Chicago Wildflower Report & Info – 05/28/2020
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
May 28, 2020
“Weekly Wildflower Reports Featuring
Chicago’s Best Memorial Day Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”
The Best COVID-19 Outdoor Getaways & Nature Walks Around Chicago!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to received FREE nature alerts!
Even during this trying time,
we are working to bring you opportunities to find peace!
PLEASE DONATE TO HELP US CONTINUE OUR MISSION.
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE VISITING OUR SHOWCASE PRESERVES DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASED INTEREST IN NATURE:
ChicagoNatureNOW! preserves are Sacred Cathedrals of Nature, NOT playgrounds or amusement parks. Please treat these sanctuaries with reverence, and behave as you would in any house of worship:
-
-
- Stay on the trails.
- Walk, don’t run.
- If your kids need to run around, there are THOUSANDS of more appropriate places to play.
- Speak quietly as to not interfere with the spiritual experiences of others.
- Don’t pick flowers or remove anything from a preserve.
- Share cherished moments by through photography, drawing, painting, and writing.
- Many of these preserves do NOT allow pets, even if they’re leashed.
- If a rule isn’t listed here, then ask yourself, “Would I do this in church?”
-
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SITE ACCESS & SAFETY TIPS
SITE ACCESS:
Most sites and trails that are owned by Chicago-area counties and Indiana Dunes National Park are open, except for visitor centers, buildings, and bathrooms. Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia is closed. Period. Check out these websites before you go:
- Forest Preserve District of Will County
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- McHenry County Conservation District
- One of our favorite showcase preserves, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, is closed until further notice due to abuse. One of our scouts found a family-of-four carrying out flowers that they picked for Mother’s Day. And we received a report of ten mountain bikers who gathered to pick the hoary puccoon and wood betony, possibly for the same reason. This behavior is horrid, and I agree with the temporary policy. But we cannot allow the preserve to be closed off forever. Education and appreciation is the key to helping people fall in love with nature, not locking people out.
BE SAFE:
- WEAR A MASK. Act as if you are infected because you very well could be and don’t know it.. A mask keeps your exhalations from taking to the air and making others sick.
- Give each other at least TEN feet of space between you.
- The wind can carry the virus. When people are present, be conscious of the wind and its direction.
- When having a conversation, position yourselves so that the wind is blowing from the left or the right.
- Don’t block people’s progress by blocking trails or gathering around trailheads and intersections.
WE NEED SCOUTS. CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH US!
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS TO HELP YOU PLAN OUTDOOR HIKES AROUND CHICAGO:
Several beautiful floral shows are taking place this week, including wild lupine, wild geranium, wild hyacinth, hoary puccoon, and shooting star (our Plant of the Week).
Chiwaukee Prairie, on the Illinois/Wisconsin border, is famous for its breathtaking show of shooting star that spans the prairie panorama. And it’s happening right now! If you can’t make the trip to the cheese state, then the next best show happens in Northbrook at Somme Prairie Grove.
Another breathtaking performance comes from wild lupine in Indiana Dunes National Park at Miller Woods, Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach. During the best years, the green dunes turn blue. And many other species add to the mix, including the golden hoary puccoon and hairy puccoon. These puccoons, and quite possibly the sublime fringed puccoon, are also blooming at many of our prairies and savannas that include Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Somme Prairie Grove, and Chiwaukee Prairie.
Floating blossoms of wild geranium that turn our woodlands pink in fantastic displays across the region. The best confirmed shows are taking place at Messenger Woods and atop the bluffs of Black Partridge Woods. However, I presume that they are creating striking displays at most of our woodlands. The feathery plumes of wild hyacinth are reaching peak bloom at Wolf Road Prairie (savanna and prairie), Black Partridge Woods, Oldfield Oaks, and other preserves. The waxy, white flower of mayapple is now in bloom. Look for a single flower under any plant with two “umbrella” leaves.
Enjoy the emerald tones of the woodlands, as chartreuse lace fills the canopy above your head. And beneath your feet, you’ll barely see your shoes under a jade carpet of wild ginger, mayapple, wild leek, and skunk cabbage. Black Partridge Woods and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve are perfect examples of this lushness.
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
Before visiting a preserve, visit the website for the landholder first. Click here for some resources.
We’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the quality of the wildflower experience, 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 get out to our top-rated preserves. And our “Preserves for You to Scout” section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore! The date within the parentheses tells you when we last scouted the preserve. After the date, you may see one of these three mathematical symbols: +, –, = (plus, minus, equal). They represent our prediction about how the flowers will look like on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin (5/25+): The preserve is putting on its finest show of the year. The performance of shooting star is spectacular and includes a color mix of hoary puccoon, wood betony, yellow star grass, blue-eyed grass, and birdfoot violet, and wild strawberry. Golden Alexander is just beginning to show its bright yellow blossoms.. Along the edges, look for nice patches of wild lupine.
Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park (5/24+): The show of wild lupine has begun with peak bloom coming soon. Adding the to the blue hues are the sublime blue-eyed grass and the remaining 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. While you’re here, take the trail to the lakeshore that starts at the nature center. Along the way, the trail crosses a wide gravel path that goes straight east-west. Head west, and you’ll find beaver lodges and beaver 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. On Sunday, my wife and I must have heard ten tail slaps. 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 at some places. We recommend high boots. Or just slosh on through!
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook (5/25+): The shooting star is, quite literally, the star of the week. The flower can be found in large bunches and also sprinkled across the landscape. In the shade, you’ll find some wild geranium along with wild hyacinth which doesn’t mind a little sun. The golden blooms of balsam ragwort adds beautiful highlights in many places throughout the preserve alongside the final blooms of wood betony. Golden Alexander is just beginning to show its bright yellow blossoms, though more so in the open areas than under the trees. There’s one spot on a knob where I found a handful of Indian paintbrush, which made my day! And then there’s the delicately elegant stout blue-eyed grass that makes my heart skip a beat. In the woods, there’s a beautiful pond under a canopy of magical cottonwoods and yellow water buttercup that should be experienced as the rays of sunlight pass through the flowers and the emerald wetland foliage.. It’s breathtaking. The preserve was recently burned, which cleared away the brambly dead growth from last year, leaving behind verdant emerging sprouts against a backdrop of bare black soil. It’s quite garden-like and pleasing to the eye because all of the new greenery stands out. I especially like the many bright-emerald tufts of prairie dropseed.
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion (5/25+): If you visit Chiwaukee Prairie to see the shooting stars, then you’ll be in the neighborhood of this beautiful preserve. There are many flowers blooming, though not as dramatically as Chiwaukee. Nevertheless, this is the only preserve in the region that I’d recommend visiting even if there were no flowers blooming! The yellow blooms of hoary puccoon are the star of the show, here, with hairy puccoon soon on its way. The gorgeous fringed puccoon is on full display, sometimes in small patches, but mostly sprinkled here and there. Bend down close to fully experience the elegant lacy edges of the flower petals. The light-yellow flowers of wood betony are still putting on a nice show, though they are fading. Along your way, you’ll find the delightful blue-eyed grass, sparkles of sand cress, and possibly Indian paintbrush, if you look closely. There are some wild lupine blooming, but not as prolifically as previous years.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (5/22=): NOTE: The main parking lot is closed, but no problem! Just use the on-street parking area located about a hundred feet west. Wow! The displays of wild geranium and the fragrant woodland phlox are gorgeous. Atop the bluffs, you’ll find the best floral color and a greater mix of flowering species, including shooting star and wild hyacinth alongside the aforementioned geranium and phlox. The lush feel that runs from floor to canopy is breathtaking. In the lowland, it’s hard to see the soil below thanks to the carpet of wild ginger. I particularly love the miniature forests of mayapple with their parasol-shaped leaves. Right now, look for a large, waxy white bloom hiding under any mayapple with two umbrellas. Exciting patches of large, acrobatic skunk cabbage add to the whimsy, along with emerald swords of wild leek, and the star-like leaves of wild geranium.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (5/22): A wonderful show of wild geranium is taking place with large densities of flowers in peak condition. Wild hyacinth and woodland phlox contribute to the celebration. And mayapple is now blooming. The preserve is lush and magical.
NOTE: The wooden bridge over the creek is sometimes covered in water. If there’s been a recent rain, bring boots or take off your shoes.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Bluff Spring Fen in Monee (5/23+): The preserve is lush with carpets of green that include colonies of mayapple and skunk cabbage. Only a few early-spring flowers are still blooming, including marsh marigold, common blue violet, birdfoot violet, and false rue anemone. However, you’ll now find fresh displays of hoary puccoon, fringed puccoon, stout blue-eyed grass, and yellow star grass.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (UNSCOUTED. Last scouted on 5/19=): The preserve was last scouted on May 19. We still need many more scouts. Learn more here. The preserve is lush with a full canopy of leaves and a dense carpet of foliage across the woodland floor. This includes the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, flowering mayapple, early meadow rue, and the omnipresent wild ginger. I expect that the most prominently blooming flower is wild geranium, which can often put on quite a show here. You should also find wild hyacinth. And false Solomon’s seal should also be blooming now.
Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester (5/25+): The preserve is finally beginning to bloom. Both the prairie and savanna feature a beautiful display of wild hyacinth. The pink flowers of wild geranium add well-needed color under the trees, and the bubble-gum pink of downy phlox brightens the prairie. Also, the tiny starlike blossoms of starry false Solomon’s seal are just starting to show.
PLANT OF THE WEEK: SHOOTING STAR
If the celestial blooms of shooting star don’t capture your attention, then nothing will. The origin of the name is pretty obvious at first sight, and also for the moniker of “prairie pointer” given to the plant by early pioneers. I once thought that the flowers only grew under the sun of prairies and savannas, like Chiwaukee Prairie, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Fermilab Prairie, and Somme Prairie Grove, until I found them thriving under the dappled canopy at Black Partridge Woods. Cleansing fires benefit this plant because dead vegetation can smother it. The most common pollinator is the queen bumblebee that uses its thoracic muscles to quickly vibrate the pollen loose in a process called “buzz pollination.”
PHOTO SECTION
Shooting Star is Putting on Wonderful Shows
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.*
Shooting star and woodland phlox bloom together at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.”
Wild Lupine is Reaching Peak Bloom in our Black Oak Savannas (Sand Savannas)
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, 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.*
Here at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, you can often find wild lupine blooming alongside hoary and hairy puccoon, though usualy not in great numbers.*
An exploration into the inner world of wild lupine.
Beaver Activity at Miller Woods
On the gravel road that rides a ridge at Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park, beavers created this dark thoroughfare as they moved across the ridge from one swale to another.*
Wild Geranium is Flowering at Peak Bloom in Many Woodlands
I love wild geranium for its floating pink flowers and star-shaped leaves that carpet the woodland floor. And my love is genuine. Yet, if my love was inflicted against my will from a love potion, Iroquois Indians believed that a tea made from wild geranium root would neutralize the effects of the love charm. More legitimately, the plant was also used by Native Americans to help reduce bleeding and many other maladies. Leaves and roots were employed to treat sore throats, hemorrhoids, gonorrhea, and cholera. It was also used to treat diarrhea, but often caused constipation. Today, the extract of wild geranium can be found in herbal stores as an anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhaging medicine. The name “geranium” comes from the Latin name for crane, “geranos,” because of the crane- or stork-shaped seed pods. The pink flowers have five striped petals and are 1-1¼” across. Multiple flowers will bloom on a stalk that can rise above the foliage, seemingly floating above the plant. You can find wild geranium at all of our showcase woodlands. Here at Oldfield Oaks in Darien, a preserve that’s not on our list, the pink blooms float above its star-shaped foliage.*
Here at Black Partridge Woods, the pink blooms complement green star-shaped foliage. You can find wild geranium in all of our featured woodlands.*
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.*
Wild Hyacinth in Our Woodlands
The sublime blossoms of wild hyacinth are now in bloom at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*
Right now, wild hyacinth is blooming blooming in abundance at Oldfield Oaks in Darien.*
Each May, wild hyacinth blooms in woodlands, prairies, and oak savannas across the Chicago region including, here, at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester. It doesn’t look nearly as dense, this year. And that’s part of the wonder of nature.*
Stout Blue-Eyed Grass
The sublime blooms of stout blue-eye grass are now being revealed at Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois. Wow! Do I love this flower! And you can find them at other preserves, including Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Chiwaukee Prairie, Miller Woods, and Somme Prairie Grove.*
Woodland Phlox
Here at Black Partridge Woods, woodland phlox grows up the brae. This flower can also be found at the other featured woodlands, like Raccoon Grove, Messenger Woods, and Fermilab Natural Areas. The flower is reaching the end of its run.*
Mayapple is Still Blooming:
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods, in Lemont, springtime showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops. Soon, a waxy, white flower will appear, like a pedestrian under a parasol. (See the wild ginger photo below.)*
At Black Partridge Woods, 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.*
Skunk Cabbage is Always a Treat to Behold:
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park Nature Center, 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.*
* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.
