“Joyful—now there’s a word we haven’t used in a while.” —Louise Glück
******
Snow! Glorious snow.
The prairie is adrift with powdery snow, underlaid with ice. Sure, it makes it tougher to get around.
But don’t you love how the snow crystals catch in the prairie dock leaves?
Do you delight in how bright the world suddenly seems?
Do you marvel at how the snow freshens the worn-out and weary? Changes your perspective?
The temperatures are plummeting to minus seven. Minus seven! And yet. It doesn’t matter. Because—that snow!
This week, the world still feels out of kilter. Topsy-turvy.
I’ve forgotten what “normal” is.
But today, that’s okay.
Even clearing the driveway to drive to the prairie isn’t so bad, knowing a hike awaits.
It all feels worthwhile. There are still shadows. But the world seems like a more hopeful place.
Full of possibilities. Potential.
Because of the snow.
*****
I’m reading the Pulitzer Prize winning, Nobel Prize winning, the you-name-it-she’s-won-it prize-winning poet Louise Glück’s (1943-) latest, Winter Recipes from the Collective. It’s a cold, dark read, with a little bit of hope. Good January poetry. Read more about Glück here.
******
Join Cindy for a program this winter!
“100 Years Around the Morton Arboretum” — Wednesday, January 26, 6:30pm-8:30 pm. Watch history come to life in this special centennial-themed lecture about The Morton Arboretum. Celebrating 100 years, The Morton Arboretum has a fascinating past. Two of the Arboretum’s most knowledgeable historians, author Cindy Crosby and the ever-amazing library collections manager Rita Hassert, will share stories of the Mortons, the Arboretum, and the trees that make this place such a treasure. Join us via Zoom from the comfort of your home. (Now all online). Register here.
February 8-March 1 (Three evenings, 6:30-9pm): The Foundations of Nature Writing Online —Learn the nuts and bolts of excellent nature writing and improve your wordsmithing skills in this online course from The Morton Arboretum. Over the course of four weeks, you will complete three self-paced e-learning modules and attend weekly scheduled Zoom sessions with your instructor and classmates. Whether you’re a blogger, a novelist, a poet, or simply enjoy keeping a personal journal, writing is a fun and meaningful way to deepen your connection to the natural world. February 8, noon Central time: Access self-paced materials online. February 15, 22, and March 1, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Central time: Attend live. Register here.
March 3–Tallgrass Prairie Ecology Online –online class with assignments over 60 days; one live Zoom together. Digitally explore the intricacies of the tallgrass prairie landscape and learn how to restore these signature American ecosystems. Look at the history of this particular type of grassland from the descent of glaciers over the Midwest millions of years ago to the introduction of John Deere’s famous plow to where we are today. We will examine different types of prairie, explore the plant and animal communities of the prairie, and discuss strategies specific to restoring prairies in this engaging online course. Come away with a better understanding of prairies and key insights into how to restore their beauty. You will have 60 days to access the materials. Register here.
Tuesdays in the Tallgrass 