Goodenow Grove Forest Preserve - More than Simply a "Good" Learning Experience.

I had been eager to visit Goodenow Grove Forest Preserve in the Crete/Beecher area for quite some time now, especially since my experiences with many of the Will County Forest Preserves have yielded positive experiences with plenty of learning opportunities. But the distance had always kept me from pursuing exploration at the preserve and nature center, and there was always the fear in the back of my mind that I would make the drive only to be met with disappointment. But the truth couldn’t have been further from it.

Plum Creek Nature Center alone is surrounded by several plants mostly native to Illinois, attracting several pollinators that include a variety of butterflies and their larvae. When I paid a visit to the Nature Center, they were offering free bookmarks that helped aid in the identification of some of the pollinator-friendly plants, which is perfect for a “budding botanist” like me, and the lady at that service desk was incredibly encouraging when I told her I was planning on cultivating weeds of my own to study.

But it’s not just the people that are friendly here. That atmosphere alone is very inviting, and the easy-to-navigate trails offer plenty of opportunities to study not only native plants, but grants herpetologists an opportunity to encounter plenty of frogs, turtles, and even snakes. As a matter of fact, when I paid my first visit to Snapper Pond Trail, I was fortunate enough to observe two water snakes sunbathing together atop a fallen log, and I was able to see one of the same snakes the very next day, sunbathing atop the very same log. Several turtles of varying species and sizes can also be found sunbathing on nearby logs (though they will flee to the waters if you happen to stand too close).

There are several trails to explore ranging from beginner to intermediate. The High Trail will require quite a bit of hiking ability, but offers a chance to view several birdhouses and native flora. I am certain the preserve serves as home to several bird species that more advanced iNaturalists will be able to encounter (I even witnessed a domesticated cat roaming the trails as if this was familiar territory, no doubt stalking for an easy meal. Sadly, I was unable to safely approach the cat).

Among just some of the sites among the various trails were several flowers of yellow varieties (including sunflowers, Susans, and coneflowers), milkweeds, amphibians and reptiles, and several bird species that I was unable to record during my two trips. But I hope to change that on a future visit, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Posted on August 7, 2020 01:20 AM by lexitrailwalks