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
Chicago Wildflower Report & Info – 05/20/2020
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
May 20, 2020
Memorial Day Edition
“Weekly Wildflower Reports Featuring
Chicago’s Best Memorial Day Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”
The Best COVID-19 Outdoor Getaways & Nature Walks
Around Chicago for Memorial Day!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to received FREE nature alerts!
Even during this trying time,
we are working to bring you opportunities to find peace!
PLEASE DONATE TO HELP US CONTINUE OUR MISSION.
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE VISITING OUR SHOWCASE PRESERVES DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASED INTEREST IN NATURE:
ChicagoNatureNOW! preserves are Sacred Cathedrals of Nature, NOT playgrounds or amusement parks. Please treat these sanctuaries with reverence, and behave as you would in any house of worship:
-
-
- Stay on the trails.
- Walk, don’t run.
- If your kids need to run around, there are THOUSANDS of more appropriate places to play.
- Speak quietly as to not interfere with the spiritual experiences of others.
- Don’t pick flowers or remove anything from a preserve.
- Share cherished moments by through photography, drawing, painting, and writing.
- Many of these preserves do NOT allow pets, even if they’re leashed.
- If a rule isn’t listed here, then ask yourself, “Would I do this in church?”
-
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SITE ACCESS & SAFETY TIPS
SITE ACCESS:
Most sites and trails that are owned by Chicago-area counties and Indiana Dunes National Park are open, except for visitor centers, buildings, and bathrooms. Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia is closed. Period. Check out these websites before you go:
- Forest Preserve District of Will County
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- McHenry County Conservation District
- One of our favorite showcase preserves, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, is closed until further notice due to abuse. One of our scouts found a family-of-four carrying out flowers that they picked for Mother’s Day. And we received a report of ten mountain bikers who gathered to pick the hoary puccoon and wood betony, possibly for the same reason. This behavior is horrid, and I agree with the temporary policy. But we cannot allow the preserve to be closed off forever. Education and appreciation is the key to helping people fall in love with nature, not locking people out.
BE SAFE:
- Treat the world as if you’re already infected, and WEAR A MASK. Period. A mask keeps your exhalations from taking to the air and making others sick.
- Give each other at least TEN feet of space between you.
- The wind can carry the virus. When people are present, be conscious of the wind and its direction.
- When having a conversation, position yourselves so that the wind is blowing from the left or the right.
- Don’t block people’s progress by blocking trails or gathering around trailheads and intersections.
WE NEED SCOUTS. CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH US!
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS FOR PLANNING NATURE HIKES AROUND CHICAGO:
The shows of the week come from the nice displays of wild lupine (our Plant of the Week), wild geranium, and the fragrant woodland phlox.
The best place to experience wild lupine is in Indiana Dunes National Park at Miller Woods, Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach. They are just beginning to bloom and about a week away from peak bloom. Alongside displays of wild lupine, golden hoary puccoon and hairy puccoon are just starting to flower in large numbers.
The potentially prolific pink blossoms of wild geranium are now populating the region’s woodlands alongside the blue blooms of woodland phlox. If you find a patch of phlox, pay attention to its fabulous fragrance. You shouldn’t even have to touch nose to petal. You can find both flowers at Black Partridge Woods and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve. And shooting star is putting on a show atop the bluffs of Black Partridge Woods. Soon, they will cover the landscape at Chiwaukee Prairie.
Great displays of the magnificent white large-flowered trillium can be found in the upland areas of Messenger Woods, where they should still be looking pretty good. The flower was looking nice, but fading at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park). As the flower fades, white petals turn to pink. You can also experience fine shows of these alabaster beauties at Harms Woods in Glenview, Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, and at the west end of Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale—all of which are not featured preserves. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and understated red trillium is still flowering in most of our woodlands.
The waxy, white flower of mayapple is now in bloom. Look for a single flower under any plant with two “umbrella” leaves.
This is my favorite time to venture into the woodlands because they have reached their peak in emerald hues. Chartreuse lace fills the canopy above your head. And beneath your feet, you can barely see your shoes under a jade carpet of wild ginger, mayapple, wild leek, and skunk cabbage. Black Partridge Woods and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve are perfect examples of this lushness.
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
Before visiting a preserve, visit the website for the landholder first. Click here for some resources.
We’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the quality of the wildflower experience, 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 get out to our top-rated preserves. And our “Preserves for You to Scout” section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore! The date within the parentheses tells you when we last scouted the preserve. After the date, you may see one of these three mathematical symbols: +, –, = (plus, minus, equal). They represent our prediction about how the flowers will look like on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park (5/16+): The wild lupine were just beginning to bloom on May 17, and it should be much more vibrant by the holiday weekend. However, peak bloom may not occur until the following weekend. The buttery blooms of wood betony are ending their run, and the vibrant yellow blooms of hoary puccoon are only just starting. While you’re here, take the trail that starts at the nature center to the lakeshore. Along the way, the trail crosses a wide gravel path that goes straight east-west. Head west and you’ll find beaver lodges and beaver activity. If you arrive early 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.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (5/20=): NOTE: The main parking lot is closed, but no problem! Just use the on-street parking area located about a hundred feet west. Wow! The displays of wild geranium and the fragrant woodland phlox are gorgeous. Atop the bluffs, you’ll find more floral color and a greater mix of flowering species that includes the aforementioned geranium and phlox alongside shooting star and wild hyacinth. And the lush view from floor to canopy is breathtaking. Thanks to wild ginger that has finally leafed out, you can hardly see the earth beneath. I particularly love the miniature forests of mayapple with their parasol-shaped leaves. Right now, look for a large, waxy white bloom hiding under any mayappl with two umbrellas. Exciting patches of large, acrobatic skunk cabbage add to the whimsy, along with emerald swords of wild leek, and the star-like leaves of wild geranium.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (5/19=): I love this place, right now, for the greenery that I mentioned in the above wildflower highlights. The trees are pushing out fresh delicate leaves, and the foliage on the woodland floor has fully matured. This includes the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, flowering mayapple, early meadow rue, and the omnipresent wild ginger. The most prominently blooming flowers are woodland phlox and wild geranium. Both are near peak. The few white blooms of rue anemone and false rue anemone remain, along with newly blooming anise root and some yellow blossoms of swamp buttercup. I found a couple of Jack-in-the-pulpit and a handful of the shy drooping trillium. The strange and wonderful red trillium is blooming in very large numbers..
