Looking For Spring Amongst The Snow
- by Gary Marks Spring is Here, Enter Snow The calendar has finally rolled over to spring, the time for change in the Shawnee Hills. This is the season that trees come back to life and the cooler temps give way to warmer breezes. Yeah, right! I started off my last article Looking for Fall Amongst the Brown in a similar way, but even though the calendar says spring, we are still experiencing winter’s bitter chill. It’s odd to... Read More
The Isolation of Winter in the Shawnee Hills
Winter, Winter, Go Away? - by Gary Marks Winter is a time that can make us scurry inside, trying to get away from the bitter cold temperatures. For some of us just the saying “winter” is a dirty word, but there are some people that wait patiently for the cooler temps so they can explore the frozen world outside. Here in Southern Illinois we rarely stay cold for any length of time. It can be in the 60′s like this past weekend,... Read More
Looking for Fall Amongst the Green
- by Gary Marks Exit Summer, Enter Fall The calender has finally rolled over into October, the time of change in the Shawnee Hills. This is the month that the forest gives a final bold pop and a confetti of leaves comes raining down by the end of the month celebrating another successful growing season. The bold pop is not quite here as we enter the first week. Green is still the primary color, but that does not stop me from grabbing my gear... Read More
Video Hike – Round Bluff – Ferne Clyffe State Park
Ferne Clyffe State Park – Round Bluff Nature Preserve Hike Has the great weather got you itching to escape the workplace and head out for the trail? You’re not alone. This week’s mid-week hike takes us to one of the best state parks in Illinois, Ferne Clyffe State Park. Ferne Clyffe is home to many great hikes, but one of my favorites is the one-mile loop trail called Round Bluff. Enjoy! Click on the following link to read a... Read More
Ferne Clyffe Lake Trail – Ferne Clyffe State Park
- by Gary Marks Have you ever been to Ferne Clyffe and drove right past the lake on your way to the popular Ferne Clyffe Waterfall Trail? You are definitely not alone. Many often overlook the Ferne Clyffe Lake trail that is tucked away on the edges of one of the few lake hikes in Southern Illinois. Where to Go? When coming to the first stop sign in the park make a left and head downhill. Near the bottom of the road is a small parking area... Read More
3 Easy Ferns You Can Identify On Your Next Hike In Southern Illinois
3 Easy Ferns You Can Identify On Your Next Hike In Southern Illinois - by Gary Marks Imagine a fern. Not hard to do, right? Now try to write down exactly what that fern in your mind looks like or try to describe it in detail to a friend. Just got a little harder, didn’t it? The land of ferns tend to be a quiet bunch. No brilliant colors, no showy flowers, no edible fruit, just a lot of green foliage. If you look closer though you will... Read More
3 Great Places To Spend A 3 Day Weekend In Southern Illinois
3 Great Places To Spend A 3 Day Weekend In Southern Illinois Are you getting ready for 3-day weekend this week? If so, here are some great places in Southern Illinois to spend 3 days exploring the natural side of the Shawnee Hills. 1. Giant City State Park This 4,000 acre state park is one of the best places to visit in Southern Illinois. It boasts 7 hiking trails that explore varied areas of the park. Here’s a couple of my favorites: Trillium... Read More
Photo of the Week: Cicada Emergence at Ferne Clyffe State Park
Photo of the Week: Cicada Emergence at Ferne Clyffe State Park - by Gary Marks What a treat this week to see this 13-year cicada at Ferne Clyffe State Park. This newly emerged insect was perched upon a brick wall near one of the restrooms. I had recently read on the Trail and Tales Blog about the recent infestation in Saline County, but had not personally seen any until this week. After seeing several along this wall, we started to notice... Read More
Freeze Time in Southern Illinois
December 16, 2010 Haven’t read Tuesday’s Blog Post? Click Here to Read. Oh No, Freezing Rain! As I write tonight an ice storm is rolling its way through Southern Illinois. We hover just in the freezing range, but have missed the worst of it. The sidewalk and porch have a thin layer of ice. It’s a good time just to be inside a nice warm house and to let the road crews and nature do their jobs. Back to Monday This Monday... Read More
The Day Winter Began
December 14, 2010 I am all comfy and warm sitting at my desk, but just two days ago we received our first snowfall. Most of the Midwest was smashed by a frigid Arctic front that plummeted the windchill to zero degrees and below. Inventory Time I rounded up all of my winter clothes and took an inventory of what I would need. I started out with a compression top and bottom and then proceeded to put on not one, not two, but three pair of breathable... Read More
