DuPage Forest Blog

Hidden History of Waterfall Glen's Lincoln Park Nursery

on 10/26/21 10:20 AM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Conservation History

Many people visiting the city of Chicago spend time in Lincoln Park, but few know the connection that DuPage Forest Preserve District’s Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien has with one of the largest parks in the city.

Teen Transforms Container into Scenic Landscape

on 10/22/21 1:38 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

Emelia Buckley likes painting the natural world because “it’s the most complex and simple concept on earth.” So she jumped at the chance to paint a nature scene on the biggest “canvas” she had ever worked on.

Carrying on the Legacy of the Heritage Shorthorn

on 10/13/21 1:52 PM By | Lisa Carpenter | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

Since acquiring its first Heritage Milking Shorthorn cow, Liberty, in 2018, Kline Creek Farm’s herd of Heritage Milking Shorthorn cattle has been growing. The farm now has four animals in the herd, including Liberty’s daughter and granddaughter, who was born this past spring.

Nature's Tricks Are a Nature Lover's Treat

on 10/12/21 2:16 PM By | Stephanie Touzalin | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Wildlife have long embodied the spirit of Halloween using tricks, treats, and costumes. These strategies are essential for wild animals to survive, find food, and attract mates.

Hidden History of the Steeplechase

on 10/6/21 1:49 PM By | Wayne Zaininger | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

What happens when you combine a love of horses with a passion for philanthropy? At St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville in the 1980s and 1990s, it resulted in an annual steeplechase event that drew thousands to the farm, dominated the work schedules of farm employees, and made a meaningful impact on a local charity.

Halloween Happenings

on 10/5/21 8:51 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails Recreation Wildlife Nature Willowbrook

Looking for some “spooktacular” fun in October? Look no further than DuPage forest preserves! From haunted hikes and wagon rides to pumpkin stories and rhymes for little ones, we’ve got a thrilling lineup of Halloween happenings this year, so register soon!

Bosnian Students Visit Urban Stream Research Center

on 10/1/21 8:48 AM By | Glenn Perricone | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Conservation restoration

A group of 17 Bosnian high school students recently took part in an aquatic ecology program at the Forest Preserve District’s Urban Stream Research Center at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville. They were visiting the United States for three weeks on a tour that emphasized leadership, American government and culture.

Celebrate OAKtober!

on 9/27/21 8:03 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Trails Natural resources Recreation Plants Take 5 Wildlife Nature native plant

OAKtober is Illinois’ monthlong celebration of oak trees and the things that make them great. We love oaks here at the DuPage Forest Preserve District, so we’re thrilled to be a part of it!

DuPage Through the Lens of My Nikon

on 9/21/21 3:14 PM By | Daniel Walker | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

The pandemic has affected us in varying ways. Early on, many believed it would be over quickly and be nothing more than a minor historical footnote.

Why Art Matters to Saving Monarch Butterflies

on 8/30/21 1:53 PM By | Lonnie Morris | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Plants Wildlife Conservation native plant Native Plant Sale

DuPage Monarch Project is a collaboration of four local environmental organizations, each contributing essential resources of science, education, community organizing and public art to the shared mission of protecting monarch butterflies and pollinators. All are important.

A Gateway to History, Golf and a Healthy Environment

on 8/23/21 9:43 AM By | Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Recreation Golf History

When an 11-year-old Randy Cochran snuck into Salt Creek at night to pilfer lost golf balls at the private Elmhurst Country Club in Addison more than 50 years ago, he never imagined what it would lead to.

Hidden History of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad

on 7/21/21 9:30 AM By | Wayne Zaininger and Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Imagine commuting to Chicago by train in the morning only to discover without warning that same afternoon that your Metra line had closed and would never operate again.

Mysterious Moths

on 7/7/21 10:32 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Conservation Nature

Moths sometimes seem like the forgotten cousins of butterflies. While butterflies may be some of the most well-known insects in the world, there are many more species of moths.

Hidden History of Hidden Lake Bridge

on 6/14/21 12:45 PM By | Keith McClow | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

On a breezy May afternoon, I stood on an old bridge that spans the East Branch DuPage River at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Downers Grove, talking to people as they crossed the bridge.

Hidden History of Glacial Ridge

on 6/2/21 8:48 AM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Volunteer Conservation History

Churchill Woods Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn is one of the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s most popular forest preserves.

Managing Harmful Algae Blooms

on 5/20/21 9:59 AM By | Dan Grigas | 0 Comments | Insider Plants Conservation Nature

Harmful blue-green algae blooms have become an all-too-common occurrence on some forest preserve lakes lately.

More Love for Monarch Butterflies

on 5/10/21 10:32 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Plants Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

The DuPage Forest Preserve District board of commissioners is pledging to support the Illinois Monarch Project, a public and private sector partnership whose goal is to add 150 million milkweed plants to the Illinois landscape by 2038.

The Hidden History of Fullersburg Woods

on 4/20/21 9:48 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Recreation Take 5 Nature Group History

When you visit a DuPage forest preserve to connect with nature, you don’t often consider its history and how it came to be developed as a preserve.

Reminder Not to Harvest Plants in the Preserves

on 4/16/21 10:05 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Conservation Nature native plant

As more plants and mushrooms emerge in the spring, it’s a good time to remind visitors not to harvest things — especially wild leeks and mushrooms — from DuPage forest preserves.

Partnership Mussels Into Chicago River

on 4/9/21 8:35 AM By | Scott Meister | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation

The DuPage Forest Preserve District recently embarked on a new and unique partnership with Urban Rivers, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago with a mission to transform city rivers into urban sanctuaries.

Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves