Author: Lisa

First snow thoughts

Written on November 11, 2013.

November 11th, and the season’s first snow is falling in Woodstock. It seems early this year, but I suppose that is just a function of my age and the general acceleration of time that occurs with each year...

Third Generation Oaks

Written on November 8, 2013.

“We are responsible for the third generation of oaks in McHenry County.” Mary Tree McClelland, horticulturist, Glacier Oaks Nursery in Harvard. To Mary’s way of thinking, the first generation of oaks was the one that...

November

Written on November 5, 2013.

November has always been a misfit month to me. Fall colors are giving way to browns and greys. The bright white of the first snow usually waits until December. Sure, there’s Thanksgiving – my favorite holiday – but not...

Autumn Color

Written on October 15, 2013.

The season known as fall started September 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. My first clue that autumn’s arrived is the transformation of green fields of soybeans into golden, then brown expanses as the plants die. A drive...

Wingate Conservation Easment Williams Bob 8 13 winner

Leaving a Legacy – Randy & Nancy Schietzelt’s Story

Written on September 29, 2013.

Story by Randy Schietzelt, August 2013 We became involved in McHenry County conservation issues through a friend. She and her husband owned a 4 acre property in rural Cary that had been completely naturalized with native...

Oaks are tough, but still need TLC!

Written on September 27, 2013.

Oaks are tough. But they aren’t invincible. On my daily commute between Harvard and Woodstock, there are several majestic oaks I’ve admired over the years that are showing signs of decline, and even a few that have been...