Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: new "Nature Trails" exhibit

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum marked the start of summer Tuesday by opening "Nature Trails," a permanent, outdoor exhibit that surrounds the museum with a winding path. One-third of a mile long, "Nature Trails" is divided into several sections: a small, fenced-in "urban farm" area with herbs and vegetables; a plant savanna; tallgrass priairie; and butterfly garden. Each section is planted with native vegetation that's already attracting wildlife—turtles have buried eggs here, while colorful flowers are bringing monarch, red admiral and black swallowtail butterflies to the trail.

Signage along the trail encourages further exploration with the help of related indoor exhibits, and QR codes can be scanned by smart phones for on-the-spot info. It's a picture-perfect addition to the landscape surrounding the museum, with the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond just a few steps from the trail. The exhibit is free and open year-round; for more info, go to naturemuseum.org.