flowers by the river2 by CGAphoto

Jennifer Slosar of The Chi-Town Daily News wrote a great story today about the Ecology of the River canoe trip offered by Friends of the Chicago River.

The descriptions of the flora and fauna she encountered are delightful:

Heading downriver, the group saw signs of wildlife, both striking and subtle. A huge green frog with a bright gold throat peered out placidly from a rocky bank at passersby. Parson pointed out a cotton wood tree whose trunk had been girdled by beavers....

Golden rod, purple cone flower (echinacea), and cup flowers line the banks, adding a decorative touch to a hardy, drought-resistant layer of vegetation. Thick-ridged cotton trees, willow, and silver maple hang over the river. Their falling leaves provide organic matter that supports the river's increasingly diverse aquatic life.

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