Sunday 9 April 2023. Easter Sunday Ride to Brownfield Woods

It was 40 degrees F, sunny, wind NE 7 mph at 7:20 am. Thought it might be a good day to head east on Main Street and North on High Cross Road to see whether the Dutchman’s breeches were blooming at Brownfield Woods. There were spring bulbs at various places along the way but thought the planting in front of Victory Park was particularly nice.

Noticed on the way how manicured the grounds around the Dart (formerly Solo, as in “Red Solo Cup”) plastics factory.

Remembered a time when the grounds looked neglected. Passed Weaver Park, where it still was winter-grey-brown, with green shoots starting to emerge.

Rode across University Avenue, through the Beringer subdivision and north on High Cross Road.

The purple color in the field is henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)

The bridge over the Saline Branch had been worked on and lots of vegetation cleared since last I was there last.

The Dutchman’s breeches were in peak bloom along Brownfield,

also toothwort;

bloodroot leaves still were standing up among the toothwort but aready without blooms.

A few closed-umbrella leaves of May apples were emerging.

Noticed dead and dying trees, which always have been part of forest life, but in the past ten years or so seem to be more common everywhere.

Still, the early spring woods were lovely.

Crossing back over the Saline Branch noticed a very casual coyote.

I rarely have caught distant glimpses of them, though I know they’re abundant. This one may have been unwell, or maybe this generation has become less wary. Stopped for coffee and croissant and Bake Lab then home and a trip to Chicago to see family.

Saturday 8 April 2023. Magnolias but Not Yet Cherries at Japan House Garden

It was 35 degrees F, mostly clear, wind E 7 mph at about 6:45 am. Got a little more distance on the ride because I doubled back home to get the knitting project I looked forward to working on at Caffe Paradiso. Stopped for some assorted daffodils beneath the Lincoln statue on Race Street across from the high school.

It wasn’t a super daffodil year: a late hard frost reduced the total bloom. But the ones that made it were all in.

At the Japan House garden, bloodroot still were coming up,

and the early hellebores had flowers.

Signs had been placed about the hosta garden to deter walking off the trail among the plants;

sad that they’re necessary and also an eyesore, in my humble opinion.

Still no

(well, a very few, barely open)

cherry blossoms, though some bordering magnolias were spectacular.

If the bloom happens this year, I’ll miss it, Alas.

Btw, didn’t sign up for 30 Days of Biking this year but still mean to ride every April day possible.

Thursday 6 April 2023. To Art Mart, Hopscotch, and 10,000 Villages

It was 35 degrees F, mostly cloudy, wind NE 5 mph.

Riding west on Pennsylvania Ave.

Magnolias in bloom behind the Natural Resources Building

Construction on Pennsylvania near Fourth Street

Made the tour of Champaign establishments offering beautiful little gift items and made a pretty good haul.

Minty Quick parked in front of the Art Mart

Virginia bluebells on Prospect north of Kirby

Hopscotch Bakery with daffodils

Sculpture in West Side Park, Champaign

More West Side Park

Walnut Street Tea Company

Daffodils near Illinois Terminal

Daffodils in the neighborhood

Wednesday 5 April 2023. Geese at Peter B’s

It was 69 degrees F, dramatically cloudy,

wind S 22 mph at about 7:30 am. Loaded Minty Quick in the car and drove to Peter B’s Automotive to have the car worked on. Parked the car in Peter B’s lot and I was about to drop off the key, when I saw a pair of Canada geese in the planter right in front of the entrance.

After dropping off the key and extracting my bike from the car noticed one of the geese (the other had moved away from the planter) standing in an odd position, and, sure enough, it was in the process of laying an egg.

The sky being as threatening as it was, didn’t stay for the actual delivery; just proceeded home.

The geese definitely have figured out how to make use of human-created habitat.

Sunday 2 April 2023. Spring Flowers at Japan House and the Arboretum

It was 31 degrees F, clear, wind SE 6 mph at 7:03 am.
Was curious about the progress of the Japan House cherry trees, especially with the temperatures still going up and down.
At the entrance to the garden were clusters of bloodroot,

standing like little people holding blankets around them.

Also saw the “Winter’s Ghost”

helebores I’ve been visiting over the years.

Looked at the cherry blossom buds, and they seemed safely closed tight for now. Maybe this year will still prove to be a good one for cherry blossoms. But it was hard to get the buds in focus.

Crossing the unpaved passage to the bridge,

was “greeted” by a pair of bold, unmoving Canada geese. The geese were not numerous, that I could tell, but they did vocalize.

Saw some sunfish below the bridge, but no huge koi were apparent. Wondered what the turtles were up to at this point in the season and then saw one swim by.

Rode to the Idea Garden, to the south a little way, and saw lightly frosted Hyacinths,

early irises,

and daffodils,

and, among the Hyacinths, some tulip-like flowers.

Also saw a small pile of curled, frosted brown leaves, an echo of the previous growing season.

Afterward stopped at Bake Lab for good coffee and a fresh berry-filled croissant.

Mmmmm.

Wednesday 1 March 2023. To and Twice Around Meadowbrook

It was 37 degrees F, mostly sunny, wind SW 4 mph at about 7:40 am. Had some time to get out on Minty Quick so headed to Meadowbrook Park. Snowdrops have been up a while in the neighborhood and in the Meadowbrook sensory garden, but didn’t stop to photograph them. Wanted to work back into shape for longer rides without having to decide where to go, so took a couple of laps around the big loop, stopping only a few times. Made the customary stop at the rabbit-statue bridge over McCullough Creek.

