Stories in the snow
By Eileen Sutter - Stories of animal lives are written in new fallen snow. The snow's surface tells stories that are invisible to us the rest of the year. Of short lives, quiet wings, superior...
North Branch Notes
All about what we're doing- All
- Animals
- Harms
- insects
- Seeds
- Somme Nature Preserve
- Weeds
- Wildflowers
Giants in the Woods
By Jane Balaban - Eastern Giant Swallowtails are one of our largest butterflies. Now is a good time to check out their bizarre caterpillars. Finding them can be tricky as their mottled dark and light...
Thank you so much, CVS!
By Lisa Musgrave - Somme Prairie Nature Preserve stewards are working on eradicating the last of invasive European Buckthorn that forms a barrier all around the edges of the preserve. In September, an energetic...
Gentian Time
By Eileen Sutter - Gentian season is upon us and the prairie gentian is the star of the season! This lovely low blooming plant has deep violet-purple 5-lobed flowers, about 2" long and 1" across...
We’re number 25!
By Jane Balaban - Harms Woods has just become the 25th Illinois Nature Preserve in the Forest Preserves of Cook County! Dedication as a Nature Preserve provides the highest level of protection for land in Illinois....
Milkweeds On The North Branch
By Eileen Sutter - Milkweed pollination is a complex multi-step affair, second only to orchid pollination for its intricacy. Milkweeds like the swamp milkweed shown below cannot self pollinate; instead they rely on insects like...
Weeding the Woods
This is the season we've waited for -- spring wildflowers, cool sunny weather and...
Wild Gardens
By Jane Balaban - Years ago, NBRP volunteers recognized that seed is a critical part of restoration work. In fact, it can be the limiting factor in bringing back healthy native habitat. After weeds are...