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (UNSCOUTED. Last scouted on 5/6): NOTE: We didn’t scout here this week because: 1) there was a lot of ground to cover this week; 2) we had a big rain that probably drowned out the bridge at the entrance to the preserve; 3) I can probably guess what’s going on based on similar nearby woodlands. I suspect that you’ll still find some displays of large-flowered trillium in the drier uplands. They should still be in decent condition, but their petals are probably fading to pink. Last year, wild geranium put on a big show at this time. The fragrant blue blossoms of woodland phlox should be at peak bloom. Hopefully, you can can find some large dense patches. And two-leafed mayapple plants are producing their famous white flower-in-hiding.
NOTE: The wooden bridge over the creek is sometimes covered in water. If there’s been a recent rain, bring boots or take off your shoes.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park (5/16=): NOTE: Wear your boots because the trail is not only muddy, some of it requires wading through ankle-deep water. The hazy patina of dried mud covering the carpet of foliage was proof that the river overflowed its banks during the recent storms. And then it rained heavily, again, after my scouting visit on Saturday. If you don’t mind the mud, visit this woodland to experience the beautiful display of white large-flowered trillium as they turn pink and fade away, along with pink blossoms of wild geranium that are reaching peak bloom. The elegantly understated red trillium is blooming everywhere. And keep an eye out for the downward-peering white blossoms of drooping trillium and for the slender dangling blooms of early meadow rue. On your visit, you’ll also find the final blooms of false rue anemone, rue anemone, common blue violet, and common yellow violet. The lush springtime experience is further enhanced by the spreading foliage of wild leek, wild ginger, and flowering mayapple.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook (5/15+): The preserve was recently burned, which cleared away the brambly growth from last year, leaving behind verdant emerging sprouts against a backdrop of bare black soil. It’s quite garden-like and pleasing to the eye because all of the new growth stands out. I especially like the many bright-green tufts of prairie dropseed. The most prominent flower show is being performed by wood betony on several stages thoughout the oak savanna. Other flowers showing their stuff are mayapple, balsam ragwort, blue-eyed grass, shooting star, wild strawberry, common blue violet, and swamp buttercup. Golden Alexander is just starting out. And finally, there’s the beautiful pond with yellow water buttercup and majestic cottonwoods that makes my heart sing when the sun is shining through the flowers and surrounding wetland grasses.
PLANT OF THE WEEK: 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 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.
PHOTO SECTION
Wild Lupine in Our Black Oak Savannas (Sand Savannas)
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.*
Unlike the southern preserves at Indiana Dunes National Park, the lupines at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion are still about a week away.*
An exploration into the inner world of wild lupine.
Beaver Activity at Miller Woods
On the gravel road that rides a ridge at Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park, beavers created this dark thoroughfare as they moved across the ridge from one swale to another.*
Woodland Phlox
Here at Black Partridge Woods, woodland phlox grows up the brae. This flower can also be found at the other featured woodlands, like Raccoon Grove, Messenger Woods, and Fermilab Natural Areas.*
Wild Geranium is now flowering in all of our woodlands:
I love wild geranium for its floating pink flowers and star-shaped leaves that carpet the woodland floor. And my love is genuine. Yet, if my love was inflicted against my will from a love potion, Iroquois Indians believed that a tea made from wild geranium root would neutralize the effects of the love charm. More legitimately, the plant was also used by Native Americans to help reduce bleeding and many other maladies. Leaves and roots were employed to treat sore throats, hemorrhoids, gonorrhea, and cholera. It was also used to treat diarrhea, but often caused constipation. Today, the extract of wild geranium can be found in herbal stores as an anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhaging medicine. The name “geranium” comes from the Latin name for crane, “geranos,” because of the crane- or stork-shaped seed pods. The pink flowers have five striped petals and are 1-1¼” across. Multiple flowers will bloom on a stalk that can rise above the foliage, seemingly floating above the plant. You can find wild geranium at all of our showcase woodlands. Here at Oldfield Oaks in Darien, a preserve that’s not on our list, the pink blooms float above its star-shaped foliage.*
Here at Black Partridge Woods, the pink blooms complement green star-shaped foliage. You can find wild geranium in all of our featured woodlands.*
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.*
Shooting Star:
The beautiful blooms of shooting star.
Shooting star and woodland phlox at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.”
Stout Blue-Eyed Grass
The sublime blooms of stout blue-eyed grass are now being revealed at Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois. And you can find them at other preserves, including Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Chiwaukee Prairie, Miller Woods, and Somme Prairie Grove.*
Large-flowered Trillium is still putting on grand displays:
The glorious large-flowered trillium is currently blooming at Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park. However, they’re past peak. But that’s when the flowers turn pink. See picture below from Harms Woods.
Large-flowered trillium is now covering woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen.*
Trillium is Latin for “triple,” and the plant lives up to the word. The showy plant is comprised of three leaves, three sepals, and three petals. The gorgeous white blooms of large-flowered trillium can now be found at our featured preserves of Messenger Woods, Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, and at other preserves like Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Metawa Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale, and, here, at Harms Woods in Glenview. Notice how the flowers turn pink as they fade.*
Red Trillium:
You can find red trillium at all of our featured woodlands. Here, it blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve.*
Mayapple:
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods, in Lemont, springtime showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops. Soon, a waxy, white flower will appear, like a pedestrian under a parasol. (See Wild Ginger photo below.)*
At Black Partridge Woods, 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.*
Skunk Cabbage:
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park Nature Center, 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.*
* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.
