer artistic compromises.” A political science major, Watterson named Calvin for an 18th Century theologian and Hobbes for a 17th Century philosopher.

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Join Cindy for a Program or Class

The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction–on National Prairie Day! Saturday, June 3, 1-2:30 p.m. CT, Sterling Farmer’s Market (at the Pavilion) in Sterling, IL. Free and open to the public. Indoors in case of rain.

Literary Gardens Online –-Wednesday, June 7, 7-8:15 p.m. CT, Bensenville Public Library, Bensenville, IL, via Zoom. Free but you must register to receive the link (participation may be limited to first sign ups). For more information and to register, contact the library at 630-766-4642.

“In Conversation Online with Robin Wall Kimmerer,” June 21, 2023, 7-8 pm CT via Zoom. Brought to you by “Illinois Libraries Present.” 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

Thank you, John H., for the tip-off on the International Space Shuttle this week. We were awed.

Wild and Wonderful March Prairie

“Gardens console us, welcome us, connect us. They humble. They teach… . Couldn’t prairies exist in our backyards in some meaningful form?” — Benjamin Vogt

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Snow. 70 degrees and sunshine. Sleet. 75 mph wind gusts.

It is March in the Midwest, full of twists and turns…and wonder. We wake up, not knowing if we’ll put on sweaters and boots or shorts and sandals. Each day offers surprises, like crocus suddenly in bloom.

Crocus (Crocus sp.), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

The first daffodils and hyacinths spear green shoots through the prairie dropseed in my backyard. Welcome back!

Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) and prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Redpolls cluster at the feeder, seemingly loath to begin their trip to their Arctic breeding grounds. They remind me of myself getting ready to go somewhere. “Hold on—let me do one more thing before we go… .”

Common redpolls (Acanthis flammea), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

A male redpoll feeds a female redpoll some thistle. Is this courting behavior? I’m not sure. This was our first year to have redpolls at our backyard feeders in Illinois and I know very little about them. What an unexpected delight! Who knows if we’ll see them again? I’ll miss the redpolls when they are gone. They’ve left us with some beautiful memories, and the reminder that life is full of these unexpected amazements —-if we pay attention.

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

There will be other birds to enjoy. The female downy woodpeckers hang around all year…

Downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

…and so do the males, with their bright scarlet splash of color.

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Our backyard prairie, lank and leaning after months of weather, gets a facelift with the falling snow. Magical!

Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Even the pawpaw tree—though leafless—is lovely with its snow-piled limbs.

Pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Temperatures hover around freezing, but our pond remains thawed from Saturday’s wild 70-degree temperature binge.

Crosby’s backyard pond, Glen Ellyn, IL.

Gently, I bend the fall-planted buttonbush shoots near the pond. They feel supple, rather than brittle. Tiny buds. A flush of color. It has survived the winter. Last summer, with its drought and weather swings, was a tough year for newly-planted perennials.

Buttonbush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis) Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

My New Jersey tea hasn’t done as well. Under the eaves, close to the house, this native shrub gets plenty of warmth but not as much moisture and sun as it would in the bigger prairie planting. Should it be moved this year? Hmmm.

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

It’s a stick! Not much to write home about, is it? Every spring I think I’ve lost this shrub, and each spring New Jersey tea surprises me. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Other natives like prairie smoke….

Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

…and prairie alum root still hold some green. They look alive and ready for the growing season.

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

We’re one week into the month of March.

Gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

A week of blustery wind and snow. A week of warmth and rain. A week of good news, as Covid numbers recede. A week of terrifying events on the other side of the world.

View from the prairie, Crosby’s backyard, Glen Ellyn, IL.

A week of wondering. What’s Mother Nature going to throw at us next?

Crosby’s backyard prairie, Glen Ellyn, IL.

As the snow falls and ices the prairie with wonder, I remind myself: There’s a lot to look forward to in the new year. Plenty of astonishments and delights ahead that we can’t even imagine.

I can’t wait.

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The opening quote is by Benjamin Vogt (1976-) from his book, A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future, which calls us to reconsider lawns, and plant our gardens thoughtfully. Read more about Vogt here.

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Join Cindy for a program or class!

See http://www.cindycrosby.com for details.

March 8, 7-8:30pm — Dragonflies and Damselflies: Frequent Fliers in the Garden at Twig and Bloom Garden Club, Glen Ellyn, IL. More information here.

March 9, 1-2:30 pm— Illinois Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers at Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest, Oak Park, IL (Open to the public). Details here.

