October 7, 2023
Updated: Oct 21, 2023
It’s fall in the prairie, and the golden hills are dotted with the deep reds of sumacs and varying purples of asters. Milkweed pods are bursting with silky wisps of seeds, and Joe Pye weed and Canada goldenrod are going gray. The bold blue of bottle gentian flashes from beneath the sea of Indian grass and big bluestem. Oak trees in varying shades of orange, red, and gold dot the horizon. There’s a refreshing chill in the air, and I am savoring the last blooms and green leaves. We crush the seeds of bergamot, yellow coneflower, and mountain mint into our palms and breathe in the citrusy, minty smell.
Smooth Blue Aster 
Sumac 
Common Milkweed 
Thistle 
Dogwood 
Bottlebrush 
Thimbleweed 
Canada Goldenrod 
Bottle Gentian 
Foxglove Beardtongue 
White Wild Indigo 
Indian Grass 
Boneset 
New England Aster 
Frost Aster 
New England Aster 
Brown-Eyed Susan 
Mountain Mint 
New England Aster 
Big Bluestem 
Sumac
Learning the names of the plants as their leaves enter their final days poses an interesting challenge. I can see a glimmer of the former glory of the plants that I do recall. The dark, crispy leaves of prairie dock and the blackened wild indigo is an exciting indication of what is in store for spring. Getting to know this prairie in the fall seems ideal in many ways. We have a sense of the diversity and are learning where our favorite plants live. Winter will provide a peaceful time of rest as we settle in to our new home, and we will experience the full spring emergence as the prairie comes alive again.
Beautiful! Can’t wait to read and see more.