"Between storm and nightfall" by April Anderson
Plant(s): Prairie with various summer flowers in bloom
Photo Story: My son wanted to visit this beautifully restored prairie in Sleepy Hollow since he had fond memories of this site from when he was a child. Both he and the prairie have grown stronger and more lovely.
Equipment: Apple SE phone
Title: Between storm and nightfall
Photographer: April Anderson
Location: Jelke Creek Nature Preserve
Chapter: St. Louis
"Metamorphosis" by Laura Stellmacher
Plant(s): Unknown
Photo Story: Captured in Antelope Canyon
Equipment: iphone
Title: Metamorphosis
Photographer: Laura Stellmacher
Location: Antelope Canyon
Chapter: Menomonee River Area
"Morton Arboretum Heritage Trail in Winter" by Bill Simon
Plant(s): Unknown
Photo Story: My wife and I were hiking on the Morton Arboretum's snow-covered Heritage Trail during late afternoon in January. Coming back from Big Rock, I was struck by the contast in color of the late afternoon light coming through the trees and the bluish light of the lower land in shadow, as well as from trees shadows in the foreground. Taking the photo with my cell phone, I was thrilled that the camera app captured the light exactly as my eyes saw it.
Equipment: LG Tribute Monarch smart phone
Title: Morton Arboretum Heritage Trail in Winter
Photographer: Bill Simon
Location: The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, on the Heritage Trail, which includes native trees and restored native undergrowth
Chapter: Greater DuPage
"Wild Hyacinths in Woods" by Laurie Martin
Plant(s): Wild hyacinths (Camassia scilloides) at base of oak tree.
Photo Story: Wild hyacinths light the moist forest floor like candles.
Equipment: Google Pixel 3a LX mobile phone
Title: Wild Hyacinths in Woods
Photographer: Laurie Martin
Location: McClaughry Springs Woods (Forest Preserves of Cook County), Palos Park, IL
Chapter: West Cook
"Bellflowers in Woods" by Laurie Martin
Plant(s): Tall bellflowers (Campanula americana or Campanulastrum americanum)
Photo Story: In midsummer, the dappled sun in the woods is filled with the stunning blue tall bellflowers.
Equipment: Google Pixel 3a XL mobile phone
Title: Bellflowers in Woods
Photographer: Laurie Martin
Location: McClaughry Springs Woods (Forest Preserves of Cook County), Palos Park, IL
Chapter: West Cook
"Brad Sabre-November Morning-2022.jpg" by Brad Sabre
Plant(s): The distant shore is populated by white pine, red pine and paper birch.
Photo Story: This photo was taken on a cold, damp November morning on Bobidosh Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Brad Sabre-November Morning-2022.jpg
Photographer: Brad Sabre
Location: Bobidosh Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin
Chapter: Milwaukee-Southwest-Wehr
"Brad Sabre - June Morning on Powell Marsh -2022.jpg" by Brad Sabre
Plant(s): The area is a showcase of native flora and fauna.
Photo Story: On a June morning hike in the Powell Marsh, Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Brad Sabre - June Morning on Powell Marsh -2022.jpg
Photographer: Brad Sabre
Location: Powell Marsh Wildlife Area, Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin
Chapter: Milwaukee-Southwest-Wehr
"Annual Spring Burn" by Nichole Good
Plant(s): indiscernible
Photo Story: In the spring, our community gathers to help one another with six prescribed burns. We burn to feel the warmth that is coming; we burn to begin the process of renewal.
Equipment: Canon EOS Rebel T6 Digital SLR Camera
Title: Annual Spring Burn
Photographer: Nichole Good
Location: Custer, Wisconsin
Chapter: Central Wisconsin
"maureen-walmsley-uinta-mountain-mahagony-2022.jpg" by Maureen Walmsley
Plant(s): Mountain Mahogany
Photo Story: This Mountain Mahogany was along the Mt Nebo trail in the Uinta National Forest at about 10,000 ft above sea level. The bark was so interesting.