March 26, 10-11:30 am — Illinois Wild and Wonderful Early Bloomers at Brookfield Garden Club, Brookfield, IL. (Closed event for members only)

March 28, 7-8:30pm—Add a Little Prairie to Your Garden at Grayslake Greenery Garden Club, Grayslake, IL. Contact the club here for details.

Bringing Prairie Home

“But now, for the first time in its history, gardening has taken on a role that transcends the needs of the gardener.” — Doug Tallamy

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I’ve always been glad I planted prairie in my backyard. But perhaps never so much as this summer, when I, like other Illinois residents, am spending a lot more time at home.

My suburban backyard 20 miles west of Chicago is less than a quarter of an acre, and bordered closely on all sides by some of the 300-plus homes in our subdivision. Our yard lies downslope of two others, and is often wet—if not downright swampy. When Jeff and I moved here, there were giant arborvitae, a few yews, and not much else. Gardening was difficult. After removing most of the Arborvitae and all the yews, we planted a border of prairie plants across the backyard. Their deep roots helped absorb some of the water.

Over the years, we’ve added numerous raised beds for vegetable gardening…

…

…a small pond, and a mixture of native plants and favorite non-natives. I confess to a passion for zinnias; the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds go crazy over them.

Our goal has become one suggested by University of Delaware Professor of Entomology Doug Tallamy: plant at least 70% of your yard (by biomass) with trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses native to your area. Why? It will nourish wildlife. When we plant, we try to keep insects and wildlife in mind. What plants are good nectar sources? How might we attract more butterflies? Which plants have good seeds for birds? Which plants are host plants for moth caterpillars?

Diversity. We try to think about different plant heights, bloom times, and mixing a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes and bloom sizes in the yard. July is a good month to step outside and sit on the patio for a while. Observe. See what is working. What’s not working. Let’s take a look.

Currently, queen of the prairie at the back of the yard is a showstopper. That pink! And so tall—over six feet. Although the flowers have no nectar, they offer pollen to flies and beetles.

A pawpaw tree behind the prairie patch is a host plant for zebra swallowtail butterflies and the pawpaw sphinx moth.

I’ve not observed either of these in our yard, but I’m on the lookout! Meanwhile, it’s the eastern black swallowtails I see, drawn to the blazing star blooms by the patio.

Culver’s root lights its flower candles in the prairie patch each July—the white so bright against the green! Bees of all kinds love it, as do moths, wasps, and butterflies.

Nearby are the velvet flame-petals of cardinal flowers. Their bright scarlet screams across the yard.  Look at us! We can’t tear our eyes away. Red is an unusual color for prairie plants, and I watch for these in July, fingers crossed.  Sometimes they jump from place to place in the yard. Some years they’ve disappeared altogether. A few weeks ago I wondered if they were still around. And then—here they are.

The hummingbirds love cardinal flowers. So do the swallowtails. And, when the cardinal flowers bloom, I begin anticipating the great blue lobelia, another favorite, which blooms a few weeks later.

Each lobelia, a close relative of cardinal flower, is a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies. They mingle together along the edges of my small pond.

Cupplant just popped into bloom this week; sunny yellow flowers towering over my head. The plants’ joined leaves hold moisture and create a favorite watering hole for goldfinches after a rain or a particularly dewy morning.

We have a saying in our prairie group: “Friends don’t give friends cup plant!” It’s such an aggressive plant in the right garden conditions, spreading every which way and dominating the prairie patch. Then, I see a bright goldfinch drinking from the cupped leaves in the summer or enjoying the seeds in the fall. It quenches my resolve to dig them up.

Today, I spy a monarch, nectaring on the blooms. Yes. I think I’ll keep cup plants around.

Near the cup plants are masses of joe pye weed, which hint at the promise of a flower show in August. The blooms will be a big draw for the yellow tiger swallowtails that wing their way through our backyard.

Wild bergamot—both the native Monarda fistulosa in lavender….

…and an unknown species — likely a close relative of Monarda didyma--given to me by a friend, lure the hummingbird moths at dusk.

Bees love both species. Me too.

By the patio, the gray-headed coneflowers mingle with a wild asparagus plant, the ferny leaves shooting over my head.

The asparagus came up wild; likely from a seed dropped by the birds at our eight bird feeding stations.  Or maybe we should call them squirrel feeding stations? These bird feeders, plus the native plants with their maturing seedheads in the fall, the water in our small pond, and heated birdbath in winter are a big draw for birds.

