Gossamer Tapestry

Reflections on conservation, butterflies, and ecology in the nation's heartland

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Springtime in Chicago


Elgin, Illinois. March 22, 8 AM

Springtime had arrived in Chicago. Everyone is so excited to throw off the shackles of winter, and see the trees budding and the flowers blooming. Tonight, the Easter Bunny will load up his magic sleigh with toys for all the good little boys and girls around the world. Or am I getting confused here?




Today is Spring into Action Day at the Nature MUseum. We're celebrating spring's arrival with lots of special activities. The hand-on outside prairie management demonstration isn't happening this time around.

Sigh.

Labels:

10 Comments:

At 11:48, Blogger "Ari" said...

I know how you feel -- I live in Wisconsin. :)

 
At 12:32, Blogger valown said...

You need to get a research grant to do some field work down here in North Carolina this time of year. I'm sure I could find some species for you to work on. It's 73 and clear as I write this. No snow in sight.Not that I'm trying to rub it in.

 
At 14:46, Blogger Doug Taron said...

David- You guys got hammered by this storm even worse than we did. Welcome to the Tapestry.

Valown- NC is the home to the endangered St. Francis' Satyr. I'd love to do fieldwork there. Know anyone who knows the natural ecosystems down there that I might tag along with?

 
At 15:13, Blogger Pappy said...

Hey Doug,
I've linked with you through your comments on Sycamore Canyon. Thanks for acknowledging my baldersash in the identification of the Giant Agave bug. My dad had a degree in entomology from Mississippi State Univ. Back in the forties when he was there, a group of students decided to fool an aging professor with poor eyesight by taking parts from a number of different insects and gluing them together to form an unidentifiable species. The old professor carefully examined the specimen before reporting to them that it was a "hum bug".

 
At 17:19, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Man I HAVE felt bad for you since you left that comment for us re: the snow! I checked your weather stats, and KNOW that frozen ground and heavy snow in mid-late March would be discouraging! At least we have ONE fabulous day today, then another solid week of rain....but that beats snow. C'mon Spring! Would loved to have seen the Nature Museum.

 
At 18:19, Blogger robin andrea said...

That doesn't look like a spring day at all. Winter seems overly long this year, doesn't it? As Mark H mentions, those of us in the pacific northwest are expecting another week of rain. I'm pretty sure all of this has to do with global climate change. We really only have two seasons anymore: winter and summer. Fall and spring are mere transitions that go by in a blink of an eye.

 
At 21:45, Blogger Doug Taron said...

Tex - Hey and welcome to the Tapestry. Great story about your dad. I hope that I don't turn into the aging entomologist with the failing eyesight any time soon.

Mark - I'm trying to convince myslef that this builds character.

Robin- Yeah, this one's been a real bear. I'm expecting that spring will pass us by this year and that we will move directly from winter into summer.

 
At 07:34, Blogger Dave Coulter said...

Yep...one day of springtime. I've always said we get the weather we deserve, lol!

 
At 18:53, Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah, 11 inches here in michigan
:(

 
At 21:13, Blogger Doug Taron said...

Dave- I hope we deserve better than this

Bug Girl - I feel your pain.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home