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Endangered Species Found
 Presumed extinct in Illinois-it has been nearly 100 years since bog rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla) was last found growing in LakeCounty. However, this spring we found a small population in a forest preserve wetland. "It was like stepping back in time," recall District botanists upon discovering the plant. "We knew we were in a special place when we saw the rich diversity of native grasses, sedges and forbs." Many are extremely rare in Lake County or listed as threatened or endangered species in Illinois. Lake County's bog rosemary has very likely been growing in this wetland for 10,000 years, ever since the glaciers melted and mastodons, mammoths and beaver the size of bear roamed our area. Today, just a few plants remain. Controlled Burn Season is Here If you see smoke rising from a forest preserve this fall, chances are that it's from a controlled burn. Controlled burning removes weedy non-native species, helping native grasses and wildflowers thrive. Check LCFPD.org/burninfo for daily announcements. Special Exhibitions at the Lake County Discovery Museum  Beguiled by the Wild: The Art of Charley Harper September 21, 2013-February 16, 2014 Charley Harper's (1922-2007) life-long love of nature inspired his work in this wonderful collection entitled "Beguiled by the Wild." Harper was best known for his highly stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations. He called his style "minimal realism," capturing the essence of his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements. Passenger Pigeon's Flight to Extinction September 21, 2013-February 2, 2014 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon. This original exhibition explores connections between the human world, and looks at some of the work being done today to help prevent similar extinctions from occurring. Click here to learn more about this exhibition. Lake County Discovery Museum: Hours, Admission, Location and more information EVENTS Waterfest Sunday, September 8, 1-4 p.m. North Bay Pavilion at Independence Grove, Libertyville Join us in celebration of water conservation and our beautiful waterways as part of the Water Connects Lake County initiative. Activities include aquatic animal hikes, crafts, fishing, ponding, kayaking, boating, water monitoring, conservation and more. Learn about lake ecology, watershed and glacial activity, and aquatic species such as fish, turtles and frogs. Greenbelt Mini Explorers-Art and Nature Saturday, September 14, 10-11 a.m. Greenbelt Cultural Center, Waukegan Live music, native dancing and authentic food are all part of this traditional Mexican and Central American independence celebration. Enjoy the costumes and flare of Erandi folkloric and Aztec dancers, mariachi and marimba music, soccer games and more. The event is free, and all ages are welcome.  FredFest Sunday, September 15, from 1 to 7 p.m. Fox River Forest Preserve in Port Barrington (directions). This year's music festival features Master of Ceremonies Jaime Laurita, and five popular bands: Sixteen Candles, Pat McKillen, Sons of Bildor, Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press, and Hudson McCoy. Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the gate. All net proceeds from the festival benefit the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves.  Fort Sheridan Beach Cleanup Saturday, September 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, Lake Forest Lend a hand and a few hours for International Coastal Cleanup day. Drop in and join other volunteers to remove trash and collect data.  Farm Heritage Festival September 21 & 22 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lakewood Forest Preserve, Wauconda This family festival celebrates Lake County's agricultural roots. Tractor parade, sheep herding, wagon rides, animals and more-see LCFPD.org/farmheritage for all the event details. | 
