Northern Illinois Weekender - 082220

Weekender NORTHERN

ILLINOIS

YOUR GUIDE TO ARTS & LEISURE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2020 • ShawMediaIllinois.com

ART IN OUR EYE Public art in northern Illinois a treasure trove for those who take the time to find it / 3

TAKE IN THE VIEW

Buffalo Rock State Park ready to dazzle visitors / 4

HEAVEN SCENT

Follow the aromas to Molly’s Bakery in Mount Carroll / 5

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UNCORKED

SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS

An expert taster shares favorite finds to consider adding to your own wine racks.

Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, August 22, 2020

By JAMES NOKES

Photo provided

Melissa Burr is vice president of winemaking at Stoller Family Estate in Dayton, Oregon.

Stoller vineyard produces something special O regon is dwarfed by its neighbors when it comes to wine production.

Nationally, Oregon produced the fourth most wine in the U.S. in 2018, at 10.938 million gallons. But compared to Washington at over 35 million gallons, or monolithic leader California at 684 million gallons, Oregon is but a blip on the national radar. Even New York, at 28.5 million gallons, makes more wine than Oregon.

But what it lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality with its world-class pinot noir labels, a burgeoning chardonnay scene and a hidden gem in pinot gris. At Stoller, pinot noir and chardonnay have been produced since 1993 on a property the Stoller family has owned since 1943. It’s the largest contiguous winery in the Dundee Hills, and has thrived under the guidance of winemaker Melissa Burr.

“Oregon is such a small region,” Burr said. “We account for 1% of wine made domestically. We’re but a drop in the bucket on the global scale.”

It’s an impressive drop, as the Stoller Dundee Hills Chardonnay is the best value buy on the market. It over

delivers in flavor and mouthfeel and appeals to fans of oaked and unoaked chardonnay.

Location matters, and for Burr, Stoller’s 60 acres of chardonnay are among the best in Oregon.

“It’s the vineyard,” said Burr, who made the Stoller Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2019 ($25) with flavors of fresh Michigan peach, peeled ginger and baking spices. “It’s one of the best in the state for chardonnay. Dundee Hills is a great tried and true AVA with warmer nighttime temperatures. We are insulated from extreme temperatures because of the foothills and mountains.

We are one contiguous vineyard, a sweeping hillside all between 200 and 700 feet.

“We have all volcanic soils that really speak to the wines,” she said. “Chardonnay flourishes in that soil. It lends a lot of beautiful stone fruit and great aromatics. Chardonnay isn’t necessarily aromatic, but that site gives a sweet, key lime smell a lot of years. As the vines have matured, there’s a lot more complexity in the chardonnay. It’s remarkable to be part of it for so long and

see the progression of quality.”

While a specific style of Oregon chardonnay isn’t set in stone, its plantings are on the rise. Burr’s husband has a vineyard management company and chardonnay was a top seller.

“Cool-climate chardonnay is resonating with consumers,” Burr said.

“There’s more stone fruit and natural acidity. But stylistically, the jury is still out. There’s not one Oregon style being produced.”

In Oregon, pinot noir makes up almost 70% of wine grapes grown. The reputation for Oregon pinot is that of a terroir-driven wine, where the fruit flavors are nuanced and have a tense pairing with earth-driven flavors. The Stoller Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2018 ($35) has flavors of cherry, cinnamon stick, cloves and wet leaves. It’s brooding and feral in nature and a bargain price for quality pinot noir.

Yet as the climate has warmed, harvests have come earlier and the resulting flavors have become more fruit-driven. So, how does Oregon maintain the identity it has built as a cool-climate growing region?

For Burr, the vineyards will tell that story.

“The beauty of pinot is that it’s reflective of where it’s grown,” Burr said. “That’s the art. You don’t have to invent that.”

This year has seemed like a typical growing season. In early August, color change had just started in the vineyard and she thought harvest could come in late September or the first week of October. After a couple of years where Oregon winemakers had early harvests like their California colleagues, Burr will welcome what appears to be a traditional harvest.

