Chicago Wildflower Forecast
Best Chicago Nature Hikes & Outdoor Getaways

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
06-10-2025

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 12:02 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
June 10, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Walks”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Outdoor Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

Get outside to experience magnificent flower shows
in our showcase prairies and savannas.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

Around this time, magnificent shows of sand coreopsis and spiderwort are possible. Yet, there are other performances going on, like that of the melting blossoms of Ohio spiderwort! But nature isn’t just about flowers. It’s about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts that may open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

Like last week, pay attention to the magnificent display of sand coreopsis at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion. This is one of those “can’t miss” experiences that actually happen quite a lot around Chicago. The performance is so dramatic that my picture of it was featured in the world famous 2020 Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar (see Photo Section).

The flamboyant pale purple coneflower (our first Plant of the Week) is another performance to look for. The best shows take place at Bluff Spring Fen, Belmont Prairie, on the slopes outside the fence at Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and to some extent at Theodore Stone Preserve and Middlefork Savanna.

In June, the melting flower of Ohio spiderwort stages a monthlong show at various savannas and prairies throughout the region. The flower dissolves soon after it first opens. Yes, you read that correctly. Click here to read my poem about it. And if a flower that turns to liquid isn’t weird enough, you can now find porcupine grass (our second Plant of the Week) with a seed that drills itself into the soil. Watch my real-time video of the drilling seed below. Look for this grass and its seeds at Belmont Prairie, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Bluff Spring Fen, Pembroke Savanna, Miller Woods, and Powderhorn Marsh & Prairie. If you visit Pembroke Savanna or Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, look for the plumes of June grass that glow brightly in the spotlight of a low sun.

The pearly trumpet-shaped flowers of foxglove beardtongue should also be starting in our local prairies, especially at Spears Woods and Bluff Spring Fenn. I love this plant because, in the fall, their seeds smell exactly, and I mean “exactly,” like vomit! In stark contrast, you can now experience a most wonderful fragrance by dropping to your knees and lowering your nose into the pink blossom of pasture rose. Over several weeks in late spring, it blooms barely inches from the ground. During that time, whenever we’re together, I partake in a sacred ritual. I drop to my knees and bow in reverence, nose to petal. However, last year, I didn’t notice the poison ivy growing right next to the flower. I immediately felt a tingling on my upper lip, but it was too late. It was a small price to pay for the many years of delight that this flower has brought me.

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

I’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the information predicted by my one-of-a-kind propriety database of wildflowers blooming events, starting out with the best or “Go!” The “Go, if You’re in the Neighborhood” section is for sites that are worth visiting if you can’t make it to the top-rated preserves.

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion: The spectacular, sunny show of golden sand coreopsis could now be underway. Though you can find them shining under the trees, breathtaking expanses of the flower are commonly found in the sun-soaked sand prairie to the east. Blooming alongside the coreopsis, you may see the tiny white sparkles of sand cress and sandwort, the fluffy white plumes of New Jersey tea, and lots of porcupine grass. In the shade of the black oak savanna, downy phlox and pasture rose add beautiful splashes of pink amidst the fading blue-and-white blossoms of wild lupine, and three-petaled blossoms of Ohio spiderwort that turn to a purple liquid in the heat of the day. Along your trek, look for hoary puccoon, hairy puccoon, and, if you’re observant, Indian paintbrush. While you’re here, consider the short drive north to Chiwaukee Prairie.

Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: This is often the time to experience the breathtaking displays of pale purple coneflower. Also, look for the white blossoms of white wild indigo and daisy fleabane along with newly blooming foxglove beardtongue and wild quinine. Ohio spiderwort is blooming in the mornings. And keep your eye out for fragrant pasture rose at the base of the southeast kame.

Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester: This is only a “Go!” for the morning hours to experience the wonderful performance of Ohio spiderwort. However, the blue flowers will be gone by afternoon, especially if it’s hot. Along the way, you should also see the tall and fluffy purple meadow rue, white wild quinine, daisy fleabane, the occasional purple milkweed, and small displays of the heart-stopping yellow prairie sundrop. The textures and colors of the foliage adds to excitement, including the blue-greens of rattlesnake master and hundreds of prairie dock hearts.

Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove: Like Wolf Road Prairie, this preserve should be a “Go!” during the morning hours to see the ephemeral blooms of Ohio spiderwort. Their purple flowers open around sunrise, but only last a few hours until they shrivel away into a purple liquid. Very cool, huh? Click here to learn about spiderwort’s miraculous melting flowers. The fantastic show of pale purple coneflower and scurfy pea may also be taking place. Porcupine grass may be showing its long miraculous seeds that drill themselves into the soil. Again, “very cool!” Watch the seed drill in my video. And look for the gorgeous leaves of prairie dock and compass plant that glow brightly when the sun is behind them.

Spears Woods: This preserve can often present a wonderful show in the mornings of Ohio spiderwort. Joining these melting blue blossoms may be the many whites of foxglove beardtongue, white wild indigo, and dramatic displays of wild quinine throughout the prairies. Along the narrow prairie trail, you should also see the stunning purple milkweed, sprinklings of black-eyed Susan, and the glorious and happy yellow blossoms of prairie sundrop. Thanks to spring’s prescribed fire, the prairie is green and clean, uncluttered by last year’s tan skeletons. Spears Woods is one of the most beautiful sites in the region, where your walk will take you through woodlands, prairies, and wetlands.

Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest: This preserve consists of prairie, wetland, and oak savanna. Check for sparkling expanses of white-petaled meadow anemone along with blue Ohio spiderwort.m And the tall purple meadow rue with fluffy yellowish flowers and purple stems can sometimes be abundant about a quarter-mile north of the entrance.

Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park: Ohio spiderwort should be blooming throughout the preserve along with nice expanses of nice displays of daisy fleabane with golden highlights of hairy puccoon. The intoxicating pasture rose may also be flowering alongside porcupine grass and June grass that glows in the low sunlight.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: This preserve has a lush feel to it. In the woodland, you may still find some yellow flat-topped umbrellas of golden Alexander along with the occasional flat-topped white flowers of cow parsnip. The latter is a little toxic and can irritate the skin. So, no touchy-feely with this plant. You’ll find a variety of flowering species in bloom under the sun, possibly golden balsam ragwort, ivory buttons of bastard toadflax, fading shooting star, the delicately elegant stout blue-eyed grass, and the heart-stopping red Indian paintbrush. Wow! Along the way, look for any remaining creamy blooms of cream wild indigo. And don’t forget to appreciate the lush green textures that come from the foliage of forbs, sedges, and grasses, including the floppy hairdos of prairie dropseed and the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock. should be in the wet areas. The flowering cauliflower heads of wild quinine may now be blooming along with a smattering of white wild indigo. By this time in June, the wetland blooms of blue flag iris and yellow water buttercup may now be gone.

Miller Woods (at Paul H. Douglas Environmental Center for Education) in Indiana Dunes National Park: The preserve is large and provides a nice long hike to the beach. The most prominent blooming flower will probably be both hairy puccoon and spiderwort. Along your hike, you’ll see two-flowered Cynthia, wild columbine, pasture rose, downy phlox, and energetic sprays of acrobatic bracken fern. And then there are the beavers! See photo and caption below to learn where to find them.

Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: Though not officially a hill prairie, this gravelly prairie on a hill gets a lot of sun and also many wildflowers. The next big show comes from prairie coreopsis in mid- to late June. Right now, you might find some downy phlox , porcupine grass, and some remaining patches of golden Alexander and hoary puccoon. Throughout the preserve, you’ll find various lush textures and green hue from forbs, sedges, grasses, and bloomers-to-be, including the floppy hairdos of prairie dropseed, heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock, desert-looking rattlesnake master, and fern-looking leadplant.

PLANTS OF THE WEEK: PALE PURPLE CONEFLOWER & PORCUPINE GRASS

Pale Purple Coneflower

In addition to experiencing the prairie as a whole, take a closer look and discover the many attractions that hide in plain sight. Here, within a scene of a thousand coneflowers, I attended a iniature, slow-motion rodeo that was taking place upon one prickly flower head. I watched as a tiny ant rode the back of a slinking inchworm.*

Pale purple coneflower is favorite of mine. I just love how the petals droop downward. The plant has deep taproot, allowing it to survive drought and to thrive in gravel and dolomite limestone prairies. In the warm light of rising or setting sun, the flowers turn a stunning orange pink. Here at Belmont Prairie, I picked out this scene from a thousand coneflowers: a miniature, slow-motion rodeo that was taking place upon one prickly flower head. I watched as a tiny ant rode the back of a slinking inchworm.*

Pale purple coneflowers populate the kame at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.*

Sometimes the petals of pale purple coneflowers are colored pale white. Here, a combination of pink and white coneflowers populate the kame at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.*

The predawn clouds take on the colors of the pale purple coneflowers at this dolomite limestone prairie at Theodore Stone Preserve in Hodgkins, Illinois.*

The predawn clouds take on the colors of the pale purple coneflower at this dolomite limestone prairie at Theodore Stone Preserve in Hodgkins, Illinois. You can usually find this majestic plant growing most prominently at Bluff Spring Fen, Belmont Prairie, and on the slopes outside the fence at Shoe Factory Road Prairie,*

Each day, Mother Nature chooses from an array of natural elements and then fashions them into new works of art. Most Junes at Belmont Prairie, dazzling mosaics like this go on exhibit. Assembled from over one hundred pale purple coneflowers, the final work, not the individual pieces, draws our attention.*

Purple pale coneflowers, scurfy pea, and porcupine grass at Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove.*

June brings pale purple coneflower, scurfy pea, and porcupine grass to Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove.*

Porcupine Grass and its Miraculous Drilling Seeds

Porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea, previously known as Stipa spartea, for anyone who cares) is a particularly fun and interesting plant because of its fascinating seed. The common name refers to its long needles, which apparently resemble the spines of a porcupine, though I think the needle-like fruit best resembles a six- to seven-inch spear. The seed head represents the blade, and the long shaft is known as the awn. As the javelin-shaped fruit falls from the plant, the heavy seed head leads the way and embeds its sharp tip into the soil. As the awn dries, it twirls counter-clockwise until the shaft becomes so tightly wound that the implanted seed head begins to drill into the ground. Humidity and moisture have the opposite effect on the awn, causing it to uncoil, allowing rain or heavy dew to straighten it out. As the awn unwinds, the seed is left in place. The drilling process resumes when the environment dries out, and the cycle repeats until the seed is deposited as far as three to four inches beneath the surface, where the awn decays and the grain germinates. Seeds of porcupine grass can’t help but drill, so much so that they’ve been known to cause fatal wounds in animals. Hence, trust me when I tell you that putting them in your pocket is a big mistake.*

The seeds of porcupine grass are located at the tip of long sharp needles that fall off the plant and then slowly drill themselves into the soil. You can find porcupine grass at Belmont Prairie, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Bluff Spring Fen, and Powderhorn Marsh & Prairie.*

Watch my video of porcupine grass drilling itself into the soil right before your eyes!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PORCUPINE GRASS.

PHOTO SECTION

Sand Coreopsis

The showy golden sand coreopsis is not a common plant in Illinois, but it looks familiar because we often see cultivated double-flowered and bicolored versions in our neighbors’ gardens . It’s easy to grow and can spread fast. This image of the world class display of and coreopsis was featured in the 2022 Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar. Here, blossoms of sand coreopsis spread their golden joy along the banks of the Dead River at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.*

The turning earth is the dimmer switch, gradually recasting every dim dewdrop, petal, and blade of grass into a galaxy of blazing bulbs and lustrous lamps. On this late-spring morning at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, blooms of golden sand coreopsis and New Jersey tea are set aglow alongside shimmering spider webs that cling to last year’s grasses.*

The Melting Flowers of Ohio Spiderwort

Ohio spiderwort in the morning light at Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove, Illinois.

In late May or early June, Ohio spiderwort begins a performance that will last a month or longer, starring a cluster of buds that releases only a couple of flowers each day. Each morning, a new bud opens into a delicate blue or purple flower. You may find spiderwort, right now, at Wolf Road Prairie, Belmont Prairie, Bluff Spring Fen, Pembroke Savanna, Powderhorn Prairie, Miller Woods, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, and more.

In late May, spiderwort begins a performance that will last a month or longer, starring a cluster of buds that releases only a couple of flowers each day. At dawn, a new bud opens into a delicate blue or purple flower. But as the day wears on, it begins to wither—then miraculously melts into a gem of royal jelly. An enzyme in the flower causes it to slowly decompose, and hot weather speeds up the process. It’s noon, and this flower is already shriveling.

As the day wears on, each blossom begins to wither—then miraculously melts into a gem of royal jelly. An enzyme in the flower causes it to slowly decompose, and hot weather speeds up the process. It’s noon, and this flower is already shriveling.*

By midafternoon, this spiderwort blossom melts blue between my fingertips, thanks to an enzyme in the flowers that causes it to slowly decompose.

By mid-afternoon, this spiderwort bloom was melting blue between my fingertips. Do you notice my purple fingers? I was arrested earlier that morning.

The blossoms of Ohio spiderwort open to meet a new day at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

This is the scene from Wolf Road Prairie, as blossoms of Ohio spiderwort open to meet the new day.*

At Miller Woods (Indiana Dunes National Park), spiderwort and ferns cover the side of the dunes.*

Pasture Rose is a Flower that Must be Smelled

Pasture Rose grows in the sand prairie at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve. The fragrance of pasture rose is transcendent—a spiritual experience. Over several weeks in late spring, it blooms barely inches from the ground. During that time, whenever we’re together, I partake in a sacred ritual. I drop to my knees and bow in reverence, nose to petal.*

Pasture rose grows here in the sand prairie at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve. But you can also find it at other preserves, including Bluff Spring Fen and Pembroke Savanna. The fragrance of pasture rose is transcendent—a spiritual experience.*

Foxglove Beardtongue (and its contribution to the wonderful world of scent)

In June, foxglove beardtongue blooms in profusion at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.*

The flowers of foxglove beardtongue resemble the snout of a dragon with a mouth that opens and closes as you squeeze the sides. This explains why it’s part of the snapdragon family. The flowers have no smell that I can detect. But come autumn, the seeds smell EXACTLY like vomit! Be still my heart.* In June, foxglove beardtongue blooms at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin and many other preserves around the region.

The spring prairie at Spears Woods in Willow Springs provides a show of foxglove beardtongue.*

The spring prairie at Spears Woods in Willow Springs puts on a show of foxglove beardtongue.*

At Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois, pearl blossoms of foxglove beardtongue catch the morning rays and a new day awakens—one as splendid and picturesque as any place on Earth.*

June Grass

June grass and hoary puccoon glow in the morning light of the sand savanna at Pembroke Savanna Nature Preserve in Hopkins Park.*

Hoary Puccoon

The golden blooms of hoary puccoon can be found, here, at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and many other preserves around the region including Miller Woods, Powderhorn Marsh and Prairie, Wolf Road Prairie, Gensburg-Markham Prairie, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and more.*

Blue Flag Iris

Blue flag iris can bloom in the regions better wetlands in late May and early June, including here at Spears Woods in Willow Springs.*

Blue flag iris blooms in the late-May wetland at Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois.*

Blue flag iris blooms in the late-May wetland at Spears Woods in Willow Springs. But you can see it in good wetlands throughout the area.*

Golden Alexander

Golden Alexander of species Zizia aurea appears to have large flowers, but what you are seeing is a cluster of miniature one-eighth-inch blooms. The pollen and nectar of the flowers benefit insects with short mouthparts. The plant grows in both high-quality and degraded habitats. The golden blooms can be found brightening up the panoramas at preserves that include Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Wolf Road Prairie, and Chiwaukee Prairie.*

In May at Chiwaukee Prairie, golden Alexander bloom amidst the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock.*

In May at Chiwaukee Prairie, golden Alexander blooms amidst the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock.*

Sunlight shines through a translucent leaf of prairie dock, as golden Alexander casts its shadows.*

Green glow describes leaves that glow a bright green from sunlight shining through them. Here, we see a special kind of green glow that results in a shadow play, as sunlight shines through a translucent leaf of prairie dock, as golden Alexander casts its distinctive silhouette.*

Indian Paintbrush

Here at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Indian paintbrush brightens up the foggy morning landscape. You can also find this flower at Gensburg-Markham Prairie and Somme Prairie Grove.*

Wild Columbine

Wild columbine reflects the afternoon light at Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park.

