Pam’s Perspective From the… Pam Otto is the Manager of Natural Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District July 19, 2012 The heady aroma of fine cigars. The rise and fall of male voices, punctuated with deep, booming laughter. It didn’t take a girl popping out of a cake to tell us,
Bug, Insect, Stag Beetles
Pam’s Perspective From the… Pam Otto is the Manager of Natural Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District July 5, 2012 Whoever said parenting is not for sissies knew exactly what he, or she, was talking about. I know this because I’ve recently taken on the completely self-imposed challenge of life in
Bug, Insect, Praying Mantis
Pam’s Perspective From the… Pam Otto is the Manager of Natural Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District June 14, 2012 Lots of things happen on the trails in the Hickory Knolls Natural Area. Chipmunks and 13-lined ground squirrels sometimes choose these open areas to dig their burrows. Killdeer have used them
Bug, Insect, Red Velvet Mites
Pam’s Perspective From the… Pam Otto is the Manager of Natural Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District May 18, 2012 With all the dire warnings emanating from Chicago regarding the NATO Summit, the Windy City is the last place I’d want to find myself this weekend. The media have been telling
Giant Killer Moth, Insect, Moth
Long ago, the story goes, a newlywed couple was found murdered in their beds. Although the crime was never solved, the primary suspect was the bride’s sister Katy. And to this day, so they say, Kate’s fate is debated by one of summer’s most famous singing insects: “Katy did.” “Katy didn’t.” “Yes she did.” “No
Bug, Insect, Katydid
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District When a headliner comes to town, people usually flock from miles around hoping for a chance to see to see him or her. Add the term “limited-time only” and the crowds can get downright fanatical. But
Emeral Ash Borer, Insect, Invader
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Fall in Kane County can be pretty spectacular. Birds are migrating south and, oooh! We’re getting glimpses of species we don’t normally get to see. The leaves on the trees are changing and, aaah! Just look
Box Elder, Bug, Insect
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District The other day Joan Kramer, our gardener extraordinaire, came into the office and announced she’d found a friend in the garden. Now, that in itself was nothing new. Joan’s always bumping into old friends, and making
Bug, Insect, Swallowtail Caterpillar
If our recent 90-dgree heat and 90-percent humidity levels have you lying around like a dog, you might be tempted to think that we’ve entered the dog days of summer. And, know what? You’d be right. But maybe not for the reasons you’d think. The dog days are named, not for anything you or your
Bug, Dog Day Cicada, InsectI’ve been asked a lot of questions this week. Some have been tough, like “What do you think the long-term ecological implications of the BP oil ‘spill’ will be?” Or, “Are these recent summer storms related to climate change?” But the one I’ve heard most often, and the one I just might be able to
Bug, Earwigs, Insect