Valerie Blaine
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Chorus frog calls herald arrival of springApr 13, 2017 11:00 pm - If seeing is believing, then I am, at long last, a believer. Every April I have followed the sound of chorus frogs to find the source. I have sat motionless on logs, st...
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Eastern newt slithers along at LeRoy OakesMar 16, 2017 11:00 pm - This year, of course, spring came in February. That's when Kane County Forest Preserve District Naturalist Josh Libman was hiking at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. C...
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Strong yet humble: Meet the ironwood treeFeb 02, 2017 10:00 pm - Ironwood is a tree that's easy to overlook in our crowded woods. It doesn't have the stature of the majestic oaks, nor the bold presence of the hickories. It doesn't p...
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Why you should love the moleJan 22, 2017 10:00 pm - The mole is one of those animals that people love to hate. I'm convinced that's because it is greatly misunderstood. Once its not-so-dirty secrets are revealed, you're b...
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Here's how to become a certified naturalistNov 21, 2016 5:00 am - Do your friends call you a nature nut? Or, are you a closet naturalist who secretly wants to be a forest ranger? Do you often wonder what the names of plants are, or wi...
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Author Kent Nerburn to speak in GenevaOct 27, 2016 11:00 pm - The din of the 2016 election has become a steady roar. People are shouting from all sides, and the future is up for grabs. At times like these, it's hard to pause long e...
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Meet the water strider — an insect that walks on waterSep 22, 2016 6:00 am - Look in any creek on a warm sunny day, and you're likely to see little spider-like creatures scooting on top of the water. These are water striders — not spiders — and t...
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Did you know ragweed is part of the ambrosia family?Aug 15, 2016 5:30 am - Ambrosia - ah! Just the sound of the word is pleasing. Ragweed - ugh! The sound of that word makes us shudder. Ragweed is ambrosia, botanically speaking. Ambrosia is th...
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Meet your local pollinators: bees, flies and even mosquitoesJun 19, 2016 1:00 pm - Say the word "pollinator" and what comes to mind? Most likely, a honey bee. But the bee shouldn't get the antlion's share of attention. There's a big world of other poll...
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'Neither Wolf Nor Dog' inspires, sparks disussionMay 16, 2016 6:00 am - Every once in a while, you read a book that changes your perspective on the world. “Neither Wolf nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads With an Indian Elder,” by Kent Nerburn is on...