While we were visiting family in Naperville, Illinois, we made a springtime visit to the Morton Arboretum. The weather was glorious and spring was in the air.
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| Visually, it was still winter: no snow, but no green or leaves either, ... |
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| ... but hepatica is a sure sign of more spring wildflowers to come. |
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| There were far more wetlands than I had remembered. Partly it's because it's spring and still wet. Partly it's because there's no screening vegetation around the marshy areas. Spring peepers (frogs) were out in force, and we saw two snakes swimming in the ponds. |
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| Mallards were plentiful. |
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| And fat squirrels were everywhere. Most of the squirrels were the rusty-colored fox squirrel. |
Trolls
The trolls are still at the arb. They came through the winter with only a bit of wear. So if you didn't get to the arb last year, you still have a chance to see them. They will be removed only when they deteriorate to the point that they are unsafe.
Since we saw
all six trolls and their hideout last year, we didn't make an effort to see them all this time.
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| Rocky was still throwing rocks at cars in the main parking lot. |
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| Alexa is still trying to lure unsuspecting prey to her trap. |
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| And Ema still waits by her tree. |
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| A closer look at Ema's face shows that the trolls weathered a Chicago winter very well. |
We'll certainly return to the arb this summer when the
Gateway to Tree Science exhibit will be open (it's nearly complete now), and "
Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks by Sean Kenney" will be on display.
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