Weekender NORTHERN
ILLINOIS
YOUR GUIDE TO ARTS & LEISURE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS
SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2020 • ShawMediaIllinois.com
WHERE’S THE BEEF?
SEEKING THE PERFECT BURGER
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CRUISIN’
MULE-PULLED CANAL BOAT RIDES RETURN / 6
SUNNY DELIGHT Sunflower mazes, added attractions sprout summer fun / 5
UNCORKED
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An expert taster shares favorite finds to consider adding to your own wine racks.
Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, July 25, 2020
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By JAMES NOKES
Winemaker’s style defines chardonnay profile
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particular style for chardonnay is hard to define. It is the most planted white wine grape in the country. California leads the way with over 93,000 acres, Washington is pushing 6,000 acres, and Oregon has 2,400, yet it is still impossible to nail down a particular style that defines the variety. “With chardonnay, you could showcase the clone or you could showcase the terroir,” Chehalem winemaker Katie Santora said. “In Oregon, I don’t think we’ve figured it out yet. I think the winemaker’s style determines what the wine is.” Fermentation has a big impact on flavor. At Chehalem, Santora uses stainless steel so there’s a focus on fruit. While other winemakers use oak barrels, the degree of how many are new or used has a great impact on the wine. When it comes to Mi Sueño Los Carneros Chardonnay 2017 ($42), Rolando Herrera wanted a wine that showcased the vineyard. The wine had flavors of fleshy, ripe peaches, pineapple and flinty, wet rock. “I wanted to do something unique and do it in a different style,” Herrera said. “I knew it could be good, but when people tasted it and loved it, I knew it was really good.” The winemaker with vineyards in Napa Valley, Carneros and Coombsville used all native yeasts for fermentation; what goes in the bottle has come from the vineyard. Anecdotally, he’s noticed an increased number of chardonnay [styles] headed along his direction. “I think a lot of wines are headed towards our style with Mi Sueño,” Herrera said. “I taste a lot of wines and have seen a move towards less oak and more fruit and acidity. I’ve understood the concept of understanding Mother Nature since day number one. I’m fascinated by what she does, and want to let the vineyard speak without too much oak or butter flavor in the wine.” On the opposite end of the spectrum is Chehalem Willamette Valley Inox Chardonnay 2018 ($20), which is fermented in 100% stainless steel. The result is a light-bodied white that had a tint of pale yellow in the glass with beautiful Bosc pear and lemon zest flavors. For food pairings, its perfect mates would be shellfish, where it contrasts with the fatty brininess, a melon salad where it plays off the off-sweet flavors, or thinly sliced prosciutto to further enhance the fatty, salty meat.
Photos provided
An aerial view over Chehalem winery and Coral Creek vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon. “I feel like this is a wine for people who are struggling to like chardonnay,” Santora said. “It changes people’s perception of what chardonnay can be.” One of the best domestic values is the Stoller Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2019 ($25). My personal favorite, the flavors and aromas of ripe Michigan peaches jump from the glass. Hints of ginger and baking spice add complexity on winemaker Melissa Burr’s flagship white. With an unctuous and smooth texture, William Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017 ($27) was a deep golden color in the glass, and had flavors of kiwi and lemon to go along with a little tasty marshmallow and oak on the finish. Aromas and flavors of pineapple, banana and baked pears set the tone
for J Russian River Valley “Strata” Chardonnay 2017 ($40), which turns oaky on the mid-palate before ushering in toasty vanilla notes on the finish. From the Sta. Rita Hills, a cool climate haven for Burgundian varietals pinot noir and chardonnay, is the delicately fruit-driven Alma Rosa Chardonnay 2017 ($38). There are white flower blossom, orange rind, white peach and citrus flavors. There’s little oak impact and the result is a fresh, lithe wine. A hedonistic wine that featured plenty of butter and oak flavors was the Harken Chardonnay 2019 ($15). The toasty, sweet flavors of crème brûlée, pineapple and baked pears were bold and tied in well with the FandangoNOW sweepstakes that offered a winner one year of free movie rentals.
Popcorn pairing
The wine paired perfectly with my homemade popcorn recipe, passed down from my father, tweaked over the years and shared for the first time ever outside the Nokes family here.
Warm two tablespoons of canola oil in a medium-sized, copper-bottomed saucepan until shimmering. Add a cup of white popcorn kernels and cover, without peeking to check the progress. It’s done popping when there are more than three seconds between pops. Meanwhile, melt three tablespoons of butter in a saute pan, don’t let it brown, just get it to golden. Toss the popcorn in the pan, this could be done more than once, and place the now buttered popcorn in a bowl. Key are the goodies that go on top: half a teaspoon of kosher salt and pepper and a quarter teaspoon of paprika and garlic powder. Finally, shred cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese and toss the popcorn in the bowl. Finish it with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top. Lastly, sit on the couch, grab a chardonnay and start up movie night.
• James Nokes has been tasting, touring and collecting in the wine world for several years. Email him at jamesnokes25@yahoo.com.
On a roll – seeking regional masters of the beef patty SHAW MEDIA
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f you’re on a quest for quintessential burgers across Illinois, add these contenders to your list. We’ve gathered a sampling of some of the top picks.
The Lone Buffalo
812 La Salle St., Ottawa tangledrootsbrewingco.com/brew-pub The Tangled Roots Brewing Company website notes The Lone Buffalo, set in an 1888 building, was created to be a restaurant and brewery under one roof with one goal: to serve good food and beer in a comfortable atmosphere. “We want our guests to savor what we offer. Our chefs use fresh products from local farmers and producers. Everything on the menu is freshly cooked, every day, and varies with the seasons.”
Hamburgerseria
BURGER BONANZA Batavia grill shines; did someone say bacon jam? By HANNAH HOFFMEISTER
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hhoffmeister@shawmedia.com
othing says summer like a burger off the grill, something that River’s Edge Bar & Grill in Batavia has mastered. “Summer’s when we thrive,” says Melissa Monno, owner of River’s Edge. Each burger is packed with flavor, thanks in part to locally sourced ingredients from Burgin Farms of Maple Park, and Gnarly Knots of Winfield. The newest addition, Aggressively American, practically named itself with such ingredients as bacon, bacon jam and Wisconsin cheddar cheese. “Our bacon jam, I would literally put it on anything,” Monno says. “It’s so good. It’s just tomato and bacon jelly that’s sweet and savory. … We try to play with sweet and savory a lot around here.” The restaurant’s three other burgers each are named after something distinctively Batavia. The River Street and 12 North burgers derive from the eatery’s address, 12 N. River St. The State Champ burger recognizes Batavia High School’s impressive state championship performances in football, most recently in 2017. Each option comes with the choice of one or two patties. Monno says the team recently made the switch from offering one 8-ounce patty to
one or two 4-ounce patties, and that the change has been well-received. What makes the burgers so good, according to Monno, is that the team at River’s Edge constantly and carefully tweaks the recipes. For example, when it felt like the amount of pretzel bun might be outweighing the beef, River’s Edge started slicing a thin amount off each part of the bun to make it slightly smaller. Monno’s personal favorite is the State Champ. It comes loaded with hand-cut Gouda cheese, sweet pickled red onion, arugula, bacon jam, a tangy garlic aioli and one or two handpacked beef patties, all on a pretzel bun. She recommends pairing it with fries, which also are hand-cut and have a coarser salt. And for a drink, River’s Edge keeps a nice array of craft brews on hand, including some that you couldn’t find within 100 miles, Monno says. For appetizers, hungry guests clamor for “bacon flights.” Three types of bacon – hickory-smoked back bacon, peppered belly bacon and duck breast bacon – come with bacon jam, bread, crackers, pickles and pickled onions. River’s Edge soon will be renamed The Sidecar (Monno rides a sidecar motorcycle). Just off the Fox River, the bar and grill in a vintage building boasts appealing outdoor dining areas. For the full menu and live music schedule, go to www.theriversedgebatavia.com.
1015 Essington Road, Joliet www.hamburgerseria.com Hamburgerseria aims for a classic diner vibe and specializes in gourmet burgers. It also serves a wide variety of sandwiches, snacks, coffee, tea and homemade desserts. People traveling the old Route 66 are invited to stop in and try the handmade, never-frozen burgers cooked over a fire grill.
Tracks Bar & Grill
108 W. Main St., Cary www.thecarytracks.com Located across the street from the Cary train station for almost 40 years, Tracks touts its award-winning food. It’s known for a wide array of burgers, as well as its fish fry, broasted chicken, salads and elaborate Bloody Mary creations.
