Following a rather busy June and early July, I decided to make the most of some much appreciated down time to just be me.
This, of course, translates easily into me wandering off to explore nature.
So it was on an overcast Saturday afternoon that the I opted for a walk at the Dean Nature Sanctuary in Oak Brook.
The sanctuary is a wildlife habitat – hidden in plain view. It was through the generous endowment of one of the early founding residents of Oak Brook, Dorothy Dean. With the assistance of the Conservation Foundation, Dorothy Dean generously donated this expanse of land to the Oak Brook Park District.
The story of this sanctuary is an interesting history lesson as well as a unique example of land preservation and stewardship. It also provides insight into the personality and foresight of Dorothy Dean, who used the advance of the Illinois Tollway system to her – and now our – advantage and resulted in the large pond at the site which is a refuge to waterfowl and wildlife. The story is rendered with more perfection than I can do here on my little blog. I encourage you to click on the link below to learn more.
Under the threat of rain, I parked the car, and scurried to one of the paths to make a quick loop around the pond and to rejoice in midst of a riot of prairie bloom! Cone flowers and bergamot, Culver’s root and brown-eyed Susan were bending in the breeze – or stretching toward sunlight, while a
pair of mourning doves shared a branch high atop of tree.
As I walked, I noticed plant stems bending ever-so-slowly to the will of pollinators; bees and wasps and butterflies spreading the secrets of summer. From stem-to-stem they worked their way among the blooms of the sanctuary, while a heron stalked the edge of the pond and red-winged blackbirds taunted each other.
While I often walk the paths of the Dean Nature Sanctuary, it seemed particularly special for me on Saturday afternoon. I enjoyed getting some exercise, clearing my mind, and observing the living things surrounding me. A dog was walking its master while a gaggle of pre-teen girls passed by, giggling at something on one of their phones. Something splashed loudly in the pond and a hawk circled overhead, looking for dinner, I supposed. I needed to head home to do the same so headed to my car feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Later, at home, checking out the website for the Dean Nature Sanctuary, a visual caught my eye. Oh! Bee Parks Honey. The Oak Brook Park District was selling honey harvested from the Dean Nature Sanctuary! I prefer to use local honey whenever I can, as you may recall, and dug a little deeper into the site. I sent an email to the Park District, and promptly received a very nice response thanking me for my inquiry and informing me that I could buy the honey at the park district office. All honey money (my term) will be used to support their universal playground project. I wish them well in this endeavor. Parks that are accessible to everyone benefit all of us.
Guess where I went the next afternoon?
https://www.obparks.org/history
how very lovely. and a good chance that my guess would be correct )
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I would predict a correct guess, for sure. Thank you.
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What a wonderful walk. Penny. Hum…I’m wondering. 🙂
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It was, indeed, Jill. I’m sure your a very good guesser.
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I remember how much you love your local honey finds, Penny. What a wonderful sanctuary in every sense of the word. I can picture you running there for sanctuary, away from the cares of the world.
Lovely to see bees and butterflies. 😀 I saw quite a few around the lilacs in my neck of the woods. I was glad to see them. I remember one summer when I saw only one or two.
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It’s funny how just a bit of nature can chase my cares away for a bit. It’s fun to find so many honey caches. 🙂
I have been encouraged with the slow rise in bees, L. Marie, and have actually been watching the Monarch population right here at home. Last year, I only saw one. This year, there has been quite a bit of action. 🙂 It is encouraging.
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Just sweet as can ‘bee,’ Penny! Your beautiful words painted such lovely images. Lovely photos, too! We weren’t familiar with the Dean Nature Sanctuary and are so grateful to learn about it You always help us discover wonderful, new places to explore, Penny! Sunny hugs, sweet friend! 💗
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Thank you, Dawn.
The Dean Nature Sanctuary is really a gem; close by, small, brimming with life. It is quite close to the Graue Mill/Fullersburg, with Salt Creek meandering at one of its corners, the Tristate (is it still called that?) zooming past, but, you don’t notice it. I hope you can journey there sometime. Hugs back, Dawn.
