DuPage Forest Blog

April 30, 2018

The Tangled Relationships in a Garden

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

The relationship between milkweed and monarchs is well known and well documented. Monarch butterflies feed on the nectar in milkweed flowers, collecting pollen before transferring...

April 27, 2018

New Equipment a Lifesaver for Willowbrook Patients

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

An injured herring gull received prompt treatment for lead poisoning thanks to a new lead analysis machine that Willowbrook Wildlife Center was able to purchase because of...

April 17, 2018

Making Friends in the Birding Circle

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

The start of spring welcomes thousands of migrating birds to the DuPage forest preserves and greater Chicago area. It’s also the season for birding enthusiasts to get outdoors to...

April 16, 2018

Solutions to Common Garden Challenges

Jennifer Rydzewski

Gardening with native plants has many rewards, but it can also pose some challenges. The beautiful flowers may attract pollinators, but they may also attract unwanted critters,...

April 5, 2018

Ribbit! April is National Frog Month

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Celebrate National Frog Month in April by getting to know some of the frogs and toads of DuPage County. Amphibians are excellent biological indicators of the wider health of...

April 3, 2018

Sun, Part Sun or Shade?

Dave Andrusyk

It’s a perennial question that comes up every planting season: Does it really matter if you plant a full-sun plant in the shade or a shade plant in a sunny spot? Well, it does if...

March 26, 2018

Reunited and It Feels So Good

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

March winds can be fierce and the days blustery! It's no wonder, then, our wild, woolied and feathered often take tumbles from treetop nests this time of year.

March 20, 2018

Attracting Wildlife to Your Backyard

Keriann Dubina

When people ask me how to attract birds, bees and butterflies to their backyard, my answer always begins with planting native plants. What do I mean by native plants? A plant is...

March 14, 2018

Reasons to Go Native with Landscaping

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

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...

March 1, 2018

American Woodcock's Wondrous Sky Dance

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

One of the earliest signs of spring is the American Woodcock’s mating dance. Also known as timberdoodles, American Woodcocks return from southern states in mid-March to establish...

February 21, 2018

Winter Seed Sowing

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Every year, the Natural Resource Management crew and volunteers collect seed from more than 200 plant species native to DuPage County. The seed is used in various Forest Preserve...