SMALL BEAUTY ELDERBERRY BUSHES (SAMBUCUS NIGRA CANADENSIS) A female monarch butterfly sips

A female monarch butterfly sips nectar from the common milkweed flower while the morning sun illuminates the scene at Wildflower Park

I stopped by the bridge that crosses over the South Fork Kishwaukee River and photographed the bridge during the blue hour as I had plenty of time to reach the lake before the sun would rise

This June sunrise did not disappoint

The early morning sunlight illuminates the freshly fallen snow on this lake of patterns during this winter February morning at Wildflower Lake with temperatures hovering around 0F

An overnight snowfall of 3-5 inches blankets this midwestern prairie landscape scene along Eakin Creek West with box elders and oak trees off in the distance on this cold winter morning at Wildflower Park

SMALL BEAUTY ELDERBERRY BUSHES (SAMBUCUS NIGRA CANADENSIS) A female monarch butterfly sipsA small waterfall along wildcat creek canyon Starved Rock State Park. (573 365)