BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND
Perhaps you two were the shy, but creative, wallflower kids at the grade school dance who ended up starring in Rent as grownups. Maybe you were there all summer, and I just missed you amidst the other blooms.
However or “why-ever” you got here, you’re the last two native flowers in my yard. And you’re still beautiful—if not a little rough around the edges. A long growing season will do that to even the best of us (says the guy who will turn 54 next week).
During late spring and high summer, my yard was graced with Virginia bluebells, Mayapples, purple coneflowers, white wild indigos, cardinal flowers, meadow and blazing stars, prairie docks, Joe Pye weeds, asters, and many other brown-eyed Susans. Butterflies and dragonflies zig-zagged through the wildlowers. Birdsong was constantly in the air. It was a red-yellow-orange-purple-pink nature party for most of the summer. But now, you’re the last two survivors.
My Chicago yard was not always an Illinois natives wonderland.
When we purchased our home three years ago, there were just a few rose bushes and hydrangeas amidst piles of red mulch, but that was boring. I decided to try to urban re-wild my yard, and it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done as a homeowner.
It’s November 15, 2023, and you two yellow flowers are still here amidst the long-dried-out blooms. The dead pepper, tomato, and bean plants have been pulled and mulched, but I left some dried bean pods on the ground for next season. Piles of leaves blanket the yard and sidewalk. And I’m beginning to glimpse soil and rocks on the ground as the dense foliage of summer dries and withers away. Now-blackened coneflowers wave in the breeze and drop seeds like crazy, and they’ll be great to look at during snowstorms.
You two blooms have survived a one-inch snow on Halloween, windy days, sub-freezing nights, and every other fall indignity that has turned my formerly colorful yard into a patch of yellow and brown Impressionistic work of nature art.
Yet, you remain, and I’m thankful that you’re here as the last few bumblebees enjoy your nectar, sandhill cranes fly high in the sky above on their way to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Preserve and beyond, and dozens of migrating robins occasionally stop in the yard for a rest and a snack.
It’s been in the unseasonable 60s lately. And 83 degrees about two weeks ago when I hiked at Illinois Beach State Park. On bright, mild days part of me is tricked into thinking that it’s spring. But living in Chicago for nearly 54 years keeps you honest. Winter is coming regardless of the unseasonably warm temps and two bright, tiny yellow flowers that keep hanging on.
Each morning, I venture into the yard to check on you—knowing that, one day, you’ll be gone—and winter will really be on the way.
Until then, enjoy your time in the yard. You’re survivors! Stay yellow and pretty and keep each other company. Thanks for brightening our lives—and making me forget about the snowy, brittle-cold days of winter…at least for a time.
Copyright (text/photos) Andrew Morkes
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Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $18.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for nearly 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I’m also a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 60 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)