BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG I'm taking a break from nature to spotlight one of my favorite books of 2025 and present an interview with its author, Orla Mackey. More articles about nature in Chicagoland (including Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve, Markham-Gensburg Prairie, and Garfield Park Conservatory) coming soon. Small towns … Continue reading Interview/Book Review: Orla Mackey’s “Mouthing” Provides a Witty and Thoughtful Look at a Rural Irish Community
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG 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 … Continue reading Visit Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm for Great Hiking and Birdwatching, Fun Activities for Kids, and to Discover the Area’s German Heritage
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG Sometimes the quest is part of the fun--as long as you're with someone whom you love, 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). The night started … Continue reading Sometimes the Quest is Part of the Fun: Thoughts on Chasing the Northern Lights
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG Chicago Sun-Times Outdoors columnist Dale Bowman has retired after nearly 30 years on the job. His last column ran in Sunday’s paper. If you love nature in the Chicago area, you’ve probably already heard the news, and I want to share my own thoughts … Continue reading Chicago Sun-Times Outdoors Columnist Dale Bowman Retires: An Appreciation
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” Regular readers of my Nature in Chicagoland blog might have noticed that I've been a bit quiet for the last year or so. Work and personal health challenges sometimes get in the way of getting out in and writing about the great outdoors. But the … Continue reading Celebrating the Life of My Mom: A Talented Gardener, All-Star Baker, and Avid Letter Writer—and an All-Around Wonderful Lady
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” I’m taking a break from writing about nature in Chicagoland to share an interview with my talented friend, Ann Marie Boyle. She has just released an outstanding EP, Hide and Seek. More nature stories coming soon. Ann Marie Boyle is a talented singer, songwriter, and … Continue reading Talented Singer/Songwriter Releases New Music: A Conversation with Ann Marie Boyle
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” You can kayak and canoe on Busse Lake, Tampier Lake, the Des Plaines River, Camp Bullfrog Lake, the Skokie Lagoons, and other waterways in Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) properties. You can even pilot a fishing boat with a small motor on some FPCC waterways. … Continue reading Petition Seeks to Bring Stand-Up Paddleboarding to Forest Preserves of Cook County Properties
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” I'm taking a break from writing about nature in Chicagoland to celebrate the life of Ryne Sandberg, one of baseball's greats who passed away yesterday. More nature stories coming soon. Ryne Sandberg passed away at the age of 65 yesterday after battling prostate cancer for … Continue reading A Few Thoughts to Celebrate the Life of Ryne Sandberg
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” My father was my best friend and, despite that, sometimes I find it hard to convey my feelings about him, as well as paint a picture of his personality, in writing. Perhaps these seven stories will do the trick. 1. My father had a great … Continue reading 7 Stories About My Dad on Father’s Day
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG There’s nothing like a bird sighting to bring people together in nature. After parking at McClaughrey Springs Woods, I began walking toward a bridge that overlooks Mill Creek, which meanders through the preserve. Several men with tripods, cameras, and lenses that seemed longer than baseball bats … Continue reading McClaughrey Springs Woods: Beautiful Spring Flowers and Fall Colors and a Birding Hotspot