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

The sublime blooms of stout blue-eye grass may now be aflower at Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois. And they bloom at these other preserves: Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Chiwaukee Prairie, Miller Woods, and Somme Prairie Grove.*

The Charismatic Foliage of Compass Plant & Prairie Dock

These are the large leaves of the prairie's most iconic plants. The heart-shaped leaf is that of prairie dock, and the long-lobed leaf is from a cousin called compass plant.

These are the large leaves of the prairie’s most iconic plants. The heart-shaped leaf is that of prairie dock, and the long-lobed leaf is its cousin compass plant.

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

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If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
06-03-2025

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 12:01 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
June 3, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

Get outside to experience magnificent flower shows
in our showcase prairies and savannas.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

Around this time, sand coreopsis stages its beautiful late-spring performance. But nature isn’t just about flowers. It’s about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts they will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

As we enter June, my attention turns to the magnificent display of sand coreopsis (one of our Plants of the Week) at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion. This is one of those “can’t miss” experiences that actually happen quite a lot around Chicago. The performance is so dramatic that my picture of it was featured in the world famous 2020 Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar (see Photo Section). Our second Plant of the Week is the melting flower of Ohio spiderwort that puts on a monthlong show at various savannas and prairies throughout the region. The flower actually dissolves soon after it first opens. Yes, you read that correctly. Click here to read my poem about it. And the pearly trumpet-shaped flowers of foxglove beardtongue may also be starting. I love this plant because, in the fall, their seeds smell exactly, and I mean “exactly,” like vomit!

The breathtaking shows of shooting star and wild lupine may still be happening, but they usually peak in late of May. At Chiwaukee Prairie, shooting star can cover the grassland pink with touches of yellow star grass, birdfoot violet, and golden Alexander. It’s absolutely spectacular. You can also experience their celestial beauty at Fermilab Prairie, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and Somme Prairie Grove. At Miller Woods at Indiana Dunes National Park, the show of wild lupine is unbelievably beautiful, as the blues and purples drape across the rolling dunes sprinkled with golden hoary puccoon. Wow! Within the national park, they also bloom at Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach, but the blue-and-white blossom also shows up at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie.

The aforementioned blossoms of hoary puccoon may be found in our prairies and oak savannas, including Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Pembroke Savanna, Belmont Prairie, Miller Woods, and usually a little later at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie. And the sparkling sprays of golden Alexander put on nice performances at Shoe Factory Road Prairie and Chiwaukee Prairie.

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion: The happy, sunny show of golden sand coreopsis may be underway under the open sky of the sand prairie. It’s a sight to remember. You may also find shows of blue-and-white wild lupine, golden hoary puccoon, and bubble gum pink downy phlox. For the best performances, take the wide gravel trail (Dunes Trail) that heads south from the parking lot. In open shade of the black oak savanna, the buttery yellow blooms of western goat’s beard are may be open for business along with the three-petaled blossoms of Ohio spiderwort, but the purplish blue flower doesn’t last long. Each morning, a few buds open to reveal fresh flowers that dissolve in the heat of the day into drops of purple liquid. Along the way, you should also find the delightful blue-eyed grass, little white sparkles of sand cress and sandwort, and the red glow of red Indian paintbrush. And while you’re here, consider visiting nearby Chiwaukee Prairie.

Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park: The show of wild lupine may still be blooming in combination with the golds of hoary puccoon. Adding to the mix should be the blue hues of blue-eyed grass, red-and-yellow blossoms of wild columbine, golden tones of two-flowered Cynthia, and flashes of white from wild strawberry and bastard toadflax. Keep your eyes open, and you may even find the gorgeous red Indian paintbrush. While you’re here, take the trail to the lakeshore. Along the way, the path crosses a wide gravel path that goes straight east-west. Head west, and you’ll find beaver lodges and activity. If you arrive early or remain late in the day, chances are you’ll be greeted by a beaver slapping its flat tail against the water to alert others of its kind about that human lurking about. This abandoned railroad right-of-way isn’t as intimate as the official narrow trail, but I like the views better. After your hike, consider checking out the lupines at Tolleston Dunes and West Beach. NOTE: The trail can be covered in water in some areas. We recommend high boots. Or just slosh on through!

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: This preserve has a nice feel to it. In the woodland, you may experience beautiful displays of the flat-topped umbrellas of golden Alexander alongside the occasional flat-topped white flowers of cow parsnip. The latter is a little toxic and can irritate the skin. So, no touchy-feely with this plant. You’ll find a variety of flowering species in bloom under the sun, including golden balsam ragwort, shooting star, ivory buttons of bastard toadflax, the occasional shooting star, the delicately elegant stout blue-eyed grass, and the heart-stopping red Indian paintbrush. Wow! Along the way, look for the beautiful creamy blooms of cream wild indigo. And don’t forget to appreciate the lush green textures that come from the foliage of forbs, sedges, and grasses, including the floppy hairdos of prairie dropseed and the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock. This is also the time of year to experience blue flag iris and yellow water buttercup in the wet areas.

Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This prairie-by-the-lake puts on a stunning show of shooting star that takes place sometime between mid-May and early June, joined by a colorful cast: hoary puccoon, golden Alexander, wood betony, yellow star grass, blue-eyed grass, birdfoot violet, and wild strawberry. You may also find some wild lupine along the edges. And the occasional fluffy seed heads of common cottongrass help to brighten up the wetlands. If you’re lucky, you just may find patches of yellow Indian paintbrush. While you’re here, you should definitely visit Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, which is easily provides the best nature experience in the region.

Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: Though not officially a hill prairie, this gravelly prairie on a hill gets a lot of sun and also a lot of wildflowers. This is usually a good time to see large patches of golden Alexander and hoary puccoon alongside a smattering of pink downy phlox growing, and any remaining blooms of wood betony, shooting star, birdfoot violet, and blue-eyed grass.

Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester: Late May usually starts the monthlong performance of Ohio spiderwort along the southeast edge of the preserve near Wolf Road. However, those flowers will be gone by afternoon, especially if it’s hot. In the prairie, you’ll also find a small mix of other flowers including hoary puccoon, golden Alexander, downy phlox and daisy fleabane. I particularly love the emerging tones and textures of prairie dock, rattlesnake master, and compass plant.

Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove: I’m recommending this preserve for a morning visit to see the blooms of the ephemeral Ohio spiderwort. Throughout the month of June, the blue flowers open around sunrise, but only last a few hours until they shrivel away into a purple liquid. Very cool! Click here to read my poem about spiderwort’s miraculous melting flowers.

Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest: This preserve consists of prairie, wetland, and oak savanna. Check for sparkling expanses of white-petaled meadow anemone along with blue Ohio spiderwort. And the tall purple meadow rue with fluffy yellowish flowers and purple stems can sometimes be abundant about a quarter-mile north of the entrance.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

Fermilab Prairie in Batavia: In early June, the prairie is often aflower with golden Alexander and lush with the foliage of future blooms, like prairie dock and compass plant.

Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The most prolific blooms may be happening under the sun with shining displays of balsam ragwort and golden Alexander. Then add to that the brilliant yellow blossoms of hairy puccoon. You may also find ivory tones from bastard toadflax in the prairie and fluffy plumes of common cottongrass in the soggy areas.

PLANTS OF THE WEEK (Sand Coreopsis & Ohio Spiderwort):

Sand Coreopsis:

The showy golden sand coreopsis is not a common plant in Illinois, but it looks familiar because we often see cultivated double-flowered and bicolored versions in our neighbors’ gardens . It’s easy to grow and can spread fast. This image of the world class display of sand coreopsis was featured in the 2022 Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar. Here, blossoms of sand coreopsis spread their golden joy along the banks of the Dead River at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.*

The Melting Flowers of Ohio Spiderwort:

By midafternoon, this spiderwort bloom was melting blue between my fingertips. Do you notice my purple fingers? I was arrested earlier that morning.

This is the scene from Wolf Road Prairie, as blossoms of Ohio spiderwort open to meet the new day.*

At Miller Woods (Indiana Dunes National Park), spiderwort and ferns cover the side of the dunes.*

PHOTO SECTION

Shooting Star:

In May, the beautiful blooms of shooting star can be found in prairies and woodlands, alike. The shape of the flower belies its celestial name, with five petals that trail behind its pointed tip. This springtime plant favors soil that is moist to modestly dry, but can thrive on the sunny slopes if there’s enough rain. It seems to like slopes because it doesn’t get as much competition there. The plant is also sensitive to dead vegetation that can smother it, which is why it also favors the occasional fire.*

Shooting Stars glow in the final light of day at Fermilab Prairie in Batavia, Illinois.*

On this May evening, shooting stars glowed in the final light of day at Fermilab Prairie in Batavia, Illinois.*

Shooting Star at Chiwaukee Prairie:

May at Chiwaukee Prairie offers a breathtaking display of shooting stars.*

Later in May and sometimes into early June, Chiwaukee Prairie offers a spectacular display of shooting star.*

Springtime wildflowers bloom in profusion at Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.*

Shooting star, hoary puccoon, yellow star grass, and others are blooming in profusion at Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. You can also find the plant at Black Partridge Woods, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Fermilab Prairie, and Somme Prairie Grove.*

Wild Lupine:

Wild lupine, of species Lupinus perennis, seems to love poor soil. However, in ancient times, it was believed that the lupines were creating the bad soil by wolfing down the nutrients. Hence, the name comes from the Greek word “Lupus,” or “wolf.” In reality, lupine brings nutrients to the soil just like other legumes, such as leadplant, white wild indigo, scurfy pea, and purple prairie clover. Around Chicago, lupine can be found growing in sandy soil under the trees of black oak savannas, including Miller Woods, part of Indiana Dunes National Park and Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.

Atop this spring dune thrives wild lupine at Miller Woods Nature Preserve, part of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Gary, Indiana.*

Atop this spring dune thrives wild lupine at Miller Woods, part of Indiana Dunes National Park in Gary, Indiana. While you’re in the park, you also can find them at Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach.*

Biodiversity is about the many, not the few. Here, it’s springtime in the savanna, where blue lupines share precious space with hoary puccoon. But, as the season advances, both will fade, making room for an array of other species, in a cycle where each has its time in the sun and then returns to the soil.*

Biodiversity is about the many, not the few. Here, it’s springtime in the savanna at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, where blue lupines share precious space with hoary puccoon. But, as the season advances, both will fade, making room for an array of other species, in a cycle where each has its time in the sun and then returns to the soil.*

Painterly image of Wild lupine of species Lupinus perennis

An exploration into the inner world of wild lupine.

Meadow Anemone

Meadow anemone and common milkweed at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois.*

Hoary Puccoon:

At Shoe Factory Road Prairie, hoary puccoon and birdfoot violet glow in the morning light at this prairie-on-a-hill.*

Blue Flag Iris starts to bloom in the late May:

Blue flag iris is a wetland plant that grows in standing mud or standing water. Here, a phalanx of blue flag iris towered over the spring wetland at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook.*

Blue flag iris blooms in the late-May wetland at Spears Woods in Willow Springs. But you can see it in good wetlands throughout the area.*

Golden Alexander:

In May at Chiwaukee Prairie, golden Alexander blooms amidst the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock.*

Foxglove Beardtongue usually begins its bloom in early to mid-June:

At Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois, pearl blossoms of foxglove beardtongue catch the morning rays and a new day awakens—one as splendid and picturesque as any place on Earth.*

In June, foxglove beardtongue blooms at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin and many other preserves. In the fall, the seeds smell EXACTLY like vomit! Be still my heart.*

Wild Columbine:

Wild columbine reflects the afternoon light at Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park.

Indian Paintbrush:

Here at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Indian paintbrush brightens up the foggy morning landscape. You can also find this flower at Gensburg-Markham Prairie and Somme Prairie Grove.*

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
05-27-2025

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 11:33 pm in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
May 27, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

Be on the lookout for spectacular flower shows
taking place in our showcase prairies, savannas, and woodlands.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

The magnificent world-class flowers shows of wild lupine and shooting star usually take place around this time. But nature isn’t just about flowers. It’s about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts they will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

At this time in May, the big shows often come from shooting star and wild lupine. At Chiwaukee Prairie, shooting star covers the grassland pink with touches of yellow star grass, birdfoot violet, and golden Alexander. It’s absolutely spectacular. You can also experience their celestial beauty at Fermilab Prairie, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and Somme Prairie Grove. At Miller Woods at Indiana Dunes National Park, the show of wild lupine is unbelievably beautiful, as the blues and purples drape across the rolling dunes sprinkled with golden hoary puccoon. Wow! Within the national park, they also bloom at Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach, but the blue-and-white blossom also shows up at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie.

The aforementioned blossoms of hoary puccoon may be found in our prairies and oak savannas, including Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Pembroke Savanna, Belmont Prairie, Miller Woods, and usually a little later at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie. And the sparkling sprays of golden Alexander (our Plant of the Week) put on nice performances at Shoe Factory Road Prairie and Chiwaukee Prairie.

The ephemeral melting blooms of Ohio spiderwort often get their start in late May. Click here to read my poem about it. They melt hearts around Chicago as they begin their monthlong show. You can find them at many preserves around the area.

It still may be possible to see woodland shows of woodland phlox and wild geranium alongside hidden blossoms of mayapple. The large waxy white blossoms of mayapple should be flowering by now. To find them, look beneath the umbrellas of two-leafed plants. And the sublime light-blue plumes of wild hyacinth are usually aflower at this time in some of our savannas and woodlands, including Wolf Road Prairie, Black Partridge Woods, and Oldfield Oaks in Darien.

In late May and early June, look for a fantastic show of sand coreopsis in the sand prairie at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion. This performance of coreopsis is so dramatic that my picture of it was featured in the world famous 2020 Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar (see photo section).

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park: The spectacular show of wild lupine can reach peak bloom somewhere from mid to late May. It’s a must-see event. Adding the to the blue hues are the sublime blue-eyed grass and birdfoot violet. The vibrant yellow blooms of hoary puccoon add a golden sparkle to the savanna as the buttery blooms of wood betony end their run. The red-and-yellow blossoms of wild columbine float above the understory of the savanna. And flashes of white come from wild strawberry and bastard toadflax. Keep your eyes open, and you may even find the gorgeous red Indian paintbrush. While you’re here, take the trail to the lakeshore. Along the way, the path crosses a wide gravel path that goes straight east-west. Head west, and you’ll find beaver lodges and activity. If you arrive early or remain late in the day, chances are you’ll be greeted by a beaver slapping its flat tail against the water to alert others of its kind about that human lurking about. This abandoned railroad right-of-way isn’t as intimate as the official narrow trail, but I like the views better. After your hike, consider checking out the lupines at Tolleston Dunes and West Beach. NOTE: The trail can be covered in water in some areas. We recommend high boots. Or just slosh on through!

Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This prairie-by-the-lake puts on a stunning show of shooting star that takes place sometime between mid-May and early June, joined by a colorful cast: hoary puccoon, golden Alexander, wood betony, yellow star grass, blue-eyed grass, birdfoot violet, and wild strawberry. You may find some wild lupine along the edges. And the occasional fluffy seed heads of common cottongrass help to brighten up the wetlands. If you’re lucky, you just may find patches of yellow Indian paintbrush. While you’re here, you should definitely visit Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, which is easily provides the best nature experience in the region.

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: By this time in May, this preserve really starts to shine. In the woodland, you might experience beautiful displays of golden Alexander with its yellow flat-topped umbrellas. Also under the trees are the flat-topped white flowers of cow parsnip, which is a little toxic and can irritate the skin. So, no touchy-feely with this plant. And you may find the final blooms of wild geranium and wild hyacinth. Under the sun, you may see a variety of flowers, including golden balsam ragwort, ivory buttons of bastard toadflax, the occasional shooting star, the delicately elegant stout blue-eyed grass, and the heart-stopping red Indian paintbrush. Wow! Along the way, look for the beautiful creamy blooms of cream wild indigo. And don’t forget to appreciate the lush green textures that come from the foliage of forbs, sedges, and grasses, including the floppy hairdos of prairie dropseed and the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock. This is also the time of year to experience blue flag iris and yellow water buttercup in the wet areas.

Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: Though not officially a hill prairie, this gravelly prairie on a hill gets a lot of sun and also a lot of wildflowers. This is usually a good time to see large patches of golden Alexander and hoary puccoon, possibly growing amidst the remaining blooms of wood betony, shooting star, birdfoot violet, and blue-eyed grass.

Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion: This is usually the time to experience vibrant shows of wild lupine, hoary puccoon, and downy phlox. For best performances, take the wide gravel trail (Dunes Trail) that head heads south from the parking lot. The lupines aren’t nearly as dramatic as at Miller Woods, but this preserve is a dream. Along the way, you’ll may also see the delightful blue-eyed grass, little white sparkles of sand cress and sandwort, and the red glow of red Indian paintbrush. And while you’re here, consider visiting nearby Chiwaukee Prairie. The brilliant yellow flowers of sand coreopsis may now be blooming, which is one of the region’s most dramatic performances. In open shade of the black oak savanna, look for the buttery yellow blooms of the occasional western goat’s beard along with the three-petaled blossoms of Ohio spiderwort, but the flower doesn’t last long. Each morning, a few buds open to reveal fresh blue flowers that dissolve in the heat of the day into drops of purple liquid. Along the way, you’ll also find the delightful blue-eyed grass, little white sparkles of sand cress and sandwort, and the red glow of red Indian paintbrush. And while you’re here, consider visiting nearby Chiwaukee Prairie

Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: The spring wildflower season ends in May with shows of woodland phlox, mayapple, wild hyacinth, and wild geranium. The greatest densities of the latter two plants can be found atop the bluffs. It’s also a dreamy time to experience the lushness of the woodland. It’s so green—from the new leaves of the tiered tree canopy to the dense carpet of foliage on the woodland floor. Thanks to wild ginger that has fully leafed out, you can hardly see the ground beneath. I love the miniature forests of mayapple with their parasol-shaped leaves where you may still be able to find a lonesome waxy white blossom hiding under the plants with two umbrellas. Exciting patches of acrobatic skunk cabbage leaves add to the whimsy. Wild leek‘s emerald swords put up a defense, along with the star-like leaves of wild geranium. And look for the floating filigreed foliage of early meadow rue. A smattering of white and pink shooting star may also be found on the bluffs above. And if woodland phlox is still aflower, note its gorgeous fragrance. If you find a larger patch of phlox, you may not even have to put nose to petal to detect its fabulous scent. The combination of woodland phlox, wild geranium, and shooting star is wonderful sight.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: I love this place for its springtime lushness. In late May, you may still find still find some displays of pink wild geranium and blue woodland phlox. But you’ll most likely see dramatic plumes of false Solomon’s seal scattered across the rolling verdant landscape. The foliage on the woodland floor has fully matured as the trees are pushing out fresh delicate leaves in the canopy overhead. Spread across the woodland floor are the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and the omnipresent wild ginger.

Fermilab Prairie in Batavia: In late May, the prairie is usually aflower with golden Alexander and shooting star.

Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove: In May, this intimate remnant prairie awakens with golden bouquets of hoary puccoon. Ohio spiderwort may have also started.

Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn: This intimate preserve is known for its ravines and the flowers that cross the braes. In late May, you may still find some displays of pink wild geranium and blue woodland phlox amidst the white blooms of mayapple. But the odds are that they’ve all faded away by now.

Powderhorn Marsh & Prairie in Chicago: You may find a mixture of spiderwort, hoary puccoon, and golden Alexander in the prairie. This high-quality preserve is our only showcase preserve located inside the city of Chicago.

PLANT OF THE WEEK (Golden Alexander):

In May at Chiwaukee Prairie, golden Alexander blooms amidst the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock.*

PHOTO SECTION

Shooting Star:

Early to mid-May brings scenes of shooting star and woodland phlox to the bluffs of Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.”

On this May evening, shooting stars glowed in the final light of day at Fermilab Prairie in Batavia, Illinois.*

Shooting Star at Chiwaukee Prairie:

Later in May and sometimes into early June, Chiwaukee Prairie offers a spectacular display of shooting star.*

Wild Lupine:

An exploration into the inner world of wild lupine.

Wild Hyacinth:

Wild hyacinth at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Each May, wild hyacinths bloom in woodlands and oak savannas across the Chicago region including, here, at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Each May, wild hyacinth blooms in woodlands and oak savannas across the Chicago region including, here, at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Wild hyacinths bloom in abundance at Oldfield Oaks in Darien.*

Each May, wild hyacinth blooms in woodlands and oak savannas across the Chicago region including, here, at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Starry False Solomon’s Seal:

The geometric beauty of starry false Solomon’s seal at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Wood Betony:

Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis) is also known as lousewort because it was erroneously thought to bring lice to grazing sheep and photographers who get too close. For some of its nutritional needs, the plant uses its roots to feed off of grasses, mycorrhizal fungi, and possibly other plants. I said “some” nutritional needs. Therefore, that plant is a parasite, but only partially so. Hence, it’s a hemi-parasite, more of a nibbler, as opposed to a full-fledged sap-sucking parasite. Though the leaves at the base exude a beautiful reddish tone, the green color above is the giveaway. The verdant hue shows that it’s not totally lazy, and creates its own energy through sunlight and chlorophyll production. In fact, wood betony can grow just fine even when its host plants aren’t around. Due to its nibbling nature, wood betony is known to stunt the growth of surrounding grasses. This is why it’s sometimes used in habitat restoration to quell the aggressiveness of towering grasses. In May, wood betony blooms in the best open woodlands, prairies, and savannas, like Black Partridge Woods, Bluff Spring Fen, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Fermilab Prairie, Chiwaukee Prairie, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, and here at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois.*

On this May morning at Shoe Factory Road Prairie, wood betony blooms under a red sunrise.*

On this May morning at Shoe Factory Road Prairie, wood betony awakens to the light of a red sunrise.*

In May, wood betony blooms atop the bluffs at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.

Usually in early May, wood betony blooms atop the bluffs at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.*

Woodland Phlox:

Many of our featured woodlands are home to the blue or purple, and sometimes, white woodland phlox of species Phlox divaricata laphamii, including here at Black Partridge Woods where they flow in a serpentine wave up the bluff. From a distance, the flower appears to have five petals. But it only has one deeply lobed petal. But because the petals of a flower are collectively known as the corolla, the plant is said to have a five-lobed corolla. The flowers have a beautiful fragrance that I easily detect from several feet away, though pushing your nose into the corolla would give you a much better view of its intricacies. You can also find beautiful displays of this plant at woodlands, like Fermilab Natural Areas, Johnson’s Mound, and Raccoon Grove.*

Hoary Puccoon:

At Shoe Factory Road Prairie, hoary puccoon and birdfoot violet glow in the morning light at this prairie-on-a-hill.*

Blue Flag Iris starts to bloom in the late May:

Blue flag iris is a wetland plant that grows in standing mud or standing water. Here, a phalanx of blue flag iris towered over the spring wetland at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook.*

Blue flag iris blooms in the late-May wetland at Spears Woods in Willow Springs. But you can see it in good wetlands throughout the area.*

Foxglove Beardtongue usually begins in late May:

In June, foxglove beardtongue blooms at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin and many other preserves. In the fall, the seeds smell EXACTLY like vomit! Be still my heart.*

Sand Coreopsis:

In a celebration of life, blooms of sand coreopsis spread their golden joy along the banks of the Dead River at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.*

Ohio Spiderwort and its Melting Flowers:

By midafternoon, this spiderwort bloom was melting blue between my fingertips. Do you notice my purple fingers? I was arrested earlier that morning.

This is the scene from Wolf Road Prairie, as blossoms of Ohio spiderwort open to meet the new day.*

At Miller Woods (Indiana Dunes National Park), spiderwort and ferns cover the side of the dunes.*

Wild Columbine:

Wild columbine reflects the afternoon light at Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park.

Indian Paintbrush:

Here at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Indian paintbrush brightens up the foggy morning landscape. You can also find this flower at Gensburg-Markham Prairie and Somme Prairie Grove.*

Sand Phlox:

A mound formed by the burrowing plains pocket gopher in the black oak savanna at Pembroke Savanna Nature Preserve.

Sand phlox of species of Phlox bifida bifida (no I didn’t stutter) has one white or pale blue-violet corolla, which is a collection of petals. But in this case, there’s only one petal with five Y-shaped lobes. As the common name suggests, this plant is often found growing in sandy soil, but it can handle mesic earth as well. This pictured colony of sand phlox surrounds a soft, sandy mound that was made by the burrowing plains pocket gopher in the black oak savanna of Pembroke Savanna Nature Preserve.*

Wild Geranium:

You can find wild geranium in all of our featured “sandless” woodlands and at many other preserves across the Chicago region. Here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, the pink flower hovers above their celestial star-shaped foliage.*

At Raccoon Grove, as evening nears in this beautiful spring woodland, the final streaks of sunlight penetrate the emerald canopy. The shining rays highlight the broad leaves of false Solomon’s seal and animate the soft, pink blooms of wild geranium, making all that is illuminated stand apart from the surrounding foliage.*

May brings glorious displays of wild geranium to Oldfield Oaks in Darien, Illinois, part of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.*

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

Mayapple:

In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops. *

Wild Ginger:

At Black Partridge Woods, take a look underneath the fanning mayapple leaf, and you may find a hidden waxy, white bloom. You may also discover a burgundy flower hiding beneath the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.*

The green foliage is the star of the springtime show. Here you see the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger alongside a single blooming mayapple. The flowers of both plants can be found hiding beneath the leaves. All of our featured woodlands feature both of these plants.*

Large-flowered Trillium:

In May, large-flowered white trillium cover the woodland floor at Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.*

At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered trillium is a site to behold.*

Large-flowered trillium of species Trillium grandiflorum covers the woodland floor in a spectacular annual display at J. Timothy Ritchie Nature Preserve in Chesterton, Indiana. This is not on our list of showcase preserves, but it’s a wonderful supplement to your visit to nearby Heron Rookery Trail.*

Large-flowered trillium carpet the woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Illinois.*

Sometime between mid-April and early May, large-flowered trillium will appear at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen. Their bloom usually coincides with that of Virginia bluebell.*

Large-flowered trillium carpet the floor of Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, Illinois.*

Large-flowered trillium bloom in profusion at Harms Woods in Cook County, Illinois. The flowers turn pink as they fade.*

The blooming in the northern suburbs lags behind the southern ones, so it takes a little longer for the large-flowered trillium to appear at Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Metawa, and here, at Harms Woods in Glenview. Notice how the flowers turn pink as they fade.*

Skunk Cabbage:

It’s springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering. If you’re someone like me, who finds the powerful essence of skunk to be an invigorating and life-affirming experience, the skunk inside the cabbage will definitely let you down. You’ll find many at Pilcher Park Nature Center, Black Partridge Woods, Bluff Spring Fen, Trout Park, and O’Hara Woods.*

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

Pictures & Poetry: The Miraculous Melting Blooms of Ohio Spiderwort

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 12:01 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Pictures & Poetry:
The Miraculous Melting Blooms of Ohio Spiderwort

By midafternoon, this spiderwort blossom was melting blue between my fingertips. Do you notice my purple fingers? I was arrested earlier that morning.

Now that you know a little something about spiderwort, here’s my poem about the plant from my book, My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago: A Celebration of Chicagoland’s Startling Natural Wonders:

Spiderwort is a prairie flower, as ethereal as it is enduring.
The name is a consequence of its long slender leaves that break suddenly downward,
mimicking the legs of a crouching spider.

It rises at the end of May in the prairies and savannas, in a universe all its own,
a small galaxy of blue starlike flowers that form the constellation of the Crouching Spider.

Unlike celestial bodies that survive in the billions, for billions of years,
the stars of the Crouching Spider number only a few and shimmer for just a few hours.

Coinciding with Earth’s star, they emerge, not with a big bang,
but slowly materialize from a golden hot center into three purple points.
As the sun grows high in the sky,
they gradually collapse into deep blue planets.
Yet tomorrow morning, and for thirty or more turns of Earth,
you may gaze into the prairie universe to witness the reemergence of the Crouching Spider
and the creation of new worlds.

You can find spiderwort at many preserves around Chicago, including:

Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove, Illinois

Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois

Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Fermilab Prairie in Batavia, Illinois

Gensburg-Markham Prairie in Markham, Illinois

Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois

Kickapoo Woods & Prairie in Riverdale, Illinois

Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, Illinois

Miller Woods in Gary, Indiana

Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois

Powderhorn Prairie in Chicago, Illinois

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois

Theodore Stone Preserve in Hodgkins, Illinois

Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois

– Mike

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
05-20-2025

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 12:01 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
May 20, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

This is the time to be on the lookout for spectacular shows
taking place in our showcase prairies, savannas, and woodlands.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

Beautiful blooms of woodland phlox, mayapple, and wild geranium are the last big flower shows in our woodlands. And time may have already run out. However, this is also the moment to begin searching for the magnificent world-class shows of wild lupine and shooting star. These are must-see events! But nature isn’t just about flowers. It’s about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts, whether it be a colorful, awe-inspiring bloom, the mysterious squeak of two rubbing trees mimicking the cry of a baby animal, or the fresh fragrance of woodland phlox. All of these things will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

The curtain has gone down on the performances of Virginia Bluebell. And you may still catch the last act of large-flowered trillium as they take their final bow with flushed faces. This magnificent blossom puts on the best shows at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park) and at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve that’s owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. These alabaster beauties also grow at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Meacham Grove in DuPage County, Harms Woods in Glenview, and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and ethereal prairie trillium also flowers in most of our woodlands.

It’s possible that you may still discover woodland shows of woodland phlox and wild geranium alongside hidden blossoms of mayapple and wild ginger. Take a closer look underneath the leaves of wild ginger to find their fuzzy burgundy flowers. And the large waxy white blossoms of mayapple should be flowering by now. To find them, look beneath the umbrellas of two-leafed plants.

The sublime light-blue plumes of wild hyacinth are usually aflower at this time in some of our savannas and woodlands, including Wolf Road Prairie, Black Partridge Woods, and Oldfield Oaks in Darien.

Shooting star and wild lupine are featured as our Plants of the Week because they put on breathtaking end-of-May performances. The former is found in overwhelming numbers at Chiwaukee Prairie. It’s absolutely spectacular. You can also experience their celestial beauty at Fermilab Prairie, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and Somme Prairie Grove. At Miller Woods at Indiana Dunes National Park, the show of wild lupine is unbelievably beautiful, as the blues and purples drape across the rolling dunes sprinkled with golden hoary puccoon. Wow! Within the national park, they also bloom at Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach, but the blue-and-white blossom also shows up at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie.

Closer to the city, you may find a dramatic show of wild hyacinth at Wolf Road Prairie, where a savanna of feathery plumes greets you as you hop out of your car (along 31st Street). You can also catch these flowers at sites like Somme Prairie Grove, Oldfield Oaks, and Black Partridge Woods, but the flowers aren’t nearly as abundant. The month of May is also the time to find the spiraling flowerheads of wood betony at Black Partridge Woods. Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Fermilab Prairie, and later in the month at Chiwaukee Prairie when the shooting stars cover the grassland pink with touches of yellow star grass, birdfoot violet, and golden Alexander. And the golden blossoms of hoary puccoon may be found in our prairies and oak savannas, including Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Pembroke Savanna, Belmont Prairie, Miller Woods, and usually a little later at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie.

As the trees are leafing out in an emerald filigree, let’s appreciate the textured lushness and shapely foliage that typify vernal season: wild leek, mayapple, skunk cabbage, and wild ginger. Wild leek is the one of the first plants to sprout, with a spray of swordlike leaves that make up a large percentage of the woodland greenery. You should now find mayapple with leaves that resemble an open umbrella, or a closed umbrella when they first sprout. Seek out the the sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage in the wet and muddy areas. Great displays can be found at Pilcher Park, Trout Park, Black Partridge Woods, and Bluff Spring Fen. And notice the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger and its fuzzy burgundy flower hiding underneath. As an interesting history lesson, wild leek is the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who paddled the area rivers were commonly heard yelling “Chicagoua!” after catching a strong whiff of chicagoua, or wild leek, growing prolifically along the wooded banks. Wild leek is part of the onion family, hence the Chicago nickname, “The Big Onion.” NOTE: It is illegal to remove this plant, or any other plant from any preserve in the Chicago region.