The pond is a magnet for dragonflies and damselflies, including this great spreadwing damselfly sighted last season. I’d never seen it on the larger prairies where I monitor dragonflies, so what a delight to find it—right here, in my own small backyard.

I’m on the lookout for it this month, but so far, it has eluded me. I commit to spending more time, sitting by the pond, just quietly looking.

Along the edges of the patio, well-behaved prairie dropseed forms beautiful clumps next to the second-year new jersey tea shrub. In August, the prairie dropseed sends up sprays of seeds that smell of buttered popcorn. It’s not a smell to everyone’s taste, but I love it.

You can see my backyard is a little bit messy, a jumble of natives and non-natives, lawn and prairie. Weeds? You bet. Our lawn is a mix of species, from clover to violets to oregono and wild strawberries. The rabbits approve. But not everyone in my neighborhood understands.

It’s important to me that my neighbors see our intentions for the yard—and not just see it as a jumble of plants. I want to woo them away from their drug rugs (as conservationists like my neighbor Jerry Wilhelm calls chemically treated lawns) and toward a more healthy yard. For this reason, we have several signs, including a Monarch Way Station from Monarch Watch and a Conservation at Home sign from The Conservation Foundation. I hope when they see the signs, and the butterflies, birds, and blooms, they’ll be a little curious. What’s going on over there?

I want them to know: Prairies are one of the most fragile, nuanced, and diverse places on earth. Full of amazing creatures and interesting plants.

Every year, our yard moves a little closer to being more healthy. We’ve still got a long way to go. But the journey of bringing prairie home is a marvelous adventure, full of beautiful surprises.

It all starts with a single plant.

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The opening quote is from Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Doug Tallamy. Wild Ones Native Landscapers recently put on a webinar with Tallamy that emphasized the need for at least 70% biomass of native plants in yards in order to sustain insects, birds, and the natural world. We’re still working on our yard—and we still have a long way to go. You, too?

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All photos copyright Cindy Crosby and taken this week at her backyard in Glen Ellyn, IL , unless designated otherwise (top to bottom):  red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax ), Schulenberg Prairie Savanna, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; raised garden beds (thanks to John Heneghan, carpenter extraordinaire!); ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) on zinnias (Zinniz elegans) (photo from 2019); backyard planting mix of natives and non-natives; queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra); queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra) with a pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba) behind it;  eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius) on blazing star (Liatris spp.); Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum); cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis); great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) with Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius) (photo from August 2019);  cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum); cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum) with monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus);  Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum);  mixed natives and non-natives; unknown monarda, received as a gift (possibly Monarda didyma?) with hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe); bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) and unknown bumblebee (Bombus spp.); grayheaded coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) and wild asparagus (Asparagus officinalis); author’s backyard pond; great spreadwing damselfly (Archilestes grandis), photo from 2019); prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) and New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus); nodding wild onions (Allium cernuum); July on the Schulenberg Prairie, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL.

I’m grateful to the Wild Ones Native Landscapers for their work with homeowners and native plant gardening in suburban yards, and The Conservation Foundation for helping gardeners  make our yards healthier and more wildlife-friendly. Thanks also to John Ayres for the cardinal flower seeds that helped me increase my population. Thank you to Tricia Lowery for the liatris and unknown monarda. Both are pollinator magnets!

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Discover “Tallgrass Prairie Ethnobotany Online” –through The Morton Arboretum! Did you know the prairie was once the source of groceries, medicine, and love charms? Join Cindy for two Friday mornings online, July 31 and August 7, (9-11 a.m.) and learn how people have used and enjoyed prairie plants through history — and today! Spend the week in between on your own, exploring and identifying plants on the prairies of your choice. Register here.

“Tallgrass Prairie Ecology Online” –begin a new session in September! Work from home at your own pace (with suggested assignment deadlines) for 60 days to complete the material, and meet other prairie volunteers and stewards on the discussion boards and in the optional Zoom session. Register here.

Just released! Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History. Order now from your favorite indie bookstore such as the Morton Arboretum Store and The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn, or online at bookshop.org and other book venues. Order direct through Northwestern University Press and receive 40% off this new book and/or “The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction”— use coupon code SUN40. Thank you for supporting small presses, bookstores, and writers during this chaotic time.

Want more prairie? Follow Cindy on Facebook, Twitter (@phrelanzer) and Instagram (@phrelanzer). Or enjoy some virtual trips to the prairie through reading Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit and The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction.