Weekly update, part 1: #HikeLakeCounty underway

Hike Lake County is the Lake County Forest Preserve District's annual challenge.  (See all the details here.)  They choose 14 trails and in different preserves.   To complete the challenge you have to walk at least seven of them between August 15 and November 30.  Complete a log with the date and a brief comment ("nice wildflowers," "two ponds," "hills!"). send it in, and get a little metal shield in return.

The challenge has been going ion for 25 years but it took the pandemic to get us out to explore these beautiful forests and meadows so close to home.  I did all 14 of the designated walks in 2020, 2021, and 2022.    I have 2023 well underway with four hikes last week and one yesterday (Monday). 

Wildflowers:  Obedient plant, monarda with bumble bee, nodding onion,. Plain gentian, field thistle, pale Indian plantain.  Zigzab goldenrod, tall tickseed, Canadian milk vetch.  

Rattlesnake master flowers and foliage.  I've only seen this in meadows that are higher (relatively speaking for Illinois) and dryer (away from the lake).  The flowers are spiny-hard.  

Lucy Braun's dock or rosin weed (6-7' high), zigzag goldenrod, whole-leaf rosin weed, tansy, tall tickseed, stiff goldenrod, showy goldenrod.

Apples and crabapples at Grant Woods.    We tried the apples--not sweet and definitely not juicy.  

The forecast is for very hot weather the next few days so we'll stay home with the air conditioning. 

Next post:  quilting progress.