More Prairie Wildflowers

MORE PRAIRIE WILDFLOWERS:

Brown-Eyed Susans

Showy Goldenrod

Monarda / Wild Bergamot

Smooth Blue Aster

Common Iron weed

If you've never seen the prairie in bloom you are missing one of life's greatest panoramas. A real feast for the eyes. The fall bloom lasts several weeks and different plants make their appearance from mid-August through mid-September. While the natural occurring prairie has all but disappeared many smaller habitats have been restored. Go visit a restored prairie near you - you'll appreciate the beauty and splendor that nature has to offer.

A day along the Fox River - prairie wildflowers

SOME OF THE WILDFLOWERS WE DISCOVERED !

It's Labor Day and we decided to go for a ride. I especially wanting to get into the country which isn't an easy task here in Chicagoland. While our village is surrounded by Forest Preserves finding undeveloped raw open space is quite hard - Chicagoland stretches for 30 miles in every direction and most of it is developed. A countryside of small villages has over the years become one large mass of development. We are lucky in many ways because our immediate area contains lots of preserved open space creating a more comfortable living environment.

So we decided to head out to the Fox River - about 30 miles due west of Chicago are St. Charles and Geneva - two charming, historic villages about 10 miles apart. The river front between the two villages has been largely preserved as open space and parks so it's a chance to get out into nature for a few hours. Bella came along to keep us company.

We found a small park about half way between the two villages with parking for just 8 cars surrounded by woods and prairie. After lunch of some sandwiches we purchased on the way, Bella and I took a walk along the river - it was a glorious day - 70 degrees, sunny.

Bella and I then decided to go into the prairie - in this case a field of several acres that in early September is a thick, overgrown mass of wildflowers, weeds, grasses, and native plants that tower six feet plus. The display was overwhelming - dozens of native plants in full bloom.

WHITES, YELLOWS, BLUES, PURPLES! I picked over a dozen plants that are fall flowering and observed probably another two dozen that are spring or summer bloomers.

Now the fun begins! I'm horrible at plant identification. For the next several days I'll be consulting wildflower books trying to identify my finds. The array of colors, textures of leaves and plant forms boggles the mind. I WANT TO GROW NATIVE ILLINOIS PRAIRIE WILDFLOWERS!

THE BEST OF OUR GARDEN - PICTURES / SPRING

Falling...

September song with

promise of shorter days and

cooler nights splendor...

David and I are currently taking a landscape design class. One question that came up asked us to consider what design services were we thinking of providing? As I reflected on my own experience, and what have I learned that could be of remote interest to others. What could be my niche? Well, the most fun I've had is learning about herbs and appreciating not just their beauty but their various uses.

No matter what level of gardening you enjoy, now that we are all spending more time at home, looking to squeeze as much from our dimes as we can, please consider growing more herbs. Not only are they spectacular specimens in the garden, they are of ultimate practicality. I see myself of assistance to those who love to cook from their own Italian and Mexican gardens (happily assisting in my personal crusade to pepper the planet with salsa gardens) and surely some must have considered by now tea gardens. How satisfying it would be to come home after a stressful day, snip a handful of mint and relax with this refreshing tea? Yes, there are decorative ways to contain its wandering habit.

If I had to pick just one to entice you with, it would have to be lemon verbena.

http://oldfashionedliving.com/lemonverbena.html

I want to share with you a great article I found above with uses and recipes for this amazing herb. Allow me to wax poetic about its unique long lasting fragrance. A multitasker to be sure, used in potpourri, cooking, baking and delicious tea! Can you just imagine using this lovely syrup in your late summer beverage? Are you like me and enjoy orange peel in your coffee, then why not try a sprig of lemon verbena in your next carafe? Who do you know would enjoy a humble gift of lemon verbena vinegar? Even if you only tuck some leaves in your sugar bowl, wouldn't it be worth it? Alas, this herb does not winter well in our cold climate, so please give it serious consideration on your spring planting list. Your welcome.