Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves

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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. 
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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?
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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.
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Celebrate the Sounds of Summer

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.
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Top 5 Picks for the Perfect Picnic

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.
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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.
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Dying Easter Eggs in the 1890s

on 4/15/22 12:43 PM By | Wayne Hill | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Nature native plant History
Natural dyes were used in a variety of ways in a colorful Victorian life in the 1890s.
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Bald Eagle Released After Treatment at Willowbrook

A juvenile bald eagle flew to freedom recently after being treated for lead poisoning at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
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Perk Up Your Parkway with Native Plants

Planting native plants in your parkway is a great way to help people appreciate native plants by growing them in your parkway for all to enjoy. And it helps pollinators too!
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Great Horned Owlet Reunited with Family

A great horned owlet was reunited with its family thanks to DuPage Forest Preserve District forestry workers and Willowbrook Wildlife Center.
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Snowy Owl Soars to Freedom After Treatment at Willowbrook

An injured snowy owl soared to freedom this week after being treated for rodenticide poisoning at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
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Meet Some of the District's Wonder Women 2022

Women’s History Month is a great time to reflect on the hard work, dedication achievements of women in all walks of life. We’d like to introduce you to some of the amazing women who work at the DuPage Forest Preserve District.
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Best Winter Hikes

on 2/25/22 2:25 PM By | Sarah Rosenberg | 0 Comments | Insider Trails Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Nature
Winter is a great time to go exploring in the DuPage forest preserves.
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Eagle Reunited with Mate After Poisoning

An injured bald eagle has been reunited with its mate this week thanks to a concerned resident, a group of volunteers and Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
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Stayin' Alive: How Wildlife Survive Winter

on 2/7/22 10:52 AM By | Nate Hambel | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Nature
Animals in northern Illinois must face the harsh reality of cold blustery winters that leave them vulnerable to exposure and starvation.
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Cold Weather is for the Birds

on 1/20/22 8:13 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Nature
Each winter, DuPage County and northern Illinois receive two visitors from the north who use this area as their warmer wintering grounds. One may think that sounds crazy, calling northern Illinois warm, but where these birds come from, temperatures in winter can average below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Birds Take Wing Again Thanks to Willowbrook

A great horned owl, two red-tailed hawks and two Cooper’s hawks soared to freedom again this week after being treated for injuries at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn.
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Join Our New Winter Adventure Series

As the lakes freeze and the ground turns white, we’ll be adding a flurry of outdoor fun to our winter program lineup!
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Native Landscaping: Start Planning Now

It may be wintertime, but now is the time to start planning your garden for next year. It may not seem like it now, but spring will be here before you know it, making this a great time to start planning your garden and yard.
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Halloween Happenings

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!
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