Fall is often known for cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and colorful leaves, but let’s not forget about what is still blooming around us. While spring often gets most of the attention when it comes to wildflowers, many plants continue to bloom well into autumn, providing important food sources for wildlife as the seasons change. Residents […]

The skies above Door County are busy this time of year. While monarch butterflies and migratory birds often capture our attention, dragonflies are also making seasonal journeys through the region. Did you know that dragonflies are among the most ancient winged insects on Earth? They have been around for more than 300 million years, long […]

For those who take the time to look, autumn’s transition is already underway, even if summer’s warmth still lingers. Along the Lake Michigan shoreline, monarch butterflies are gathering before beginning their remarkable journey to Mexico. Warblers, thrushes, shorebirds, and other migratory birds are passing through local forests, fields, and shorelines, stopping to rest and refuel […]

The signs of fall are already beginning to appear across Door County. Monarch butterflies are gathering along the Lake Michigan shoreline before making their journey south. Trees are quietly storing nutrients and energy in preparation for winter, even while their leaves remain green. Bats are feeding heavily before migrating or settling into winter hibernation sites. […]

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds the public to protect young wildlife by observing them from a safe distance and letting them grow up in their natural environment. “Many of Wisconsin’s wildlife species, such as rabbits, squirrels, opossums and songbirds, have multiple litters or clutches each year,” said Jenna Fastner, DNR captive wildlife […]

As summer gradually gives way to autumn, the landscape at Crossroads at Big Creek is beginning its annual transformation. Vast seas of yellow and purple wildflowers blanket the preserves, signaling that cooler temperatures and shorter days are on the horizon. Goldenrods sway in late-summer breezes, asters provide splashes of purple across open fields, and the […]

The days are growing shorter, and the storms of fall roll in, accenting cooler nights and pleasantly warm days. As you wander into the woods, the forest seems spent from summer’s abundance. Songbirds are molting into their more subdued winter plumage, leaves and stems are riddled with holes and galls, and scavenging detritivores are growing […]

Long before Door County’s forests, farms, and shorelines existed, the peninsula lay beneath a warm, shallow tropical sea teeming with life. Corals, crinoids, brachiopods, and other marine organisms thrived here hundreds of millions of years ago, leaving behind the fossils that can still be found embedded in Door County’s dolomite bedrock today. This week’s Summer […]

Plants shape the character of Door County. From white cedars clinging to the Niagara Escarpment and sugar maples shading forest trails to native wildflowers brightening meadows and wetlands, plants provide food, shelter, beauty, and the foundation for every ecosystem. This week’s Summer at Crossroads theme, Plants, invites visitors to discover the remarkable lives of plants […]

Door County’s natural beauty and unmistakable creative spirit have long inspired artists — and our band, Zen of Thieves, is no exception.  The County’s landscapes, trails, and community played a defining role in shaping our debut album, Birthplace of the Thunder, recorded at the Sturgeon Bay studio of Grammynominated cellist Hans Christian.  The project showcases an extraordinary […]