Lincoln Memorial Garden

06/01/2026

Congratulation to the 2026 Lincoln Memorial Garden 8K Trail Race winners!

Emily Patton and Michael Simon, pictured here, were the Overall Winners in the trail race conducted this past weekend. Others winners are listed below. The weather was perfect and the course well maintained making this race one of the best ever! Congratulations to all crossing the finish line and we look forward to seeing you on the trail as you train for the 2027 race.

Male Winners
Overall: Minchael Simon (28:32.6)
Masters: Keith Virden (33:47.0)
19 & Under: Calvin Armbrust (32:17.4)
20-29: Reubhen Delfin (33:03.5)
30-39: Brian Dixon (29:33.4)
40-49: Adam Solomon (36:19.2)
50-49: Clayton Bellot (39.08.5)
60-69: Jeseph Petty (40:20.9)

Female Winners
Overall: Emily Patton (36:30.1)
Masters: Megan Clark (40:16.7)
19 & Under: Fayth Sokolis (39.09.9)
20-29: Erica Edge (47.38.9)
30-39: Brittney Caufield (42:30.4)
40-49: Jess Hamblin (42:55.0)
50-59: Kim Owens (47:15.5)
60-69: Cheryl Biesiada (47:56.9)
70 & Up: Margaret King (1:22:26.1)

05/30/2026

Less than 10 minutes now and the annual 8K Race at Lincoln Memorial Garden starts. Always a great time and is followed by races for the youngsters. Stop by and cheer on the runner if you are in the area.

05/29/2026

Because we have been SO busy at the LMG Nature Center, paper renewals will not be mailed until later in June of 2026. As a gift to all current members, your membership will be extended 6 weeks. If you would like to renew online instead of receiving a mailing, you can renew your membership via this link:
https://lincolnmemorialgarden.org/support-the-garden/membership/

05/29/2026

🚨 Alert! 🚨 As we prepare for tomorrow’s trail race, please note that LMG will be closed to visitors from 8:00PM Friday, May 29 through 10:00AM Saturday, May 30 to protect the integrity of our marked race course.

05/27/2026

Seen This Week at the Garden

Sitting on a branch among the duckweed in the pond at the Ostermeier Prairie, the American bullfrog was well camouflaged and nearly missed. Residents of all types of waterbodies thought Illinois, bullfrogs are the largest frog occurring in North America and can be up to 6 inches in length. From April to August the distinct, resonating “jug-o-rum” call of the male attracts females and tells other males to stay clear. Famous for eating anything that will fit in their mouth, the bullfrog can also be prey, making a loud squeak when startled by a predator.

05/22/2026

Good tips for this time of year!

Found a baby animal that may need assistance and wondering if you should help? First, stay at a safe distance and observe the animal to see if it is obviously sick or injured. Know that not all baby wildlife found alone are orphaned—the parent(s) may be nearby, watching you and their offspring.
Read on to learn more about helping orphaned or injured wildlife: https://outdoor.wildlifeillinois.org/articles/does-that-baby-animal-need-help

Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois

University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois Extension

05/21/2026

Seen This Week in the Garden

With some species it is easy to tell a male from a female. Red-winged blackbirds are one species of birds where this sexual dimorphism is evident. Males are slightly larger and have glossy black feathers except for their red-and-yellow epaulets, or shoulder patches. They also are highly vocal—that conk-la-ree sound is a common summer sound—and visible during the breeding season, announcing his territory to attract females (yes, they are polygynous and he will have multiple mates) and warn off potential competitors. Heavily streaked in shades of brown, cream and gray camouflages female red-winged blackbirds and protects them and their eggs/nestlings from predators.

05/19/2026

Announcing LMG’s Annual Photo Contest

Keep your camera handy the next few months and sort through the images you have taken at the Garden during walks or while attending a program. Rules for the photo contest can be found on the LMG website at https://www.lincolnmemorialgarden.org/Resources/98137813-7849-4f98-b429-d28c6807f298/photo%20contest%202026.pdf. Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026 to [email protected].

05/14/2026

Seen This Week at the Garden

Fox squirrels are commonly spotted at Lincoln Memorial Garden, often perched on a branch gnawing on a nut to gain access to the soft meat inside. Their four front teeth (incisors) are amazing structures that never stop growing and may grow 6 inches each year. The sharp, chisel-like edges of the teeth allow them to shell nuts, gnaw on bark to gain access to cambium layer which it eats, and to cut plant materials used in building their nests. Another incredible fact about those teeth—and their bones—is that they will glow bright pink when placed under a UV light.

05/07/2026

Seen This Week at the Garden

Lincoln Memorial Garden’s eastern bluebirds are certainly among the busiest of animal parents at this time of the year. With a nest full of hungry mouths to feed, a pair of bluebirds will make deliveries every 15 to 20 minutes throughout the daylight hours. Those parents will keep up with that schedule until the young fledge at about 2 weeks of age. A high protein is needed for those growing babies, with most of their food being insects and larvae. Researchers have found that easy-to-digest caterpillars are a key component of their diet. Later in the season soft berries will be added to the diet of nestling bluebirds. Want to observe bluebirds yourself? The bluebird trails at LMG’s Ostermeier Prairie and Cawley Meadow are great spots to catch sight of bluebirds hunting making deliveries to their young.