June 2021
Our June program will see the return of Cindy Crosby. Cindy is a dynamic speaker who has previously brought us programs on the tallgrass prairie and uses of native plants. This month we will discover the fascinating and bizarre lives of Dragonflies and Damselflies with plenty of group fun and lively interaction during the Zoom presentation. From their unusual life cycle of transformation, to their bizarre sex life, mystifying migratory habits, and their struggle for survival, there is plenty to discover and marvel about! Learn about their cultural history, including some of the myths and superstitions that surround them. Be amazed at their natural history as you see close-up beautiful photography of some of our dragonflies in Illinois. Find out how dragonflies tell us something about the health of our waterways — and our world. Then discover how you can do simple things in your garden to attract these remarkable flying creatures.
Cindy Crosby is the author, compiler or contributor to more than 20 books. Her most recent book is “Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History” (Northwestern University Press, 2020). Her recent full-color book of photographs and essays is “Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit” with co-author Thomas Dean (2019). She is also the author of “The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction” (Northwestern University Press, 2017). Cindy earned her master’s degree in natural resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She is a Master Gardener, a steward for the Schulenberg Prairie at The Morton Arboretum and at Nachusa Grasslands, a Nature Conservancy site with bison in Franklin Grove, IL. When she’s not out working in her garden, she speaks and teaches on natural history topics in the Chicago region. Cindy blogs each week at Tuesdays in the Tallgrass, and you can find her classes and events at www.cindycrosby.com.
The June presenter asked that her presentation not be recorded. However, you can click this link to read a recap of the meeting.