The Secret Garden: some views of Chicago's magnificent Burnham Nature Sanctuary

The Burnham Wildlife Corridor is one Chicago's hidden jewels, a 100-acre ribbon that stretches from 47th to Oakwood/39th.

I've visited McCormick Bird Sanctuary at the north end many times, but I had never figured out how to get to the Burnham Nature Sanctuary, at the south end.

Until yesterday.

Turns out it's accessed from the back of the parking lot off of 47th just west of Lake Shore Drive.

And it's magnificent. A thin strip of paradise nestled between the speeding traffic of Lake Shore Drive and clanking trains of the Metra electric tracks.

Soaring trees, ferns, flowers, butterflies, meeting places. Except when the Drive and the tracks pop into view, you can forget you're in the city.

Plus, unlike the Bird Sanctuary, where you're more liable to share your visit with other people because of the proximity to McCormick Place, there's a good chance you'll be able to experience the Burnham Nature Sanctuary all on your lonesome. My only companions were butterflies, bugs and birds - I didn't encounter a single other human being during my visit.

Bewarned, however, some of the paths are fairly narrow, and once you enter off 47th, the only way out is to double-back or go all the way to Oakwood/39th. Go before everything turns to winter.

The Sanctuary also includes several gathering spaces,openings with seating and, in the case of Sankofa for the Earth, this artwork by Arlene Turner Crawford, Dorian Sylvain and the South Side Community Art Center, which includes this mixed-media. "Sankofa" bird.

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