BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK Joliet Iron Works Historic Site (31 Columbia Street, Joliet, IL 60432) was eerily quiet when I arrived. The quiet belied the intense industrial activity that took place at this site from the 1870s until the 1930s. During this … Continue reading Joliet Iron Works Historic Site Provides a Glimpse of Joliet’s (and America’s) Industrial Past
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK “Sir, did you see that the Birds of Paradise are blooming,” a friendly worker at Bird Haven Greenhouse and Conservatory (225 N. Gougar Road, Joliet, IL 60432) told me with pride. I turned from the waterfall that’s located … Continue reading Bird Haven Greenhouse and Conservatory Offers Beautiful Blooms, a Stunning Waterfall, and Short Outdoor Strolls
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK I would be a terrible public relations specialist or marketing maven… Areas of Riis Park Natural Area, and greater Riis Park, are filled with broken glass, empty beer cans, the remnants of fast-food meals, and other detritus of … Continue reading Riis Park Natural Area Offers Birding, Fishing, and Nature Walks on Chicago’s North Side
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK I love it when something ugly and industrial is returned to a beautiful natural state. What is now Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area (2200 E. 103rd Street, Chicago, IL 60633) was once an industrial eyesore. It was a … Continue reading Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area Provides Great Birdwatching, Biking, and Hiking in Chicago
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK I am pleased that six of my photographs were included in the Beverly Area Arts Alliance's 2026 Beverly Art Walk. I grew up in Beverly/Morgan Park on Chicago's South Side, lived there till I was 31, and still … Continue reading Essays and Photographs From My Exhibit at the Beverly Art Walk
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK I knew Winding Creek Conservation Area (8415 Johnson Road, Hebron, IL 60034) was a winner the moment I pulled into its first parking lot. Blue skies reigned overhead, and you could see clear to the horizon in this … Continue reading Visit Winding Creek Conservation Area for Spectacular Skies, Great Hiking, Birdwatching, and Fishing
Dragonflies Galore, Rare Hanging Fens, Great Birdwatching, and Big Skies BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK Air traffic controllers would probably quit if they had to manage the airspace above 229-acre Lake in the Hills Fen Conservation Area (LHFCA) in McHenry County. As I … Continue reading 5 Great Things About Lake in the Hills Fen Conservation Area
A Conservation Success Story and a Fun Place to Enjoy Nature, Learn, and Relax on the Chicago River BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK Chicago once turned its back on the polluted Chicago River, but that has changed in the past several decades as … Continue reading Exploring The Wild Mile: Chicago’s Floating Eco-Park
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG AND BOOK BREAKING NEWS: A small, but beautiful, nature spot, is hiding in plain sight just off U.S. Route 14 in Harvard, Illinois. I’ve traveled north on U.S. 14 to Walworth, Wisconsin, for Thanksgiving and other holidays for decades, but I never noticed … Continue reading Visit Beautiful Gateway Nature Park in McHenry County, Illinois, to Hike, Go Birding, and See a 350-Year-Old Bur Oak
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG AND BOOK Nearly two weeks ago, I decided to take a break from my professional writing, editing, and project management duties to wander McHenry County, Illinois. I saw farms . . . and more farms. And more farms. Big skies. Horses, sheep, and … Continue reading Hennen Conservation Area in McHenry County, Illinois, Offers Great Birding and Relaxing Hiking