Lisa’s Brick House
216 Locust St., Sterling www.facebook.com/lisasbrickhouse To quote a happy customer at the bar and grill: “Had a burger from there. … It was amazing. It was simple and classic, with the great American taste of home-cooked meals.” Another raved: “Top-notch customer service and the food is fantastic.” Check out the menu for lots more to try besides burgers.
Shamrock Pub
1401 Chicago Ave., Dixon shamrockpubdixonil.com It boasts award-winning burgers, beer, chicken strips, smoked prime rib, homemade potato chips and other specialties. The motto? “Visit Shamrock Pub in Dixon, Illinois, where you’re only a stranger once!” Besides the notable burgers, lucky leprechauns also will find corned beef on marble rye at this pub.
PJ’s Courthouse Tavern
202 W. State St., Sycamore pjscourthouse.com A history-rich setting in an 1871 building dresses the stage for the food and drink offered by PJ’s Courthouse Tavern. The extensive menu, with its amusing courtroom lingo, recommends such specialties as made-from-scratch onion rings to the Fryday fish fry, which offers hand-dipped, beer-battered Canadian walleye, Icelandic cod, breaded catfish fillet or shrimp dinners.
3 SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, July 25, 2020
The Aggressively American burger at River’s Edge Bar & Grill features bacon, cheddar cheese and bacon jam.
Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, July 25, 2020
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4 STREAMING THIS WEEKEND
Photo provided
This image released by Acorn TV shows Martin Compston (from left), Sophie Rundle and Mirren Mack from the series “The Nest,” with new episodes airing every Monday through Aug. 3 on Acorn TV.
Jim Gaffigan, live baseball, Snoop vs. DMX on tap By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.
Movies
“The Assistant”: Julia Garner stars in writer-director Kitty Green’s film about the day in the life of a young assistant to a bigwig in the entertainment industry, available on Hulu. What seems like a dream job devolves into a searing indictment of the subtle and outward abuses that are tolerated or ignored in the business of Hollywood. AP National Writer Jocelyn Noveck wrote in her review that Garner, “Does a lot with a little. She has no big speeches, no tantrums, no floods of tears. It’s the ultimate unshowy part.” “Radioactive”: As if you needed another reminder that you haven’t been as productive as you’d wished during quarantine, you can dive deep into the life of overachiever Marie Curie in the new film from director Marjane Satrapi on Amazon Prime. Rosamund Pike plays the Nobel Prize winner. French director Jacques Demy’s
11th album,
through Aug. 3. Bring out the peanuts and Cracker Released FriJack, baseball is back! The season is day, it features short and fans will be missing from 10 songs that the stands but, let’s face it, any semare personal, blance of traditional life is welcome focusing on amid the pandemic. The planned her relation60-game schedule kicked off Thursday ships with her night on ESPN with the Washinghusband, children and family. Little ton Nationals, the defending World Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and KimSeries champs, hosting the New York berly Schlapman return the favor to Yankees, and the Los Angeles Dodgers – Film Writer Lindsey Bahr McKenna, who co-wrote their hit “Girl at home against the San Francisco Crush” and other tunes for the counGiants. Other Major League Baseball try group, by singing on album opener teams jumped in Friday, with nationMusic Snoop Dogg vs. DMX: It’s the battle of “This Town Is a Woman.” ally televised games carried by ESPN, – Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu TBS, Fox, FS1 or the MLB Network. the canines in the latest “Verzuz” series. Rap icons Snoop Dogg and DMX Jim Gaffigan’s observational Television are the most recent to go toe-to-toe on stand-up is wryly funny and hugely What better distraction than a Instagram Live. Ironically, neither successful, but falls well short of psychological thriller? In Acorn TV’s multi-platinum superstar has won a groundbreaking. That changes with “The Nest,” Dan and Emily are a hapGrammy Award, though they’ve had “Jim Gaffigan: The Pale Tourist,” which pily married Glasgow couple longing major success with albums and songs is downright daring in its approach if for the parenthood that’s eluded them including “Doggstyle, “The Doggfanot content. The comedian set himself – and 18-year-old Kaya enters their ther,” “Get at Me Dog,” “No Limit Top lives. Is her offer to act as a surrogate the challenge of parachuting into a Dogg” and “Year of the Dog ... Again” country, sampling its culture, history in exchange for helping her get on – and those are just the releases with and food and, based on the one visit, the right path an answered prayer or “dog” in the title. Bring the pupcorn writing and performing a new routine. something less benevolent? Martin because these hot dogs are expected to Compston (“Line of Duty”), Sophie The two-part Amazon Prime Video raise the woof! special, taped in Spain and Canada, Rundle (“Bodyguard”) and Mirren A songwriter who has won GramMack lead a cast that includes Shirley captures part of the comedian-actor’s mys for penning hits for Tim McGraw Henderson (“Bridget Jones”). Several 2019-2020 worldwide tour that’s been episodes are out on Acorn TV, with and Little Big Town, Lori McKenna stalled by the pandemic. weekly episodes debuting Mondays – Television Writer Lynn Elber steps back into the forefront with her
only American film, “Model Shop,” is playing on TCM on Saturday night at 10:45. The 1969 film follows an uninspired architect and a French woman (Anouk Aimee, reprising her role in Demy’s “Lola”) across one day in Los Angeles. Demy wanted Harrison Ford to play the architect and even drove around the city location scouting with him, but the studio insisted on a bigger name: “2001: A Space Odyssey’s” Gary Lockwood.