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy S9 cell phone
Title: maureen-walmsley-uinta-mountain-mahagony-2022.jpg
Photographer: Maureen Walmsley
Location: Uinta National Forest, Utah
Chapter: St. Charles Area
"Awake" by Lauren Stegenga
Plant(s): Prairie Trillium, Trillium recurvatum
Photo Story: A Spring hike with kids in tow and creating space to stop to capture this beauty.
Equipment: Nikon Camera
Title: Awake
Photographer: Lauren Stegenga
Location: Indiana Dunes Trails
Chapter: Gibson Woods
"Member's Prairie Tour" by Kim Lowman Vollmer
Plant(s): Members only tour of restoration
Photo Story: This was a wonderful outing for members of Rock River Valley Chapter. A wagon tour, with speaker, and a very knowledgeable member leading the discussions. He shared all he has learned during this restoration and time on the prairie.
Equipment: cell phone
Title: Member's Prairie Tour
Photographer: Kim Lowman Vollmer
Location: Restoration in Leaf River, IL
Chapter: Rock River Valley
"Path to Sandy Prairie" by Susan Subak
Plant(s): Native oaks, grasses and forbes.
Photo Story: I visited this preserve in early August. Although the palette was surprisingly muted, I enjoyed the novelty of the hilly landscape that sustained familiar prairie species.
Equipment: Canon Powershot SX170
Title: Path to Sandy Prairie
Photographer: Susan Subak
Location: Spring Green WI Preserve
Chapter: West Cook
"Goose on Lake Sharon" by Katrina Burmeister
Plant(s): Wetlands in Sleepy hollow IL. Lake Sharon. Canadian Goose.
Photo Story: Gabriella Lindholm (minor) Katrina Burmeister (member)
Equipment: Nikon D3500
Title: Goose on Lake Sharon
Photographer: Katrina Burmeister
Location: Sleepy Hollow, IL
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"Summer Day" by Renee Benage
Plant(s): Big bluestem, swamp milkweed, common milkweed, numerous others.
Photo Story: I took this photo on a botany walk with the Webster Groves Nature Study Society.
Equipment: Canon PowerShot SX70HS
Title: Summer Day
Photographer: Renee Benage
Location: Watershed Nature Center, Edwardsville, Illinois
Chapter: St. Louis
"Smoke on the Prairie" by Dotty Zales
Plant(s): Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem
Amorpha canescens. Leadplant
Dalea candida. White prairie clover
Sorghastrum nutuns. Indiangrass
Andropogon gerardi. Big bluestem
Bouteloua curtipendula. Sideoats grama
Photo Story: Wagon ride with our visiting family through our property, caught a beautiful view of the setting sun through the smoke from the California wildfires.
Equipment: Iphone
Title: Smoke on the Prairie
Photographer: Dotty Zales
Location: Prairie Hills IA near Westfield IA
Chapter: Loess Hills
"Fall Day with Dori" by Kristin Bailey Wilson
Plant(s): The mixed forest includes white oak (Quercus alba), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana - although they rarely get big and typically die because of the lack of light), black walnut (Juglans nigra), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum). I may have missed something.
Photo Story: At the bottom of a quintessential Tennessee holler, this spring-fed pond is full of perch, catfish, large-mouth bass, frogs and a few turtles, plus one grass carp named Dori. The pond is surrounded by a mixed wood that includes various oaks, eastern red cedar, black walnut, hickory, beech, maple, hackberry, and more. I've taken dozens of pictures of the pond in every season. I like this one in particular because it captures both the quiet and the activity of a fall day.
