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Friday, March 29, 2024

Muddy banks show how high May Watts Pond was May 2

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Above / A Mallard duck feeds and basks in the sun along the banks of the May Watts Pond at 8AM, May 3.

When seasons change the landscape surrounding May Watts Pond, visitors have opportunities to experience the natural tribute to a Naperville woman, May Theilgaard Watts, who enjoyed a passion for preservation and teaching about the great outdoors.

Above/ On May 2, the retention pond in May Watts Park was swollen up over the limestone trail and the footbridge was impassable.

Above / Twenty-four hours later, the muddy leaves show how much the storm water level has gone down in one day. A Mallard found plenty of food along the banks of May Watts Pond.Above / On May 2, this photo would have been impossible to take from this location as the banks and the trail were covered with storm water. What a difference a day makes!

Above / After feeding along the bank, this Mallard duck, swimming solo the entire time, swam out to the middle of the pond.

May Watts Pond is another natural treasure in Naperville

For many years, when May Watts worked at the Morton Arboretum, she lived in this historic home in downtown Naperville.

Born in Chicago to Danish parents, naturalist May Theilgaard Watts (1893-1975) is remembered worldwide for her ideas and dedication to the Illinois Prairie Path when she lived at 227 E. Jefferson Ave., working at the Morton Arboretum.

In Naperville, a park, trail and District 204 elementary school are named in her honor, located in the Countryside and West Wind subdivisions.

Naperville is blessed with natural park settings throughout the city where the changes every season provide times to observe wildlife during quiet walks through neighborhoods or along the Riverwalk.

Note also that the May Watts Trail is a short hike and a clear shot from the nature trail named for Marjorie Osborne around Lake Osborne, accessible from both Aurora Ave. and Oswego Road.

Above / At 8PM May 3, the sun set over Lake Osborne.

Imagine what May Theilgaard Watts and Marjorie Osborne would think of these two beautiful ponds with trails named in their honor.

Seize the moments to see nature run its course spring, summer, winter and fall.

RELATED POSTS / Use the “Search” tool on this website to discover photos and more about May Watts featured here.

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PN Editor
PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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