Category: astronomy

My Favorite 32 Photos That I Took Last Year

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, birdwatching, Chicago, Chicago stories, conservation, Driftless Region, far, far away from Chicago, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Galena Illinois, gardening, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Nature preserves, Ireland, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, kids activities, Northern Lights, photography, prairies, skywatching, spring wildflowers, winter activities, Wisconsin

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG I love photography and took a gazillion photos last year. Okay, I don’t have a firm number but take my word for it that I took MANY photos—of nature, family, friends, concerts, bars, bands, cool architecture, art, historical spots, you name it. I’m sure most … Continue reading My Favorite 32 Photos That I Took Last Year

Sometimes the Quest is Part of the Fun: Thoughts on Chasing the Northern Lights

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, astronomy, Chicago, chicago park district, Illinois, kids activities, Northern Lights

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

Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, biking, birdwatching, books, botanical gardens and arboretums, bouldering, camping, canoeing, canyons, cemeteries, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago River, Chicago stories, climbing, conservation, conservatories, cross-country skiing, Des Plaines River, Driftless Region, election candidates, eskers, fall colors, family and friends stories, far, far away from Chicago, farms, fens, fiction, fishing, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF KANE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Galena Illinois, gardening, ghost hunting, glacial kames, hiking, holiday gifts, horseback riding, Iceland, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, Indiana, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, insects, Iowa, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Jordan, Kansas, kayaking, kids activities, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake County Illinois attractions, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lee County (IL), local history, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, meteorology, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, museums, music, National Park Service, Native American History, nature art, nature calendars, nature centers, Nature Conservancy, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, orchids, Pennsylvania, pets, photography, poems, politics and the environment, prairies, presidents, product reviews, Rockford, Illinois, settlers and Indians, skywatching, sledding, snowshoeing, social issues, social justice, South Dakota, spring wildflowers, train travel, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. history, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, volunteering, waterfalls, winter activities, Wisconsin, zoos

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” Today is the eighth anniversary of the founding of my blog, “Nature in Chicagoland,” and I’m so happy to have written nearly 300 articles about woods, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and other natural areas in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. I’m pleased that my articles on … Continue reading Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

Goodbye 2024…Hello 2025! 

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, birdwatching, books, botanical gardens and arboretums, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Driftless Region, election candidates, hiking, Iceland, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, kids activities, Michigan, National Park Service, nature centers, prairies, Rockford, Illinois, skywatching, snowshoeing, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG I want to thank my “Nature in Chicagoland” readers for visiting my blog in 2024. Last year, my blog received the most reader views (nearly 22,000) and visitors in its nearly eight-year history. I’m grateful to those who take the time to read my … Continue reading Goodbye 2024…Hello 2025! 

9 Things to Do at Marengo Ridge Conservation Area

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, astronomy, birdwatching, camping, cross-country skiing, fall colors, hiking, Illinois, kids activities, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, prairies, skywatching, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG  In late September, I spent a morning hiking at the beautiful Marengo Ridge Conservation Area (Entrance: 2411 N. Route 23, Marengo) in McHenry County, Illinois. The sky was bright blue. The temperature was in the mid-70s. There was ample birdsong and the steady … Continue reading 9 Things to Do at Marengo Ridge Conservation Area

Thoughts On Chasing the Northern Lights and Other Celestial Phenomena in Chicagoland . . . and 30+ Tips/Resources to Help You Find Them

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, camping, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Illinois, kids activities, Lake County Illinois attractions, Lake Michigan, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, skywatching, winter activities

Andrew Morkes reflects on the beauty of celestial phenomena experienced from urban spaces like Chicago. He shares his awe for natural wonders such as the Northern Lights and meteor showers while discussing light pollution's impact. Morkes encourages stargazing as a communal, meditative escape from modern stresses, emphasizing community connections through shared experiences.

7 Things to Do at Horseshoe Mound Preserve in the Driftless Region

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, astronomy, birdwatching, conservation, Driftless Region, fall colors, Galena Illinois, hiking, Illinois, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, kids activities, prairies, spring wildflowers, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG UPDATED AUGUST 2025 To many, a visit to Galena, Illinois, means shopping, restaurants, and ice cream on the historic town’s beautiful main street. Visitors revel in the packed streets, stores, and restaurants in high-summer or on crisp fall weekends.   While I certainly … Continue reading 7 Things to Do at Horseshoe Mound Preserve in the Driftless Region

12 Great Destinations on Iceland’s South Coast and 26 Things You Should Know About This Magical Country Before Your First Trip

by anders458, posted in astronomy, birdwatching, canyons, far, far away from Chicago, hiking, Iceland, kids activities, waterfalls, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024 I'M TAKING A BREAK FROM NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND TO SHARE SOME STORIES ABOUT OUR RECENT TRIP TO ICELAND; MORE CHICAGOLAND NATURE STORIES COMING SOON A few quick answers to questions I’ve been asked since I returned from our early-April trip … Continue reading 12 Great Destinations on Iceland’s South Coast and 26 Things You Should Know About This Magical Country Before Your First Trip

Nachusa Grasslands: See Bison, Savor Solitude, and Hike Through Biodiversity Hotspots

by anders458, posted in astronomy, birdwatching, conservation, fall colors, hiking, Illinois, kids activities, Lee County (IL), Nature Conservancy, prairies, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, Uncategorized, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024 Nachusa Grasslands is a wild and wonderful place and an environmental restoration success story. And to top that, it has bison on-site. And there are sandstone cliffs to see and ponds and creeks to explore. What more can you ask for? The … Continue reading Nachusa Grasslands: See Bison, Savor Solitude, and Hike Through Biodiversity Hotspots

Total Eclipse of the Heart: How a Lumpy Loveseat Led Me to Lunar Nirvana

by anders458, posted in astronomy, Illinois, Uncategorized

I thank our loveseat for helping me to see Friday morning’s almost total lunar eclipse. Yes, our basement loveseat in all its cramped, lumpy glory. If I hadn’t unexpectedly fallen asleep on it and woke up stiff and sore at 2:15 a.m., I’d have never risen to see the longest lasting lunar eclipse since the … Continue reading Total Eclipse of the Heart: How a Lumpy Loveseat Led Me to Lunar Nirvana