The pollinator pockets now extend from one side of the yard to the other, and many visitors flip, flop, flee among the tangle of wildflowers, annuals, milkweed, and more. While photographing the monarch butterfly on the left, the one on the right entered the picture. Delight!
At the Anderson Japanese Gardens.
At the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Seen at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
More than six years ago, before the world tilted on its axis, I had found the adult equivalent of concert band — a group that meets twice weekly, includes a sectional, and chooses music that is fun but not too challenging. For so many reasons, I was unable to return until now, so I am currently “test-driving” the program, using the shorter summer session to see if I’d like to make a long-term commitment. So far, so good.
The Botanic Garden is not far from where we practice, so on one of the last cool days in the forecast, I grabbed an overpriced coffee and walked a couple of miles. Just lovely.
Currently reading: Septology (Jon Fosse; 2019-2021) with a dear friend; Moby-Dick (Herman Melville; 1851), The New York Trilogy (Paul Auster; 1985-86), and An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter (César Aira; 2000) for Roundtable courses; The Iliad (Homer, translated by by Emily Wilson; 2023) for a seminar; and Hole in the Sky (Daniel H. Wilson; 2025).
No filters or edits applied — just so vibrant! Tulips of all sorts and hues are the main attraction at the Chicago Botanic Garden right now.
Oh, and the corpse flower.
At the Lincoln Park Conservatory for the flower show.
At the Chicago Botanic Garden last week for the orchid show.
Are there any Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum fans out there? We have visited twice in the last four weeks and experienced much less activity in the haven than usual.
At the Milwaukee County Zoo yesterday.
For one reason and then another, I didn’t get to my favorite conservation district until this past weekend. There, I greeted the sunrise both mornings, admired the many birds, and appreciated the (much needed) change from concrete and asphalt to sand and soil.
Nerdishly 