Kay on the Prairie
kayontheprairie.bsky.social
Kay on the Prairie
@kayontheprairie.bsky.social
Just snapping photos as I tromp around.
Special interests: native plants, invertebrates, birds. NW Illinois. New to conservation, newer to photography. All photos are my own unless reposts.
First snow here in Northern Illinois

#nativeplants #gardening
November 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Dragonfly workshop with the amazing @phrelanzer.bsky.social today!

#nachusagrasslands #odonata
November 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
We had a big group today for seed collection! We harvested little bluestem, thimbleweed, and lead plant to be used in restoration plantings.

#nachusagrasslands #prairie #nativeplants
October 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Kay on the Prairie
It's Tuesday! Let's go for a virtual hike on the prairie together, discover "The Glory of Prairie Grasses" tuesdaysinthetallgrass.wordpress.com/2025/10/21/t... #prairie #nature #photography #writing
The Glory of Prairie Grasses
“If grief can be a doorway to love, then let us all weep for the world we are breaking apart so we can love it back to wholeness again.”—Robin Wall Kimmerer ***** It’s been …
tuesdaysinthetallgrass.wordpress.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Goldfinches have been enjoying the Rattlesnake Master that has gone to seed in the garden 🪶

#gardening #nativeplants #birds
October 19, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Reposted by Kay on the Prairie
It's Tuesday! Let's go for a virtual hike on the prairie together; discover "Highway Prairie Happiness" tuesdaysinthetallgrass.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/h... #prairie #nativeplants #nature #writing #midwest
Highway Prairie Happiness
“What is done cannot be undone, but at least one can prevent it from happening again.”—Anne Frank ***** Although most of our original Illinois tallgrass prairies have vanished&#82…
tuesdaysinthetallgrass.wordpress.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The Goldfinches are loving the Echinacea seeds in the garden 🪶

#nativeplants #birds #gardening
October 14, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Beautiful, crisp morning at the Franklin Creek Natural Area

#prairie #nativeplants
October 11, 2025 at 2:25 PM
“This is absolutely the perfect spot to hide this and I definitely won’t forget I put it here” - 🐿️

#gardening #nativeplants #fallisforsquirrels
October 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
It was a beautiful morning for a seed harvest! Today our volunteer group harvested rough blazing star, little bluestem, pinweed, and spotted bee balm, among others. These will be used in a planting in a newly acquired parcel.

#nativeplants #nachusagrasslands #prairie
October 4, 2025 at 9:15 PM
October 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Native Eastern Prickly Pear bearing fruit
📍Nachusa Grasslands

#nativeplants #prairie
October 4, 2025 at 3:46 PM
A very good article about nectar properties!

#nativeplants #pollinators #gardening

growitbuildit.com/reasons-to-n...
Bot Verification
growitbuildit.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:43 PM
A beautiful Differential Grasshopper hanging out on native Switchgrass in the garden

#invertebrates #insects #nativeplants
September 28, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Bought lots of new natives this morning at the plant sale. We barely got the car unloaded and a bumble found the Short’s Aster plugs. They’re all for you, buddy! 🐝

#nativeplants #gardening #pollinators
September 27, 2025 at 6:19 PM
“Nature and Nachusa” exhibit at The Next Picture Show Gallery.

Showcasing artwork inspired by Nachusa Grasslands and Northern Illinois nature. I just started playing with hobby photography about 6 months ago, so it was fun to submit a few of my snaps to this show.

#prairie #naturephotography
September 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
It's finally FlyDay! The days are getting shorter and the work weeks are feeling longer, but we made it!

#flyday #eastcoastkin #insects
September 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Kay on the Prairie
Where do bumble bees build their homes? Where do they spend the winter? And how do you protect bumble bees if their nests * overwintering sites are almost impossible to find? Join us to get all the answers! 🐝
🗓️Oct 2 at 10am PT / 1pm ET
🔗Register for this free event: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
September 23, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Attention Northern Illinois People! This is one of my favorite Native Plant suppliers for plugs - fall plant sale this weekend. 🌿

#nativeplants #gardening
September 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A walk in the prairie usually does the trick for me when things feel heavy.

#pollinators #butterfly #nativeplants #prairie
September 25, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I've been hearing lots of cicadas, but haven't photographed any this year. So here are a few from last spring during the dual emergence. I was lucky enough to visit the arborteum at peak cicada time - the trees were vibrating with them.
📍Morton Arborteum. Lisle, IL
#insects #invertebrates #cicadas
September 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Come if you can!

Learn more about Nachusa Grassland's wild bison herd here: www.nachusagrasslands.org/bison.html

#thenatureconservancy #conservation
September 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Found another angle in my camera roll. From underneath he looks like he just has stellar core strength 😍
September 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Banded Tussock Moth caterpillar, president of the clean plate (leaf) club 🐛

#caterpillar #invertebrate #insects #pollinatorstobe
September 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Gratuitous Red Squirrel picture, because Thursdays are rough
📍Voyageurs National Park

#squirrel #nature #hiking
September 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM