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” 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 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
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
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG Please note: This article was written and published in 2025, but the Orchid Show is held each year with a different theme. The 2026 theme is Feelin’ Groovy (1960s/1970s). The show runs through March 22, 2026. Here are four photos from the 2026 Orchid Show, courtesy … Continue reading The Orchid Show Provides a Blast of Color and Beauty During the Cold Winter Months in Chicagoland
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG The Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) in Glencoe, Illinois, is a popular destination in any season—but especially during the warmer months. If you love nature and hikes and strolls through flower-filled meadows, English and Japanese gardens, forests, and much more, you could easily spend an entire day … Continue reading Visit Chicago Botanic Garden for Breathtaking Gardens and Greenhouses, Model Trains and Other Seasonal Shows, and Fun in Any Season
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG I'm taking a break from nature in Chicagoland today to share some memories of growing up next to the Metra Rock Island railroad tracks in Beverly Hills/Morgan Park on the far South Side of Chicago in the 1980s. More nature stories coming soon! Some kids … Continue reading 1980s Metra Train Memories: Exploring the “Jungle,” Crushing Pennies, and Receiving a Surprise from the Engineer
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG UPDATED JANUARY 2026 The original 125-steps of the famous Swallow Cliff Stairs. Tucked amidst miles of peaceful forest preserves, Swallow Cliff Woods-North, in Cook County, Illinois (near Palos Park), has been a busy place for nearly 100 years, if not more. In 1930, the Civilian … Continue reading Swallow Cliff Woods: Exercise and Go Sledding on a 100-Foot Bluff
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG On a beautiful, mostly sunny day in the mid-70s last September, I was lucky enough to visit three stunning nature areas in Chicagoland: Marengo Ridge Conservation Area (in McHenry County), Coral Woods Conservation Area (McHenry County), and Freeman Kame-Meagher Forest Preserve (Kane County). (These are … Continue reading Freeman Kame-Meagher Forest Preserve Offers Rolling Hills, Great Hiking, Birdwatching, and Much More