Some years pass by quickly. Not 2025. It felt to me like a very long year. Like a slow endurance slog rather than a sprint. But it was a very good year in one particular respect: the photographs that I was able to capture from our wealth of nearby nature. Consequently, I have decided to change my traditional Year in Review, which generally emphasized the stories that have appeared in The Natural Realm blog, and make it a Year in Pictures instead. And while many of the images are in fact associated with stories (which you can access using the links in the captions), almost half of them are not. This is their debut.
Some photos capture a moment in time, like the grand opening of a new building, park, or trail (all of which happened this year), while others appear timeless, such as the one above (from Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve) in which a small, solitary, bright red figure strolls into a seemingly infinite distance, the natural world imposing itself all around.
Some photos share intimate details of places steeped in nature, like the pattern of fallen tamarack needles on ice, while others highlight vast landscapes—while also reveling in the fact that vast landscapes can be present here in an urban region. Some will be familiar. Some unknown…, perhaps even unimagined.
Wildlife is featured in a few. The activities of humans in natural settings in many more. The wealth of nature in southeastern Wisconsin always. There is tragedy, triumph, beauty—even a touch of whimsy. This year had it all.
Although I have my favorites and although some were more “important” than others (meaning they represent significant events and/or had greater impact), I present them to you mostly in chronological order, as they occurred during the year. (I am saving my favorite photo of the year for last—but don’t peek ahead!)
Finally, while this year in review is about the images, I do want to share with you my own personal favorite story from 2025, which did not have a photo in the finals: Hunting Season: Lulu Lake State Natural Area. Now, on to the Year in Pictures…
As the year began a pleasure boat named “Deep Thought” grounded on Milwaukee’s lakefront made a spectacle of itself for seven months before finally being hauled away. No one in authority, apparently, wanted to claim responsibility for it. An inauspicious, if not downright metaphorical, beginning to the year.
A grand opening was held in January for the newly remodeled and expanded Urban Ecology Center building in Washington Park, Milwaukee. It was featured in a two-part guide to nature centers in southeast Wisconsin.
Rivers of Ice and Air. I love dramatic skies, but the synchronicity of clouds and ice in this panorama from Mitchell Park in Brookfield I find especially compelling.
It isn’t every day that you see the smoke from a prairie fire rise up and make the city skyline disappear. In fact, this was the first-ever controlled burn at Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee. I was honored to be permitted to document it. The story: Under Control: Burning Lakeshore State Park!
In May MOHEE (Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo) came to Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee. These kids are emulating hunting dogs as they race to retrieve decoys. It was just one among many activities and educational opportunities provided for the event. The story: Middle Schoolers descend upon Havenwoods State Forest.
A brood of ducklings harmonizes with the huddled swan boats in the Veterans Park lagoon, Milwaukee.
Mama Rosa, the 24-ft. tall troll created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, became an instant celebrity at the grand opening of a new park in Wauwatosa: Firefly Grove Park opens with a bang! And a troll.
The most controversial issue of the year was the proposal to put a housing complex in McGovern Park. POP opposed the proposal, which ultimately failed. This unusual image is an AI rendering created by POP board member Laurie Meunch on top of one of my photos of the McGovern Senior Center, which envisions what the proposed building might have looked like. Three stories about the issue that appeared in The Natural Realm were among the most popular of the year.
This is special to me because it’s the first time ever that I’ve seen a beaver out of the water. What the image doesn’t show is the context. Taken during a kayak tour of the Menomonee Valley, at least 20 kayakers were all vying for a closeup look at the creature, who wasn’t fazed in the least by all the attention. This canal seems just about the least likely waterway to find a beaver! An abandoned grain elevator to one side and the Menomonee Valley Power Plant to the other. Featured in “Paddling SE Wisconsin: Adventure Awaits!“
This idyllic scene of kayaking on the ecologically important Mukwonago River in Mukwonago was featured in a two-part guide: Paddling SE Wisconsin: Adventure Awaits!
The most popular story of 2025 was about the devastating 1,000-year flood. Bad as it was, however, it could have been far worse if not for the many flood-mitigation efforts of the past quarter century. Here you see flooded Hart Park in Wauwatosa, which did not spill over its flood walls into the surrounding neighborhoods. Story: The Record-breaking Menomonee River Flood: Lessons Learned!
Aerial view of Boerner Botanical Gardens in Whitnall Park, Hales Corners.
This dramatic image of paddlers on the Rock River in Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area in Washington County is from 2025, but the story it goes with won’t be pubished until 2026.
On September 6 the WI DNR held an accessibility fair at Pike Lake State Park. On hand were a number of all-terrain wheelchairs for visitors to try out. This is another story that will be coming in 2026.
I was here at Huiras Lake State Natural Area near Fredonia with ARTservancy artist Sara Willadson. But when I pulled my drone up this high the shot was no longer about her, but about the lake/woodland/prairie habitats that exist in the preserve. Even the dock she is on has diminished almost to insignificance.
I’ve been documenting the monthly “A Walk in the Park” program sponsored by Milwaukee County Parks and Milwaukee Parks Foundation for over two years and this is my favorite image from this year. It is from “A Walk in Kohl Park,” Milwaukee.
A neighbor strides across a laboriously created ford on a brand-new section of the Cedar Lakes Segment of the Ice Age Trail near Slinger. I spent five days documenting the construction. The story: New section of Ice Age Trail now open in Washington County!