“The Balladeer.”
Sunflower mazes, added attractions sprout summer fun By KATRINA J. E. MILTON
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kmilton@shawmedia.com
eeling up to a petal-powered challenge? You can test your navigational prowess amid a bright sea of sunflower blooms creating mazes at locations across the region. Many of the destinations offer farm-fresh wares and additional activities for family members of every age.
CARROLL COUNTY Straddle Creek Gardens ■■ 25269 Locust Road, Lanark ■■ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through July 26 ■■ $7, free for children age 5 and younger ■■ www.straddlecreekgardens.com ■■ www.facebook.com/StraddleCreek-Gardens-2260778014195950 ■■ 815-275-7930 Visitors are welcome to bring drinks, take photos and walk around the sunflower maze at their leisure. The maze is a bit of a walk and offers fun clues to move you in the right direction. In addition, guests can feed goats and cut flowers to take home. People are asked to practice social distancing and wear closed-toed shoes.
McHENRY COUNTY Von Bergen’s Country Market ■■ 9805 Route 173, Hebron ■■ 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting ■■ $5, free for children younger than 3 ■■ www.vonbergens.com ■■ 815-648-2332 Von Bergen’s Country Market will show off three sunflower mazes this year, blooming at separate times throughout the season. Each will last about two weeks. The first began mid-July, the second will peak in August, and the third in the fall. The maze will be closed if it is raining. Masks are required in the market, but not outdoors if social distancing is practiced. Only service animals are permitted. The country market sells farm-
Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com
Luz Torres (from left), Brenda Torres and Valerie Pina, all of Rockford, take a stroll Monday through the sunflower maze at Von Bergen’s Country Market in Hebron. fresh vegetables, fruit, CBD tinctures made from their own hemp, baked goods, cheese, bacon, eggs, honey and local artisan products. There is also a play area, farm animals and new this year, a butterfly house.
LaSALLE COUNTY Matthiessen State Park ■■ 913 Route 71, Oglesby, next to the remote-control-airplane field ■■ Dawn to dusk daily through early August ■■ Free ■■ www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/ Matthiessen.aspx Sunflowers bloom next to the takeoff and landing field for remote-control airplanes at Matthiessen State Park from mid-July through the first week of August. Professional photographers who sell their photography or schedule photo shoots at the park are required by the state to complete an activity permit and a permit to sell, and sub-
mit them to the park office at Starved Rock no later than 21 days before their arrival to film or photograph. Forms can be emailed to DNR.StarvedRock@ illinois.gov.
■■ 2 to 7 p.m. Sept. 4 and 11; 10 a.m. to
WILL COUNTY
■■ www.facebook.com/heapfarms
M&D Farms and Garden Center ■■ 14946 S. Bell Road, Homer Glen ■■ 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, starting in August ■■ Free ■■ www.manddfarmandgardencenter.com ■■ 708-935-1715 M&D Farms and Garden Center sells flowers, plants, produce, perennial flowers, hanging baskets, raw honey and other wares. The sunflower field is scheduled to open in August.