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
Chicago Wildflower Report & Info – 05/14/2020
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
May 14, 2020
“Weekly Wildflower Reports Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”
Plan the Best Outdoor COVID-19 Getaways Around Chicago!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to received FREE nature alerts!
Even during this trying time,
we are working to bring you opportunities to find peace!
PLEASE DONATE TO HELP US CONTINUE OUR MISSION.
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE VISITING OUR SHOWCASE PRESERVES DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASED INTEREST IN NATURE:
ChicagoNatureNOW! preserves are Sacred Cathedrals of Nature, NOT playgrounds or amusement parks. Please treat these sanctuaries with reverence, and behave as you would in any house of worship:
-
-
- Stay on the trails.
- Walk, don’t run.
- If your kids need to run around, there are THOUSANDS of more appropriate places to play.
- Speak quietly as to not interfere with the spiritual experiences of others.
- Don’t pick flowers or remove anything from a preserve.
- Share cherished moments by through photography, drawing, painting, and writing.
- Many of these preserves do NOT allow pets, even if they’re leashed.
- If a rule isn’t listed here, then ask yourself, “Would I do this in church?”
-
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SITE ACCESS & SAFETY TIPS
SITE ACCESS:
Most sites and trails that are owned by Chicago-area counties and Indiana Dunes National Park are open, except for visitor centers, buildings, and bathrooms. Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia is closed. Period. Check out these websites before you go:
- Forest Preserve District of Will County
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- McHenry County Conservation District
- One of our favorite showcase preserves, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, is closed until further notice due to abuse. One of our scouts found a family-of-four carrying out flowers that they picked for Mother’s Day. And we received a report of ten mountain bikers who gathered to pick the hoary puccoon and wood betony, possibly for the same reason. This behavior is horrid, and I agree with the temporary policy. But we cannot allow the preserve to be closed off forever. Education and appreciation is the key to helping people fall in love with nature, not locking people out.
BE SAFE:
- Treat the world as if you’re already infected, and WEAR A MASK. Period. A mask keeps your exhalations from taking to the air and making others sick.
- Give each other at least TEN feet of space between you.
- The wind can carry the virus. When people are present, be conscious of the wind and its direction.
- When having a conversation, position yourselves so that the wind is blowing from the left or the right.
- Don’t block people’s progress by blocking trails or gathering around trailheads and intersections.
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES INTO CHICAGO’S WOODLANDS:
“Green” is the theme of the week, as the curtain has dropped on the performances of Virginia bluebell throughout the region. This is my favorite time of spring, when the woodlands reach their height of emerald hues. Chartreuse lace fills the canopy above your head. And beneath your feet, you can barely see your shoes under an emerald carpet of wild ginger, mayapple, wild leek, and skunk cabbage. Black Partridge Woods and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve are perfect examples of this lushness. And while the sensational shows of Virginia bluebell have faded to a whimper, there are many other flowers to experience.
Wonderful displays of the magnificent, white large-flowered trillium can be found in the upland areas of Messenger Woods. But they’re fading at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park). Yet, as the flower fades, white petals turn to pink. You can also find shows of these alabaster beauties at Harms Woods in Glenview, Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, and at the west end of Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale—all of which are not featured preserves. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and understated prairie trillium is flowering in most of our woodlands.
The potentially prolific pink blossoms of wild geranium (our Plant of the Week) are now populating the region’s woodlands alongside the blue blooms of woodland phlox. The shy nodding blooms of the yellow large-flowered bellwort can be seen at preserves that include Black Partridge Woods and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve. And swamp buttercup is another yellow flower that’s now making an impact at most, if not all, of our woodlands. The shiny blooms of false rue anemone are still blooming at most woodlands.
If you notice a spray of emerald spears on the woodland floor, you’ve found wild leek. It is the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who traveled the area rivers were commonly heard to yell “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.” If you pay close attention to your nose in woodlands that do not feature the fragrant bluebell, you may be able to catch its sweet onion scent. Then imagine what the smell would have been like a couple hundred years ago when thousands of these plants grew along the flowing waters. Chicagoua!
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
Before visiting a preserve, visit the website for the landholder first. Click here for some resources.
We’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the quality of the wildflower experience, 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 get out to our top-rated preserves. And our “Preserves for You to Scout” section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore! The date within the parentheses tells you when we last scouted the preserve. After the date, you may see one of these three mathematical symbols: +, –, = (plus, minus, equal). They represent our prediction about how the flowers will look like on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (5/13+): I love this place, right now, for the greenery that I mentioned in the above wildflower highlights. The trees are pushing out fresh delicate leaves, and the foliage on the woodland floor has fully matured. This includes the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and the omnipresent wild ginger. 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 currently the most prominent flower in bloom, except for the fading Virginia bluebells along the creek. Like the bluebells, the phlox has a wonderful fragrance that you’ll smell as you stroll by. The pink blossoms of wild geranium are just beginning to emerge, potentially headed for a dramatic display. Still adding some sparkle to the forest floor is rue anemone, false rue anemone, common blue violet, common yellow violet, and swamp buttercup. I found a couple of Jack-in-the-pulpit and a handful of the shy drooping trillium. If you’re quiet as you approach the bridge, you may see frogs resting on the muddy banks. The strange and wonderful prairie trilliumis blooming in very large numbers. And you may find some that look yellow.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (5/12+): NOTE: The main parking lot is closed, but so what! Just use the on-street parking area located about a hundred feet west. Wow! This place is green—from the new leaves of the tiered tree canopy to the dense carpet of foliage on the woodland floor. Now, thanks to wild ginger that has finally leafed out, you can hardly see the earth beneath. Currently, my favorite show at this preserve, comes from the miniature forests of mayapple with their parasol-shaped leaves. Soon, you should be able to find a large, waxy white bloom hiding under any plant with two umbrellas. Exciting patches of large, acrobatic skunk cabbage adds to the whimsy, Wild leek‘s emerald swords put up a defense, and the star-like leaves of wild geranium give a glimpse into the heavenly pink flower that is just starting to bloom in a big way. A smattering of white and pink shooting star can be found atop the bluffs. And the fragrant woodland phlox is flowering in large numbers. If you find a good patch of phlox, pay attention to its fabulous fragrance. You shouldn’t even have to put nose to petal. The combination of woodland phlox, wild geranium, and shooting star is wonderful sight. Adding to the beauty is Virginia bluebell and the shimmering highlights of white false rue anemone and the pinkish spring beauty. The spiraling buttery blooms of wood betony are now fading. But the sublime nodding yellow blooms of large-flowered bellwort are still going strong in dense colonies along the the brae of the bluffs.