Another wonderful show happens sometime between late April and mid-May at Pembroke Savanna, when birdfoot violet and sand phlox carpet the sandy floor of this black oak savanna. And, if you’re lucky, the breathtaking stout blue-eye grass might be aflower.

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park: Sometime during late April to mid-May, the preserve puts on a beautiful show of blue and white, as carpets of sapphire birdfoot violet and sparkling sand phlox flow across the savanna. Don’t leave without bending down to enjoy the fragrance of these two jewels. You may also see the white of sand cress and starry false Solomon’s seal, and the golds of two-flowered Cynthia and buds of hoary puccoon. On your visit, you’ll notice mysterious sand mounds throughout the preserves. They are the handiwork of the plains pocket gopher. This rarely seen underground gopher excavates tunnels, and the extra sand has to go somewhere.

Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park: The spectacular show of wild lupine can reach peak bloom somewhere from mid to late May. It’s a must-see event. Adding the to the blue hues are the sublime blue-eyed grass and birdfoot violet. The vibrant yellow blooms of hoary puccoon add a golden sparkle to the savanna as the buttery blooms of wood betony end their run. The red-and-yellow blossoms of wild columbine float above the understory of the savanna. And flashes of white come from wild strawberry and bastard toadflax. Keep your eyes open, and you may even find the gorgeous red Indian paintbrush. While you’re here, take the trail to the lakeshore. Along the way, the path crosses a wide gravel path that goes straight east-west. Head west, and you’ll find beaver lodges and activity. If you arrive early or remain late in the day, chances are you’ll be greeted by a beaver slapping its flat tail against the water to alert others of its kind about that human lurking about. This abandoned railroad right-of-way isn’t as intimate as the official narrow trail, but I like the views better. After your hike, consider checking out the lupines at Tolleston Dunes and West Beach. NOTE: The trail can be covered in water in some area. We recommend high boots. Or just slosh on through!

Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: The preserve is putting on its finest show of the year: the performance by the spectacular shooting star. It is joined by a colorful cast: hoary puccoon, wood betony, yellow star grass, blue-eyed grass, birdfoot violet, and wild strawberry. Golden Alexander is just beginning to expose its bright yellow blossoms. And check along the edges for soon-to-bloom wild lupine. While you’re here, you should definitely visit Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, which is easily provides the best nature experience in the region.

Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: Though not officially a hill prairie, this gravelly prairie on a hill gets a lot of sun and also a lot of wildflowers. This is usually a good time to see hoary puccoon, wood betony, shooting star, birdfoot violet, and blue-eyed grass.

Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester: In the oak savanna, the often-dramatic show of wild hyacinth is usually the big attraction around this time, alongside the pink blooms of wild geranium and white starry false Solomon’s seal. In the savanna, you’ll probably find more starry false Solomon’s seal, buttery wood betony, golden hoary puccoon and golden Alexander, and white blossoms of wild senna
wild strawberry.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: I love this place for its springtime lushness. In early to mid May, you can find beautiful displays of pink wild geranium and blue woodland phlox. And as May progresses, dramatic plumes of false Solomon’s seal scatter across the rolling verdant landscape. The foliage on the woodland floor has fully matured as the trees are pushing out fresh delicate leaves in the canopy overhead. Spread across the woodland floor are the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and the omnipresent wild ginger. The latter two might still be blooming! A rich variety of flowers can be found at this preserve. Upon entering, you’re immediately greeted by a nice display of woodland phlox, which is the most prominent flower after the Virginia bluebells have faded away. Like the bluebell, phlox has a wonderful fragrance that you should be able to smell as you stroll by. At the same time, the pink blossoms of wild geranium rival phlox as the star of the show. You may still find some sparkle from rue anemone, false rue anemone, common blue violet, common yellow violet, and bristly buttercup. And look for Jack-in-the-pulpit and the gorgeous and shy drooping trillium. The strange and wonderful prairie trillium may be blooming in very large numbers, and you may find some that look yellow. And finally, If you take it slow and remain very quiet as you approach the bridge, you may see frogs resting along the muddy banks.

Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia: In mid May, the prairie blooms with wood betony shooting star, and golden Alexander. The adjacent woodland may still have some grand alabaster blossoms of large-flowered trillium, floating pink blooms of wild geranium, and prominent displays of woodland phlox and golden colonies of bristly buttercup. And you may still find prairie trillium alongside the hiding blooms of mayapple and wild ginger.

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: Note that springtime starts a little later in the northern suburbs. Remain under the tree canopy to see the most spring ephemerals. You may now find the beautiful hemi-parasitic wood betony scattered in patches across the preserve, often in the sunnier spots, along with shooting star, prairie trillium, and golden Alexander in early bloom. Look for yellow water buttercup and miniature forests of mayapple that add to the whimsy. Park at the main parking lot for this preserve, located at Somme Woods, then follow the narrow trail and cross the street to Somme Prairie Grove.

Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn: This intimate preserve is known for its ravines and the flowers that cross the braes. During early to mid May, the preserve is richly green from your ankles to the fresh tree canopy above. During this time, it often offers some nice displays of pink wild geranium and blue woodland phlox amidst the white blooms of mayapple.

Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park: The peak bloom of large-flowered trillium is usually done by this time, but it may be worth a shot if you’re already in the area for the wild lupines at Miller Woods. The display of trillium is even better at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve, which is owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. Begin your stroll at the west parking lot. This woodland usually blooms earlier than most of our other preserves, but it can also be flooded by waters of the adjacent Little Calumet River. As we reach the middle of May, you might find wild geranium and woodland phlox blooming amidst a sea of green wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger. And look for the bright-yellow bristly buttercup that love the muddy areas.

Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Under the trees, check under the parasols of mayapple for its poisonous waxy white flower. Yet, the most prolific blooms may be happening under the sun with shining displays of wood betony and golden Alexander. Then add to that the brilliant yellow blossoms of hairy puccoon. You’ll also find ivory tones from bastard toadflax in the prairie and fluffy plumes of common cottongrass in the soggy areas. Under the protection of the savanna’s canopy, look for woodland phlox, wild geranium, shooting star, and the sublime stout blue-eyed grass.

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen The shows of Virginia bluebells and large-flowered trillium should be gone by now. Yet, you may still find a beautiful show of wild geranium and possibly some woodland phlox. The maroon flowers of prairie trillium may still be hanging on, and so might the large waxy white flowers of mayapple. Once spring takes hold, you’ll see a variety of blooming ephemerals amidst an emerald carpet often rich in a lacy false mermaid, mayapple, wild leek, and wild ginger.

Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove: In May, this intimate remnant prairie awakens with golden bouquets of hoary puccoon alongside starry false Solomon’s seal, yellow star grass, and wild strawberry.

NOTE: If you can’t make it to our showcase preserves, try McKinley Woods/Fredericks Grove in Channahon, Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, and Harms Woods in Glenview, and Oldfield Oaks in Darien, and J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve in Chesterton, Indiana. You’re bound to find some good stuff.

PLANTS OF THE WEEK (Shooting Star & Wild Lupine):

Shooting Star:

Early to mid-May brings scenes of shooting star and woodland phlox to the bluffs of Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.”

On this May evening, shooting stars glowed in the final light of day at Fermilab Prairie in Batavia, Illinois.*

Sometime between mid-May and early June, Chiwaukee Prairie offers a spectacular display of shooting star.*

Wild Lupine:

Wild lupine, of species Lupinus perennis, seems to love poor soil,. However, in ancient times, it was believed that the lupines were creating the bad soil by wolfing down the nutrients. Hence, the name comes from the Greek word “Lupus,” or “wolf.” In reality, lupine brings nutrients to the soil just like other legumes, such as leadplant, white wild indigo, scurfy pea, and purple prairie clover. Around Chicago, lupine can be found growing in sandy soil under the trees of black oak savannas, including Miller Woods, part of Indiana Dunes National Park and Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.

An exploration into the inner world of wild lupine.

PHOTO SECTION

Wood Betony:

On this May morning at Shoe Factory Road Prairie, wood betony awakens to the light of a red sunrise.*

Usually in early May, wood betony blooms atop the bluffs at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.*

Woodland Phlox:

Sand Phlox:

Wild Geranium:

May brings glorious displays of wild geranium to Oldfield Oaks in Darien, Illinois, part of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.*

Wild Hyacinth:

Wild hyacinth at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Each May, wild hyacinth blooms in woodlands and oak savannas across the Chicago region including, here, at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Starry False Solomon’s Seal:

The geometric beauty of starry false Solomon’s seal at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

Mayapple:

Wild Ginger:

Large-flowered Trillium:

At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered trillium is a site to behold.*

Sometime between mid-April and early May, large-flowered trillium will appear at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen. Their bloom usually coincides with that of Virginia bluebell.*

Large-flowered trillium carpet the floor of Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, Illinois.*

Large-Flowered Bellwort:

Look for beautiful populations of large-flowered bellwort at Black Partridge Woods, Johnson’s Mound, and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve.*

Prairie Trillium:

At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, prairie trillium rises as the sun sets.*

Skunk Cabbage:

Shoe Factory Road Prairie:

At Shoe Factory Road Prairie, hoary puccoon and birdfoot violet glow in the morning light at this prairie-on-a-hill.*

Pembroke Savanna:

Between late April and mid-May, Pembroke Savanna is home to blooms of white sand phlox and rare birdfoot violet.”

In 2013 and in many years since, sand phlox spread across the black oak savanna of Pembroke Savanna Nature Preserve in Hopkins Park, Illinois.*

Chiwaukee Prairie’s May Show of Shooting Star:

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

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If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
05-13-2025

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 12:05 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
May 13, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
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The month of May brings new layers of greenery and wildflowers
to our woodlands and the first blooms in our prairies and savannas.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

May brings great lushness to the woodlands and a new group of flowers. And the savannas and prairie begin to put on their first performances. But what’s blooming right now? According to my database, there’s a good chance of catching both performances this season. They’re about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts, whether it be a colorful, awe-inspiring bloom, the mysterious squeak of two rubbing trees mimicking the cry of a baby animal, or the life-affirming odor of skunk cabbage. All of these things will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

The spectacular shows of Virginia Bluebell should be gone by now, but stunning performances of large-flowered trillium may still be underway. These magnificent blossoms put on the best shows at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park) and at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve that’s owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. These alabaster beauties also grow at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Meacham Grove in DuPage County, Harms Woods in Glenview, and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and ethereal prairie trillium also flowers in most of our woodlands.

The newest flowers to be found in our woodlands are woodland phlox and wild geranium alongside hidden blossoms of mayapple and wild ginger. Take a close look underneath the leaves of wild ginger to find their fuzzy burgundy flowers. And the large waxy white blossoms of mayapple may also be flowering. To find them, look beneath the umbrellas of two-leafed plants. In the woodlands, the earliest of our spring ephemerals should mostly be gone. Many them are colored white, including bloodroot, false rue anemone, rue anemone, spring cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort. Spring beauty is white with pink stripes, and sharp-lobed hepatica offers a beautiful palette ranging from white to lavender to purple. You should be able to see some some red in the form of prairie trillium. And as for the hues of blues, our common blue violet is extremely beautiful when growing in a clump amidst its heart-shaped foliage. The yellow blossoms of marsh marigold are also gone or well on their way out. You may still find yellow violet, bristly buttercup, yellow trout lily, and the shy drooping blossoms of large-flowered bellwort with beautiful colonies along the bluffs of Johnson’s Mound and Black Partridge Woods. Shooting star and spiraling wood betony (our Plant of the Week) also grows in some woodlands, including Black Partridge Woods. But these two flowers are also on display in some of our savannas and prairies, including Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Fermilab Prairie, and later in the month at Chiwaukee Prairie when the shooting stars cover the grassland pink with touches of yellow star grass, birdfoot violet, and golden Alexander. And the golden blossoms of hoary puccoon may be found in our prairies and oak savannas, including Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Pembroke Savanna, Belmont Prairie, Miller Woods, and usually a little later at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie.

Wild hyacinth also make their debut at the start of May with the best displays at Wolf Road Prairie and atop the bluffs at Black Partridge Woods.

And let’s not forget the textured lushness and shapely foliage that typify vernal season: wild leek, mayapple, skunk cabbage, and wild ginger. Wild leek is the one of the first plants to sprout, with a spray of swordlike leaves that make up a large percentage of the woodland greenery. You should now find mayapple with leaves that resemble an open umbrella, or a closed umbrella when they first sprout. Seek out the the sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage in the wet and muddy areas. Great displays can be found at Pilcher Park, Trout Park, Black Partridge Woods, and Bluff Spring Fen. And notice the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger and its fuzzy burgundy flower hiding underneath. As an interesting history lesson, wild leek is the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who paddled the area rivers were commonly heard yelling “Chicagoua!” after catching a strong whiff of chicagoua, or wild leek, growing prolifically along the wooded banks. Wild leek is part of the onion family, hence the Chicago nickname, “The Big Onion.” NOTE: It is illegal to remove this plant, or any other plant from any preserve in the Chicago region.

Another wonderful show happens sometime between late April and mid-May at Pembroke Savanna, when birdfoot violet and sand phlox (one of our Plants of the Week) carpet the sandy floor of this black oak savanna. And, if you’re lucky, the breathtaking stout blue-eye grass might be aflower.

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: The spectacular display of Virginia bluebells may be past bloom, but it’s worth the trip to find out. This is the top preserve to visit when the Virginia bluebells reach their peak. The preserve was once called Dynamite Woods because the site stored explosives during World War II. You can still see the crumbling bunkers, but they’re being taken over by woodland plants. Around this time, the white flowers of cutleaf toothwort should be exploding like sparklers across the woodland floor. Walk towards the stream along the south end of the preserve, and you’ll find Dutchman’s breeches (that look like white, puffy overalls), spring beauty, skunk cabbage, mayapple, wild leek (Chicago’s namesake), and Virginia bluebells.

Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet: The spectacular show of Virginia bluebells often takes place around this time, though it can vary between April 2 and May 10. Begin your hike at the nature center where you may find a lush understory of spring wildflowers. Depending on when you visit, you may find sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, purple cress, and Dutchman’s breeches. Just as beautiful as the flowers are the fresh green leaves of wild leek, mayapple, and skunk cabbage. My favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold. Look for its yellow blossoms in the low, muddy areas of the site. You can find them near the nature center and around the trail after the bridge at this GPS coordinate: 41.532780, -88.016478. While you’re there (and just about anywhere with mud), look for the large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage. They’re hard to miss.

Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester: Under the trees of the oak savanna, wild hyacinth often reaches peak bloom around this time alongside nice pink displays of wild geranium. In the prairie, look for the buttery blossoms of wood betony, the golds of hoary puccoon and golden Alexander, and lots of white starry false Solomon’s seal.

Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: A very nice show of Virginia bluebells often takes place around this time on the west side of the preserve, though it can vary between April 2 and May 10. When May comes, the woodland floor turns to an emerald dream covered in varied textures. And it gets even greener as the canopy above fills in. Thanks to wild ginger, which spreads to fill in the remaining empty spaces, you can hardly see the carpet of bronze leaves that dominated the scene just a few weeks earlier. Check deep underneath the leaves of wild ginger to find a fuzzy burgundy blossom. My favorite show at this preserve comes from the miniature forests of mayapple with their parasol-shaped leaves where you can now find a lonesome waxy white blossom hiding under the plants with two umbrellas. Exciting patches of acrobatic skunk cabbage leaves add to the whimsy. Wild leek‘s emerald swords put up a defense, and check for the star-like leaves of wild geranium that lends to the air its heavenly pink flower around this time. Hidden amongst the jade hues, try to find the beautiful floating foliage of early meadow rue. Nice displays of woodland phlox often coincide with the flowering of wild geranium, and keep an eye out for the white and pink shooting star that bloom atop the bluff. If you find a good patch of phlox, pay attention to its fabulous scent. You may not even have to put nose to petal. The combination of woodland phlox, wild geranium, and shooting star is a wonderful sight. The shimmering highlights of white false rue anemone, rue anemone, and the pinkish spring beauty add to the springtime experience. And you may still find a smattering of prairie trillium and common blue violet. The spiraling buttery blooms of wood betony may be fading, while the shy yellow blooms of large-flowered bellwort are likely still hanging on as they cling to the sides of the bluffs. Finally, see if you can still spot the shimmering petals of bloodroot, sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches.

Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park: The peak bloom of large-flowered trillium usually happens around this time, but it can be earlier or later depending on the whims of Mother Nature. The display of trillium is even better at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve, which is owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. Begin your stroll at the west parking lot. This woodland usually blooms earlier than most of our other preserves, but it can also be flooded by waters of the adjacent Little Calumet River. You may find sparkles of sharp-lobed hepatica, rue anemone and false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, bloodroot, and spring beauty. Look for patches of spear-like foliage that resemble green spotted trout. In there, you may find magnificent blooms of yellow trout lily. The otherworldly burgundy prairie trillium may also be flowering by now, and so might the bright-yellow bristly buttercup that enjoys the muddy spots. The lush, sprawling foliage of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger greatly enhance the springtime experience.

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: The spectacular show of Virginia bluebells often takes place around this time, though it can vary between April 2 and May 10. And the peak bloom of large-flowered trillium usually coincides. This preserve exudes that green and luxuriant feeling of spring. Once spring takes hold, you’ll see a variety of blooming ephemerals amidst an emerald carpet often rich in a lacy false mermaid, mayapple, wild leek, and wild ginger. The most common blossoms that bloom in early spring are spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, false rue anemone, white trout lily, and prairie trillium.

Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn: This intimate preserve is known for its ravines that sparkle white with dense white colonies of false rue anemone that flow across the braes. But you’ll also see many other plants as well, like cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches. sharp-lobed hepatica, wild leek, mayapple, prairie trillium, common blue violet, and the sublime large-flowered bellwort that also grows in colonies. In late April or early May, look for drooping trillium and large-flowered trillium.

Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: The preserve puts on a show with a rich variety of flowers throughout the month of April and into the second half of May. Look for the whitish pink expanse of spring beauty and myriad other wildflowers, including Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, rue anemone, bloodroot, cutleaf toothwort, and surprisingly large colonies of flowering white trout lily. Adding to the color palette, you may see common blue violet, the golden hues of common yellow violet and bristly buttercup, and the strange and wonderful maroon tones of prairie trillium. Also, experience the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger that add to the springtime mix. This preserve offers a nice display of Virginia bluebells, but not an overwhelming ocean like other preserves. Note that many spring flowers don’t open up at the break of day. They are awakened by the light. On cloudy days, they may remain enclosed safely in their buds. Fortunately, when closed, the Dutchman’s breeches cannot close and the white petals of toothwort are still visible and continue to twinkle.

Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia: NOTE: Visitors must present the proper ID at the guard gate. See the preserve’s page for details. The woodland adjacent to the prairie is rich in springtime ephemerals. In late April or early May, the grand alabaster blossoms of large-flowered trillium steal the show amidst floating pink blossoms of wild geranium. Depending on the date of your visit, you’ll find many of the usual suspects in bloom: cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, spring beauty, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, prairie trillium, and yellow colonies of bristly buttercup. And of course, these flowers will fall against a verdant backdrop of mayapple, wild ginger, and some wild leek. In the prairie, look for wood betony and shooting star.

Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: Though not officially a hill prairie, this gravelly prairie on a hill gets a lot of sun and also a lot of wildflowers. This may be a good time to see its first blooms of the season from hoary puccoon, wood betony, shooting star, birdfoot violet, and blue-eyed grass.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Early in the spring, the transcendent yellow blossoms of marsh marigold should be flowering alongside fresh lush colonies of skunk cabbage. Soon after, you should also find miniature canopies of mayapple and a small number of spring ephemerals. And under the shade of the oaks in the savanna, you’ll find small patches of false rue anemone. For the best views of marsh marigold and skunk cabbage, visit Trout Park for dense populations of these plants in an intimate setting. The preserve features a trail that takes you up and down the bluffs that includes a wooden boardwalk that carefully guides you through sensitive wet areas. While on the boardwalk, look for Chicago’s only native evergreen tree, the northern white cedar. Atop the bluff, you’ll find other spring wildflowers.

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: Note that springtime starts a little later in the northern suburbs. Remain under the tree canopy to see the most spring ephemerals. Along your stroll, you should discover spring beauty, white trout lily, some bloodroot, cutleaf toothwort, mayapple, and others. You may now find the beautiful hemi-parasitic wood betony scattered in patches across the preserve, often in the sunnier spots, along with shooting star, prairie trillium, and golden Alexander in early bloom. Look for yellow water buttercup and miniature forests of mayapple that add to the whimsy. Park at the main parking lot for this preserve, located at Somme Woods, then follow the narrow trail and cross the street to Somme Prairie Grove.

PLANT OF THE WEEK (Wood Betony):

On this May morning at Shoe Factory Road Prairie, wood betony awakens to the light of a red sunrise.*

Usually in early May, wood betony blooms atop the bluffs at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.*

PHOTO SECTION

Woodland Phlox:

Sand Phlox:

Large-flowered Trillium can bloom between mid-April and mid-May:

At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered trillium is a site to behold.*

Sometime between mid-April and early May, large-flowered trillium will appear at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen. Their bloom usually coincides with that of Virginia bluebell.*

Large-flowered trillium carpet the floor of Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, Illinois.*

Shooting Star:

In May, the beautiful blooms of shooting star can be found in prairies and woodlands, alike.*

A scene of shooting star and woodland phlox atop a bluff at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.”

Wild Geranium:

May brings glorious displays of wild geranium to Oldfield Oaks in Darien, Illinois, part of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.*

Wild Hyacinth:

Wild hyacinth at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Each May, wild hyacinth blooms in woodlands and oak savannas across the Chicago region including, here, at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.

Wild hyacinth blooms in abundance at Oldfield Oaks in Darien.*

Starry False Solomon’s Seal:

The geometric beauty of starry false Solomon’s seal at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.

Mayapple:

In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops.*

Wild Ginger:

Virginia Bluebell:

Before they bloom, the Virginia bluebell (of species Mertensia virginica) shows off pink and purple buds. You can find them at Messenger Woods, Pilcher Park, Black Partridge Woods, and here at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville.*

Ah, the Virginia bluebell. This flower is not only beautiful, but smells wonderful as well. When the flowers are blooming, the woodland fills with a fragrance that some say resembles the scent of Froot Loops cereal. So, last year, I put this to a test, in a side-by-side comparison. First, I lowered my nose into a small plastic bag filled with the cereal. Wow! I didn’t realize how “sharp” the sweetness was. Then, I cleared my nose by smelling my glove, and moved my nostrils into the fragrant blue trumpets. Here’s what I found. The bluebells do smell like the cereal, but are not as sharp. They also have a floral aroma. Therefore, bluebells smell like a floral Chanel version of Froot Loops cereal. Right now, you’ll find mostly buds and maybe a few open flowers of Virginia bluebell (species Mertensia virginica) at Messenger Woods, Pilcher Park, Black Partridge Woods, and here at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville.*

At O'Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois, the April sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells.*

O’Hara Woods presents the best display of of Virginia bluebells around that fill the air with a floral scent of Froot Loops cereal.*

Come to Pilcher Park in April for the dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells.*

Visit Pilcher Park Nature Center for one of the best performances of Virginia bluebell in the region.*

In April, Virginia bluebells bloom in profusion along the creek at Raccoon Grove in Monee, Illinois

Virginia bluebells bloom en masse along the creek at Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, though not in vast expanses like other woodlands on our list.*

April at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen features a breathtaking display of Virginia bluebells.*

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen is one of the best places to experience breathtaking expanses of Virginia bluebells.*

False Rue Anemone:

False rue anemone (of species Enemion biternatum) is a beautiful plant that often blooms in dense colonies. The flowers are white and never have more than five sepals (the white petals that really aren’t petals at all). During the night, they close up into little white balls. False rue anemone is more common than its similar, (true) rue anemone. You can tell them apart by looking at their leaves and flowers. The flowers of false rue anemone can have many sepals, whereas the false version only has five. And the three-lobed leaves have a deeper cleavage between the lobes. Both characteristics are depicted in the image. You can see this plant at any of our showcase woodlands. But the nicest shows take place at Johnson’s Mound, Black Partridge Woods, and Heron Rookery Trail. This and every other woodland wildflower is under attack by the foreign invader known as garlic mustard. It crowds out and poisons its neighbors until all that remains is its own kind covering black earth. This is one reason why the forest preserves are always looking for volunteers, like you, to help control such threats. Volunteer today!*

Rue Anemone:

Rue anemone (of species Thalictrum thalictroides) is a found in the higher quality woodlands of our region that have not been disturbed by human activity. The plant is sometimes called windflower because of the ease at which the flowers blow around in the breeze. And windflower definitely likes the breeze because its blossoms depend on the wind for pollination. Here, it was a cold Tuesday morning at Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve. And while there were hundreds of flowers waiting to open, only this plant of rue anemone was brave enough to blossom. This plant is often confused with false rue anemone. The flowers and foliage are similar, but a closer look will reveal the difference. The number of flower petals, which are actually not petals but sepals, number only five on false rue anemone, whereas the sepal count for rue anemone varies widely, even on the same plant. Here, we see ten. As for the foliage, both have foliage with three lobes. However, they’re “deeply lobed” on the false version, meaning that the leaves have a deeper cleavage between the lobes. Also, the true version tends to grow alone, while the false often grows in clusters.*

Cutleaf Toothwort:

The small flowers of Cutleaf toothwort make a big impact given their size, especially when blooming in large numbers. Even when closed, they still impart a sparkle because the petals are much longer than the sepals. Initially, I thought that the “toothwort” name came from the toothed leaves of the closed flowers that look like molars. But I was wrong. It is the rhizome, a root-like structure located just below the soil between the stem and the root. Most people would not figure this out. I mean, I only discovered it after employing my X-ray vision. However, there was a time when people relied on plants, and often their roots, for survival. And Native Americans ate the tooth-shaped tuber. Now, this isn’t the only plant named after its root. The root of bloodroot, as the name suggest, bleeds a red liquid when broken. Native Americans used this sanguine solution as body paint and to dye clothes and baskets. This shot was taken at O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, but you can find it at any of our featured woodlands.*

In April, cutleaf toothwort blooms in profusion amongst a backdrop of mayapples at many woodlands including Raccoon Grove, Black Partridge Woods, Pilcher Park, Messenger Woods, and here at O'Hara Woods where they explode like firecrackers. This preserve was previously known as Dynamite Woods because explosives were stored here during World War II. Nowadays, only thing the spring wildflowers blow up.*

In April, cutleaf toothwort blooms in profusion amongst a backdrop of mayapples at every local woodland, including here at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve where they explode like firecrackers. This preserve was previously known as Dynamite Woods because explosives were stored here during World War II. Nowadays, the only thing that blows up are the spring wildflowers.*

April at O'Hara Woods Nature Preserve brings a woodland floor sparkling with cutleaf toothwort and the greenery of wild leek and mayapple.

During the month of April, O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve brings a woodland floor sparkling with cutleaf toothwort and the greenery of wild leek and mayapple. You can see all of these plants at all of our featured woodlands.*

Large-Flowered Bellwort:

Look for beautiful populations of large-flowered bellwort at Black Partridge Woods, Johnson’s Mound, and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve.*

Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):

O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve has a large number of Dutchman’s breeches. It is one of my favorite spring flowers because the flower is just so kooky and the leaves are a dream. Unlike many woodland ephemerals that wait for the sun before they open, these flowers are on full display at any time. You can find them at Heron Rookery Trail, Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve, and many of our showcase woodlands.*

Pink Dutchman's breeches at O'Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville, Illinois.

I discovered this pink variety of Dutchman’s breeches at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville. Notice the beautiful parts and details.*

Prairie Trillium:

At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, prairie trillium rises as the sun sets.*

Skunk Cabbage:

Sharp-lobed Hepatica:

This is sharp-lobed hepatica of species Hepatica nobilis acuta. It pops up through a layer of last year’s leaves and beckons the start of the new blooming season with floral color that ranges from white to pink, blue to purple. I’m especially taken by the colorful, textured cluster of miniature structures that inhabit the center of the flower, the deep three-lobed leaves, and the dark red stems. Another name for hepatica is liverleaf, referring to the shape of the leaf’s lobes. Early in the spring, you can find them at Heron Rookery Trail, Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve, Bluff Spring Fen, and here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.*

Sharp-lobed hepatica of species Hepatica nobilis acuta at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.

Here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, a group of sharp-lobed hepatica huddles around the base of an oak tree.*

Bloodroot:

This is bloodroot of species Sanguinaria canadensis. The white flowers are beautiful, but short-lived. At the end of its run, the slightest touch send the petals falling to the ground. The common name and genus name Sanguinaria come from the fact that breaking the stem or the roots makes the plant bleed a red juice. Don’t pick the flower to find out. Just take my word for it. Native Americans used the plant for dying their clothes and baskets, and for body paint. In woodlands, the wind gets broken up by trees which reduces its speed. Therefore, bloodroot and most other woodland plants do not depend on the breeze to disperse their seed. They rely on ants. In a process known as myrmechochory, the seeds of bloodroot have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that’s made up of fat or oil. The ants take the seeds back to their colonies where they eat the elaiosomes, but discard the seed into an rich and nourishing accumulation of nest debris where the seeds can safety germinate under the unwitting protection of the colony.*

Marsh Marigold:

My heart skips a beat when I see marsh marigold. At Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, yellow flowers of marsh marigold were covered in a magical patina of morning frost. Visit nearby Trout Park for the best view of these plants. Pilcher Park Nature Center also has a beautiful display.*

In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.*

Marsh marigolds and skunk cabbage at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park, Illinois.*

Marsh marigold and skunk cabbage mix and mingle at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park, Illinois.*

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

Shoe Factory Road Prairie:

At Shoe Factory Road Prairie, hoary puccoon and birdfoot violet glow in the morning light at this prairie-on-a-hill.*

Pembroke Savanna:

Between late April and mid-May, Pembroke Savanna is home to blooms of white sand phlox and rare birdfoot violet.”

In 2013 and in many years since, sand phlox spread across the black oak savanna of Pembroke Savanna Nature Preserve in Hopkins Park, Illinois.*

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
05-06-2025

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 12:01 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
May 6, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

The month of May brings new layers of greenery and wildflowers
to our woodlands and the first blooms in our prairies.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

If April was warm, then the bluebells are now gone. If it was cold, then you may still have a chance to experience their spectacular shows. And this is also a time when the gorgeous large-flowered trillium performs. According to my database, the odds are that you missed the bluebell display but you may still catch the trillium. But these reports aren’t just about flowers. They’re about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts, whether it be a colorful, awe-inspiring bloom, the mysterious squeak of two rubbing trees mimicking the cry of a baby animal, or the life-affirming odor of skunk cabbage. All of these things will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

According to my database, the spectacular shows of Virginia Bluebell can reach peak bloom anywhere between April 2 and May 10, depending on the weather. The former was in 2012 when it was 85 degrees in April! The best blooms of Virginia Bluebells take place at O’Hara Woods, Pilcher Park, Messenger Woods, and sometimes Black Partridge Woods. The oceans of blue are proof that Chicago nature offers beauty that rivals the national parks. Experience the magnificence with your eyes, as well as your nose, as the scent of these azure flowers fills the air with a sweet fragrance that some people liken to Froot Loops cereal. Instead of listening to “some people,” I did a little experiment of my own. I took the cereal into the field and compared its scent to the flowers. See the bluebell photos below to learn what I found.

The stunning show of large-flowered trillium often corresponds to that of the bluebell, peaking just slightly after. These magnificent blossoms put on the best shows at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park) and at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve that’s owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. These alabaster beauties also grow at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Meacham Grove in DuPage County, Harms Woods in Glenview, and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and ethereal prairie trillium also flowers in most of our woodlands.

This could also be a good week for wild geranium. Lucky for us, this pink flower with star-shaped foliage is a popular plant at all of our woodlands, including Black Partridge Woods, Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve, and Heron Rookery Trail. And often accompanying wild geranium in the woodland is the blue woodland phlox. Another phlox, called sand phlox, blooms in profusion at Pembroke Savanna alongside beautiful blossoms of birdfoot violet that also puts on shows at Shoe Factory Road Prairie and Chiwaukee Prairie. Sand phlox and woodland phlox make up our Plants of the Week.

