Thursday was sunny and hot. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon, visiting the Bluff Spring Fen.  I was treated to a nice breeze blowing through the fields and the sky provided a spectacular cloud show.

A fen is defined as a type of wetland. This 160 acre, mineral-rich, spring fed fen is part of a larger 225 acre nature preserve managed by the Forest Preserve Districts of Kane and Cook Counties and the City of Elgin.

Nature preserves have a higher degree of protections and regulations than parks and forest preserves. There are no picnic tables or shelters. It is not a playground.  No cycling, dogs or horseback riding are allowed. With extremely narrow paths and an occasional footbridge, it is the perfect place for a tranquil walk and to view rare and protected plants and wildlife.

Here are a sampling of the photos I took on my first visit.

I look forward to visiting again and capturing the change of seasons in the months to come.