nature

Well, you can likely say goodbye to really cold weather in Illinois. No, this is not an official forecast from the National Weather Service, but it's an indication from nature as the first bee of 2024 has already been spotted in the central part of the Land of Lincoln.

I can't think of a better example of having your cake and eating it, too. What is Illinois' richest small town? It's the same place that also happens to be surrounded by gorgeous tree-lined nature preserves.

One of my most distinct memories from growing up in Missouri is chasing (and catching) fireflies. I called them "lightning bugs" because I didn't know any better. There are reports that these fascinating creatures are slowly but surely disappearing and it appears that it's our own fault.

Let's be clear that there is no present constant black bear population in northeast Missouri - yet. A new report by the Missouri Department of Conservation does show that not only is the bear population in Missouri growing, but it's heading to the northeast.

As the weather in Missouri begins to warm up, we're nearing the time when you'll see lots of butterflies begin to make their way back into the Show Me State. There is now a way to track the migration so you know when to expect Monarch butterflies back in your Show Me State neighborhood.

By any measure, this Missouri spring is an overachiever. Not only is it the biggest spring in Missouri, but also one of the largest in the world unloading a massive 13,000 liters of water every single second. This just in. That's a lot of water.

If you don't mind being a little daring, there's a hike you can do in Illinois that will take you across one of the most scenic structures in the state. It's a 90 foot stone bridge and there are no railings to hold onto.

You have GOT to see these stunning photos of the sky from Illinois' view.

Saying something is like "Heaven" is high praise considering that most of us have never been there. However, that's exactly what's been said about a nature trail near St. Louis.