Garlic mustard invades the forest and takes over. It crowds out native plants, flowers, and wildlife food sources. It can even change the soil so that other plants can't grow! But picking it and tossing it on the trail just…
With southern Wisconsin state parks opening back up today folks are going to be looking forward to getting back out on the trails and seeing how spring has come to life since the last shut down. Well, if you get…
I like to take a moment here and there to share with you some of the critters that make Devil's Lake State Park their home. While out snowshoeing (And enjoying the sunshine!) a couple of days back, we noticed a…
Author & environmentalist, Edward Abby wrote that the "idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders.". Today, especially here in Wisconsin, the "pristine" wilderness he spoke of is mostly long gone. Our land, even our parks such as…
We spent Friday evening after our hike cleaning up a bus-load of garbage in the Devil's Lake State Park's Steinke Basin Parking lot. We're just a few of the many park visitors who carry garbage bags when we visit the…
Every year there are folks who go the proverbial extra mile to preserve, protect and enhance Devil's Lake State Park and our many surrounding public lands. Often they get little thanks or recognition for their efforts. Here at Skillet Creek,…
Recently around the house, we've been talking about forest bathing. Growing scientific evidence is showing that there are many benefits both physically and psychologically to immersing yourself in nature. (See the articles listed below.) To get the benefits of forest…
With sunny skies, extended fall colors and the Devil's Lake Halloween Candlelight Hike this weekend, it's going to be a madhouse at the park! That said, the colors will still be worth it, well, mostly... Morning light on County Road…
These days, so many of us get our information from social media including, of course, learning how the fall colors are coming on. Thing is, for every beautiful photo and positive comment, there is someone sharing their dull, bland and…
This Sunday, September 29 at 5:00 PM the Friends of Devil's Lake State Park will be holding their annual meeting. You can get details right here. At this event, the organization will be holding a picnic and electing new board…