A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves
Abby Dean
Abby Dean is an environmental interpreter at the Forest Preserve District. She enjoys teaching about ecology, zoology, botany, biology and geology. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide by the National Association for Interpretation. She earned a B.S. in outdoor recreation and resource management.
Go nuts over squirrels on National Squirrel Appreciation Day! Held annually on Jan. 21 — in the middle of winter when food sources may be scarce — this unofficial holiday was started in 2001 by a wildlife rehabilitator named Christy Hargrove to recognize the role that squirrels play in the environment.
Looking for new ways to improve wellness and promote relaxation this winter? Try forest therapy! Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, forest therapy involves taking in the atmosphere of the forest. Translated as "forest bath," shinrin-yoku does not refer to actual bathing. Instead of submerging in water, forest bathers soak up the atmosphere of the forest.
As the days grow longer and the temperatures grow warmer, you may be thinking about your how you would like to landscape your garden this growing season. This is the perfect time to consider incorporating native plants into your landscape.