Passing beyond the aforementioned oak grove, a path and wall of large limestone blocks separates the hedge from the dunes. After indulging your natural urge to hop from stone to stone, which are so big you’d think they came from the pyramids, a sand prairie opens.
Bordered by a break-wall on the south end and a fence splitting the area from a public beach to the north, the fairly large prairie is dominated by the dark pink little blue stem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and switch grass (Panicum virgatum). The resulting short and sparse grassland is also dotted by young native black oaks which are a recent introduction here. At this point you can hear the lake breaking on the beach but still cannot see it due to the first, and largest, dune covered by towering Cottonwoods (Populus deltoides). The break wall to the south creates a unique situation where water splashing over on high wind days creates a calm wetland and frequently is the favorite location of shorebirds who scavenge what has been tossed there by the waves.
Once you crest the cottonwood dune the habitat changes into one dominated by marram grass (Ammophila arenaria). The small ridges throughout are dense with vegetation in contrast to the just exited prairie though also short in nature. The low area that ensues frequently becomes flooded and in some areas is swamped by horse tail (Equisetum arvense) and various small rushes (Juncus sp.) as indicators along with different species of goldenrod (Solidago sp.), silverweed (Argentina anserina), and a plethora of other plants making it a veritable botanic paradise. Within some of these ridges also resides some more unique wildlife ranging from Seaside Sparrows (Ammodramus ), Sedge Wrens (Cistothorus platensis), Pipits (Anthus rubescens), Meadowlarks (Sturnella sp.), transient owls such as Short-eared (Asio flammeus) and Snowy (Nyctea scandiaca), a slew of different insects, and a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) pair that one year successfully raised 4 pups. 
In this last case, I distinctly remember my first time seeing them and it was the first time I’d see any Fox at all. It was sunset and I was about to abandon my attempts to find them when a fox ran out to the peak ridge of a dune and began to sit and watch out across the public beach. While I stood awe struck by the beautiful creature who’s coat was only accentuated by the red hued sky, 3 grey pups emerged and began playing under the protection of their parent. It was a shot out of Nature or a wilderness documentary but right there in front of me, in Chicago of all places! I didn’t have a camera that day but the memory will never fade; I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world.To Be Continued
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