Sunday 2 August 2020. South on Yankee Ridge Road, to Work, and Back

It was 63 degrees F and mostly cloudy with some fog and SSW wind at 6:30 am.

Rode Past corn on Race street

and along Meadowbrook Park on Windsor Road

Cloud-like hydrangeas in front of Clark-Lindsey Village, and clouds

Monarda, yellow and purple coneflower, rosinweed

Layers of thin clouds above summer soybeans and corn

to Philo Road, south to Old Church, over quiet, sacred Yankee Ridge

and south on Yankee Ridge Road to 800 N. Noticed the bit of “roller coaster” to the road.

Looking east toward Philo

Central Illinois corn in summer, decorated with morning glories and hail-damaged leaves

Proceeded to work and returned home via Race Street.

Saturday 1 August 2020. To Work and Back with Meadowbrook Stops, including Cardinal Flower and Fawns

68 degrees and cloudy at 7:30 am. Stopped at Meadowbrook Park to check on the cardinal flowers. Got a distant shot from the rabbit-statue bridge and also walked in towards the stream to see one closer.

A little dab of red

A little down the path from the bridge saw swamp milkweed

and arrowhead

and mountain mint flowers.

The summer prairie “bouquets” of purple coneflower, false sunflower, and Monarda, for example, still were widespread.

On the way home saw a doe stretching up to browse

and twin fawns.

I know people project their ideas onto nature, but can’t help finding it sweet and beautiful.

Thursday 30 July 2020. Birthday Prairie Flowers

73 degrees F with light rain at about. 8 am.

Had a short birthday ride to the little prairie planting on Florida and Orchard. was pleasantly surprised by a cluster of bright red star-flowers: royal catchfly!

What a great birthday present!

Also on hand in bloom were purple coneflower

yellow coneflower, Monarda, rattlesnake master,

rosinweed,

and tick trefoil.

Felt grateful for being alive to see these flowers, for my birthday.