Maybe you were busy when Earth Day rolled around last weekend. The day was April 22 but celebrated in several forest preserves all weekend. Now you have another chance to communicate with nature this Friday, April 26 to plant a tree or otherwise celebrate Arbor Day.
A great place to celebrate Arbor Day is the Morton Arboretum, located in suburban Lisle, IL. The Morton Arboretum is holding plant sales and walking tours but going there is more than just visiting an Illinois treasure. It is perfect for an Arbor Day celebration.
How to “catch” a falling star? Go outside somewhere without a distracting light, Dress for the weather and be patient.
One of the oldest known meteor showers, the Lyrids, will be peaking tomorrow on Earth Day. Best is to watch for them late Monday night and very early Tuesday morning.
They tend to average about 18 per hour but have been known to shoot out as many as 100 meteors per hour. However, the moon which is almost full, now, might make the meteors harder to catch.
These meteors are very bright but they move fast. Their velocity is 29 miles (47 kilometers) per second.
The Lyrids started about April 15 and will last until April 29 but the highest number will be seen shooting across the sky before dawn, April 23.
First reported by the Chinese in 687 BC, the Lyrids’ radiant is Constellation Lyra with C/1861 G1 Thatcher as its comet of origin.
Look for April’s full moon next week. Peak illumination will be 6:49 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, April 23,2024. But even though it is named the Pink Moon, it won’t take on a rosy shade.
Moon names often reflect what is happening in nature so pink is for the color of the phlox blooms that usually show up in the eastern part of North America in April.
Called Phlox subulata, it is a creeping or spreading form of the wild flower also called moss phlox.
Other names for the April moon depend on when in the month it appears full and how close to Easter and Passover or weather changes it happens. So sometimes it is called the Paschal or Egg Moon or the Breaking Ice Moon, Budding Moon and Awakening Moon.
The moon will also look full April 22 and April 24 so if the sky is cloudy you can also capture its fullness the day before and after.
There’s still time to plan a visit to see Tulip Time in Holland Michigan. ( J Jacobs photos)
The eclipse is here and gone and it was great – maybe beyond most expectations. But there are more interesting and fun events coming this spring.
First, there are Earth Day walks in your area forest preserves and at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Morton Arboretum
Earth Day/s April 21-22
The Lake County Forest Preserves Hasting Lake site, 21155 W. Gelden Rd., Lake Villa, has an Earth Day walk April 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. (Shelter A)
This is a chance to visit and explore an area is the western part of the county you may not have visited before. Its for all ages and no registration is needed but adult supervision is required. (No pets but service dogs ok)
Also, April 21 at 2.p.m. is a 45 minute guided walk at McDonald Woods in Glencoe, IL (or do your own walk here at any time). There is a choice of a short (1/3 mile or longer loop of a 2/3 mile. (walks canceled if heavy rain) Parking and Garden admission charged for nonmembers. For more information visit Earth Day Walk in McDonald Woods | Chicago Botanic Garden
Tulip Time May 4-12
Then, in early May, tulips will be coloring the downtown landscape, parks and Windmill Island in Holland MI during Tulip Time, the towns, big, annual flower festival. Plus, there are traditional dances to watch and other activities during the fest. Tulip Time is worth the trip so book a B’n’B or hotel and get to know the town, its heritage and visit its wooden shoe factories on the outskirts of downtown. For more information visit Tulip Time.
