@SantaFePrairie - Nature in Chicagoland

Goodbye 2021…Hello 2022!

January 1, 2022 by anders458, posted in @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, books, canyons, Chicago, Chicago Parks, conservation, fall colors, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF KANE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, kids activities, Lake Michigan, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, prairies, spring wildflowers, Uncategorized, waterfalls, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND I want to thank my Nature in Chicagoland readers for visiting my blog in 2021. I visited 37 nature destinations in Illinois and Indiana last year, and 23 were new spots—including Rock Run Rookery Preserve, Buffalo Rock State Park, Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve, Casper Bluff Land & Water … Continue reading Goodbye 2021…Hello 2022!

Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve: A Red Caboose, Pleasant Trails, a Rare Prairie, and +225 Native Plants

September 8, 2021June 12, 2024 by anders458, posted in birdwatching, Des Plaines River, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, kids activities, prairies, spring wildflowers, Uncategorized, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF "NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND" UPDATED JUNE 2024 Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve (7300 River Road, Hodgkins, IL 60525, Facebook) is a rare mesic (wet) gravel prairie tucked between noisy Interstate 55, railroad tracks, warehouses, LaGrange Road, and the Des Plaines River. A gravel prairie is one that grows on … Continue reading Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve: A Red Caboose, Pleasant Trails, a Rare Prairie, and +225 Native Plants

Welcome to my blog. Nature in Chicagoland covers the joy of nature—whether it's in a forest preserve or state or national park or just in a local park or your own backyard. It also covers meteorology; geology; astronomy; environmental restoration, protection, and sustainability; local history; and nearby colleges and universities that offer environmental-related majors. In my definition, "Chicagoland" consists of Chicago, its suburbs, and any natural destination that's within a day's drive of our great city. Thanks for reading.