“It’s been an ode to a classic Oregon growing season,” Burr said. “If there is such a thing anymore. It helps us to space out the work though. We aren’t used to that early harvest. It steals your summertime. Harvest is like the Super Bowl, you’ve got a lot to prep for and anything can happen.”

• James Nokes has been tasting, touring and collecting in the wine world for several years. Email him at jamesnokes25@yahoo.com.

ART OF GOLD

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By DIANE KRIEGER SPIVAK For Shaw Media

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rom massive murals to kitschy constructs to truly classic sculpture, northern Illinois towns display public art treasures to find and enjoy.

We offer a treasure hunt of just a few of these exceptional works. Many locales are home to a collection, as are some of the downtowns.

Take up the hunt with descriptions we have provided, and discover art that creatively helps define our communities.

ILLINOIS LINCOLN HIGHWAY INTERPRETIVE MURALS – DIXON

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition produced 35 interpretive murals along this national scenic byway. The varied works depict the history, heritage and events of the highway and its impact on American travel, according to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.

CHECK OUT: Illinois Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural – Dixon. The mural depicts the Army’s first transcontinental trek on the Lincoln Highway in 1919, featuring a young Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower, convoy vehicles, and military men having lunch on the courthouse lawn, notes the Coalition. Also highlighted is the Dixon courthouse and famous Dixon arch. The convoy, which was designed to test the reliability of military vehicles on various road conditions over long distances, was eagerly welcomed in towns along the route. For information on the other 34 murals, check out enjoyillinois.com, or call the Coalition at 630-256-3190.

CHICAGO ATHENAEUM’S INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE PARK, SCHAUMBURG

Located on 20 acres of meadow and forest in Schaumburg, the park was founded in 1988 as the nation’s only independent museum of architecture and design, according to the village of Schaumburg website. The site highlights the art of international and American sculptors chosen to fit the natural environment.

The garden was planned 20 years ago by Greek architect and artist Ioannis Karalias. Many of the sculptures were bought and placed in the garden during the late 1990s, and reflect the abstract, industrial aesthetic of that time.

But some of the more evocative works include “Vinland” by Norwegian artist

Shaw Media file photo

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural in Dixon depicts the Army’s first transcontinental trek in 1919. The scene includes a future president.

Jarle Rosseland, a Stonehenge-like configuration in stone and gold leaf that emulates an ancient Viking ship used to reach the Americas. The works are on the grounds of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 201 Schaumburg Court.

CHECK OUT: “Awakening Muse,” by the Don Lawler - Meg White Sculpture Studios. Measuring 40 feet across, it depicts a female figure inspired by Greek mythology. Created on a monumental scale, this muse awakens from her sleep on the lawn of the Prairie Center.

It is said she whispers inspiration to any who sit in her hand.

EYE-CATCHING ART IN GENEVA

Geneva has a plethora of public art to seek out and enjoy on sidewalks, lawns and buildings. The Geneva History Museum sponsors a self-guided public art tour. Maps are available from the museum website for download.

CHECK OUT: Howell Power Wheel, 35 N. River Lane, outside Riverside Receptions. The sculpture was made from a wheel that originally brought power from the Fox River to the H.W. Howell Foundry Company in the late 1800s.

The hydro-power wheel was preserved when the building was renovated in the 1980s. And find the bronze “Daphne: Out of the Laurel Gone,” by Jeff Adams, at 215 Fulton St.

ART ALONG THE WAY, WHEATON

Art Along the Way showcases a “Musical Mare” and “Sensory Arch” in the Sensory Garden Playground, which was designed for children with sensory processing disorders, according to the Wheaton Park District.

CHECK OUT: “Musical Mare” is “a steel statue of a horse’s head,” according to St. Charles artist Joseph Gagnepain (www.artbyjoseph.com). “When one gets closer, they start to see all the different parts that make the striking statue.” Mallets on cords let children test the sounds and resonances produced by the sculpture’s various materials.