Equipment: Nikon D5600, 18-55 mm lens
Title: Fall Day with Dori
Photographer: Kristin Bailey Wilson
Location: Macon county, Tennessee
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
"Prairie, Oak, and Wetland" by Susan Subak
Plant(s): I believe all of the trees and forbs seen are native except for the Queen Anne Lace
Photo Story: While walking the “bird loop” north of the Crane exhibits I enjoyed the sight of these four trees which reminded me of four family members going on a hike,
Equipment: Canon Powershot SX 170 IS
Title: Prairie, Oak, and Wetland
Photographer: Susan Subak
Location: International Crane Foundation restored prairie
Chapter: West Cook
"Green on Green" by Diana Fisket
Plant(s): Birch (Betula), Common fern
Photo Story: Realized that the photo might have been improved if the path was meandering in front of my view, but I saw the shot and took it.
Equipment: iPhone SE
Title: Green on Green
Photographer: Diana Fisket
Location: Chestnut Hill Preserve, Lyme CT
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
"After The Burn" by Kristi Shepler
Plant(s): Unknown fern and grass sprouts
Photo Story: The Albany Pine Bush Preserve in NY is a rare pine barren of rolling sand dunes. This ecosystem relies on recurring fire contribution to maintain its differences from the typical surrounding deciduous forests. While prescribed burns may sound counterintuitive it does not take long for native plants to re-emerge. This process gives the important native plants a chance against the many invasive species that threaten them. This tiny fern in scorched earth seems to be growing with a new sense of hope.
Equipment: Cannon Rebel EOS T6
Title: After The Burn
Photographer: Kristi Shepler
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve in New York
Chapter: Capital Region
"Rainbows are Coming" by Kristi Shepler
Plant(s): Goldenrod, most likely Canadian, and several other native plants.
Photo Story: The rain didn't dampen our spirits on this hike even if we had to rethink how to protect our gear. We were rewarded when the storm parted during the golden hour and a double rainbow appeared. I couldn't help but draw the parrel with all the work of replacing traditional landscaping with native plants and time spent volunteering with Wild Ones. The work of weathering the storm will pass and we will enjoy our rewards.
Equipment: Cannon Rebel EOS T6
Title: Rainbows are Coming
Photographer: Kristi Shepler
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve in New York
Chapter: Capital Region
"Blazing Star Meadow" by Steve Berry
Plant(s): Prairie Blazing Star/Liatris pycnostachya
Photo Story: Attended the dedication ceremony for this new Missouri Prairie Foundation property. This area had an impressive number of blooming blazing stars.
Equipment: Canon R5 with EF24-105mm macro lense
Title: Blazing Star Meadow
Photographer: Steve Berry
Location: Shelton L. Cook Meadow
Chapter: St. Charles Area
"Trillium Pair" by Steve Berry
Plant(s): Toadshade/Trillium sessile
Photo Story: Found these during a Spring walk
Equipment: Canon R5 with Sigma 100-400mm
Title: Trillium Pair
Photographer: Steve Berry
Location: Conservation area near Wakeman Ohio
Chapter: St. Charles Area
"Big blue stem prairie at Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve Darien, IL" by Cathy Streett
Plant(s): Big blue stem (Andropogon gerardii)
Photo Story: Our Garden Club has started a walking club and this was taken on a recent walk....this area was donated to the forest preserve and is restored to a natural Oak Savanna -- stunning views - this is jus one of them.
Equipment: Galaxy S22
Title: Big blue stem prairie at Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve Darien, IL
Photographer: Cathy Streett
Location: Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve Darien, IL
Chapter: West Cook
"The Love of Natives" by Cathy Dorwick
Plant(s): Grasshopper on coneflower with black eyed susans
Photo Story: We recently purchased an adjacent lot to our home and have done prairie restoration on it.
Equipment: Cell phone
Title: The Love of Natives
Photographer: Cathy Dorwick
Location: My prairie restoration
Chapter: Jo Daviess County (Seedling)
"Public Park Habitat Landscape at Holly Park, Darien IL" by Cathy Streett
Plant(s): In the foreground is Grey-headed Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata, also visible swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata and Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata.
