There's magic in a snowflake. But if someone asked you how snowflakes form, could you explain it to them? Jen Berlinghof, Environmental Educator, can help. She's here with an adaptation of one of her posts ("Snowflake anatomy") from our Lake County Nature blog. Read more: https://bit.ly/38IsCFX

The holiday season is hectic. North Mill Creek at Ethel's Woods in Antioch isn't. Take a moment of zen with the soothing sounds of flowing water. And look for another fragment in January 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/ethels-woods

Exactly 204 miles of trails thread through nearly 31,000 acres in the Lake County Forest Preserves. Many are gravel, some are paved, some are mowed grass, and some are woodchip trails. Making connections between communities is key. Helping visitors map their adventures is important, too. Michael Haug, Landscape Architect, and Nick Spittlemeister, GIS Analyst, discuss how these trail systems allow thousands of people to access nature on a daily basis. Season 2 premieres in 2020. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/trails

Thousands of native plant species call Lake County’s nearly 31,000 acres of forest preserves home. All of these plants are unique and interesting in their own ways. Pati Vitt, Manager of Ecological Restoration, and Ken Klick, Restoration Ecologist, each have decades of botanical experience, studying and appreciating plant communities in Lake County and elsewhere. They discuss big trends, big patterns, and big ideas. In short, they ponder plants and why they matter. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/conservation/plant-monitoring/

The 2020 U.S. Census is approaching. But scientists at the Lake County Forest Preserves take a different kind of census year-round—an animal census. Gary Glowacki and Andrew Rutter, both Wildlife Ecologists, and John Vanek, a doctoral candidate at Northern Illinois University, highlight how they collect data about local animals and what insights they’ve drawn so far. Learn more: https://www.lcfpd.org/conservation/wildlife-monitoring/

Among the collections of the Dunn Museum in Libertyville are 1,000 linear feet of archival materials, securely housed in an environmentally controlled care and storage facility. Many have never been on display before. What tales do these letters, postcards, and journals tell? Diana Dretske and Heather Johnson, both Curators at the Dunn Museum, discuss their top three most memorable materials and why these in particular stick out in their minds. Learn more: www.LCFPD.org/museum/collections/

Fall is a great time to think about removing the invasive shrub buckthorn from your yard. But how do you get rid of it and make sure it stays out for good? Matt Ueltzen, Restoration Ecologist II, and Allison Frederick, Assistant Public Affairs Manager, offer their advice on how to say goodbye to buckthorn. Learn more: LCFPD.org/Buckthorn

What are the woods telling us? Have you ever stopped for a moment to listen?

Headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois, the Lake County Forest Preserves protects nearly 31,000 acres of land. There are just about as many stories from both humans and nature. This series dives into the diverse projects we undertake to improve quality of life for all Lake County residents and visitors.