CHECK OUT: Also by Gagnepain is the “Sensory Arch,” an 8-foot-tall steel horseshoe spanning the pathway into the playground, playing off of the scale of something small seen extremely large. Peppered into the horseshoe’s holes are multicolored semi-transparent acrylic panels with symbols of the “sight, sound, touch and imaginative concepts” found inside the playground.

Gagnepain’s preferred materials are discards, such as “bicycle parts, plastic toys, antique metal pieces, car parts and anything that can be scavenged to reduce environmental impact.”

ART IN THE PARK, ROCK FALLS

The latest collection of sculptures will be unveiled Sept. 5 at Run Bike &

Walk (RB&W) Park, featuring Illinois artists’ works that complement the park’s outdoor public space along the banks of the Rock River at 301 W. Second St., Rock Falls. For details, call the city’s tourism department at 815-6221100 or visit www.visitrockfalls.com.

CHECK OUT: From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. opening day, Sept. 5, several artists will be on hand and one or two food trucks will take part. Because of the pandemic, the official kickoff celebration is postponed to May 22, 2021. Download a mobile audio guide through the local Otocast app to walk the park and listen to the sculptors describe their artwork.

WEST STREET SCULPTURE PARK, GALENA

The park features more than a dozen large, welded steel sculptures scattered throughout the 2-acre natural setting, notes the park’s website. Sculptures include two 40-foot towers, contemplative artworks, a giant Tinkertoy homage, unique signs, and humorous assemblages. Maps are available to take a self-guided tour along the wooded paths.

All art is the work of John Martinson, who opened the park and on-site studio at 620 S. West St., Galena. Visit weststreetsculpturepark.com.

CHECK OUT: “Leaning Tower of Family Farming,” made of sections of round bale feeders set at a 6-degree angle to represent the uncertainty in the agricultural market.

SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, August 22, 2020

Region’s public art displays a treasure trove worth seeking out

Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, August 22, 2020

SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS

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STARVED ROCK COUNTRY Dedicated to growing the awareness of everything the Starved Rock area has to offer

Buffalo Rock State Park ready to dazzle visitors

By RYAN SEARL

rsearl@shawmedia.com While the recent derecho storm temporarily has closed the trails at Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks, there are other socially distant summertime adventures to be had in scenic Starved Rock Country. If you’re still looking to enjoy some quality time in nature, we recommend you plan a visit to Starved Rock’s sister park, the recently reopened Buffalo Rock State Park.

Located on the north banks of the Illinois River, less than a 10-minute drive from I-80 and the gates of Starved Rock, this remarkable little state park combines rustic prairie hiking with some of the most stunning cliff-side views you’ll find in Starved Rock Country. During its storied past, Buffalo Rock has been home to a Native American tribe, a camp for a religious sect, and a tuberculosis sanatorium during the 1910s. The park’s recent history is just as compelling; this hidden gem houses not only popular picnic areas, prairie hiking trails and two live bison, but colossal works by a world-renowned artist.

Buffalo Rock features two trail networks that offer wildly different park experiences. The River Bluff Trail snakes along the Illinois River (featuring plenty of great bird watching opportunities), while the Woodland Trail gives you an up-close look at trees, wildlife and the “Effigy Tumuli” mounds, made by visionary “earthworks” artist Michael Heizer.

Inspired by Native American burial grounds, his massive pieces of environmental art resemble five enormous creatures native to the region, a snake, turtle, catfish, frog and water strider. From the ground, these beautiful earthworks blend seamlessly into the landscape, but in aerial photography, you can see just how enormous these creations are.

Beyond the prairie at Buffalo Rock, you’ll find a portion of the park that is heavily wooded, much like Starved Rock and Matthiessen. A walk through this dense tree canopy offers guests a wonderful way to enjoy the ambiance of the forest and possibly spot some wildlife.