Photo Story: Mixed plantings at our public parks have been extraordinary and received great reviews. Our garden club held tours at three of the converted parks this summer showing the beauty and importance of getting nature back to our parks.
In this shot the butterflies were everywhere but hard to photograph!
Equipment: Galaxy S22
Title: Public Park Habitat Landscape at Holly Park, Darien IL
Photographer: Cathy Streett
Location: Holly Park Darien IL
Chapter: West Cook
"Hill of Trillium" by Quyen Edwards
Plant(s): Trillium grandiflorum
LARGE-FLOWERED TRILLIUM
Photo Story: This photo was taken this spring along a portion of the Kal-Haven Trail that has been restored with spring ephemerals by volunteers. This hill of trillium was so lovely.
Equipment: Google Pixel 5a
Title: Hill of Trillium
Photographer: Quyen Edwards
Location: Kal-Haven Trail, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Chapter: Kalamazoo Area
"Kitty Todd Lupine Glory" by Mark Dilley
Plant(s): Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Photo Story: The Nature Conservancy's Kitty Todd State Nature Preserve is a unique and spectacularly beautiful and biologically diverse preserve. My wife and I visited last year just to see the Wild Lupine in bloom. It did not disappoint.
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Kitty Todd Lupine Glory
Photographer: Mark Dilley
Location: Kitty Todd Nature Preserve near Swanton, OH
Chapter: Columbus
"Sea of Bluebells" by Kerri Thauby
Plant(s): Virginia Bluebells (mertensia virginica)
Photo Story: Taken on a walk with a good friend and our 5 children.
Equipment: Sony A6300 / 16-50mm
Title: Sea of Bluebells
Photographer: Kerri Thauby
Location: C&O Canal Lock 37, Washington County, MD
Chapter: South Central Pennsylvania
"Monarch on New Prairie" by Catherine McKenzie
Plant(s): Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus); Red (Swamp) Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata; Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata
Photo Story: Last year we bought some wetland and mesic in an attempt to bring back and/or add more native plants to our local area. We were so excited to see all this Blue Vervain and Swamp Milkweed emerge from the soil seed bank after a year of mild intervention. The monarch who was nectaring on the milkweed was the cherry on the top of the whole day.
Equipment: Nikon D850, Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Title: Monarch on New Prairie
Photographer: Catherine McKenzie
Location: Town of Center, WI
Chapter: Fox Valley Area
"Sunrise over the Oak Savanna" by Amaris Danak
Plant(s): Bur Oak (quercus macrocarpa)
Photo Story: Waking up for the sunrise, sitting with my coffee in the most beautiful place.
Equipment: Panasonic Lumix GX85
Title: Sunrise over the Oak Savanna
Photographer: Amaris Danak
Location: Elgin, Illinois
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"Monarch Nectaring on Wild Swamp Milkweed" by Catherine McKenzie
Plant(s): Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus); Red (Swamp) Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata; Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata
Photo Story: Last year we bought some wetland in an attempt to bring back and/or add more native plants to our local area. We were so excited to see all this Blue Vervain and Swamp Milkweed emerge from the soil seed bank after a year of mild intervention. The monarch who was nectaring on the milkweed was the cherry on the top of the whole day.
Equipment: Nikon D850, Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Title: Monarch Nectaring on Wild Swamp Milkweed
Photographer: Catherine McKenzie
Location: Town of Center, WI
Chapter: Fox Valley Area
"Prairie View" by James Seidler
Plant(s): I believe this is prairie sunflower
Photo Story: This is a September look at the prairie in bloom at Seidner Dune and Swale. The prairie sunflower was ascendant, offering a bright presence before a setting sun.
Equipment: iPhone SE
Title: Prairie View
Photographer: James Seidler
Location: Seidner Dune and Swale Nature Preserve, Hammond, IN
Chapter: Gibson Woods
"Grand Calumet" by James Seidler
Plant(s): I am not certain here, but it is a restored landscape at Seidner Dune and Swale.
