Seasonsontheland

04/03/2025

It's early spring and these lovely bloodroot wildflowers are just beginning to bloom at William and Gayle Keefer Nature Reserve in Rockton, IL. Photo by Laura Helmich.

07/20/2023

Midsummer wildflowers are on our minds right now. Check these out by Laura Helmich, Field Biologist for Natural Land Institute.

07/29/2021

'Tis the season for Black-eyed Susans. When did yours start blooming this year? These lovely ladies usually bloom June through September. Location: Nygren Wetland Preserve

10/08/2020

Little bluestem at Pecatonica Ridge Prairie

10/08/2020

Lost Flora Fen. Thank you Lenae Weichel for identifying this purple flower as late blooming Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica).

10/08/2020

The at Lost Flora Fen is about 600 ft long and goes through a wet habitat with den like soil.

09/25/2018

This illlustration of two Sandhill cranes, by artist Laura Sjoquist, is featured in a new book, published by Natural Land Institute, called NATURAL VOICES: CELEBRATING NATURE WITH OPENED EYES. The the nature themed poetry and prose anthology will be available to the public starting Friday, Sep. 28, 2018 at NLI's annual Nature Poetry & Prose event. Book available for a suggested $12 donation to NLI. Register for the event here: https://www.naturalland.org/event/nature-poetry-prose-2/?instance_id=2574

05/23/2018

It’s Spring and the Wildflower Walkabout series is well underway. Only 4 more guided walks through the end of June. Last night we saw more Nodding Trillium than you could imagine at Hall Memorial Woods, a Rockford Park District park, pictured here. See the full Walkabout schedule here: https://www.naturalland.org/2018-wildflower-walkabout-series/. Photos: Kimberly Wheeler Johnsen

09/26/2017

The Three Harvesters. Pastel Painting by Pam Shaver. Pam came and helped with Natural Land Institute's Fall Prairie Harvest Day at Nygren Wetland Preserve this past Saturday and was inspired to paint this beautiful fall scene. Thank you Pam, for sharing your inspiration with us.

07/26/2017