This scene from the Forest Exploration Center on the Milwaukee County Grounds may be the most spectacular example of autumn transformation not only of 2025, but that I’ve ever taken. What appears in this perspective to be a single multicolored tree is really an ascending line of four trees. Featured in “Odyssey in Autumn: The season of contradiction.“
I was privileged to document five controlled burns in 2025, so I guess it’s not too surprising that a second image of a burn made the cut. This one is from the Grall Preserve, an MMSD Greenseams property in Oak Creek. It will be featured in a story in 2026 about the Greenseams program.
It was a good year for trees. I came across this radiant beauty glowing in the rays of the setting sun in Mukwonago Park, Mukwonago. Featured in “Odyssey in Autumn: The season of contradiction.“
This is Valkyrie, one of Schlitz Audubon Nature Center‘s resident bald eagles, stretching her wings for a moment during the annual Xtreme Raptor Day event, which drew a record crowd this year.
Another first. The northern lights showed up in the Milwaukee metropolitan area in November, which is unusual in itself. But never before have I seen them in person. Drove 15 minutes north to get away from the city lights and caught this view at Mequon Nature Preserve where’s there’s plenty of open space.
After Thanksgiving a November blizzard dumped a foot or more of snow throughout the metro area. I spent two days tramping around in it, managing to get to four different parks for the story: Winter Paints the Urban Wilderness Wilder!
Ending on a whimsical note: I shot the top version of this enigmatic natural “smile” at Stigler Nature Preserve in New Berlin last January–when, if you recall, it hadn’t snowed at all yet. I went back for the snowy version after the November blizzard.
Finally, as promised, here is my favorite image of 2025. I love the bold, jaunty stride of the woman as she and her dogs head out into a natural world made especially exuberant by the sweeping skyscape that complements the sweep of the land and the trail. To me it symbolizes the opportunity to commune with nature presented by the wealth of parks and preserves in SE Wisconsin if only we choose to go out and enjoy them. Taken at Water Spirits Preserve near West Bend and seen here for the first time.
Note and invitation: It was a challenge to narrow this year’s photos down to these 35 finalists. There were many more runners up. If you’d like to see more of 2025 in Pictures I invite you to continue the 12-month journey with 50 runners up in my Flickr album.
As usual, I am saving my ARTservancy Year in Review for a separate post. Watch for that next week.
Eddee Daniel, writer/photographer, is a board member of Preserve Our Parks, the Project Director of A Wealth of Nature, and editor of The Natural Realm blog. Read more or subscribe at awealthofnature.org. Also available by arrangement for group presentations and guided tours.
The Natural Realm blog is part of A Wealth of Nature, which is a project of Preserve Our Parks.
About Preserve Our Parks
Preserve Our Parks, Inc. is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of parks and green spaces. Our mission: To advocate for and promote Milwaukee area parks and open spaces and to strive to protect the tenets of Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine.
For more than 25 years, we have been a leader in advocating for the protection of Milwaukee County park lands, halting many proposals to develop, privatize, or sell local parkland and lakefront spaces. More information about POP, including past accomplishments, is available at www.preserveourparks.org.
I love how seeing these beauties called to mind many lovely and even spectacular days outdoors in southwest Milwaukee county, all throughout 2025. Thanks, Eddee!
Thank you for these really wonderful pictures! And because I live near the Ice Age Trail in Slinger, I especially appreciated your detailed photos of the construction of the new segment of that trail! Absolutely amazing.
Thank you so much Eddee for a beautiful pictorial presentation of all of the parks in SE Wisconsin. While I grew up in Wisconsin, I have not lived there for nearly 50 years. Your pictorial portfolio encompassed both the beautiful landscapes and engaging activities of the surrounding parks and waterways. I really liked your new format of a “Year in Pictures.”
This is a wonderful presentation and prompts me to reflect just how beautiful Wisconsin really is.
I discovered this blog this year thanks to the posts about the McGovern park development proposal. As a champion of our local parks, I so appreciate the dedicated coverage and opportunity to discover new parks and green spaces I didn’t even know about! The end of year round up in photos is really lovely. This blog is a treasure trove.
Really, really beautiful photos!
Thank you Karen!
I love how seeing these beauties called to mind many lovely and even spectacular days outdoors in southwest Milwaukee county, all throughout 2025. Thanks, Eddee!
Thank you for these really wonderful pictures! And because I live near the Ice Age Trail in Slinger, I especially appreciated your detailed photos of the construction of the new segment of that trail! Absolutely amazing.
Thanks Carolyn, that was one of my favorite stories of the year.
Amazing Eddee! Thank you for sharing all these beautiful images.
Stunning Photos.
Thanks Eddee for clearing my feed with these glorious views of the treasures around us.
Thank you all and Happy New Year!
Great stuff Eddee… lots of inspirations for the coming year. Thanks for sharing your talents with us!
Thank you so much Eddee for a beautiful pictorial presentation of all of the parks in SE Wisconsin. While I grew up in Wisconsin, I have not lived there for nearly 50 years. Your pictorial portfolio encompassed both the beautiful landscapes and engaging activities of the surrounding parks and waterways. I really liked your new format of a “Year in Pictures.”
This is a wonderful presentation and prompts me to reflect just how beautiful Wisconsin really is.
Susan
Thank you Susie and Dave! Eddee
Wonderful coverage in photos and words of our remarkable Milwaukee County Parks. Thanks for keeping them top of mind in so many ways.
I discovered this blog this year thanks to the posts about the McGovern park development proposal. As a champion of our local parks, I so appreciate the dedicated coverage and opportunity to discover new parks and green spaces I didn’t even know about! The end of year round up in photos is really lovely. This blog is a treasure trove.