Winnemac Park Prairie Notes

Here they come!!! Canadian Anemone loves Winnemac Park’s natural areas. Some sections have just started to bloom, but soon the whole park will be awash in these beautiful dainty white flowers. And because anemone does so well in our park, our natural areas committee recently shared nearly 100 plants (via the Chicago Park District stewardship program) with other Chicago parks including Marquette Park, Columbus Park and Leone Beach (in their woodlands section)! Fingers crossed that they are as happy there as they are in Winnemac Park! 

Our light purple wild geraniums are starting to bloom now, primarily in the western end of Winnemac Park near prairie #3. Last year, they inspired this painting which was subsequently selected for an art show featuring native Midwest plants at the Ryerson Conservation Area and Welcome Center’s Brushwood Center

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Why civic involvement (volunteering at your park, for instance!) is so important!

“Engagement does not require perfection, nor does it require having all the answers. We certainly do not. But we do know this: The joy and meaning that come from contributing to a place you love are real and enduring. Choosing to stay and be involved is not only good for Chicago; it also is deeply rewarding for those who do it.”

Chicago 2050: Penny Pritzker and Bryan Traubert on the importance of Chicagoans’ civic life We want to make the case to current and future leaders that choosing a place — and choosing to invest in it — matters deeply.

**Lights Out Alert**

The migration highway will be directly overhead on Thursday night. This should bring us our first massive migration night over Indiana, Michigan and Ohio this season. While we have had some good migration nights in recent weeks, we have not had a night in the 5-10+ million range for Indiana, Michigan and Ohio yet. We may hit that threshold tonight, but Thursday night should be the biggest night of the week. The first warblers are now starting to arrive. A lot of Baltimore Orioles are returning to the area, and hummingbirds are migrating during the daylight hours. This lights out map is produced by Purdue University with data from BirdCast. Their message is that you can help keep birds safe on their migration by limiting outdoor light pollution. This especially the case over the next few nights.