The arrow-shaped flowers of shooting star is another May flower that makes an appearance atop the bluffs of Black Partridge Woods and in the prairies of Shoe Factory, Fermilab, and a little later at far-north Chiwaukee.

The earliest of our spring ephemerals may be gone or well into their blooming cycle. Many of them are colored white, including bloodroot, false rue anemone, rue anemone, spring cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort. Spring beauty is white with pink stripes, and sharp-lobed hepatica offers a beautiful palette ranging from white to lavender to purple.

The yellow blossoms of marsh marigold are probably gone or at the end of their bloom. They grow at Pilcher Park, Bluff Spring Fen, Trout Park, Captain Daniel Wright Woods, and at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park (across the stream from the parking lot). Along the trails of our fine woodlands, check for yellow violet, bristly buttercup, yellow trout lily, buttery wood betony, and the shy drooping blossoms of large-flowered bellwort with beautiful colonies along the bluffs of Johnson’s Mound and Black Partridge Woods.

You should be able to see some some red in the form of the aforementioned prairie trillium. And as for the hues of blues, our common blue violet is exquisite when growing in a clump amidst its heart-shaped foliage, and woodland phlox is extremely fragrant.

Wild hyacinth also make their debut at the start of May with the best displays at Wolf Road Prairie and atop the bluffs at Black Partridge Woods.

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: A very nice show of Virginia bluebells often takes place around this time on the west side of the preserve, though it can vary between April 2 and May 10. When May comes, the woodland floor turns to an emerald dream covered in varied textures. And it gets even greener as the canopy above fills in. Thanks to wild ginger, which spreads to fill in the remaining empty spaces, you can hardly see the carpet of bronze leaves that dominated the scene just a few weeks earlier. Check deep underneath the leaves of wild ginger to find a fuzzy burgundy blossom. My favorite show at this preserve comes from the miniature forests of mayapple with their parasol-shaped leaves where you can now find a lonesome waxy white blossom hiding under the plants with two umbrellas. Exciting patches of acrobatic skunk cabbage leaves add to the whimsy. Wild leek‘s emerald swords put up a defense, and check for the star-like leaves of wild geranium that lends to the air of its heavenly pink flower around this time. Hidden amongst the jade hues, try to find the beautiful floating foliage of early meadow rue. Nice displays of woodland phlox often coincide with the flowering of wild geranium, and keep an eye out for the white and pink shooting star that bloom atop the bluff. If you find a good patch of phlox, pay attention to its fabulous scent. You may not even have to put nose to petal. The combination of woodland phlox, wild geranium, and shooting star is a wonderful sight. The shimmering highlights of white false rue anemone, rue anemone, and the pinkish spring beauty add to the springtime experience. And you may still find a smattering of prairie trillium and common blue violet. The spiraling buttery blooms of wood betony still be blooming, while the shy yellow blooms of large-flowered bellwort are likely still hanging on as they cling to the sides of the bluffs. Finally, see if you can still spot the shimmering petals of bloodroot, sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches.

Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park: The peak bloom of large-flowered trillium usually happens around this time, but it can be earlier or later depending on the whims of Mother Nature. The display of trillium is even better at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve, which is owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. Begin your stroll at the west parking lot. This woodland usually blooms earlier than most of our other preserves, but it can also be flooded by waters of the adjacent Little Calumet River. You may find sparkles of sharp-lobed hepatica, rue anemone and false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, bloodroot, and spring beauty. Look for patches of spear-like foliage that resemble green spotted trout. In there, you may find magnificent blooms of yellow trout lily. The otherworldly burgundy prairie trillium may also be flowering by now, and so might the bright-yellow bristly buttercup that love muddy woodlands. The lush, sprawling foliage of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger greatly enhance the springtime experience.

Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn: This intimate preserve is known for its ravines that sparkle white with dense white colonies of false rue anemone that flow across the braes. But you’ll also see many other plants as well, like cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches. sharp-lobed hepatica, wild leek, mayapple, prairie trillium and common blue violet, and the sublime large-flowered bellwort that also grows in colonies. In late April or early May, look for drooping trillium and large-flowered trillium.

Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia: The woodland adjacent to the prairie is rich in springtime ephemerals. In late April or early May, the grand alabaster blossoms of large-flowered trillium steal the show amidst floating pink blossoms of wild geranium. Depending on the date of your visit, you’ll find many of the usual suspects in bloom: cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, spring beauty, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, prairie trillium, and yellow colonies of bristly buttercup. And of course, these flowers will fall against a verdant backdrop of mayapple, wild ginger, and some wild leek. In the prairie, look for wood betony and shooting star.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

NOTE: If you can’t make it to our showcase preserves, try McKinley Woods/Fredericks Grove in Channahon, Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, and Harms Woods in Glenview, and Oldfield Oaks in Darien, and J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve in Chesterton, Indiana. You’re bound to find some good stuff.

PLANT OF THE WEEK (Sand Phlox & Woodland Phlox):

PHOTO SECTION

Large-flowered Trillium can bloom between mid-April and early May:

At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered trillium is a site to behold.*

Sometime between mid-April and early May, large-flowered trillium will appear at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen. Their bloom usually coincides with that of Virginia bluebell.*

Wild Geranium:

May brings glorious displays of wild geranium to Oldfield Oaks in Darien, Illinois, part of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.*

Shooting Star:

The beautiful blooms of shooting star can be found in prairies and woodlands, alike.

This is a scene of shooting star and woodland phlox from atop a bluff at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.”

Virginia Bluebell:

O’Hara Woods presents the best display of of Virginia bluebells around that fill the air with a floral scent of Froot Loops cereal.*

Visit Pilcher Park Nature Center for one of the best performance of Virginia bluebell in the region.*

Virginia bluebells bloom en mass along the creek at Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, though not in vast expanses like other woodlands on our list.*

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen is one of the best places to experience breathtaking expanses of Virginia bluebells.*

False Rue Anemone:

Rue Anemone:

Cutleaf Toothwort:

Large-Flowered Bellwort:

Look for beautiful populations of large-flowered bellwort at Black Partridge Woods, Johnson’s Mound, and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve.*

Wild Hyacinth:

Wild hyacinth at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Each May, wild hyacinth blooms in woodlands and oak savannas across the Chicago region including, here, at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*

Wild hyacinth blooms in abundance at Oldfield Oaks in Darien.*

Wood Betony:

Usually in early May, wood betony blooms atop the bluffs at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.*

Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis) is also known as lousewort because it was erroneously thought to bring lice to grazing sheep and photographers who get too close. For some of its nutritional needs, the plant uses its roots to feed off of grasses, mycorrhizal fungi, and possibly other plants. I said “some” nutritional needs. Therefore, that plant is a parasite, but only partially so. Hence, it’s a hemi-parasite, more of a nibbler, as opposed to a full-fledged sap-sucking parasite. Though the leaves at the base exude a beautiful reddish tone, the green color above is the giveaway. The verdant hue shows that it’s not totally lazy, and creates its own energy through sunlight and chlorophyll production. In fact, wood betony can grow just fine even when its host plants aren’t around. Due to its nibbling nature, wood betony is known to stunt the growth of surrounding grasses. This is why it’s sometimes used in habitat restoration to quell the aggressiveness of towering grasses. In May, wood betony blooms in the best open woodlands, prairies, and savannas, like Black Partridge Woods, Bluff Spring Fen, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Chiwaukee Prairie, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, and here at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois.*

On this May morning at Shoe Factory Road Prairie, wood betony awakens to the light of a red sunrise.*

Shooting Star:

In May, the beautiful blooms of shooting star can be found in prairies and woodlands, alike.*

A scene of shooting star and woodland phlox atop a bluff at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.”

Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):

I discovered this pink variety of Dutchman’s breeches at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville. Notice the beautiful parts and details.*

Prairie Trillium:

At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, prairie trillium rises as the sun sets.*

Mayapple:

Wild Ginger:

Skunk Cabbage:

Sharp-lobed Hepatica:

Here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, a group of sharp-lobed hepatica huddles around the base of an oak tree.*

Bloodroot:

Marsh Marigold:

In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.*

Marsh marigold and skunk cabbage mix and mingle at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park, Illinois.*

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

Pembroke Savanna:

Between late April and mid-May, Pembroke Savanna is home to blooms of white sand phlox and rare birdfoot violet.”

In 2013 and in many years since, sand phlox spread across the black oak savanna of Pembroke Savanna Nature Preserve in Hopkins Park, Illinois.*

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
04-29-2025

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 7:21 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
April 29, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

By this time in April, the early blooms should be well underway. And according to our database, Virginia bluebells may have reached peak bloom depending on the weather.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

APRIL PUTS ON THE SPECTACULAR SHOWS OF VIRGINIA BLUEBELL AND LARGE-FLOWERED TRILLIUM. But are they blooming now? According to my database, there’s a good chance of catching both performances this season. But nature isn’t about the flowers. It’s about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts, whether it be a colorful, awe-inspiring bloom, the mysterious squeak of two rubbing trees mimicking the cry of a baby animal, or the scent of recently fallen rain. All of these things will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

This is an important time to be on the lookout for the spectacular shows of Virginia Bluebell and large-flowered trillium. The best blooms of Virginia Bluebells take place at O’Hara Woods, Pilcher Park, and Messenger Woods. Our database shows peak bluebell bloom happening anytime between April 2 and May 6. The former was in 2012 when it was 85 degrees in April! It puts on the most breathtaking performance of early spring. The oceans of blue are proof that Chicago nature offers beauty that rivals the national parks. Experience the magnificence with your eyes, as well as your nose, as the scent of these azure flowers fills the air with a sweet fragrance that some people liken to Froot Loops cereal. Instead of listening to “some people,” I did a little experiment of my own. I took the cereal into the field and compared its scent to the flowers. See the bluebell photos below to learn what I found.

The stunning show of large-flowered trillium usually corresponds closely to that of the bluebell, peaking just slightly after. These magnificent blossoms put on the best shows at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park) and at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve that’s owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. These alabaster beauties also grow at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Meacham Grove in DuPage County, Harms Woods in Glenview, and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and ethereal prairie trillium also flowers in most of our woodlands.

The earliest of our spring ephemerals may be gone or well into their blooming cycle. Many of them are colored white, including bloodroot, false rue anemone, rue anemone, spring cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort (our Plant of the Week). Spring beauty is white with pink stripes, and sharp-lobed hepatica offers a beautiful palette ranging from white to lavender to purple.

The yellow blossoms of marsh marigold may still be blooming at some preserves, including Pilcher Park, Bluff Spring Fen, Trout Park, Captain Daniel Wright Woods, and at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park (across the stream from the parking lot). Along the trails of our fine woodlands, check for yellow violet, bristly buttercup, yellow trout lily, buttery wood betony, and the shy drooping blossoms of large-flowered bellwort. You should be able to see some some red in the form of the aforementioned prairie trillium. And as for the hues of blues, our common blue violet is extremely beautiful when growing in a clump amidst its heart-shaped foliage. And, as mentioned before, one of the biggest flower shows of the year is a celebration of blue, as a sea of Virginia Bluebells flood the woodland floor.

NOTE: It is illegal to remove this plant, or any other plant from any preserve in the Chicago region.

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: The spectacular display of Virginia bluebells is usually taking place around this time, though it can vary between April 2 and May 5. This will be the top preserve to visit when the Virginia bluebells reach their peak. The preserve was once called Dynamite Woods because the site stored explosives during World War II. You can still see the crumbling bunkers, but they’re being taken over by woodland plants. Around this time, the white flowers of cutleaf toothwort should be exploding like sparklers across the woodland floor. Walk towards the stream along the south end of the preserve, and you’ll find Dutchman’s breeches (that look like white, puffy overalls), spring beauty, skunk cabbage, mayapple, wild leek (Chicago’s namesake), and Virginia bluebells.

Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park: The peak bloom of large-flowered trillium usually happens around this time, but it can be earlier or later depending on the whims of Mother Nature. The display of trillium is even better at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve, which is owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. Begin your stroll at the west parking lot. This woodland usually blooms earlier than most of our other preserves, but it can also be flooded by waters of the adjacent Little Calumet River. You may find sparkles of sharp-lobed hepatica, rue anemone and false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, bloodroot, and spring beauty. Look for patches of spear-like foliage that resemble green spotted trout. In there, you may find magnificent blooms of yellow trout lily. The otherworldly burgundy prairie trillium may also be flowering by now, and so might the bright-yellow bristly buttercup that enjoys wet and muddy woodlands. The lush, sprawling foliage of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger greatly enhance the springtime experience.

Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: The preserve puts on a show with a rich variety of flowers throughout the month of April and into the second half of May. Look for the whitish pink expanse of spring beauty and myriad other wildflowers, including Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, rue anemone, bloodroot, cutleaf toothwort, and surprisingly large colonies of flowering white trout lily. Adding to the color palette, you may see common blue violet, the golden hues of common yellow violet and swamp buttercup, and the strange and wonderful maroon tones of prairie trillium. Also, experience the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger that add to the springtime mix. This preserve offers a nice display of Virginia bluebells, but not an overwhelming ocean like other preserves. Note that many spring flowers don’t open up at the break of day. They are awakened by the light. On cloudy days, they may remain enclosed safely in their buds. Fortunately, when closed, the Dutchman’s breeches cannot close and the white petals of toothwort are still visible and continue to twinkle.

Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: This preserve makes me happy with its lushness and many patterns and shades of emerald foliage, especially the swords of wild leek, umbrellas of mayapple, hearts of wild ginger, sprawling skunk cabbage, and stars of soon-to-bloom wild geranium. Hidden amongst the jade hues, try to find the beautiful floating foliage of early meadow rue. See if you can still spot the shimmering petals of bloodroot, sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches. Search for the azure tones of common blue violet and woodland phlox. And seek out the shy drooping yellow blossoms of large-flowered bellwort. This is usually the best time to find Virginia bluebells blooming, with the largest display located west of the creek.

Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet: Begin your hike at the nature center where you may find a lush understory of spring wildflowers. Depending on when you visit, you may find sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, purple cress, and Dutchman’s breeches. Just as beautiful as the flowers are the fresh green leaves of wild leek, mayapple, and skunk cabbage. My favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold. Look for its yellow blossoms in the low, muddy areas of the site. You can find them near the nature center and around the trail after the bridge at this GPS coordinate: 41.532780, -88.016478. While you’re there (and just about anywhere with mud), look for the large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage. They’re hard to miss. Virginia bluebells also like the mud, especially along the banks of the creek. This preserve is one of the best places to experience a vastitude of bluebells which often flowers between mid-April and the first week of May.

Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn: This intimate preserve is known for its ravines that sparkle white with dense white colonies of false rue anemone that flow across the braes. But you’ll also see many other plants, as well, like cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches. sharp-lobed hepatica, wild leek, mayapple, prairie trillium and common blue violet, and the sublime large-flowered large-flowered bellwort that also grows in colonies. In late April or early May, look for drooping trillium and large-flowered trillium.

Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia: The woodland adjacent to the prairie is rich in springtime ephemerals. Depending on the date of your visit, you’ll find many of the usual suspects in bloom: cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, spring beauty, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, prairie trillium, and yellow colonies of bristly buttercup. And of course, these flowers will fall against a verdant backdrop of mayapple, wild ginger, and some wild leek. In May, the grand alabaster blossoms of large-flowered trillium steal the show amidst floating pink blossoms of wild geranium.

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: The peak bloom of large-flowered trillium usually happens around this time, but it can be earlier or later depending on the weather. This preserve exudes that green and luxuriant feeling of spring. Once spring takes hold, you’ll see a variety of blooming ephemerals amidst an emerald carpet often rich in a lacy false mermaid, mayapple, wild leek, and wild ginger. The most common blossoms that bloom in early spring are spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, false rue anemone, white trout lily, and prairie trillium. This preserve is known for its vast display of bluebells, which can reach peak bloom sometime between April 2 and May 6, though often in the last week of April.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: Park at the main parking lot for this preserve, located at Somme Woods, and then follow the narrow trail and across the street to Somme Prairie Grove. Note that springtime starts a little later in the northern suburbs. Remain under the tree canopy to see the most spring ephemerals. Along your stroll, you should discover spring beauty, white trout lily, some bloodroot, cutleaf toothwort, mayapple, and others.