The park also boasts two riverfront observation decks, treating you to a unique southward-facing view of the Illinois River, an appealing vista you won’t see at any other parks in the region. Bring some binoculars to observe boats traversing the Illinois River, and the migratory birds in the

SRC file photos

ABOVE: Buffalo Rock State Park is on the north banks of the Illinois River, where views range from boat traffic to migrating birds. BELOW: The park is home to two American bison, currently Cocoa and her new baby, Hope.

IF YOU GO ■■ WHAT: Buffalo Rock State Park ■■ WHERE: 1300 N. 27th Road,

Ottawa ■■ INFORMATION: DNR.Illinois.gov, 815433-2224 marshlands below.

Buffalo Rock is home to two American bison, Cocoa and her new baby, Hope. The pair can be seen in their grazing pen across from the park’s baseball diamond.

An early arrival around 8 a.m will reward guests with a chance to see the buffalo get fed and, occasionally, morning fog rolling across the Illinois River.

For more information on Buffalo Rock State Park, visit starvedrockcountry.com.

HEAVEN

5 SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, August 22, 2020

SCENT

Just follow the aromas to Molly’s Bakery in Mount Carroll

By LINDSEY SALVATELLI For Shaw Media

D

epending on when you visit Molly’s Bakery, different scents will greet you at the door.

At 8 a.m. when the shop opens, the smell of roasted poppy seeds and sesame floats through the air as a batch of fresh bagels rise in the oven. A little later in the morning, the distinct aroma of freshly baked bread will envelop you. During lunch, you might catch a savory whiff of the weekly soups made from scratch or freshly brewed espresso coffee.

There’s one thing customers can expect, though, regardless of when they visit.

“Freshness,” owner Ben Johnson said. “In terms of the products, but also in terms of what we’re offering the community and the ingredients.”

The bakery is just one piece of the pie for Johnson and his wife, Molly McDonough, who also own the neighboring Molly’s Kitchen & Bar and The Inn at Molly’s. The Inn is a pair of suites above the restaurant in the historic, restored 1865 building. The suites combine rural charm with contemporary amenities and style.

Located in the heart of downtown at 108 W. Market St., the bakery is a dream realized for the couple.

They talked about opening a bakery before they opened the restaurant at 110 W. Market in 2014, but opted to put it on the back burner while the restaurant got off the ground. It wasn’t until January 2018 that their dream came true.

“You are always surprised by what things turn into. We always dreamed of having a little bakery in a little town somewhere,” Johnson said.

With a variety of breads baked fresh daily, salad dressings, spreads, hand pies (smaller grab-and-go pies), syrups and other baked goodies made in-house, Molly’s Bakery offers a real taste of Mount Carroll.

That’s because the fresh fruits and

REGIONAL BAKERIES For a list of other area bakeries to check out, see page 6. vegetables used to prepare menu items are often locally grown – same goes with the honey and flowers for sale at the bakery.

“In the last year or so, we kind of moved to producing our own stuff, things like onion jam, and during toma-

to season, we sell a tomato jam. Before we were shut down [due to the pandemic], we were trying to offer more retail items that are hard to find in this area: nice pickles, nice olive oil, olives and cheeses from Wisconsin,” Johnson said.

The seasonal fruits and veggies that inspire regular dishes at the bakery also find their way into its weekly rotating menu, adding to the shop’s overall exclusivity.

“Our head baker [Kadina Atherton] has tried to switch up the baked goods

on a weekly basis to keep it seasonal and interesting and fun for our customers, and fun for us to keep things fresh and new,” Johnson said.

Their menu is a mix of the healthful and the hearty, the savory and the sweet. You can get a garden sandwich or a pulled pork sandwich; and for dessert, try a savory scone or some shortbread cookies. There’s something for all ages and tastes.

