Friends of the Sangamon Valley

Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) The wooded hills at the Gudmundson Wildlife Sanctuary are covered with these beautiful little flowers. Their common name refers to the fact that the flowers look like upside down pairs of pantaloons. Leave these flowers where you find them, as they wilt very quickly when picked.

Are you planning to join us Friday evening (4/12/2024) for the Aldo Leopold event at the Hoogland Center for the Arts? We will have two Leopold benches up for raffle! Thanks to volunteer carpenter, Don Van Houten, for making them! They are constructed with treated lumber and will last outdoors for years. Tickets are available from 5:30-7:00 p.m. during the…

Volunteers have been working hard to remove exotic, invasive species as well as create rest and observation areas along the Interurban bike trail starting at the Hazel Dell parking lot and heading south. They have established an amazing number of shrubs (fragrant sumac, American cranberry, ninebark & more) as well as an impressive number of native forbs and grasses. They…

A wonderful event celebrating an amazing conservationist! Please join us this Friday evening. Sangamon Watercolor Society (SWS) is collaborating with a few local groups in an exciting event that will celebrate Earth Day, Aldo Leopold, and our appreciation of the natural world. SWS is proud to be supporting this event in partnership with the Springfield Audubon Society, Illinois Native Plant…

After a rainy, snowy, dreary week, today looks like a nice day to be outside! We’ve got the perfect opportunity to soak up some sun, immerse yourself in nature, and learn about interpretation techniques. Hope you can join us at the Gudmundson Wildlife Sanctuary today (Friday, 4/5). For more details see the Talkin’ Trails post a few posts below.