Then stopped for a misty view to the east just before the arch bridge over Douglas Creek,

and took another on my second loop around. The scene is ever-changing.

The dark shapes of dry thistles against the pale winter prairie and blue sky were worth a stop.

Noticed that a portion of prairie near the east end of the organic gardens had recently been burned.

Felt pleasantly exercised afterward. Hope to get more of those in as the weather warms.

Sunday 26 February 2023. Ride to the U of I Arboretum

It was 29 degrees F, partly cloudy, wind SW 4 mph at 6:45 am. Took a quick spin through the neighborhood, among the many busy small woodpeckers perched in the bare trees, toward the U of I Arboretum. Across Lincoln Avenue saw an isolated cloudlet of fog close to the ground.

Looked like some of that fog had frozen on last year’s fallen leaves.

Looked for “Winter’s Ghost” helebores under the Arboretum cypress trees, and there were a few barely open and cold-looking flowers.

The pond reflected the thin, swirled, bunched clouds and weeping willow branches.

There were lots of vocal red-winged blackbirds, recently assembled from wherever they go in winter, and also Canada geese, a few of which flew over in pairs, and a squawking bluejay.

A bit of frost on the evergreen shrubs in front of Japan house defined their shapes more clearly.

Then, coffee.

Sunday 5 February 2023. Morning Ride to and Walk Around Meadowbrook

It was 34 degrees F, mostly clear, wind SW 13 mph at 6:45 am. Was thrilled to have a free Sunday morning, not to be too ambitious, but just to be out in the early February weather. Headed to Meadowbrook Park without stopping for photos. Once there, locked Minty Quick to the bike rack near the windmill and walked toward the little wooden bridge across McCullough Creek and the prairie.

On the way spotted some brown-grey weathered logs lying in the brown-grey leaf litter, root ends protruding up.

So much tree disease and dead wood. In McCullough Creek, which flowed over the black cherry root, there was some ice left from the single-digit temperatures of last week.

It was melting mostly, but it’s been unusual to see ice on the local creeks in the past several years. Walked through the prairie on the “soft” path, stopping for dark brown bush clover seed heads,

as well as some of rattlesnake master.

Emerged from the prairie to the paved path and walked back toward the bike. Saw ice on Douglas Creek

and dark bare (some fallen) tree trunks and branches.

Noticed an especially thick clump of thorny, red-stemmed blackberry brambles.

Thorns and more thorns.

Stopped at the rabbit-statue bridge for a customary shot.

Unlocking Minty, saw an interesting arrangement of brown-grey leaves.

Then to Caffe Paradiso for coffee and bagel and collecting my thoughts seated in a cozy window booth.

Sunday 29 January 2023. To Northwest Champaign: Urban Route There; Rural Back

It was 30 degrees F, cloudy, with a bit of fog, wind N (according to the weather app, but there seemed also to be a westerly component) 12 mph.

Had planned for a ride this morning but hadn’t decided where, when I got a text asking if I could take a last minute shift. So that decided today’s route: Northwest Champaign. On the way out took Green,

Wright, White, First, and Market before turning west a little too soon, into the back of Market Place. Fortunately, the early turn I took also connected with Neil Street and was able to arrive at my assignment on time.

On the way back took Prospect to Olympian Drive to North Lincoln.

Stopped at Bake Lab for a latté to drink there and croissants to take home.

Probably would not have gone so far for pleasure or even exercise; would have stopped for a lot more pictures and my hands would have been freezing. But was glad to have gotten out, making few stops and getting a taste of the late January central Illinois landscape.

Saturday 21 January 2023. Around McKinley Park and Bridgeport, Chicago

It was 29 degrees F, cloudy, wind SW 7 mph at 10:00 am as I walked (carrying the bike helmet my mom lets me keep at her place) from my childhood home to the Divvy bike rack on 35th and Wood Street.

With no trouble at all used the app to unlock a bike and head through the neighborhood,

passing by the actual (according to the sign) geographic center of the city of Chicago,

to McKinley Park. Stopped right at the entrance to greet the completely unconcerned geese, some with numbered collars.

Stopped at the “lagoon” for a photo,

then rode on around near the western edge of the park (Western Avenue/Boulevard, as it turns out) and then to Pershing Road (39th St.), looking for the place where my dad was born. Couldn’t remember the exact cross street;

knew it was either Wolcott, Honoré, or Wood streets. The building (housing a currency exchange even when my dad lived there and in my own memory, as had been pointed out to me) may not still exist. I took pictures up and down the street and need to check old photos for clues.

Then headed for 35th Street and rode east, in pleasantly light traffic, past Ashland Avenue, over the Bubbly Creek,

and to Base Café, in the Bridgeport Art Center on 35th and Racine.

Inside was a beautiful piece of art made from butterflies.

Got comfy and set about to work on the baby sweater,

a shower gift I have two more weeks to finish. The drip coffee was good. Was surprised to see so much activity; at my usual weekday visits the place is pretty quiet. Was glad they’re getting business. Then realized there was a political happening (9th District 24th District representatives for the new police accountability council) in the shop.

Thought that their positions, as best as I could figure them, pretty much made sense.

Rode back on 35th Street, returned the Divvy bike, and walked back to Mom’s place. On the way there saw a tree ravaged by boring (ha ha) beetles.

Sad to observe in a place with precious little plant life, where I grew up.