Fel-Pro RRR in Summer

There are many modest little parks among the backroads of Cary, Illinois; between the downtown and the Fox River. My favorite is called "Fel-Pro RRR". It's the former compound of an auto parts maker, who gifted their lands to the conservation district.

It's small enough that you could never get lost (for long), but big enough that you can pretend you're in the middle of nowhere.




A spooky-cut log


Doesn't it look like these mushrooms' gills are on top?


Close-ups...






Algae can be beautiful


The marshes and ponds in summer

Reflections and Shadows and a Mysterious Shape in a Muddy Lake

(Chicago Botanic Garden - 5/2/2009)

Catalpas in the Grove

I wonder how they choose which trees to put in, when they plant the homes and streets of Chicagoland subdivisions.

Is it what seems fashionable, or what's on sale, or what kind of deal they can work with local nurserys?

Anyway, a big crop of Catalpas was planted about 100 years ago in my little piece of Fox River Grove. This spring they're flowering more gloriously than any old-timer can remember...

Overwatered

Every garden in Chicagoland is lush and green this spring. We hardly go more than 3 days without a good drenching rain.

Of course, the Botanic Garden's gardens grew into a jungle, but also into a swamp!

A lot of paths ended in this...






The boardwalk among the waterlillies (and its lillies) were sunk.


The bridge to the second island of the Japanese gardens was washed out too.


The dwarf conifer garden was also off-limits, but it was for the benefit of a wedding party that wanted to party there a little.

This guy shooed us away with loud whispers.


But there was still plenty to see...







(From the Chicago Botanic Garden, 6/20/2009)

Oz's Poppies

Remember that scene in the Wizard of Oz? . . . where Dorothy and friends finally see the great Emerald City, and step off the yellow brick road to run across a field of poppies?

I always wondered if the Wicked Witch really had to cast a sleeping spell on them, or if they would've caught a natural buzz from the flowers anyway!






The first flowers from the banana plant in the tropical greenhouse finally emerged. (See April's pics for an earlier shot.)


We came across a very upset mother duck, whose chicks became stuck in this a pool.


Some guy and I tried to help the little ones out, but they were to frightened and fast for us. (The botanic gardeners had already been notified anyway.)

A magnificent horse chestnut near the bridge to the Japanese garden islands...



More...








(Chicago Botanic Garden - 5/30/09)

Bleeding Heartsfield

Please click-zoom it!

I wonder if a day will come when I don't see something new and amazing at the Gardens.

Flowers growing in a flower?



Horse chestnut flowers






(Chicago Botanic Garden - 5/25/09)