Photo Story: The Grand Calumet flows on the northern border of Seidner Dune and Swale, offering a living border to the landscape and providing a refuge to waterbirds like belted kingfishers and great blue herons.
Equipment: iPhone SE
Title: Grand Calumet
Photographer: James Seidler
Location: Seidner Dune and Swale Nature Preserve, Hammond, IN
Chapter: Gibson Woods
"Pollinator garden overlooking prairie at dusk" by Elisa Zappacosta
Plant(s): Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) and Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Photo Story: Pollinator garden overlooking the prairie at dusk
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Pollinator garden overlooking prairie at dusk
Photographer: Elisa Zappacosta
Location: Westfield, Iowa
Chapter: Loess Hills
"Blazing Prairie" by Kyla Muhammad
Plant(s): Blazing Star
Photo Story: This landscape photo highlights the beautiful blooming of blazing star plants in the prairie.
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro phone
Title: Blazing Prairie
Photographer: Kyla Muhammad
Location: Gensburg-Markham Prairie
Chapter: Greater DuPage
"Broken Kettle Grasslands" by Elisa Zappacosta
Plant(s): Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens) and Narrow-leaved coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)
Photo Story: Morning hike at the Nature Conservancy's Broken Kettle Grasslands in the Loess Hills in Westfield, Iowa.
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Broken Kettle Grasslands
Photographer: Elisa Zappacosta
Location: Westfield, Iowa
Chapter: Loess Hills
"A Blanket of Poppies" by David Silsbee
Plant(s): California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Photo Story: It took a lot to distract us from the spectacular rocky coastline, but the blooming poppies did the trick.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mk IV, 24-70 mm lens.
Title: A Blanket of Poppies
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Point Buchon, California
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
"Markham Prairie" by Kyla Muhammad
Plant(s): Blazing Star
Photo Story: Photo highlights both the blazing star and the surrounding prairie.
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro phone
Title: Markham Prairie
Photographer: Kyla Muhammad
Location: Gensburg-Markham Prairie
Chapter: Greater DuPage
"Colorado Aspens at the Peak of Fall Colors" by Neal Bringe
Plant(s): Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Photo Story: My wife, Lida, was following reports from a hiking group and the Abyss Lake Trail was a favorite, but shared that it had not yet reached peak fall colors. It seemed like the next day could be the peak, but it was predicted to rain at noon and rain for several days. Lida suggested that I get up early in the morning and make it to the trailhead by 7 AM so I could hike this trail for the first time to see the landscape in all its glory. That is what I did, and at one point I hiked up a rocky mountainside to get this high view just a little while before it started to rain. Everyone that I shared this picture with was amazed at the rich array of colors that the Aspens provided throughout the vast landscape. What a gift.
Equipment: Cannon PowerShot SX70 HS
Title: Colorado Aspens at the Peak of Fall Colors
Photographer: Neal Bringe
Location: Abyss Lake Trail, Mount Evans Wilderness Area, Colorado
Chapter: Front Range
"Misty Morning" by David Silsbee
Plant(s): Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Photo Story: Canoeing on the pond early in the morning, the fall colors glowed through the mist.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70 mm lens
Title: Misty Morning
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: North Wayne, Maine
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
"Nature's landscaping" by Amaris Danak
Plant(s): Canadian rye (elymus canadensis), switchgrass (panicum virgatum), gray-headed coneflower (ratibida pinnata), side-oats grama (bouteloua curtipendula)
Photo Story: Nature in a beautiful, scenic moment. I especially love that, if you look carefully, you can also see compass plant, hoary vervain and milkweed in the background.
Equipment: Panasonic Lumix GX85
Title: Nature's landscaping
Photographer: Amaris Danak
Location: Cook County, Illinois
Chapter: Greater Kane County