Category Archives: Uncategorized

by Curt Burnette Beaver are the largest rodents in Indiana, the largest rodents in the United States, and the second largest rodent in the world (South American capybara are the largest). But as large as they are now, they were even bigger in the past–or at least their relatives were. Around the end of theContinue reading “Wherein we examine the history of beaver in the Limberlost—from the Ice Age giants to the disappearance and return of our modern dam-builders”

By Kimberley Roll Kimberley Roll took this great photo of a Lincoln’s Sparrow at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve. It is a private bird and hard to photograph. One of Limberlost and Loblolly’s resident bald eagles. The Limberlost Conservation Area is known for its number of bald eagles. A bird that had been extirpated fromContinue reading “October Birds of Limberlost”

By Adrienne Provenzano, Friend of the Limberlost and NASA Solar System Ambassador The Limberlost is much beloved by birdwatchers for the variety of species that visit this area. Some stay year-round and others migrate. It takes curiosity, time, effort, and patience to engage in this pastime. Gene Stratton-Porter loved birds and while living in IndianaContinue reading “OSIRIS-REX Update!”

By Adrienne Provenzano, Songstress of the Limberlost and Advanced Indiana Master Naturalist Have you had a chance to just sit and listen to the leaves recently? The songs of the trees changes a bit each day, each type of tree with its own music. Bird songs mix in as well in this outdoor concert asContinue reading “Music of Autumn”

By Adrienne Provenzano, Songstress of the Limberlost and NASA Solar System Ambassador “Oh, the moonlight’s fair tonight along the Wabash.From the field there comes the breath of new mown hay.Through the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming.On the banks of the Wabash, far away.” These lines from the official state song of Indiana, “On theContinue reading “Enjoy the Moonlight!”

Not only was Gene Stratton-Porter a popular and widely read author in the United States–she was also popular around the world. The late author David MacLean, in 1976, listed thirteen different languages into which the novels of Gene had been translated. The thirteen languages are: French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Czechoslovakian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Japanese,Continue reading “Wherein is discussed the many foreign language translations of the works of Gene Stratton-Porter”

By Adrienne Provenzano Last month, Veronica’s Trail at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve was repaved. This site is in Bryant, Indiana, North of Indiana Highway 18 off County Road 250 West. Most Loblolly trails are unpaved, natural landscape, but this unique ADA compliant handicapped-accessible trail at the site enables access to the marsh for peopleContinue reading “Making a Difference with Veronica’s Trail”

Vena Hare, a longtime member of the Friends of the Limberlost, is this week’s blogger. Vena is a great photographer of the butterflies, moths, birds and plants at Limberlost. She has captured in her photographs the fine details of these small creatures. Eight-spotted Forester Moth. Dr. Tom Turpin said that Gene Stratton-Porter was the BirdContinue reading “Butterflies and Moths”

By Terri Gorney Adams County is known for being one of the flattest counties in Indiana. So what are cliff swallows doing in Geneva? In the spring of 2016, a small flock of cliff swallows were seen by Randy Lehman and myself around the Loblolly Creek close to the Limberlost Swamp Nature Preserve. Some ofContinue reading “Unlikely Summer Residents: Cliff Swallows in Geneva”

By Curt Burnett The Limberlost Swamp was a large wetland. It was roughly 2 miles wide and 10 miles long., stretching from northeast of Geneva (Rainbow Bottom) to several miles southwest of town (Loblolly Marsh), and spanning 13,000 acres (20 square miles) before its destruction. The Limberlost contained swamp and marsh interspersed with higher, drierContinue reading “Wherein is discussed how the Limberlost Swamp, Grand Kankakee Marsh,and Great Black Swamp shared a past history and future prospect”