At 25, Lake Katherine is a natural work in progress

At the western edge of Lake Katherine, where work has recently been completed on an area aimed at attracting essential pollinators, Gareth Blakesley pauses to reflect on the nature center’s quarter-century milestone.

It is a big achievement measured in small victories, such as the newly installed Habitat Pollinator Area.

“This is my new favorite place,” said Blakesley, the center’s operations manager.

The pollinator overlook offers visitors to the Palos Heights preserve the opportunity to step off the well-traveled main path that circles the lake and stand along the shore, where swallowtail butterflies and blue dasher dragonflies flit across pickerel and arrowhead…Please click here to read Donna Vickroy’s story in the Tribune/Daily Southtown.