Flammulina velutipes (Curtis) Singer Edible, but tough. Despite appearances, the commercially produced “enoki” mushroom found in many grocery stores is a cultivated form of this mushroom. One of the best-known […]
Tag: field guides
Entoloma salmoneum, or the hunt for the gnome’s hat of mushrooms
Entoloma salmoneum (Peck) Saccardo Entoloma salmoneum can be found growing alone or scattered in leaf litter under hardwoods, or in moss under conifers; frequently on rotting, moss-covered conifer logs. When […]
Exploring Illinois: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge
The Upper Mississippi River National Fish and Wildlife Refuge stretches for 261 river miles from Cordova, Illinois to the mouth of Wisconsin’s Chippewa River. Dozens of bird species can be […]
Exploring Illinois: Ayers Sand Prairie
Ayers Sand Prairie in Carroll County was once the western edge of the Wisconsin Glacier. Among the small dunes explorers can spy plants and animals friendly to the dry growing […]
Exploring Illinois: Kickapoo State Park
The middle fork of the Vermilion River runs through Kickapoo State Park. Just a short walk from Middle Fork Woods Nature Preserve, explorers will find forest-lined bluffs and a a […]
A great decade for Chicago architecture
The AIA Guide to Chicago is the premier guidebook for exploring the architectural treasures of a city known for an urban landscape of art and innovation. It’s not only the […]
Exploring Illinois: Henry N. Barkhausen Wetlands Center
Henry N. Barkhausen Wetlands Center is the perfect starting point for exploring the Cache River ecosystem. From the visitor center window one can spy muskrat, river otter hummingbirds and various […]
Exploring Illinois: Matthiessen State Park
Matthiessen State Park in LaSalle County is a feast for the eyes in all seasons. With greenery and wildflowers in the spring and summer, colorful foliage in the fall, and […]
Michael Agnew identifies ‘The Midwestern IPA’
Michael Agnew has been visiting media outlets and brewpubs throught the Midwest to discuss his book A Perfect Pint’s Beer Guide to the Heartland. Recently the author visited KARE 11 TV […]
Exploring Illinois: Ballard Nature Center
The Ballard Nature Center is a glimpse into what Illinois was like before the landscape gave way to cultivation for corn and soybeans. Located between Altamont and Effingham, just off […]
Exploring Illinois: Little Black Slough Nature Preserve
On the very the southern tip of Illinois, in the Cache River State Natural Area, you’ll find Little Black Slough Nature Preserve. Well known for its cypress-tupelo swamp, Little Black […]
Exploring Illinois: Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods Recreation Area in the Shawnee Hills is a treat for anyone with a taste for geology. The sandstone bluffs and huge boulders at Garden of […]