The Buzz

The need to have a perfect lawn has to do with peer pressure, according to a recent study. But doing so isn't really good for the environment.

Common grackles might seem ordinary, their name even implies it. But while these birds may be common, there is something quite special about them.

Keep your eyes peeled, because hummingbirds are in the area.

The garter snake is the most common snake in the United States, living from coast to coast. But these snakes are still interesting creatures, despite being ubiquitous. 

Sometimes, the things we come to love are the things that surprise us. Learning the six-lined racerunner lives in Will County is what made interpretive naturalist Erin Ward fall in love with them.

In honor of Arbor Day, here's a look at some of the many reasons we should appreciate trees.

You woke up to a blanket of fog covering the neighborhood, but where did it come from? 

The blooms of spring wildflowers can be fleeting, and that's certainly true of the mayapple. But what makes this plant all the more special is that its flowers hide under umbrella-like leaves, making them even harder to catch a glimpse of. 

Test your knowledge with this 10-question quiz.

This is the perfect year to participate in the City Nature Challenge, the aim of which is to document the plants and animals around your home. 

Not all moths and butterflies should be treasured. Some, like the gypsy moth, are invasive and are harming local habitats. 

Raccoons have a well-earned reputation for being trash bandits, but they deserve our respect too. 

Spring wildflowers are beautiful but fleeting. Keep your eyes trained to the ground when out for a walk to see if you can spot bloodroot, a fascinating ephemeral. 

After the overwhelming success of our second annual "Tournament of Birds," we're branching out with a new animal bracket pitting two things against each other that people love and love to hate: cute and cuddly animals against creepy crawlies.

Lightning can — and will — strike the same place twice, so always head indoors when thunder roars.