See BAKERY, page 6

Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, August 22, 2020

SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS

6 STREAMING THIS WEEK

Tim McGraw, The Killers, plus ‘The 24th’ movie on tap 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

“John Was Trying to Contact Aliens”: Matthew Killip’s 16-minute short, which premiered Friday on Netflix, won the jury award for short nonfiction film at the Sundance Film Festival, and it’s about as charming as a little movie can be. It’s about a man in northern Michigan named John Shepherd, who became obsessed with contacting extraterrestrial life. From his youth living with his parents and onward, he fills his home with all manner of computing and radar gear. Mostly, he plays DJ, beaming out music – Kraftwerk, Art Blakey, Harmonium – to the cosmos.

The twist is that “John Was Trying to Contact Aliens” is about finding love here on Earth. See it if for its tenderness and topnotch beards.

“The 24th”: Kevin Willmott is best known for his screenwriting collaborations with Spike Lee (“Chi-Raq,”

“BlacKkKlansman,” “Da 5 Bloods”), but he’s also a filmmaker in his own right with a strong interest in African-American history. His latest, which Vertical Entertainment released for digital rental, dramatizes the 1917 Houston riot in which soldiers of the Third Battalion of the all-Black Twenty-fourth United States Infantry Regiment, stationed in segregated Texas, mutinied after harassment by the Houston Police Department. The film is a powerfully relevant tale of service, sacrifice and oppression.

“Desert One”: The latest from famed documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple (“Harlan County, U.S.A.”) chronicles the disastrous U.S. rescue mission during the Iran-hostage crisis.

Kopple interviews many of the participants in the debacle, including Delta Force soldiers, commanders, hostages and former President Jimmy Carter.

“Desert One,” a production of the History Channel, opened Friday in virtual cinemas and in some open theaters.

ing for the first time. “My Favorite Year” is a comic charmer about the small screen’s early days, featuring the peerless Peter O’Toole. “Tootsie” starring Dustin Hoffman and “Soapdish” with Sally Field are delicious soap-opera sendups. Clinging to a somber mood?

Check out “The Truman Show” with Jim Carrey, a prescient depiction of reality TV, and “Network,” an even bleaker bellwether for the medium and the society it reflects. Each can be rented for about $2 to $3 on various streaming services.

Pandemic pressures and emotional longing are explored in “Love in the Time of Coronavirus,” a two-night, limited series debuting Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22 and 23, at 7 p.m. on Freeform (then available on Hulu). The series was shot in the cast members’ homes and includes some real-life partners.

The four interwoven stories are about – Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu a married couple (Leslie Odom Jr., Nicolette Robinson); roommates (Tommy Television Dorfman, Rainey Qualley); an es– Film Writer Jake Coyle The summer TV doldrums are well tranged couple and their daughter (Gil upon us, when reruns and reality Bellows, Rya Kihlstedt, Ava Bellows); Music dominate. Here’s an alternative: films and a wife alone on her anniversary The coronavirus pandemic might about television that are worth re(L. Scott Caldwell). watching or, if you’re lucky, discover– Television Writer Lynn Elber have derailed The Killers’ tour and

• BAKERY Continued from page 5 “We’re getting a lot more kids in, which is really nice to see – moms bringing their children, dads bringing their children,” McDonough said in an interview a few months after the opening. “It’s just nice to see a different clientele during the day than we do in the restaurant. It feels much more like a community atmosphere.”

In that same interview, Johnson said the interaction with the community “is really fun for us, and we’ve been just amazed by the support we’ve had. … It’s amazing.”

While the country continues to grapple with COVID-19, Molly’s Bakery has reopened, but has modified operation to comply with state guidance. Customers can take advantage of the outdoor seating just outside the bakery or elsewhere in the historic downtown area, and now also can go inside, properly masked, to choose their treats.

Molly’s Bakery is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Lunch is served from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.; the number is 815-906-0040. Molly’s Kitchen & Bar is open from 4:30 to 8 p.m.; the number is 815906-0052.

Find them on Facebook or at mollysmountcarroll.com for menus, gluten-free options, and the most recent rules regarding indoor dining and curbside pickup.

