My Favorite 32 Photos That I Took Last Year

Chicago, January 2025

It’s life-affirming to see a large number of birds in the winter—especially when it’s bitterly cold and snow blankets the ground. I try to make my backyard bird friendly by setting up a birdfeeder once the snow arrives to give them a little extra help during the hard winter months. I don’t get to see a wide variety of bird species in my yard, but I welcome all visitors. In this photo, more than 100 sparrows perch on one of our apple trees waiting for a turn at the nearby bird feeder. 

Chicago, February 2025

I took this photo of beautiful mammatus clouds from my backyard. “If you spot mammatus on the undersides of nearby clouds, it’s often a pretty reliable indicator that a storm or other extreme weather event is on its way,” according to BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Perhaps I’ve just been lucky weather-wise, but I’ve never encountered bad weather after seeing these clouds. I love sitting in the backyard and gazing at their wild shapes and ethereal glow.

Dunning Read Nature Area, Illinois, February 2025

I often hiked at Dunning Read Nature Area early in the morning after dropping off my son at the freshman campus of his high school across the street. It’s nearly mile-long trail traverses prairies and woodlands and provides a fair amount of solitude in Chicago’s busy northwest side. It’s fun visiting Dunning Read just after a heavy snow or amidst an ongoing snowstorm. I love being the first to hike the snow-covered trails. Well, the first human that is. This photo captures the rising sun glinting magically off either animal prints in the snow or animal tunnels beneath the snow (I can’t decide). It doesn’t really matter because these wavy animal paths or tracks looked wonderful in the early morning light. Learn more: Dunning-Read Natural Area: A Prairie Oasis in Chicago AND Reflections on My First Snowy Hike of the Season and 12 Tips for Winter Hiking

Galway, Ireland, March 2025

My wife, son, and I visited Ireland twice in 2025. On trip one, we traveled to Galway, Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula, Kinsale, and Dublin. Trip two took us to Kilkenny, Rathkenny (for a family wedding), and Portmarnock, a coastal town near Dublin. This stretch of colorful houses in Galway is located where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay. It’s known as The Long Walk. Ireland has no shortage of brightly colored homes and other buildings, and this color hack seems like the perfect antidote for the gray sky blues. Beer and a shot of whiskey help, too. American streets, especially in the darkest days of winter, would look much cheerier if they featured some colorful Irish whimsy.

Kinsale Harbor, Ireland, March 2025

I took this photo after my wife, son, and I closed Kitty Ó Sé’s, a bar in Kinsale, which is a charming harbor town in the south of Ireland. It was probably our best evening of trip #1. Of course, “closing a bar” in Ireland usually means somewhere between 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.—not 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. like in some Chicago bars. We heard a wonderful band, played instruments along with the band (at their insistence), hung out with the band members after their performance, and met some great people at the pub. It was misty and peaceful as we walked along the harbor back to our hotel. Some people are so lucky to live in towns like Kinsale. The reverse reflections of the boats in the water were stunning and, looking at the photo now, it looks as if the boats are floating in the air. Maybe that’s the lingering effects of the copious servings of Murphys and Guinness I had that night but, regardless, it was a special night with my family. 

Inch Beach, Ireland, March 2025

Sky meets sand. This long and very wide sandy beach on the Dingle Peninsula reminded me of the beaches of southern California.

Inch Beach, Ireland, March 2025

No, a giant guinea pig did not appear on Inch Beach during our visit. This is (in a new family tradition that began during our trip to Iceland), my son holding up his blanket that has a photo of Peanut, our beloved guinea pig. Family traditions are fun and weird, and I wouldn’t change a thing.  

Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, March 2025

One morning, we took the Slea Head Drive to the far southwestern edge of the Dingle Peninsula. The narrow, twisty-turny roads took us up and over towering green hills. We were regularly rewarded with amazing views (such as this one) of the landscape and the North Atlantic Ocean.  

Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, March 2025

None of my family wanted to get out of the car at the peninsula’s far southwestern edge so I walked down the steep hill to the North Atlantic Ocean. The waves were crashing, the water was a stunning turquoise green, and I had this view to myself. 

Inch Beach, Ireland, March 2025

Inch Beach was so stunning, we visited it twice in a day.

Pub, Beverly (Chicago), April 2025

Two friends sitting in a cozy bar ready to enjoy two just-poured Guinness to cap off a long night on Chicago’s South Side. There’s something special about returning to your ancestral homeland and hanging out on Western Avenue. Beverly is way cooler than it was when I lived there.    

Chicago, April 2025

Chicago winters can be harsh, and one of the joys of spring occurs when I first see the new fronds (known as fiddleheads) of the Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) emerge from below the ground and unfurl. My mom gave me these ferns from her yard in Beverly and seeing them reminds me of her and the home where I grew up.

Chicago, April 2025

I’m re-wilding my Chicago backyard, and I planted these beautiful Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica). Another cool harbinger of spring.

You can see acres and acres of Virginia bluebells at Messenger Woods. Check out my article: Messenger Woods: Famous Spring Flowers and Year-Round Fun.

Des Plaines, Illinois, May 2025

Last April, my mom went from living alone at home with assistance to the hospital emergency department with sepsis and then to a five-month stay at Asbury Court in Des Plaines (with a few return hospital visits mixed in . . . life is fun, isn’t it, I say sarcastically). She never made it home (passing away on September 25), but my mom had her own room (pictured), which she said would be perfect if it had a stove and fridge. In America’s hellscape of a healthcare system, it’s gratifying to know that she received top-notch care from the wonderful staff at Asbury. Here, my son Liam plays a song for my mom in her room. His visits (and those of others) and music brightened her hard months at the nursing home. 

Cap Sauers Holding, Illinois, May 2025

Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis), which emerges in early April, has stunning maroon foliage that provides a striking contrast to the dark soil. Its foliage gradually turns green and, with time, buttery yellow flowers (sometimes with coral-colored accents) appear to brighten the landscape and provide an important source of nectar for emerging pollinators. Each spring, I travel to Visitation Prairie at Cap Sauers to see the wood betony, which blankets the prairie. On warm days, tiny snakes sun themselves on the prairie. I’ve attempted to add wood betony to my home re-wilding project with no luck, but I’ll keep trying. Here’s a story that I wrote about Cap Sauers: Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve: The Wildest Place in Cook County.    

Des Plaines, Illinois, May 2025

My mom working hard at a physical therapy (PT) session at Asbury Court. I would sit with her most days to encourage her and sometimes even help Rashni, the physical therapist, if they were short-handed. My mom loved the bright and bustling PT room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, music, and encouraging staff—one who would dance for my mom if she’d do her rehab exercises. The PT room was a place of hope for myself and my mom. I never took pictures of my mom without her permission—except this one. As I sat with her each day at PT, I was moved by her determination to heal and walk again. She tried so hard to stand (with some success) and walk (but it was not to be). I admired her determination, and I took this picture so that I would always remember her grit and perseverance—and the small victories she won (as well as the lighthearted moments) in the PT room.    

Cap Sauers Holding, Illinois, June 2025

I took this photo on a hike with my friend Dan and his friends, who were preparing for a backpacking trip in the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Areas of Cap Sauers are very hilly and demanding, and it was fun to show off my favorite spot in the Forest Preserves of Cook County. We took a break at Visitation Prairie (pictured), which provides a wildflower show like no other in the area for four or five months of the year.

Here’s another story about Cap Sauers: 10 Thoughts About Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve and Fall in Chicagoland’s Forest Preserves.

Lake Kegonsa, Wisconsin, July 2025

Night falls on Lake Kegonsa. All day, kids climbed on and bounced around on this inflatable raft, and the lake was busy with boaters, tubers, jet skiers, fishers, and paddleboarders. The silence and waning light provided a surprising moment of peace during a busy holiday weekend.

Lake Kegonsa, Wisconsin, July 2025

The reflections of the setting sun and milky clouds on the water made it seem like these elements were battling for control. Or maybe it was more like a friendly twilight dance. Regardless, I loved being there for the show.

Chicago, July 2025

Four years ago, the area in this photo was a sad, yellow city lawn. I grew tired of looking at it from my front window. So, I assembled some big metal flower boxes and planted Sweet black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia subtomentosa), purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea), several types of asters, prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum), and other natives to fill the space. I encourage you to make something beautiful from nothing—especially in our current crazy and upside down world.  

Big Sky Nature Preserve, Illinois, August 2025

I make my family visit a nature destination every year on the way to vacation in Galena, a historic town in the Driftless Area of Illinois. After the endless miles of concrete, sometimes claustrophobic feel of buildings blocking the skyline in Chicago, and millions of people packed into the city, I feel free when I get to the wide open, de-populated counties of northwest Illinois. The sky and silence of Big Sky Nature Preserve are almost overwhelming when you arrive, but it’s a powerful and peaceful feeling to be surrounded by nature. Learn more about the reserve: Big Sky Nature Reserve: Great Birding, Wide-Open Spaces, and Enjoyable Hiking and Cross-Country Skiing.

Dickeyville Grotto and Shrines, Wisconsin, August 2025

In the middle of farm country in far southwest Wisconsin, you’ll find the stunning Dickeyville Grotto and Shrines, which were constructed by Father Matthias Wernerus, a German-American priest who served the parish from 1918 until his death in 1931. WanderingWisconsin.org says that the grotto and shrines “are a creation in stone, mortar, and bright colored objects—collected materials from all over the world. These include colored glass; gems; antique heirlooms of pottery or porcelain; stalagmites and stalactites; sea shells; starfish; petrified sea urchins and fossils; a variety of corals; amber glass; agate; quartz; ores such as iron, copper, lead, fool’s gold, rock crystals, onyx, amethyst, and coal; petrified wood; and moss.” Both religious and patriotic scenes are depicted at this fascinating and beautiful place, and I encourage you to make a pilgrimage if you’re in the Galena area. (And also head to the nearby Potosi Brewing Company and restaurant—lovely beer, great food.) The Dickeyville Grotto and Shrines are a testament to one man’s wild creativity, spirituality, and force of will.

Chicago, August 2025

A monarch butterfly in my re-wilded side yard. It’s gratifying to see the positive effects of one’s actions when you plant natives. I highly recommend planting a pollinator garden to help the planet and our farmers. Since President trump is dismantling many environmental laws that have kept us safe from pollution and that protect our wild lands, it’s incumbent on each of us to take environmentally focused steps to heal the environment—our source of air, food, and water. Natives are also beautiful and many require little watering once they establish their deep roots.   

Bethania Cemetery, Illinois, October 2025

I took this photo at my mother’s graveside service under a thick gray sky. At the end of the service, the sun came out and a halo soon appeared around it. The scientific explanation is that a sun halo occurs when the light refracts off ice crystals that are present in a thin veil of cirrus clouds, but I took it as a good sign of her well-being in the afterlife. I try to be careful with “signs” because once you start looking for messages in everything, almost every event or experience can be construed as a “sign” of something. I prefer to savor only the extra special ones such as this moment. Here’s the eulogy that I gave for my mom: Saying Goodbye to My Mom: A Talented Gardener, All-Star Baker, and Avid Letter Writer—and an All-Around Wonderful Lady.

Rathkenny, Ireland, October 2025

The wedding of my wife’s cousin was held at Tankardstown House in County Meath, and the charming estate was Downton Abbey light with beautiful grounds. The main garden featured a stunning collection of towering yew trees, and I took this picture of the four trees that grew in the center of the garden. I’m not into new-agey thinking, but we felt a strange positive and peaceful energy when we stood beneath these trees. I don’t feel the need to analyze why I felt this way, just that standing there provided both a visual and sensory experience that we’d re-create on multiple walks in the garden.