KENDALL COUNTY Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm ■■ 4853 Highway 52, Minooka
6:30 p.m. Sept. 5-6 and 12-13
■■ $15 daily pass; $22 two-day pass;
$35 unlimited pass
■■ www.heapsgiantpumpkinfarm.com ■■ 815-651-7288 During the two-weekend Sunflower Harvest event, visit over 5 acres of sunflowers, take photos, cut flowers to take home and enjoy all the other activities on the farm. New this year is a zinnia patch. Admission includes access to the sunflower patch, corn maze, soybean maze, one bloom per day, Milo’s Castle Playground and Heaps O’ Fun Barn Playground.Visitors also can spend time with farm animals, including goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, a calf, a donkey, sheep and a miniature horse. The pumpkin patch will not be open until Sept. 12. Hay rides to the pumpkin patch will not begin until Sept. 19, but pre-picked produce will be available. Additional flowers can be purchased, and a photographer can be hired.
SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, July 25, 2020
FLOWER POWER
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Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, July 25, 2020
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STARVED ROCK COUNTRY Dedicated to growing the awareness of everything the Starved Rock area has to offer
Take a trip back in time on mule-pulled I&M Canal Boat By RYAN SEARL
rsearl@shawmedia.com Mule-pulled canal boat rides have returned to the I&M Canal. Guests once again will be able to board a replica 1840s canal boat for a trip up and down the historic waterway in La Salle. For the first time this year, the canal boat christened The Volunteer will take guests on a transformative journey on a 1-mile stretch of Illinois’ most foundational man-made waterway, the storied Illinois and Michigan Canal. In accordance with the state’s health guidelines, the I&M Canal Corridor Association resumed giving these family-friendly living history tours on July 11. Now, for the remainder of the summer and into autumn, two tours will be offered every Saturday, one lasting from 11 a.m. to noon and another from 1 to 2 p.m. The canal boat’s new weekly tours feature reduced passenger capacity, mandatory face coverings, and plenty of social distancing. Looking for a dining option away from crowds? You can order a boxed
Ottawa Times file photo
Mule-pulled boat rides return to historic I&M Canal. lunch from the Lock 16 Cafe and Visitor Center for a small upcharge to your tour, perfect for picnicking along the banks of the canal after your voyage. Every trip on The Volunteer begins with “Mule Tending 101,” in which a guide in period attire introduces passengers to the adorable canal mules, Moe and Molly. Once you’ve boarded the boat, a tour guide will regale the group with tales of the canal, while the
deckhand, mule tender and boat captain guide the vessel on the mile-long trip up the canal to the Little Vermilion aqueduct and back. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of Mary Todd Lincoln, who has been known to ride aboard The Volunteer, knitting in the corner and weaving fantastic stories of her time with Mr. Lincoln. Families of all ages, historians,
photographers and nature lovers alike will enjoy this historic journey into Illinois’ scenic past. To schedule your tour, head to the I&M Canal Corridor Association’s calendar to view available tour dates and times. Tours will run every Saturday through October. After your tour, pay a visit to the nearby Lock 16 Cafe and Visitor Center, open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Tuesday. There you’ll find a menu featuring daily quiches and frittatas, ice cream, freshly baked goods, espresso drinks, locally roasted coffees, house-brewed iced teas, sodas, wine and beer. The refreshments can be enjoyed on Lock 16’s beautiful al fresco dining area in the shade of the historic brick building in downtown La Salle. For more information on the I&M Canal Boat, association and Lock 16 Cafe and Visitor Center, follow them on Facebook. The I&M Canal Boat and Lock 16 Cafe and Visitor Center are located at 754 First St., La Salle. They can be reached at 815-223-1851 or the website of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area at iandmcanal.org.
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By PAM OTTO
Taking interesting dives into the natural world around us, Pam Otto opens new avenues of exploration.
