After a long gray Indiana winter, it’s a real joy to smell skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), one of Indiana’s native, fascinating flowers. The name says it all – it does not smell like roses! But seeing and smelling skunk cabbage is a sure-fire, sweet sign that spring weather is near…
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Trudging through the cold north winds on an early March morning, icy rains slashing my face, I make my way from the parking lot to the Kankakee Sands greenhouse. Clomp-clomp, clomp-clomp. I slide open the greenhouse door and am instantly transported to a state of bliss – the warmth, the fresh moist smell of dirt and seedlings that tickles my nose, and the gentle whir of the fan that makes the seedlings dance in the breeze. I take an enormous deep breath, and then it’s time to get to work…
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As a lifelong fisherman, I’ve seen lakes cycle from boom to bust or bust to boom many times. Fish populations naturally go through cycles in almost all lakes for many reasons. Among these reasons is the reproductive or spawning success of native fish. A few years after a couple of good spawns, the lakes may team with catchable fish. A few years after a poor spawn, often due to weather issues, the number of fish can decline. It’s nature’s way.... It’s natural. I’ve been fishing for Lake Michigan salmon for most of my adult life and operating a charter fishing business on Lake Michigan for half my adult life. Why is it the fishing on Lake Michigan, season after season, remains consistently good? Is it unnatural…
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Photoby Jessica Gomez TNC With its short days, grey skies and cold temperatures, February in Indiana can be trying even for the ruggedest soul among us. But, I love winter. Without winter, our Kankakee Sands prairies would not be the amazing, life-filled, flower-flowing, insect-buzzing places that they are. …
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Photos by Trevor Edmonson This past September, upwards of 2,000 monarchs congregated on the oak trees growing atop the dunes at the Bison Viewing Area! The monarchs roosted in the trees for several days before they continued on their long journey to their overwintering location in Michoacan, Mexico…
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It may be cold, but you can enjoy these meteor showers this winter in Northwest Indiana. To best see meteor showers as well as the constellations, you’ll want to head to the darkest sky possible. We recommend heading away from the bright lights of downtowns and city centers and let your eye adjust to the dark sky. While a telescope is recommended, you can also use a pair of binoculars to see comets, meteors and stars…
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Northern leopard frogs are fast, real fast! They aren’t called leopard frogs for nothin’. They are the long-legged leapers of our Kankakee Sands prairie, and catching one is not only thrilling, but hard to do! On a sunny November day, I had the good fortune of finding a northern leopard frog (Rana…
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No matter the season, when you want to get outside and enjoy nature, a nice walk is always a great choice. Of course, we have beautiful hikes at Indiana Dunes up and down sand dunes with hundreds of stairs but every once in a while, you just need a leisure walk. Here you will find some nice, easy walks around the region…
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This spring we were delighted to look up and find that our furry, winged, big brown bat mascot was hanging upside down again this year in the rafters of the Kankakee Sands seed processing barn. Ah! Some normalcy in these craziest of times! The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) is much as its name describes – big (for a bat) = five inches in length with a wingspan of 13 inches and brown fur all over, except for its black furless face, ears, tail and wings…
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Header photo:Viceroy Butterfly by Ryan Rasmussen/TNC In early September, our Kankakee Sand prairies are aflutter with orange on yellow, white and purple. Monarch and viceroy butterflies are nectaring on goldenrods, bonesets, and ironweed, and it is one of the prettiest sights to be seen…
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