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

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.

Tuesday 26 January 2023. Meadowbrook and a Stop at the Work Office and Meijer

It was 40 degrees F, cloudy, wind SW 6 mph at around 1:30 pm. Had to take care of some business and get a few groceries not far from Meadowbrook Park, so swung through the park and after stopping to check the progress on the massive Clark-Lindsey addition,

then at the rabbit-statue bridge over McCullough Creek

and also for some pictures of bare trees.

The office business (including a new ID card and W2 for taxes) went smoothly. Meijer

was not crowded,

and the whole trip was a pleasant foray into the January afternoon.

Thursday 19 January 2023. Foggy Morning Ride to Meadowbrook

It was 40 degrees F, cloudy and moderately foggy, the ground wet but with no actual rain just then, wind S 10 mph at 7:20 am. Kept Minty Quick in the garage and opted to ride Shadow. Still want to baby the new bike if it’s wet or messy out.

Circled Meadowbrook park with a few stops.

Clark-Lindsey addition along Race Street, in progress

Looking north from the rabbit-statue bridge

McCullough Creek almost to the top of its banks

Dry remains of rosinweed, I think

Dripping Baptisia pods, one of the more striking features of the subdued cokes and shapes of the winter landscape

Strings of tiny water beads on the dry prairie grasses

Dark claw-shaped dry leaves of compass plant

The foggy prairie viewed from the Freyfogel observation platform. Note the grey, detached remains of Baptisia plants