flora/fauna/funga while hiking

"natural compasses"

• The idea that moss grows only on the north side of trees is a myth.
• Tree trunks — There's often a gray or rusty-red algae or lichen on the shady side of tree trunks.
• Tree trunks — Moisture-loving mosses and lichens may grow on the side of tree trunks facing the prevailing wind and rain.
• TODO — other natural compasses — copy some of those into this document

field guides for plants

• several field guides at the Chicago Field Museum
• several field guides at the Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Illinois Plants database, from the Illinois Natural History Survey
• IllinoisWildflowers.info
• Illinois Wildflowers app on Android
• native Illinois plants for your garden, from the Illinois DNR
• (more)
• (Google search for field guide Illinois plants)

field guides for fungi

• several field guides at the Chicago Field Museum
• Common wild edible fungi in Illinois, from the UIUC Extension
• Wild About Illinois Fungi, Species Gallery, from the Illinois DNR
• IllinoisMushrooms.com
• MycoGuide.com, which focuses on the Chicago region
• Field Guide to Common Macrofungi in Eastern Forests, by the USDA
• (Illinois Mycological Association) — monthly meetings, find your local mushroom club, etc

field guides for wildlife

• several field guides at the Chicago Field Museum