NOTE: If you can’t make it to our showcase preserves, try McKinley Woods/Fredericks Grove in Channahon, Johnson’s Mound in Elburn, Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, and Harms Woods in Glenview, and Oldfield Oaks in Darien, and J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve in Chesterton, Indiana. You’re bound to find some good stuff.

PLANT OF THE WEEK (Virginia Bluebell):

Ah, the Virginia bluebell. This flower is not only beautiful, but it smells wonderful as well. When the flowers are blooming, the woodland fills with a fragrance that some say resembles the scent of Froot Loops cereal. So, last year, I put this to a test, in a side-by-side comparison. First, I lowered my nose into a small plastic bag filled with the cereal. Wow! I didn’t realize how “sharp” the sweetness was. Then, I cleared my nose by smelling my glove, and moved my nostrils into the fragrant blue trumpets. Here’s what I found. The bluebells do smell like the cereal, but not as sharp. But they also have a floral aroma. Therefore, bluebells smell like a floral Chanel version of Froot Loops cereal. Right now, you’ll find mostly buds and maybe a few open flowers of Virginia bluebell (species Mertensia virginica) at Messenger Woods, Pilcher Park, Black Partridge Woods, and here at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville.*

O’Hara Woods presents the best display of of Virginia bluebells around that fill the air with a floral scent of Froot Loops cereal.*

Visit Pilcher Park Nature Center for one of the best performance of Virginia bluebell in the region.*

Virginia bluebells bloom en mass along the creek at Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, though not in vast expanses like other woodlands on our list.*

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen is one of the best places to experience breathtaking expanses of Virginia bluebells.*

PHOTO SECTION

Large-flowered Trillium can bloom between mid-April and early May:

At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered trillium is a site to behold.*

Sometime between mid-April and early May, large-flowered trillium will appear at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen. The bloom usually coincides with that of Virginia bluebell.*

The blooming in the northern suburbs lags behind the southern ones, so it takes a little longer for the large-flowered trillium to appear at Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Metawa and, here, at Harms Woods in Glenview. Notice how the flowers turn pink as they fade.*

Cutleaf Toothwort:

The small flowers of Cutleaf toothwort make a big impact given their size, especially when blooming in large numbers. Even when closed, they still impart a sparkle because the petals are much longer than the sepals. Initially, I thought that the “toothwort” name came from the toothed leaves or the closed flowers that look like molars. But I was wrong. It is the rhizome, a root-like structure located just below the soil between the stem and the root. Most people would not figure this out. I mean, I only discovered it after employing my X-ray vision. However, there was a time when people relied on plants, and often their roots, for survival. And Native Americans ate the tooth-shaped tuber. Now, this isn’t the only plant named after its root. The root of bloodroot, as the name suggest, bleeds a red liquid when broken. Native Americans used this sanguine solution as body paint and to dye clothes and baskets. This shot was taken at O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, but you can find it at any of our featured woodlands.*

Large-Flowered Bellwort:

Look for beautiful populations of large-flowered bellwort at Black Partridge Woods, Johnson’s Mound, and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve.

Marsh Marigold:

In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.*

Marsh marigold and skunk cabbage mix and mingle at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park, Illinois.

False Rue Anemone:

False rue anemone (of species Enemion biternatum) is a beautiful plant that often blooms in dense colonies. The flowers are white and never have more than five sepals (the white petals that really aren’t petals at all). During the night, they close up into little white balls. False rue anemone is more common than its similar, (true) rue anemone. You can tell them apart by looking at their leaves and flowers. The flowers of false rue anemone can have many sepals, whereas the false version only has five. And the three-lobed leaves have a deeper cleavage between the lobes. Both characteristics are depicted in the image. You can see this plant at any of our showcase woodland. But the nicest shows take place at Johnson’s Mound, Black Partridge Woods, and Heron Rookery Trail. This and every other woodland wildflower is under attack by the foreign invader known as garlic mustard. It crowds out and poisons its neighbors until all that remains is its own kind covering barren earth. This is one reason why the forest preserves are always looking for volunteers, like you, to help control such threats. Volunteer today!

Rue Anemone:

Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):

I discovered this pink variety of Dutchman’s breeches at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville. Notice the beautiful parts and details.*

Prairie Trillium:

At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, prairie trillium rises as the sun sets.*

Sharp-lobed Hepatica:

Here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, a group of sharp-lobed hepatica huddles around the base of an oak tree.*

Bloodroot:

Mayapple:

In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods, in Lemont, April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops. At the moment, mayapples are either just sprouting or just starting to open their umbrellas.*

Wild Ginger:

Skunk Cabbage:

It’s springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering. If you’re someone who, like me, finds the powerful essence of skunk to be an invigorating and life-affirming experience, the skunk inside the cabbage will definitely let you down. You’ll find many at Pilcher Park Nature Center, Black Partridge Woods, Bluff Spring Fen, Trout Park, and O’Hara Woods.*

Skunk cabbage penetrates the frozen temperatures of late winter using its own heating system known as thermogenesis.

In late winter and early spring, skunk cabbage penetrates the frozen temperatures of late winter to be Chicago’s first plant to bloom. It uses its own heating system to melt the snow and ice in a process known as thermogenesis. The bumps atop the ball inside the spathe (the hood) are the plant’s flowers. And that ball is called the spadix. It’s the furnace that generates the heat and also creates a odor reminiscent of a yummy dead animal. Not yummy to us, but to carrion flies that are in search of a delicious treat. The plant uses this trick to attract flies, hoping that they’ll unwittingly pollinate the flowers as they buzz about looking for something dead to eat.

The speckled maroon spathe of skunk cabbage blends with leaf litter on the woodland floor, making it difficult to find when it first emerges. However, the plant becomes more conspicuous as it grows larger and produces its curious, oval-shaped yellow flower head, known as a spadix. The tiny delicate protrusions you see on the spadix are the flowers. The spadix emits a foul odor that, to a human, is reminiscent of skunk. However, to flesh flies, carrion flies, and several kinds of gnats, the spadix smells and looks more like a yummy dead animal, a trick the plant uses to lure them in for pollination. The spadix is also where the process of thermogenesis takes place. It warms the confines of the spathe, providing a cozy haven for pollinating insects while transmitting the smell of carrion far and wide.

In its early stages, the speckled maroon spathe of skunk cabbage blends with leaf litter on the woodland floor, making it difficult to find when it first emerges. However, the plant becomes more conspicuous as it grows larger and produces its curious, oval-shaped yellow flower head, known as a spadix. The tiny delicate protrusions you see on the spadix are the flowers.

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
04-22-2025
Earth Day Edition

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 7:00 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
April 22, 2025
(Earth Day Edition)

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

It’s Earth Day. And the springtime blooms are exploding!
This is also the week when, according to our data,
Virginia bluebells are most likely to reach peak bloom.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

APRIL PUTS ON THE SPECTACULAR SHOWS OF VIRGINIA BLUEBELL AND LARGE-FLOWERED TRILLIUM. But are they blooming now? According to my database, there’s a good chance of catching both performances this week. But nature isn’t about the flower-hunting. It’s about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts, whether it be a colorful, awe-inspiring bloom, the mysterious squeak of two rubbing trees mimicking the cry of a baby animal, or the scent of recently fallen rain. All of these things will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

Now is the time to be on the lookout for two spectacular shows, that of the Virginia Bluebell and large-flowered trillium. The best blooms of Virginia Bluebells take place at O’Hara Woods, Pilcher Park, and Messenger Woods. Our database shows peak bluebell bloom happening anytime between April 2 and May 6. The former was in 2012 when it was 85 degrees in April! It puts on the most breathtaking performance of early spring. The oceans of blue are proof that Chicago nature offers beauty that rivals the national parks. Experience the magnificence with your eyes, as well as your nose, as the scent of these azure flowers fills the air with a sweet fragrance that some people liken to Froot Loops cereal. Instead of listening to “some people,” I did a little experiment of my own. I took the cereal into the field and compared its scent to the flowers. Find the bluebell photos below to learn what I found.

The breathtaking show of large-flowered trillium usually corresponds closely to that of the bluebell, peaking just slightly after. These magnificent blossoms put on the best shows at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park) and at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve that’s owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. These alabaster beauties also grow at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Meacham Grove in DuPage County, Harms Woods in Glenview, and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and ethereal prairie trillium flowers in most of our woodlands.

The earliest of our spring ephemerals may be gone or well into their blooming cycle. Many of them are colored white, including bloodroot, false rue anemone, rue anemone, spring cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort (our Plant of the Week). Spring beauty is white with pink stripes, and sharp-lobed hepatica offers a beautiful palette ranging from white to lavender to purple.

The yellow blossoms of marsh marigold may still be blooming at many preserves, including Pilcher Park, Bluff Spring Fen, Trout Park, Captain Daniel Wright Woods, and at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park (across the stream from the parking lot). Along the trails of our fine woodlands, check for yellow violet, bristly buttercup, yellow trout lily, buttery wood betony, and the shy drooping blossoms of large-flowered bellwort. You should be able to see some some red in the form of the aforementioned prairie trillium. And as for the hues of blues, our common blue violet is extremely beautiful when growing in a clump amidst its heart-shaped foliage. And, as mentioned before, one of the biggest flower shows of the year is a celebration of blue, as a sea of Virginia Bluebells flood the woodland floor.

NOTE: It is illegal to remove this plant, or any other plant, from any preserve in the Chicago region.

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: The spectacular display of Virginia bluebells usually begins around this time, though it can vary between April 2 and May 5. This will be the top preserve to visit when the Virginia bluebells reach their peak. The preserve was once called Dynamite Woods because the site stored explosives during World War II. You can still see the crumbling bunkers, but they’re being taken over by woodland plants. Around this time, the white flowers of cutleaf toothwort should be exploding like sparklers across the woodland floor. Walk towards the stream along the south end of the preserve, and you’ll find Dutchman’s breeches (that look like white, puffy overalls), spring beauty, skunk cabbage, mayapple, wild leek (Chicago’s namesake), and Virginia bluebells.

Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park (National Park Pass required): Begin your stroll at the west parking lot. This woodland usually blooms earlier than most of our other preserves, but it can also be flooded by waters of the adjacent Little Calumet River. You may find sparkles of sharp-lobed hepatica, rue anemone and false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, bloodroot, and spring beauty. Look for patches of spear-like foliage that resemble green spotted trout. In there, you may find magnificent blooms of yellow trout lily. The otherworldly burgundy prairie trillium may also be flowering by now, and so might the bright-yellow bristly buttercup that enjoys wet and muddy woodlands. The lush, sprawling foliage of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger greatly enhance the springtime experience. Sometime between the middle of April and early May, large-flowered trillium puts on a grand show. The display of trillium is even better at the nearby J. Timothy Ritchie Preserve which is owned by Shirley Hines Land Trust. The gently rolling landscape and river appeal to me at Heron Rookery Trail. But Timothy Ritchie is a great complement to Heron Rookery Trail.

Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: This preserve makes me happy with its lushness and many patterns and shades of emerald foliage, especially the swords of wild leek, umbrellas of mayapple, hearts of wild ginger, sprawling skunk cabbage, and stars of soon-to-bloom wild geranium. Hidden amongst the jade hues, try to find the beautiful floating foliage of early meadow rue. See if you can still spot the shimmering petals of bloodroot, sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches. Search for the azure tones of common blue violet and woodland phlox. And seek for the shy drooping yellow blossoms of large-flowered bellwort. This is usually the best time to find Virginia bluebells blooming, with the largest display located west of the creek.

Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn: This intimate preserve is known for its ravines that sparkle white with dense white colonies of false rue anemone that flow across the braes. But you’ll also see many other plants, as well, like cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches. sharp-lobed hepatica, wild leek, mayapple, prairie trillium and common blue violet, and the sublime large-flowered large-flowered bellwort that also grows in colonies. In late April or early May, look for drooping trillium and large-flowered trillium.

Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia: The woodland adjacent to the prairie is rich in springtime ephemerals. Depending on the date of your visit, you’ll find many of the usual suspects in bloom: cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, spring beauty, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, prairie trillium, and yellow colonies of swamp buttercup. And of course, these flowers will fall against a verdant backdrop of mayapple, wild ginger, and some wild leek. In May, the grand alabaster blossoms of large-flowered trillium steal the show amidst floating pink blossoms of wild geranium.

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: This preserve exudes that green and luxuriant feeling of spring. Once spring takes hold, you’ll see a variety of blooming ephemerals amidst an emerald carpet often rich in a lacy false mermaid, mayapple, wild leek, and wild ginger. The most common blossoms that bloom in early spring are spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, false rue anemone, white trout lily, and prairie trillium. This preserve is known for its vast display of bluebells, which can reach peak bloom sometime between April 2 and May 6, though often in the last week of April.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: Park at the main parking lot for this preserve, located at Somme Woods, and then follow the narrow trail to Somme Prairie Grove. Note that springtime starts a little later in the northern suburbs. Remain under the tree canopy to see the most spring ephemerals. Along your stroll, you should discover spring beauty, white trout lily, some bloodroot, cutleaf toothwort, mayapple, and others.

PLANT OF THE WEEK (Cutleaf Toothwort):

The small flowers of Cutleaf toothwort make a big impact given size, especially when blooming in large numbers. Even when closed, they still impart a sparkle because the petals are much longer than the sepals. Initially, I thought that the “toothwort” name came from the toothed leaves or the closed flowers that look like molars. But I was wrong. It is the rhizome, a root-like structure located just below the soil between the stem and the root. Most people would not figure this out. I mean, I only discovered it after employing my X-ray vision. However, there was a time when people relied on plants, and often their roots, for survival. And Native Americans ate the tooth-shaped tuber. Now, this isn’t the only plant named after its root. The root of bloodroot, as the name suggest, bleeds a red liquid when broken. Native Americans used this sanguine solution as body paint and to dye clothes and baskets. This shot was taken at O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, but you can find it at any of our featured woodlands.*

PHOTO SECTION

False Rue Anemone:

False rue anemone (of species Enemion biternatum) is a beautiful plant that often blooms in dense colonies. The flowers are white and never have more than five sepals (the white petals that really aren’t petals at all). During the night, they close up into little white balls. False rue anemone is more common than its similar, (true) rue anemone. You can tell them apart by looking at their leaves and flowers. The flowers of false rue anemone can have many sepals, whereas the false version only has five. And the three-lobed leaves have a deeper cleavage between the lobes. Both characteristics are depicted in the image. You can see this plant at any of our showcase woodland. But the nicest shows take place at Johnson’s Mound, Black Partridge Woods, and Heron Rookery Trail. This and every other woodland wildflower is under attack by the foreign invader known as garlic mustard. It crowds out and poisons its neighbors until all that remains is its own kind covering barren earth. This is one reason why the forest preserves are always looking for volunteers, like you, to help control such threats. Volunteer today!

Rue Anemone:

Sharp-lobed Hepatica:

Here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, a group of sharp-lobed hepatica huddles around the base of an oak tree.*

Bloodroot:

Marsh Marigold:

In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.*

Marsh marigold and skunk cabbage mix and mingle at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park, Illinois.