Rare imperial moths spotted around Illinois
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he other morning I got a text from my good friend Laura McKinsey. That in itself was a great way to start the day, as Laura has a keen eye for nature and always seems to spot the coolest things. (A muskrat ambling down the main street; a burrowing crayfish on the prowl near a creek; a grapevine beetle on the oak tree in front of her house … these are just a sampling of her finds.) Even better, Laura has a penchant for sharing. She founded and led an elementary school’s popular Woods Club for most of her teaching career, introducing thousands of kids to the wonders of the outdoors; she also instilled a fondness for wild things in her daughters, Kate and Elizabeth. At any rate, several of Laura’s recent texts actually have been forwards from Elizabeth, and contained images of the curiosities in her Fox River Valley yard. In early June was a photo of a helmet-head cardinal – that is, a cardinal missing most of the feathers on its head, creating a look reminiscent of an old leather aviator helmet. (This phenomenon is somewhat common at this time of year, and is thought to be caused by a bad molt pattern, or ectoparasites, or maybe both.) A week later, a text featured a photo of an American robin, a.k.a. robin redbreast – although this particular individual was more of a robin spotted-with-white-breast. An absence of melanin in some of its feathers caused it to look as though it had been splattered with white paint. Then came last week’s text. Let me tell you, it was a humdinger. I almost dropped my phone in my corn flakes! Not one, but two, stunning and somewhat rare imperial moths were hanging out on the trunk of the maple tree in Elizabeth’s neighbor’s yard. Better yet, they were hanging out in such a way that pretty much ensures we’ll have more imperial moths next year. You can bet I ran over there in a jiffy. Well, once I finished my corn flakes. Eacles imperialis is the least often seen of the four giant silkmoth species we have in our area (the other three being cecropia, luna and Polyphemus). Like their cousins, imperial moths start life as an egg that hatches into a caterpillar (a lumpy and some would say ugly caterpillar, but more on that in a minute), which then proceeds to feed on some of a range of local trees, including several species of maples and oaks. I know people always get nervous
Photo provided
Golden yellow marked with lavender and brown, the imperial moth is one of the more rarely seen members of Saturniidae, the giant silkmoth family. These two were spotted on a maple tree not far from the Fox River. when we start talking about hungry caterpillars feeding on our dear trees. But imperial cats typically are not present in big enough numbers to inflict any damage. As summer marches forward toward fall, you might be lucky enough to find an imperial caterpillar in or near one of your own trees. In fact, last Labor Day weekend, my co-worker Lara Piner shared a photo of one found in her neighborhood. It was big, probably 3 inches or so, and not terribly, shall we say, pretty. The caterpillars of the other local silkmoths generally are considered chubby and even kinda cute. Picture Heimlich from the movie “A Bug’s Life.” They’re bright green with assorted small spots and minimal hair; cecropia has the added attraction of colorful, spiky knobs down the back. But imperial moth cats? Well – let’s just say they have a look only a mother could love. That is, if their mother had a lifespan longer than a week. (That’s right. Giant silkmoths do all their eating as larvae. Once they’re in their adult stage, they don’t feed. In fact, they can’t feed, as they have no
mouthparts. They have just enough fat reserves to find a partner and mate before they die.) Picture a brown (or green) stogie with a thin coating of wispy white hair. Add a row of white or yellow dots down each site and top it off with some horns – two pairs of what entomologists would call spined tubercles – and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what an imperial moth caterpillar looks like. I suspect it was this distinct homeliness that led the imperial moth to play a major supporting role in one of my favorite novels, “A Girl of the Limberlost.” In the book, published in 1909, author Gene Stratton Porter writes of the trials and tribulations of Elnora Comstock, an awkward young girl who over time blossoms into a beautiful young woman – not unlike the transformation the imperial moth caterpillar undergoes during its metamorphosis. Moths of many types are part of the story line, as cash-strapped Elnora collects and sells them to fund her education. (Collections of natural objects commanded quite a pretty penny 111
years ago.) At various times throughout the book, she tries to capture the elusive imperial, but meets with little success. It’s not until the end of the book that the haughty Edith Carr – Elnora’s rival for the affections of the fetching and financially well-off Philip Ammon – finds a newly emerged imperial moth and presents it to Elnora as a sort of peace offering. Elated at the gift, Elnora responds, “How perfectly splendid! I don’t even know how to begin to thank you.” In 55+ years of chasing after bugs, I’ve only found two imperial moths, and one of them was tattered and quite dead. So splendid pretty much describes the way I felt getting to see not one but two imperial moths on that recent July day. I’d never even have known they were there, if it weren’t for the gracious text I received. Laura and Elizabeth, if you’re reading this – I don’t even know how to begin to thank you.
• Pam Otto is the outreach ambassador for the St. Charles Park District. She can be reached at 630-513-4346 or potto@stcparks.org.
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GOOD NATURED
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