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (UNSCOUTED. Last scouted on 5/6): Last week, the Virginia bluebell were blooming in profusion. However, I’m sure that most of the blue has since faded. However, on May 6, we found beautiful displays of large-flowered trillium in the drier uplands, and I expect them to still be looking good. The blooms of prairie trillium, swamp buttercup, and false rue anemone are probably still showing their stuff. The fragrant blue blossoms of woodland phlox should be looking nice with more blooms to come. And wild geranium is just starting to flower, with the potential for a fantastic upcoming show! NOTE: The wooden bridge over the creek is sometimes covered in water. If there’s been a recent rain, bring boots or take off your shoes.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park (5/9=): The sand savanna is putting on a beautiful show, with vast amounts of the blue birdfoot violet and nice amounts of the white sand phlox. Both are in peak condition. 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.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park (5/2+): This report is an extrapolation of what we found on May 3. This national park offers the greatest density of native plants in the entire national park system and, quite possibly, the nation. Experience the beautiful display of white large-flowered trillium as they turn pink and fade away. The beautiful, understated prairie trillium is blooming everywhere! And keep an eye out for the downward-peering white blossoms of drooping trillium and for the slender dangling blooms of early meadow rue. On your visit, you’ll also find dense displays of false rue anemone, along with rue anemone, common blue violet, and common yellow violet. The pink blossoms of wild geranium (our Plant of the week) are adding to the celebration. The lush springtime experience is further enhanced by the spreading foliage of mayapple, wild leek, and wild ginger. NOTE: Trails can be muddy. Use bug spray.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet (5/13-): Go for the greenery of wild leek, mayapple, skunk cabbage, and wild ginger, while appreciating the small array of flowers: Virginia bluebell, woodland phlox, wild geranium, common blue violet, false rue anemone, swamp buttercup, and Jack-in-the-pulpit.
PLANT OF THE WEEK: WILD GERANIUM
I love wild geranium for its floating pink flowers and star-shaped leaves that carpet the woodland floor. And my love is genuine. Yet, if my love was inflicted against my will from a love potion, Iroquois Indians believed that a tea made from wild geranium root would neutralize the effects of the love charm. More legitimately, the plant was also used by Native Americans to help reduce bleeding and many other maladies. Leaves and roots were used to treat sore throats, hemorrhoids, gonorrhea, and cholera. It was also used to treat diarrhea, but often caused constipation. Today, the extract of wild geranium can be found in herbal stores as an anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhaging medicine. The name “geranium” comes from the Latin name for crane, “geranos,” because of the crane- or stork-shaped seed pods. The pink flowers have five striped petals and are 1-1¼” across. Multiple flowers will bloom on a stalk that can rise above the foliage, seemingly floating above the plant. You can find wild geranium at all of our featured woodlands. Here, at Oldfield Oaks in Darien, the pink blooms float above its star-shaped foliage.*
PHOTO SECTION
Large-flowered Trillium is still putting on grand displays:
The glorious large-flowered trillium is currently blooming at Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park. However, they’re past peak. But that’s when the flowers turn pink. See picture below from Harms Woods.
Large-flowered trillium is now covering woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen.*
Trillium is Latin for “triple,” and the plant lives up to the word. The showy plant is comprised of three leaves, three sepals, and three petals. The gorgeous white blooms of large-flowered trillium can now be found at our featured preserves of Messenger Woods, Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, and at other preserves like Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Metawa Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale, and, here, at Harms Woods in Glenview. Notice how the flowers turn pink as they fade.*
Wild Geranium is now flowering in all of our woodlands:
Here at Black Partridge Woods, the pink blooms complement green star-shaped foliage. You can find wild geranium in all of our featured woodlands.*
Prairie Trillium:
You can find prairie trillium at all of our featured woodlands. Here, it blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve.*
False Rue Anemone:
False rue anemone is a beautiful flower that often blooms in clusters. During the day, they close up into little white balls.
Birdfoot Violet and Sand Phlox:
Visit Pembroke Savanna for your chance to experience a beautiful combination of birdfoot violet white sand phlox.”
Virginia Bluebells are still in bloom, but not in breathtaking numbers:
Ah, the Virginia bluebell. This is the April performance that we’ve all been waiting for. This flower not only looks beautiful, but it smells wonderful, as well. When the flower 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. You can find these flower in great vastness at O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, and Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet.
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.*
Mayapple:
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods, in Lemont, springtime showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops. Soon, a waxy, white flower will appear, like a pedestrian under a parasol. (See wild ginger in the photo below.)*
Wild Ginger:
At Black Partridge Woods, 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.*
Skunk Cabbage:
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park Nature Center, 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.*
* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.
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
Chicago Wildflower Report & Info – 05/08/2020
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
May 8, 2020
“Weekly Wildflower Reports Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”
Plan the Best Outdoor COVID-19 Getaways Around Chicago!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to received FREE nature alerts!
Even during this trying time,
we are working to bring you opportunities to find peace!
PLEASE DONATE TO HELP US CONTINUE OUR MISSION.
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE VISITING OUR SHOWCASE PRESERVES DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASED INTEREST IN NATURE:
ChicagoNatureNOW! preserves are Sacred Cathedrals of Nature, NOT playgrounds or amusement parks. Please treat these sanctuaries with reverence, and behave as you would in any house of worship:
-
-
- Stay on the trails.
- Walk, don’t run.
- If your kids need to run around, there are THOUSANDS of more appropriate places to play.
- Speak quietly as to not interfere with the spiritual experiences of others.
- Don’t pick flowers or remove anything from a preserve.
- Share cherished moments by through photography, drawing, painting, and writing.
- Many of these preserves do NOT allow pets, even if they’re leashed.
- If a rule isn’t listed here, then ask yourself, “Would I do this in church?”
