The Kenwood Prairie at Wooster Memorial Park is going through some big changes this year.
March
The winterscape of the prairie is beginning to break. Spots of green signal the change of seasons.
April
The green is starting to creep in as the temperatures warm up.
May
Trees are now leafed out, the grasses are getting tall.
June
Flowers are just beginning to bloom, the grasses are getting tall, starting to hide the tree guards scattered through the field.
July
The front field is abloom with wildflowers, rattlesnake master, oxeye sunflower, bee balm.
August
The late season wildflowers are blooming queen Anne's lace, grey headed coneflower, blue lobelia. The grasses are beginning to tire and change to gold.
September
Construction has begun! The new paved ADA accessible trail will wander through the prairie and the woods allowing access to the park for everyone. The goldenrod has burst into bloom and it's beginning to feel like fall.
October
The leaves are changing at last! The bright colors in the trees, the last flowers are blooming, squirrels dash about gathering food for the winter.
November
Everything is that cool restful brown. The seed pods are empty, the deer tracks are heavy, the strong winds have brought a cool crispness to the world.
December
The snow covered ground really shows where the changes are being made, especially where the path now enters the woods. The goldenrod pods blow in the breeze as the next big snow starts fluttering down.
January
The snow flying, covering the deer tracks along the path. As the snow falls, the stalks of goldenrod begin to topple. January always brings with it a feeling of a new start, finishing with the old, preparing for new.
February
Freezing temperatures in early February were abruptly disturbed as mid February has gone through a warm spell. To get to this area I sunk down in the mud all the way to the permafrost (about 3inches of mud). While winter is still here, spring is hinting that it's waiting just around the corner.