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Just now getting around to reading this lovely post, Penny. As is usually the case, something you’ve written or a photo you’ve taken sends me off to recall a sweet memory, or to do some further research. I think I’ve commented that I never cared for honey. However, I think I’ve mostly been exposed to honey in the little bear from the supermarket shelf. So, after reading this, I thought I’d research for some “local” honey and give it another try. Look what I found: https://www.honey.com/honey-locator/ Thanks!!
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It was only a few years ago that I cam to enjoy honey myself, Karen. I always associated it with being sick and given a tablespoon of it when I was a child and sick. yuck! I hesitantly took a taste one fine day at the farmer’s market and liked it enough to buy some, put it in some tea and I was hooked. Actually, what really hooked me was that I started seeing a change in myself with seasonal allergies.
Thanks for the link. Interesting. I clicked onto my area, with many, but, I know there are even more. It’s these little local endeavors that have been popping up. 🙂 You are very welcome, Karen.
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Thanks for telling us about the Dean Nature Sanctuary, Penny. I will try and make a visit the next time I’m out that way.
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Oh, do stop there if you have a chance. It isn’t very big, but, packs a lot of nature and peace. It is just a mile or two from Fullersburg Wood/Graue Mill, for a little more exploring.
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Love Fullersburg and the Mill. I lived in Elmhurst in the early 1980s. DuPage has the best parks and forest preserves.
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Indeed, DuPage does, Aquila. An hour or so at the Dean Nature Sanctuary, a walk at Fullersburg, and then some lunch in any direction – life is good. 🙂
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“… spreading the secrets of summer.” I love that! What a lovely tour of your wildlife stroll. How was the honey?! 😉
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Thank you, Janet. This is such a lovely, quiet spot and I wish I could share it in person with you. The honey is quite good and I’ll go back for more.
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I like honey money, it’s cute. Thank you for sharing this wonderful nature walk with us.
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Thank you, Gerlinde and glad you like the phrase. Hope all is well with you.
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That’s a perfect place to unwind from your busy summer…. there’s something so special about nature walks and parks within a city — always makes me feel as if I’ve discovered a secret place (even if it’s a weekend and i share it with other people)….. Hooray for local honey! Good for allergy sufferers too.
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It is, indeed, Sallie, and you know well about those special perks. 🙂 I often feel the same way – aha, I’ve found a secret place. It is amazing how some of the places we both discover, places in plain view, that others do not see.
I love local honey and can honestly say that I find they all but abate my season allergy symptoms. (hope I didn’t just jinx myself).
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Penny – thank you for taking us along on this respite from busy life. Summer has been speeding by so fast! I think I walked at that sanctuary a couple of years ago with my husband. I feel like not everyone gets out to enjoy nature–but for me, it is like a healing balm. You remind me also to spend some time ALONE in nature–now that hubby is retired, I miss having time to myself, especially at the arboretum.
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You are very welcome, Susan. Summer does seem to be speeding past me too. I do understand and need some time to be alone with nature as well. It’s a delicate balance between sharing and hording iisn’t it 🙂
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I don’t know how I missed this, but I’m glad I went back and read it on this early morning. I’M glad I did. My weary eyes needed some eye candy and my spirit needed a bit of refreshing.
Lovely post and I’m always glad to hear about pollinators and see the bees at work. I hope you enjoy your honey.
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I’m glad as well – and I thank you, Janet. Often, just a bit of nature lifts our spirits and gives our days a boost. I’m just about to grab my phone/camera and see what the 5 caterpillars I found the other day are up to. 🙂
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Good sleuthing on the honey, Penny! I think that’s wonderful to support their effort while supporting your own immunity with the local honey! And the nature center looks like a really wonderful place to walk and clear your mind of all the things that collect and clutter! I am missing some of these walks myself right now. It’s just been too hot to seem sensible, at least right for now! It will wait and be all the more delightful when I can! I love your photos, my friend. I felt the relaxation. 🙂
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Thanks, Debra, and yes, it truly is a good spot to clear my head and just be. We’ve had our share of oppressive heat days that makes these more pleasant ones all-the-more conducive for a walk. I can only imagine the sustained heat you are living with this summer! I hope you get a break soon and that the fires are lessened, as I sit in my air-conditioned home and feel grateful for it. We seemed to have summer in May and are now having spring in July!
Take care, Debra, and keep us posted.
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