BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND Prairies are a special part of our natural world, and they’re sometimes overlooked amidst the forests and Great Lakes of the Midwest. But a walk in a prairie is a wonderful thing in any season. The wildflowers, grasses, and wild creatures of our Illinois prairies, … Continue reading Art Exhibition Celebrates the Stunning Prairies of Illinois
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND Prairies are a special part of our natural world, and they’re sometimes overlooked amidst the forests and Great Lakes of the Midwest. They are key to the health of the natural world, and they must be preserved, protected, and appreciated so that they can be … Continue reading Waubonsie Valley High School Students Help Restore Illinois’ Prairie
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” UPDATED AUGUST 2025 Beautiful hilly grasslands. Big skies. Enjoyable hiking trails. The opportunity to see more than 120 bird species. If these phrases catch your attention, you should visit Big Sky Nature Reserve in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The almost 900-acre preserve is divided into … Continue reading Big Sky Nature Reserve: Great Birding, Wide-Open Spaces, and Enjoyable Hiking and Cross-Country Skiing
Debra Behrens is the Executive Director of the The Prairie Enthusiasts, a grassroots environmental organization that has 11 chapters in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. I recently talked with her about the expansion of its land holdings (a wonderful development in an age where we have to fight to preserve every last bit of the natural … Continue reading Prairie Enthusiasts Executive Director Discusses Why It’s Vital to Save Prairies (Including Bell Bowl Prairie) and Celebrates the Expansion of Mounds View Grassland Preserve
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND Willa Cather, one of my favorite authors, once described the Midwest (especially Nebraska) as a “Sea of Grass.” But farms, miles of pavement, and cities and suburbs have replaced much of this vast ecosystem. This is especially true in Illinois, which is misleadingly known as the “Prairie … Continue reading Belmont Prairie and More Than 25 Other Prairies in Chicagoland to Visit and Enjoy