October 7, 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.