DuPage Forest Blog

1890s Holiday Candy Making

on 11/17/22 2:40 PM By | Wayne Hill | 0 Comments | Recreation Living green History

Candy confections were a sweet part of historic holiday farm life. In 1895, both the Sears and Roebuck Co. and Montgomery Ward Co. catalogs had candy departments where families could purchase supplies to make their heirloom candy recipes. The catalogs offered over 30 different flavors of oil alone.

Pop, Pop, Pop, Popcorn!

on 10/6/22 1:41 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Nature

Popcorn is an American story and is the world’s first cultivated corn. Corn planted in the plowed prairies of the Midwestern soil of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and southern Wisconsin produced some of the tastiest popcorn in the world at the turn of the 19th century.

The Sweet Story of Honey Bees

on 8/8/22 9:55 AM By | Jennifer Rydzewski | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Take 5 Wildlife Nature

Honeybees are arguably the most well-known pollinator, but did you know that honeybees are not even native to North America? Apis mellifera, the domesticated European honey bee, originated in Europe but is now common around the world — and for good reason. These hardworking bees are the only insect to create a product used by humans — honey. How sweet is that?

Hidden History of the East Farm Barn

on 8/1/22 9:05 AM By | Wayne Zaininger | 0 Comments | Insider Locations horse History

Looking at the east side of St. James Farm today, visitors might not fully appreciate the transformation it has gone through over the years. Let’s turn back the clock to the early 1900s, when this locale was a private family farm, to get a better view of its past.

A Moment for Millipedes

on 7/26/22 1:15 PM By | Jennifer Rydzewski | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Take 5 Wildlife Nature

The next time you hit the trails at a DuPage forest preserve, keep an eye out for the North American millipede, Narceus americanus, also called the “iron worm” for its armored appearance.

Celebrate the Sounds of Summer

on 7/6/22 9:29 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Recreation Wildlife Nature Trees

The warm, lazy days of summer are a great time to enjoy the sounds of nature in the preserves, and research shows that pleasant natural sounds are good for your health. They help lower blood pressure, improve cognitive performance and even reduce pain.

Hidden History of the Baker House

on 6/30/22 3:41 PM By | Keith McClow | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

It’s hard to fathom the connections a little old house on St. Charles Road has to the history of DuPage County, Illinois and the nation.

Top 5 Picks for the Perfect Picnic

on 6/10/22 8:43 AM By | Glenn Perricone and Jennifer Rydzewski | 0 Comments | Insider Conservation Nature Living green

The warm weather and long days of summer invite people to be outdoors, and what better way to enjoy the outdoors than by having a picnic.

Hidden History of McDowell Grove

on 5/25/22 7:32 AM By | Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Sometimes the history of a DuPage forest preserve is simply forgotten, but other times it is purposely kept secret. In the 1940s, McDowell Grove Forest Preserve in Naperville played more than one clandestine role, sparking rumors that evolved into legends.

6 Easy Tips for Successful Composting

on 5/20/22 8:40 AM By | Derek Gronlund | 0 Comments | Insider Conservation Nature Living green

Composting at home is one of the easiest ways you can make a positive impact on the environment and your garden.

DuPage Forest Police Get Improved Eye in the Sky

on 5/6/22 9:47 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider police

DuPage Forest Police have added a second, more powerful drone to the police force to help improve response and recovery time in the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s more than 60 forest preserves.

Hidden History: Burlington Park as Chicago's Recreation Destination

on 4/20/22 7:39 AM By | Dennis Buck | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Railroads were crucial to the development of the United States, sparking economic and industrial expansion all around them and carrying people and goods across the country. One of the area’s most famous railroads also played an important part in the development of DuPage County’s park system.