-
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SITE ACCESS & SAFETY TIPS
SITE ACCESS:
Most sites and trails that are owned by Chicago-area counties and Indiana Dunes National Park are open, except for visitor centers, buildings, and bathrooms. Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia is closed. Period. Check out these websites before you go:
- Forest Preserve District of Will County
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- McHenry County Conservation District
BE SAFE:
- Wear a mask. Period. This keeps your exhalations from taking to the air and making others sick.
- Give each other at least TEN feet of space between you.
- The wind can carry the virus. When people are present, be conscious of the wind and its direction.
- When having a conversation, position yourselves so that the wind is blowing from the left or the right.
- Don’t block people’s progress by gathering along trails, trailheads, or intersections.
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS FOR PLANNING OUTDOOR ADVENTURES AROUND CHICAGO:
BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS! The sensational panoramas of Virginia bluebell is still on at O’Hara Woods Preserve, Pilcher Park, and Messenger Woods. However, this will be the last week to see them because of how fast they flowered this year. These sublime flower shows 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 fill the air with a fragrance that some say resembles Froot Loops cereal. Last year, I performed a side-by-side test, where I took the cereal into the field and compared its scent to the flowers. Click here to learn what I found.
This is my favorite time of spring, when the woodlands reach their height of emerald hues. Over the past week, the tree canopy has quickly filled with chartreuse lace, and you can hardly see soil through an emerald carpet of wild ginger, mayapple, wild leek, and skunk cabbage. Black Partridge Woods is a perfect example of this.
Wonderful displays of the magnificent, white large-flowered trillium and our Plant of the Week can be found in the upland areas of Messenger Woods where they are just reaching their peak. And they are still looking good at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park), but have now passed peak bloom. As white trillium fade, they turn into a light pink. You can also find great shows of these alabaster beauties at Harms Woods in Glenview, Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, and at the west end of Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale—all of which are not featured preserves. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and understated red trillium is flowering in most of our woodlands.
When the larger, more flamboyant flowers begin to bloom, they tend to draw our attention away from the small, shiny flowers of the past three weeks. They now take on a supporting roles that can be just as breathtaking. For instance, at Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park spring beauty and false rue anemone create a wonderful show as they carpet the woodland floor. You’ll find these same flowers at all of our other preserves to one degree or another. While you’re walking through the woods, you may also find rue anemone, purple cress, white trout lily, and Dutchman’s breeches. The shy drooping blooms of the yellow large-flowered bellwort can be seen at preserves that include Black Partridge Woods and Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve. And swamp buttercup is another yellow flower that’s now making an impact at most, if not all, of our woodlands.
This is also a great time to experience the long emerald spears of wild leek, the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who traveled the area rivers were commonly heard to yell “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.” If you pay close attention to your nose in woodlands that do not feature the fragrant bluebell, you may be able to catch its sweet onion scent. Then imagine what the smell would have been like a couple hundred years ago when thousands of these plants grew along the flowing waters. Chicagoua!
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
We’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the quality of the wildflower experience, 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 get out to our top-rated preserves. And our “Preserves for You to Scout” section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore! The date within the parentheses tells you when we last scouted the preserve. After the date, you may see one of these three mathematical symbols: +, –, = (plus, minus, equal). They represent our prediction about how the flowers will look like on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville (5/7-): The show of Virginia bluebells is still spectacular, even though it only took a few days to pass peak bloom. The easily accessible trail leads immerses you in the fields of blue. While you’re ogling over the flowers, pay attention to the aroma in the air as the bluebells fill the woodland with the perfumed scent of Froot Loops cereal. The bluebells are so dramatic that they distract your attention away from the other flowers, like the maroon blooms of red trillium, the yellow swamp buttercup, and the white blossoms of false rue anemone, spring beauty, and Dutchman’s breeches (that look like white, puffy overalls.) The tree canopy has leafed out into a bright-green filagree, while the foliage on the woodland takes on the verdant hues of soon-to-bloom wild ginger, wild leek, and soon-to-bloom mayapple. Look underneath any mayapple with a double umbrella to find the flower.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (5/6+): This preserve is known throughout the country for its display of Virginia bluebell, which are currently looking wonderful! But don’t wait much longer. All of the bluebell shows have passed their peak. Most of the bluebells can be found in the lower levels surrounding the meandering creek. However, if you venture to the upper trails, you’ll be treated to nice displays of large-flowered trillium. Joining in the fun are the blooms of red trillium, swamp buttercup, spring beauty, Dutchman’s breeches, and false rue anemone. Woodland phlox and wild geranium is just starting to flower. The latter should soon be putting on a fantastic show! NOTE: The bridge is no longer under water. But rain could change that. If so, bring boots or take off your shoes.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet (5/7=): The Virginia bluebell show is big at this preserve, and it looks and smells wonderful! However, they’re fading fast. Bluebells love the muddier areas along the banks of the creek that meanders through the preserve. Flamboyant skunk cabbage also likes to play in the mud while surrounded by the sparkling yellow blossoms of swamp buttercup. You’ll also find a handful of spring ephemerals: spring beauty, false rue anemone, common blue violet, Dutchman’s breeches, Jack-in-the-pulpit, along with freshly blooming woodland phlox, and wild geranium. The lush foliage of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger contribute to the springtime feel.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park (5/3+): This national park offers the greatest density of native plants in the entire national park system and, quite possibly, the nation. And now, you should experience the sublime display of the white large-flowered trillium before they fade away. The beautiful understated red trillium is blooming everywhere! And keep an eye out for the downward-peering white blossoms of drooping trillium and for the slender dangling blooms of early meadow rue. On your visit, you’ll also find dense displays of false rue anemone, along with rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauty, common blue violet, and common yellow violet. Wild geranium is now adding its floating pink hues to the celebration. The lush springtime experience is further enhanced by the spreading foliage of mayapple, wild leek, and wild ginger. NOTES: Trails can be muddy. Use bug spray.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (5/4+): This is a very green preserve, especially now as the trees are pushing out fresh delicate leaves and the foliage on the woodland floor has fully matured. This includes the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and the omnipresent wild ginger. A rich variety of flowers can be found at this preserve, including a nice display of Virginia bluebells blooming along the creek. Woodland phlox is just beginning to bloom, alongside newly flowering wild geranium that has the potential for a dramatic display. Still adding some sparkle to the forest floor is spring beauty, rue anemone, false rue anemone, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, common blue violet, common yellow violet, and swamp buttercup. 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 stay closed up safely in their buds. The strange and wonderful red trillium is blooming in very large numbers.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (5/7+): Wow! This place is green—from the new leaves of the tiered tree canopy to the dense carpet of foliage on the woodland floor. Now, thanks to wild ginger that has finally leafed out, you can hardly see the earth beneath. Currently, my favorite show at this preserve, comes from the miniature forests of mayapple with their parasol-shaped leaves. Look underneath any mayapple plant with two umbrellas and you’ll find either a flower bud or a large, waxy white bloom. Adding to the beauty, Virginia bluebell along with the shimmering highlights of white false rue anemone and whitish-pink spring beauty. often find themselves mixed with mayapple. The large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage, swords of wild leek,, and stars of newly flowering wild geranium contribute greatly to the emerald tones that make this preserve so special to me. Fresh blue blooms of woodland phlox add to the excitement, along with the droopy yellow blossoms of large-flowered bellwort and the spiraling buttery blooms of wood betony on the brae of the bluffs.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park (Updated on 5/9): The sand savanna is putting on a beautiful show, with vast amounts of the blue birdfoot violet and nice amounts of the white sand phlox, both in peak condition. 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.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
ALL PRESERVES ARE A “GO!” THIS WEEK!
