Letters

BROADEN THE SCOPE

To the Editor,

I have subscribed to Chicago Wilderness since day one (actually, a lie, I bought the first issue from a news stand and then subscribed) and have enjoyed the magazine immensely; the writing, photos, the content in general — all wonderful. Thanks for many hours of enjoyment and many ideas. I have treasured and kept every issue.

Has any thought been given to articles on natural areas nearby, but not in the Chicago area proper? I’m thinking of a favorite place in the Midwest as an example, Apple River Canyon State Park in Jo Daviess County. Obviously, there are many similar places within, say, two to five hours travel time of Chicago and with plenty of interest, I would think, to those who read your magazine.

Munn Heydorn
Winfield, Illinois
Apple River, Illinois

Editor’s Note: Our mission is to focus on the Chicago Wilderness region. That said, an occasional foray into the surrounding area could prove interesting. Thanks for the suggestion.

A SUGGESTION

Dear Editor,

I picked up a copy of your fine magazine at our health club and had a lot of trouble reading it because of the small typeface on shiny stock. I returned your magazine to the rack and picked up The New Yorker. It is eminently more readable. Please consider changing your presentation.

Abe

Editor’s Note: A welcome critique and duly noted. Beginning with this issue, we have increased the size (and thus the readability) of our typeface. Additionally, we have changed paper stock to a more eco-friendly, recycled stock that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. An overdue step in the right direction.

LAKEFRONT FOXES

Dear Editor,

I spotted a family of red foxes today, and your publication is the only source I can find on Chicago fox populations.

Today’s sighting was quite unexpected: a vixen and two pups playing just outside the lake-facing windows of Loyola’s Student Services Center, where I was touring with my son who’s been accepted there. They had climbed out of the rocks on the shore, and were basking in the sun and chasing each other across the small strip of lawn between the building and the rocks. Very dog-like in their actions, the pup in socks chased its smaller sibling around for a while, then mom came and chased him.

Quite a refreshing sight in an area that seems like all concrete and lawn, to see a bit of true wildlife up close.

Joel Finkle
Mount Prospect, IL

SNAPSHOT FROM THE FIELD

To the Editor,

Mr. Reuland, I’m a subscriber and regular reader of Chicago Wilderness magazine and thought the photo below might be of interest. I took it yesterday in the Cook County Forest Preserve in Northfield. There’s a spur of the Forest Preserve bike path that runs along the railroad tracks. This particular area always has these swamp iris (I realize that’s probably not their official name) in the spring, but most years there are nowhere near as many as there are right now. There are probably 1,000 flowers blooming right now, thanks to a wet spring.

I took this with my iPhone. If you want to send a real photographer out to get the shot, I’d recommend it. It’s truly beautiful.

I enjoy reading the magazine and appreciate the efforts of the Chicago Wilderness organization. Keep up the good work!

Al Cubbage

Editor’s Note: We asked Susanne Masi who is the manager of regional floristics at the Chicago Botanic Garden, to look into this stand of iris. She replied, “While beautiful, this is the invasive Iris pseudacorus (Tall Yellow iris), introduced from Europe and cultivated as an ornamental. It has escaped widely into wet places and is locally frequent along streams and ditches, and in muddy marshes. There is no yellow native iris in our area. Our native iris is the blue flag, Iris virginica var. shrevei.”

Thank you for your observation, Mr. Cubbage. Though beautiful, your photo points to an important concern about invasive species within Chicago Wilderness.