To reach The Inn at Molly’s, call 815-6845411 or email theinnatmollys@gmail.com.

pushed back its sixth album release, but “Imploding the Mirage” was released Friday. It’s the followup to the band’s 2017 album “Wonderful Wonderful” and was recorded in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Park City, Utah. Featured guests include Lindsey Buckingham, k.d. lang, Weyes Blood, Adam Granduciel, Blake Mills and Lucius.

Tim McGraw’s last album was a collaborative project with his all-star wife, Faith Hill, but he just released his first solo album in five years. “Here on Earth” features 16 songs including the single “I Called Mama,” released days before Mother’s Day. The album features several hit Nashville songwriters, including Shane McAnally, Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird and Lori McKenna, who won a Grammy for penning McGraw’s hit “Humble and Kind.”

Sweet on these bakery destinations SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS Here are a few of the region’s other specialty bakeries worth taking your sweet tooth on the road for, according to reader polls. We begin the tour with a pair of businesses offering gluten-free options.

EYE CANDY BAKE SHOP 228 S. Third St., lower level, Geneva In the heart of Geneva’s historic shopping district, check out the different temptations in the categories of gluten-free, vegan, keto, paleo and dairy-free. The bakery also creates cakes that resemble works of art, ranging from whimsy to sophistication.

Visit www.eyecandybakeshopchi.com.

TWO WILD SEEDS BAKING COMPANY 320 W. Main St. (Route 64), St. Charles People seeking strictly gluten-free confections can revel in the offerings at Two Wild Seeds Baking Company. ​The family’s mantra is baked fresh, small batch, from scratch, rustic, yet refined. The shop is a completely dedicated gluten-free/wheat-free facility. The menu changes daily and the items are baked in small batches for freshness and flavor.

Visit www.twowildseeds.com.

BLESSED LITTLE KITCHEN 10436 N. Route 47, Huntley It’s all about fresh and natural ingredients for owner Mary Holzkopf, who has been creating her own recipes and baking for almost 20 years. Currently,

she offers carryout Thursday through Saturday, and custom orders are welcome.

Check out the tantalizing selection of specialty cookies and other items at blessedlittlekitchen.com.

KONRAD’S BAKERY 9531 Ackman Road, Lake in the Hills Since 2012, the shop has featured European-style tortes, breakfast pastries and classic desserts among its baked goods. The family-owned bakery also is known for wedding cakes.

Visit www.konradsbakery.com.

ELLESON’S BAKERY 344 W. State St., Sycamore Described as “world famous,” the cinnamon bread is just one of the signature items at this winning bakery. When summer weather kicked in, the shop noted it had added tasty treats to keep people cool and satisfied, ranging from Boston cream pie, to strawberry and cherry cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, and jelly rolls.

Visit www.facebook.com/ellesonsbakerysyc.

SUGAR ON TOP BAKE SHOP 316 W. Main St., Genoa For custom treats, check out Sugar on Top, known for designing inventive wedding and celebration cakes, as well as decorated cookies. Delivery is available to surrounding cities such as DeKalb, Algonquin, Marengo, Woodstock and points beyond.

Visit sugarontopbakeshop.com.

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By PAM OTTO

Taking interesting dives into the natural world around us, Pam Otto opens new avenues of exploration.

Photo provided

Because they are pollinated by wind rather than insects or animals, ragweed flowers have no need to be flashy. Small, green and hard to notice, they produce as many as a billion pollen grains per plant. Common ragweed also is resilient, flowering despite frequent mowing.

Ragweed’s self-preservation nothing to sneeze at A h-choo! Yep, it’s that time of year again.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Your body’s immune system identifies some otherwise innocuous particle as harmful. It produces antibodies to protect you and all is well – until those particles come around again. Then your system launches into overdrive, attacking the offending bits with chemicals like histamine and initiating a cavalcade of symptoms that include itchy, watery eyes, a drippy nose, coughing and, of course, those sneezes.

