CATCHING THE HEAT THERMALS PURPLE Canada geese take off from

Canada geese take off from a frozen Wildflower Lake to continue their migration north on this beautiful late winter morning at Wildflower Lake

I moved along through the park crossing the bridge over Eakin Creek West with a little bit of mist still hovering over the landscape that had yet to burn off from the warming of the morning sun

Morning sunlight illuminates this blue vervain plant in Northern Illinois at Wildflower Park

A friendly red-winged blackbird decides to let me get close enough while it perches on a branch from a cottonwood tree during an early spring morning walk through Wildflower Park

CATCHING THE HEAT THERMALS PURPLE Canada geese take off fromA red tailed hawk circles overhead as it gains lift and catches the heat thermals beneath the cumulus clouds during this winter afternoon at Wildflower Park. (548 150)