Nature in your backyard....

6.19.2007

click on the picture to see the full set

I try to get the girls out for a bit of nature exploration as often as I can.
We love to check out our forest preserves or head to a state park. These trips often take all day or a few days. There is not always time for these types of trips. I am always on the look out for chances to explore nature in our backyard or those of really good friends.
If you have not already heard the chicagoland area experiencing a the 17 year life cycle of the cicada. Certain suburbs have become overrun by the cicadas and their noise. My friend Sara invited us over for some cicada fun at her house. It was really a great experience. The girls had no reservations about playing with them and the quickly learned how to pick them up and and differentiate between the male and the female. We left our friends a bit more cicada savvy and with a big box of cicadas to take home! Annie really wanted to eat one but I just wasn't so sure. There are still a few weeks left to let her try one and really the next time she can try is when she will be 22!



We also have a favorite park that is right on the river and has a creek. It is usually a good spot to see some birds and maybe a few fish. Today we got very lucky and happened upon a boy who was hunting tadpoles and showing them to all the kids. When I was a kid there was a creek by our house that was always full of tadpoles. Searching out the tadpoles and playing in the creek is one of my favorite memories. The tadpoles I remembered as a child were like this.....



the ones we found today looked like this.....


Nothing like a little nature in your own backyard.

Where do you go to find nature?