Rathkenny, Ireland, October 2025

We had a splendid time at the wedding. And better yet, the bride and groom hired artists to draw every attendee. What a beautiful touch and memento (which we’re holding in the photo).

Portmarnock Resort, Ireland, October 2025

We traveled to Ireland for a wedding just 16 days after my mom passed away and 10 days after she was buried. Our trip was extra special because so many family members (including my mother-in-law) traveled there to celebrate the wedding of one of our beloved members. The steady travel (we stayed in Kilkenny, Rathkenny, and Portmarnock) kept us busy and helped me not to feel overwhelmed by grief. But on our second-to-last day in Ireland, I walked the beach alone and enjoyed beautiful views of the Irish Sea. I began intently thinking of my mom and how much she’d love this beach and country. I sort of felt her spirit for a bit. It was a strange and powerful feeling. I left this to celebrate the life of my mom, a strong and lovely person who was in my life for 20,415 days, and then suddenly gone.

I like to think that this little memorial remains untouched by the waves, kids playing, and other things, but I know that time marches on and little in life stays the same no matter how much we want it to.   

Chicago, October 2025

Chicago is a beautiful city from above and on the ground. I can’t remember if it was Liam or I who took this photo (using my phone) from the airplane on our return from Ireland, but the views of Chicago coming into the city over the lake are wonderful.

Montrose Point, Chicago, November 2025

Sometimes the quest is part of the fun—as long as you’re with someone whom you love (my son), eat two Burger King chicken sandwiches each, have hot chocolate ready in thermoses, and have the hope of late night milkshakes (which ended up not happening) on the night that we searched for the Northern Lights. Liam and I traveled 42 miles north to Illinois Beach State Park: Clouds! Clouds! Clouds! Then we drove 38 miles south to an Evanston beach—cloudy with a little tinge of pink aurora in the clouds. Then we drove 6 miles south to Montrose Beach until we found Northern Lights success (pictured)! I wish we would have started out at Montrose Beach, but that’s part of the randomness of Northern Lights hunting and the vagaries of clouds that unexpectedly drifted further south from Wisconsin. Even with the clouds, the Northern Lights put on a great show. And we touched Lake Michigan in all three spots.

For more on the Northern Lights check out, Thoughts On Chasing the Northern Lights and Other Celestial Phenomena in Chicagoland . . . and 30+ Tips/Resources to Help You Find Them.

Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois, November 2025

They say that life is one big circle. But with the Chicagoland area being so vast, with a population of more than 9.2 million people, I sometimes doubt that. So, who would’ve thought that I’d be hiking with my sixth-grade teacher (1980–81) nearly 45 years later. But that’s what I did twice in 2025 after reconnecting with him on Facebook. It’s been great to reconnect and share our love of the outdoor areas of Chicagoland. I hope for more hikes in 2026. Learn more: Visit Crabtree Nature Center to Enjoy Top-Notch Hiking Trails, an Outdoor Play Area for Kids, and a Beautiful Nature Center.

Chicago, November 2025

The snow came early and often in Chicago last fall, and it was wonderful having some company (my son) cleaning up the long sidewalks of our corner house. The free teenage labor is also great. 

In terms of the bigger picture . . . one day 15+ years ago I was holding my son as a newborn for the first time, and now he’s grown into a tall, handsome, and almost adult-like (at times) young man—and helping me shovel snow! Time moves quickly. I’m proud of the young man that he has become. 

Here’s a story about my son when he was little and when I could still hold or carry him: On the Joys of Carrying My Son.   

Chicago, December 2025

Whenever I’m outside, I constantly look to the sky to search for birds, beautiful or wild-looking clouds, the Northern Lights (when the numbers are promising), the moon, comets, or interesting airplanes (we live in O’Hare’s flight path). I captured this view of the moon and power lines early one morning from my backyard. The mix of nature and technology was like an abstract painting to me, with the thick black power lines reminding me of the lines Piet Mondrian used in some of his paintings. I never get tired of looking at the moon. There are some amazing things to see in the sky if we take the time to look.