Not to brag, but oftentimes it’s nature that’s responsible for producing those reactions. Tree pollens in spring, grass pollens and mold as we move into summer, and now ragweed have folks wheezing up a storm. In an ordinary year, those actions can make you unwelcome in a crowd, but this year, with everyone on high alert for COVID indicators, any sort of act that produces droplets can make you a social pariah.

Believe me, I know.

I’ve had an on-again, off-again relationship with ragweed, and this year we’re on for sure.

For a few weeks now, I’ve been dealing with sideways glances as I cough lightly into my mask, covered by

my elbow – while standing in a socially distanced line at the grocery store, sitting at a socially distanced table at a restaurant, and filling my car’s tank at a naturally distanced gas pump.

For a social creature like me, those looks can be hard to take. I get it though, and am adjusting my behaviors accordingly, downing allergy meds before heading out and keeping errands to a minimum – basically keeping to all the COVID protocols we’ve learned these past few months.

The other day, though, I canceled plans for a long-anticipated outing to Galena. As I called my friend Cindi, who was hosting the meteor-viewing event at her farm in Scales Mound, I couldn’t help but resent, just a wee bit, the effects that ragweed has on my life and the lives of countless others.

But you know what? Ragweed isn’t a villain – among plants anyway. Actually, among its own kind, ragweed is an astounding success.

Every plant on our green Earth has one primary objective. It’s not to make pretty flowers for us to admire, or food for us to eat. Plants live for the simple goal of making more plants.

And that’s where ragweed earns the title of winner, winner pollen dinner.

In our area, we have essentially two species, common ragweed and giant

ragweed. (Dick Young’s classic guide, “Kane County Wild Plants & Natural Areas,” lists a third species, western ragweed, as present but found only along railroad tracks and other sterile waste areas.)

Common and giant ragweed look quite different, with the former having finely cut, lacy leaves and a height of up to 30 inches, and the latter living up to its name with large, tri-lobed leaves and heights of up to 12 feet. But the two plants share a common characteristic: Their flowers rely on pollination via wind. And that’s where its success (or trouble, for allergy sufferers) sets in.

The pollen grains of ragweed (and many trees and grasses) are, to use a scientific term, teensy. They need to be in order to be dispersed in the breeze.

As they fly through the air by the – to use another technical term – zillions, many land where they’re not supposed to, like our eyes and noses. But a sufficient number (did I mention that each plant can produce up to a billion pollen grains?) get to where they need to be, which is on the flowers of other ragweed plants.

From there on, the plant is fertilized and proceeds to produce an abundance of small, bur-like seeds – as many as 5,000 per plant. Those seeds that hit the soil go on to produce next year’s rag-

weed crop. But those that don’t likely end up in a crop of a different sort – the one that’s part of a bird’s digestive track.

Ragweed seeds are a valuable source of food for wildlife, including a number of our favorite wintertime birds.

Dark-eyed juncos feast on the proteinand oil-rich seeds, as do American goldfinches, American tree sparrows, mourning doves and assorted woodpeckers, to name just a few. Game birds like pheasant and quail also feed on the nutritious seeds, which accounts for the huge stands of ragweed often cultivated in game conservation areas.

There’s two sides to every story, that’s for sure. While ragweed might seem to be a demon plant growing only to cause misery, its nutrient value is indisputable, and its role in our local ecology is vital.

The kicker to the ragweed story? Its genus name is Ambrosia, the glorious substance referenced in Greek and Roman mythology. That’s right. Ragweed, at least in botanical terms, is the food of the gods – a lofty status that’s nothing to sneeze at!

• Pam Otto is the outreach ambassador for the St. Charles Park District.

She can be reached at 630-513-4346 or potto@stcparks.org.

SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, August 22, 2020

GOOD NATURED

Shaw Media Illinois / ShawMediaIllinois.com • Saturday, August 22, 2020

SHAW MEDIA ILLINOIS

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LIVE THE HARBOR L I F E

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