Wild Things 2025

Mike MacDonald is an internationally published photographer, a nationally acclaimed author, a professional comedian and public speaker, and an avid conservationist. There are many words that describe Mike’s unique background. But only one word is needed to describe the man: passionate. And Mike is passionate about Chicago nature.

Within just fifty miles of downtown Chicago, there is more protected natural area than most national parks and more native plant species than any national park. Every day from April through September, a wealth of wildflowers can be found blooming right down the road from home, work, or school. Unfortunately, most Chicagoans are unaware. But Mike is on a mission to change that. Playing the role of “nature matchmaker,” he introduces Chicago’s natural beauty and biodiversity to people in the hope of sparking love affairs. Through passionate public speaking, inspirational writing, and breathtaking photography, Mike conveys the marvels and magnificence of a wild Chicago that rivals any place on Earth.

Watch this inspirational story about Mike’s work from WTTW’s Chicago Tonight.

Within just fifty miles of downtown Chicago, there is more protected natural area than most national parks and more native plant species than any national park. Every day from April through September, a wealth of wildflowers can be found blooming right down the road from home, work, or school. Unfortunately, most Chicagoans are unaware. But Mike is on a mission to change that. Playing the role of “nature matchmaker,” he introduces Chicago’s natural beauty and biodiversity to people in the hope of sparking love affairs. Through passionate public speaking, inspirational writing, and breathtaking photography, Mike conveys the marvels and magnificence of a wild Chicago that rivals any place on Earth.

For over three decades, Mike has been photographing the natural wonders of the Chicago region. His images and how-to articles have been nationally and internationally featured in many publications, including Outdoor Photographer, Petersen’s Photographic, Boy’s Life, and BBC’s Gardens Illustrated magazine. And his landscapes of Chicago nature continue to be showcased in the Sierra Club Wilderness Wall and Engagement Calendars.

In 2015, his literary coffee-table book, My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago: A Celebration of Chicagoland’s Startling Natural Wonders, earned national acclaim when Publishers Weekly described the photography as “glorious” and the writing as “celebratory, soulful, and poetic.” Building upon the book, Mike then created a free website called ChicagoNatureNOW! to help Chicagoans discover the natural beauty that surrounds them. Each week, he and his volunteer scouts report on the best wildflower blooming events in the region.

Mike also uses this talent as a professional entertainer to celebrate Chicago nature on the performance stage. His show “My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago”, which inspired his book of the same name, is a heartwarming mix of art, humor, and passion. And most recently, a six-month immersive exhibition of his work was staged at Chicago’s Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where his images were projected across a screen twelve-feet tall and as wide as a football field.