Virginia Bluebells put on April’s most breathtaking flower show, any time between April 2 and May 6:

Ah, the Virginia bluebell. This flower is not only beautiful, but it smells wonderful as well. When the flowers are blooming, the woodland fills with a fragrance that some say resembles the scent of Froot Loops cereal. So, last year, I put this to a test, in side-by-side comparison. First, I lowered my nose into a small plastic bag filled with the cereal. Wow! I didn’t realize how “sharp” the sweetness was. Then, I cleared my nose by smelling my glove, and moved my nostrils into the fragrant blue trumpets. Here’s what I found. The bluebells do smell like the cereal, but not as sharp. But they also have a floral aroma. Therefore, bluebells smell like a floral Chanel version of Froot Loops cereal. Right now, you’ll find mostly buds and maybe a few open flowers of Virginia bluebell (species Mertensia virginica) at Messenger Woods, Pilcher Park, Black Partridge Woods, and here at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville.*

O’Hara Woods presents the best display of of Virginia bluebells around that fill the air with a floral scent of Froot Loops cereal.*

Visit Pilcher Park Nature Center for one of the best performance of Virginia bluebell in the region.*

Virginia bluebells bloom en mass along the creek at Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, though not in vast expanses like other woodlands on our list.*

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen is one of the best places to experience breathtaking expanses of Virginia bluebells.*

Large-flowered Trillium can bloom between mid-April and early May:

At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered trillium is a site to behold.*

Sometime between mid-April and early May, large-flowered trillium will appear at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen. The bloom usually coincides with that of Virginia bluebell.*

Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):

I discovered this pink variety of Dutchman’s breeches at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville. Notice the beautiful parts and details.*

Prairie Trillium:

At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, prairie trillium rises as the sun sets.*

Mayapple:

Skunk Cabbage:

It’s springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering. If you’re someone who, like me, finds the powerful essence of skunk to be an invigorating and life-affirming experience, the skunk inside the cabbage will definitely let you down. You’ll find many at Pilcher Park Nature Center, Black Partridge Woods, Bluff Spring Fen, Trout Park, and O’Hara Woods.*

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
04-02-2025

Posted by Mike MacDonald on 12:01 am in Blog, Featured | 0 comments

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
April 2 – April 14, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!

Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign

Welcome to the first wildflower forecast of 2025!

The first two weeks of the growing season bring
a small burst of spring ephemerals in our woodlands.
But in only takes days for last year’s bronze carpet of discarded foliage
to be pushed aside by a verdant filigree of renewal.
The door to the past will officially close, and a new door will open.
Cross the threshold into nature’s wonders. Begin your revival, now.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

RIGHT NOW, SPRING WILDFLOWERS MAY OR MAY NOT BE BLOOMING. But blooming times vary from year to year. According to my database, spring can start anytime between the middle of March and mid-April. So just pick a preserve from the list below, and discover. Get out into nature and be open to its unexpected gifts, whether it be a colorful, awe-inspiring bloom, the mysterious squeak of two rubbing trees mimicking the cry of a baby animal, or the life-affirming odor of skunk cabbage. All of these things will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.

The start of spring begins in Chicago’s woodlands with a celebration of delicate wildflowers. The blossoms may be plentiful, but they’re often diminutive. In particular, skunk cabbage is officially the first plant to bloom each year. It usually sprouts at the beginning of March, but I’ve seen it in January! Its teeny-tiny yellow flowers are tucked away inside a camouflaged maroon hood that hides amongst the scatter of bronze leaves. (Read my poem about it.) If you look very carefully, right now, you may still find the hoods. But most likely, you’ll see a single curl of cabbage leaves poking out from the ground, like one bright-green bunny ear. This may also be the time to find the gorgeous blossoms of sharp-lobed hepatica that visually pop from autumn’s brown carpet. And then there’s the sublime lemon flowers of marsh marigold that can be found in some of the muddiest wooded areas. Oh, how I love the flowers and the round-hearted leaves. Both hepatica and marsh marigold are our Plants of the Week.

To best appreciate the flowers that are so small and low to the ground, bend down and take a closer look. Marvel at their intricate beauty. Many of our springtime flowers are colored white, like cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, rue anemone, spring cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, and bloodroot. Spring beauty is white with pink stripes, and hepatica offers a beautiful palette ranging from white to lavender to purple. In addition to marsh marigold, you may find yellow flowers in the form of yellow violet, swamp buttercup, yellow trout lily, buttery wood betony, and the shy drooping blossoms of large-flowered bellwort. We can find some red in the form of the ethereal prairie trillium. And as for the blues and purples, our common blue violet is extremely beautiful when growing in a clump amidst its heart-shaped foliage. In fact, one of the biggest flower shows of the year is a celebration of blue, as a sea of Virginia Bluebells flood the woodland floor. Our database shows peak bloom taking place as early as April 2, but that was in 2012 when March temperatures reached into the 80’s. Normally, it happens between April 20 and May 6.

And let’s not forget the bright green leaves of the vernal season. You’ll find sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage in the wet and muddy areas with great displays at Pilcher Park, Trout Park, Black Partridge Woods, and Bluff Spring Fen. Wild leek is the one of the first plants to sprout, with swordlike leaves that make up a large percentage of the early-spring greenery. It’s the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who paddled the area rivers were commonly heard yelling “Chicagoua!” after catching a strong whiff of chicagoua, or wild leek, growing prolifically along the wooded banks. Wild leek is part of the onion family, hence the Chicago nickname, “The Big Onion.” And look for mayapple with foliage that resembles an umbrella, and a closed umbrella when they first sprout. It can take several days for them to open.

NOTE: It is illegal to remove this plant, or any other plant, from any preserve in the Chicago region.

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: The preserve puts on a show with a rich variety of flowers throughout the month of April and into the second half of May. Depending on when spring sprung this year, look for the whitish pink expanse of spring beauty and myriad other wildflowers, including Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, rue anemone, bloodroot, and surprisingly large colonies of flowering white trout lily. The strange and wonderful prairie trillium may also be in bloom. Also, experience the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger that add to the springtime mix. This preserve will soon offer a nice display of Virginia bluebells, but not an overwhelming ocean like other preserves. Note that many spring flowers don’t open up at the break of day. They are awakened by the light. On cloudy days, they may remain enclosed safely in their buds. Fortunately, when closed, the white petals of toothwort are still visible and continue to twinkle.

Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park: Begin at the west parking lot. This woodland usually blooms earlier than most of our other preserves, but it can also be flooded by waters of the adjacent Little Calumet River. Depending on your timing, you may find sparkles of sharp-lobed hepatica, rue anemone and false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, bloodroot, and spring beauty. Look for patches of spear-like foliage that resemble green spotted trout. In there, you may find magnificent blooms of yellow trout lily. And prairie trillium may also be flowering by now. The lush, sprawling foliage of mayapple and wild leek greatly enhance the springtime experience.

O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: The preserve was once called Dynamite Woods because the site stored explosives during World War II. You can still see the crumbling bunkers, but they’re being taken over by woodland plants. Right now, white flowers of cutleaf toothwort should be exploding, like sparklers across the woodland floor. Walk towards the stream along the south end of the preserve, and you’ll find Dutchman’s breeches (that look like white, puffy overalls), spring beauty, skunk cabbage, mayapple, wild leek (Chicago’s namesake), and soon-to-bloom Virginia bluebells. This will be the top preserve to visit when the Virginia bluebells reach their peak.

Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: When spring takes hold, this preserve is breathtaking. From the filigreed tree canopy to an understory of lushness with many patterns and shades of emerald foliage, especially wild leek, mayapple, the glorious leaves of skunk cabbage, and the small heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger. And you should soon find the shimmering petals of bloodroot, sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches. Virginia bluebells bloom a little later.

Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet: Begin your hike at the nature center where you may find a lush understory of spring wildflowers. Depending on when you visit, you may find sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, purple cress, and Dutchman’s breeches. Just as beautiful as the flowers are the fresh green leaves of wild leek, mayapple, and skunk cabbage. My favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold, which is probably reaching peak bloom. Look for its yellow blossoms in the low, muddy areas of the site. You can find them near the nature center and around the trail after the bridge at this GPS coordinate: 41.532780, -88.016478. While you’re there (and just about anywhere with mud), look for the large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage. They’re hard to miss. Virginia bluebells also like the mud, especially along the banks of the creek. This preserve is one of the best places to experience a vastitude of bluebells, which often flowers between mid-April and the first week of May.

Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn: This intimate preserve is known for its ravines that sparkle white with dense white colonies of false rue anemone that flow across the braes. But you’ll also see many other plants, as well, like cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches. sharp-lobed hepatica, wild leek, mayapple, prairie trillium and common blue violet, and the sublime large-flowered large-flowered bellwort that also grows in colonies. In late April or early May, look for drooping trillium and large-flowered trillium.

Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia: The woodland adjacent to the prairie is rich in springtime ephemerals. Depending on the date of your visit, you’ll find many of the usual suspects in bloom: cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, spring beauty, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, prairie trillium, and yellow colonies swamp buttercup. And of course, these flowers will fall against a verdant backdrop of mayapple, wild ginger, and some wild leek. In May, the grand alabaster blossoms of large-flowered trillium steal the show amidst floating pink blossoms of wild geranium.

Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: This preserve exudes that green and luxuriant feeling of spring. Once spring takes hold, you’ll see a variety of blooming ephemerals amidst an emerald carpet often rich in a lacy false mermaid. The most common blossoms that bloom in early spring are spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, and false rue anemone. The foliage of mayapple and wild leek greatly contribute to the lush springtime feel of the place. This preserve is known for its vast display of bluebells, which can reach peak bloom sometime between April 2 and May 5, though often in the last week of April.

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Early in the spring, the transcendent yellow blossoms of marsh marigold should be flowering alongside fresh lush colonies of skunk cabbage. Soon after, you should also find miniature canopies of mayapple and a small number of spring ephemerals. And under the shade of the oaks in the savanna, you’ll find small patches false rue anemone. For the best views of marsh marigold and skunk cabbage, visit Trout Park for dense populations of these plants in an intimate setting. The preserve features a trail that takes you up and down the bluffs that includes a wooden boardwalk that carefully guides you through sensitive wet areas. While on the boardwalk, look for Chicago’s only native evergreen tree, the northern white cedar. Atop the bluff, you’ll find other spring wildflowers.

PLANTS OF THE WEEK (Sharp-lobed Hepatica & Marsh Marigold):

SHARP-LOBED HEPATICA

Here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, a group of sharp-lobed hepatica huddles around the base of an oak tree.*

MARSH MARIGOLD

In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.*

PHOTO SECTION

Skunk Cabbage:

Skunk cabbage penetrates the frozen temperatures of late winter to be Chicago’s first plant to bloom. It uses its own heating system to melt the snow and ice in a process known as thermogenesis. The bumps atop the ball inside the spathe (the hood) are the plant’s flowers. And that ball is called the spadix. It’s the furnace that generates the heat and also creates a odor reminiscent of a yummy dead animal. Not yummy to us, but to carrion flies that are in search of a delicious treat. The plant uses this trick to attract flies, hoping that they’ll unwittingly pollinate the flowers as they buzz about looking for something dead to eat.

The speckled maroon spathe of skunk cabbage blends with leaf litter on the woodland floor, making it difficult to find when it first emerges. However, the plant becomes more conspicuous as it grows larger and produces its curious, oval-shaped yellow flower head, known as a spadix. The tiny delicate protrusions you see on the spadix are the flowers.

It’s springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering. If you’re someone who, like me, finds the powerful essence of skunk to be an invigorating and life-affirming experience, the skunk inside the cabbage will definitely let you down. You’ll find many at Pilcher Park Nature Center, Black Partridge Woods, Bluff Spring Fen, Trout Park, and O’Hara Woods.*

Cutleaf Toothwort:

Cutleaf toothwort is small flowers makes a big impact for their size of its flowers, especially when blooming in large numbers. Even when closed, they still impart a sparkle because the petals are much longer than the sepals. Initially, I thought that the “toothwort” name came from the toothed leaves or the closed flowers that look like molars. But I was wrong. It is the rhyzome, a root-like structure located just below the soil between the stem and the root. Most people would not figure this out. I mean, I only discovered it after employing my X-ray vision. However, there was a time when people relied on plants, and often their roots, for survival. And Native Americans ate the tooth-shaped tuber. Now, this isn’t the only plant named after its root. The root of bloodroot, as the name suggest, bleeds a red liquid when broken. Native Americans used this sanguine solution as body paint and to dye clothes and baskets. This shot was taken at O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, but you can find it at any of our featured woodlands.*

Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):

O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve has a large number of Dutchman’s breeches. It is one of my favorite spring flowers because the flower is just so kooky and the leaves are a dream. You can find them at Heron Rookery Trail, Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve, and many of our showcase woodlands.*

I discovered this pink variety of Dutchman’s breeches at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville. Notice the beautiful parts and details.*

Bloodroot (catch it before it goes away for another year):

Rue Anemone:

False Rue Anemone:

False rue anemone (of species Enemion biternatum) is a beautiful plant that often blooms in dense colonies. The flowers are white and never have more than five sepals (the white petals that really aren’t petals at all). During the night, they close up into little white balls. False rue anemone is more common than its similar, (true) rue anemone. You can tell them apart by looking at their leaves and flowers. The flowers of false rue anemone can have many sepals, whereas the false version only has five. And the three-lobed leaves have a deeper cleavage between the lobes. Both characteristics are depicted in the image. You can see this plant at any of our showcase woodland. But the nicest shows take place at Johnson’s Mound, Black Partridge Woods, and Heron Rookery Trail. This and every other woodland wildflower is under attack by the foreign invader known as garlic mustard. It crowds out and poisons its neighbors until all that remains is its own kind covering black earth. This is one reason why the forest preserves are always looking for volunteers, like you, to help control such threats. Volunteer today!

Mayapple:

Virginia Bluebell:

Right now, you’ll find the blue and pink buds of Virginia bluebell (of species Mertensia virginica) at Messenger Woods, Pilcher Park, Black Partridge Woods, and here at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville.*

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

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If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

—Mike

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Chicago Wildflower ForecastBest Chicago Nature Hikes & Outdoor Getaways

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT 06-10-2025

Chicago Nature NOW! AlertJune 10, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts FeaturingChicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Walks”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Outdoor Getaways Around Chicago!

Get outside to experience magnificent flower shows in our showcase prairies and savannas.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

PLANTS OF THE WEEK: PALE PURPLE CONEFLOWER & PORCUPINE GRASS

Pale Purple Coneflower

Porcupine Grass and its Miraculous Drilling Seeds

PHOTO SECTION

Sand Coreopsis

The Melting Flowers of Ohio Spiderwort

Pasture Rose is a Flower that Must be Smelled

Foxglove Beardtongue (and its contribution to the wonderful world of scent)

June Grass

Hoary Puccoon

Blue Flag Iris

Golden Alexander

Indian Paintbrush

Wild Columbine

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

The Charismatic Foliage of Compass Plant & Prairie Dock

If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT 06-03-2025

Chicago Nature NOW! AlertJune 3, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts FeaturingChicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Get outside to experience magnificent flower shows in our showcase prairies and savannas.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

PLANTS OF THE WEEK (Sand Coreopsis & Ohio Spiderwort):

Sand Coreopsis:

The Melting Flowers of Ohio Spiderwort:

PHOTO SECTION

Shooting Star:

Shooting Star at Chiwaukee Prairie:

Wild Lupine:

Meadow Anemone

Hoary Puccoon:

Blue Flag Iris starts to bloom in the late May:

Golden Alexander:

Foxglove Beardtongue usually begins its bloom in early to mid-June:

Wild Columbine:

Indian Paintbrush:

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

If you find this website of Chicago nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT 05-27-2025

Chicago Nature NOW! AlertMay 27, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts FeaturingChicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Plan the Best Nature Walks & Getaways Around Chicago!

Be on the lookout for spectacular flower shows taking place in our showcase prairies, savannas, and woodlands.

WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:

SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:

LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):

“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:

PLANT OF THE WEEK (Golden Alexander):

PHOTO SECTION

Shooting Star:

Shooting Star at Chiwaukee Prairie:

Wild Lupine:

Wild Hyacinth:

Starry False Solomon’s Seal:

Wood Betony:

Woodland Phlox:

Hoary Puccoon:

Blue Flag Iris starts to bloom in the late May:

Foxglove Beardtongue usually begins in late May:

Sand Coreopsis:

Ohio Spiderwort and its Melting Flowers:

Wild Columbine:

Indian Paintbrush:

Sand Phlox:

Wild Geranium:

Stout Blue-Eyed Grass

Chicago Wildflower Forecast
Best Chicago Nature Hikes & Outdoor Getaways

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
06-10-2025

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
June 10, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Walks”

Get outside to experience magnificent flower shows
in our showcase prairies and savannas.

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
06-03-2025

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
June 3, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Get outside to experience magnificent flower shows
in our showcase prairies and savannas.

ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
05-27-2025

Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
May 27, 2025

“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”

Be on the lookout for spectacular flower shows
taking place in our showcase prairies, savannas, and woodlands.