PLANT OF THE WEEK: LARGE-FLOWERED TRILLIUM
Trillium is Latin for “triple,” and the plant lives up to the word. The showy plant is comprised of three leaves, three sepals, and three petals. The gorgeous white blooms of large-flowered trillium can now be found at our featured preserves of O’Hara Woods Preserve, Pilcher Park, and Messenger Woods and at other preserves like Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Metawa Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale, and, here, at Harms Woods in Glenview. Notice how the flowers turn pink as they fade.*
PHOTO SECTION
Virginia Bluebells continue their spectacular show:
Ah, the Virginia bluebell. This is the April performance that we’ve all been waiting for. This flower not only looks beautiful, but it smells wonderful, as well. When the flower 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.
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 Nature Center for one of the best performance of Virginia bluebell in the region.*
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen is one of the best places to experience breathtaking expanses of Virginia bluebells. See report above for current conditions.*
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.*
Large-flowered Trillium is also putting on grand displays:
The glorious large-flowered trillium is currently blooming at Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park*
Large-flowered trillium is now covering woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen.*
Red Trillium is now flowering at many of our woodlands:
You can find red trillium at all of our featured woodlands. Here, it blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve.*
Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):
The flower is called Dutchman’s breeches because it resembles a Dutchman in overalls. I love this flower for the whimsical blooms and the striking foliage.
I photographed this pink Dutchman’s breeches flower at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville. Notice the beautiful parts and details.
False Rue Anemone:
False rue anemone is a beautiful flower that often blooms in clusters. During the day, they close up into little white balls.
Birdfoot Violet and Sand Phlox:
Visit Pembroke Savanna for your chance to experience a beautiful combination of birdfoot violet white sand phlox.”
Mayapple:
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods, in Lemont, springtime 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, 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.*
Skunk Cabbage:
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park Nature Center, 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.*
* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.
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
Chicago Wildflower Report & Info – 04/30/2020
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
April 30, 2020
“Weekly Wildflower Reports Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”
Plan the Best Outdoor COVID-19 Getaways Around Chicago!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to received FREE nature alerts!
Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
Please donate if we’ve helped you find solace in nature.
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE VISITING OUR SHOWCASE PRESERVES DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASED INTEREST IN NATURE:
ChicagoNatureNOW! preserves are Sacred Cathedrals of Nature, NOT playgrounds or amusement parks. Please treat these sanctuaries with reverence, and behave as you would in any house of worship:
-
- Stay on the trails.
- Walk, don’t run.
- If your kids need to run around, there are THOUSANDS of more appropriate places to play.
- Speak quietly as to not interfere with the spiritual experiences of others.
- Don’t pick flowers or remove anything from a preserve.
- Share cherished moments by through photography, drawing, painting, and writing.
- Many of these preserves do NOT allow pets, even if they’re leashed.
- If a rule isn’t listed here, then ask yourself, “Would I do this in church?”
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SITE ACCESS & SAFETY TIPS
SITE ACCESS:
Most sites and trails that are owned by Chicago-area counties and Indiana Dunes National Park are open, except for visitor centers, buildings, and bathrooms. Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia is closed. Period. Check out these websites before you go:
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- McHenry County Conservation District
- Forest Preserve District of Will County
- Indiana Dunes National Park
BE SAFE:
- Wear a mask. Period. This keeps your exhalations from taking to the air.
- Give each other at least TEN feet of space between you.
- The wind can carry the virus. When people are present, be conscious of the wind and its direction.
- When having a conversation, position yourselves so that the wind is blowing from the left or the right.
- Don’t block people’s progress by gathering along trails, trailheads, or intersections.
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES INTO CHICAGO’S WOODLANDS:
BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS! The Virginia bluebell is our Plant of the Week, and it’s putting on the premiere premier performance of the early-spring season. These sublime flower shows 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 fill the air with a fragrance that some say resembles Froot Loops cereal. Last year, I performed a side-by-side test, where I took the cereal into the field and compared its scent to the flowers. Click here to learn what I found. The flower show should last for at least another week. For performances that will take your breath away, visit O’Hara Woods Preserve, Pilcher Park, and, if you’re adventurous, Messenger Woods (see “Site Access” information above).
The spectacular large-flowered trillium is confirmed to be blooming in great numbers at Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Park). They can also be found at Messenger Woods. If you live up north, you should soon be able to experience these alabaster beauties at Harms Woods in Glenview and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa, both of which are not featured preserves. And speaking of trillium, the elegant and understated red trillium is flowering in most of our woodlands.
When the larger, more flamboyant flowers begin to bloom, they tend to draw our attention away from the smaller, sparkly flowers of the past two weeks. They now take on a supporting roles that can be just as breathtaking. For instance, at Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park spring beauty and cutleaf toothwort create a wonderful show as they carpet the woodland floor. You’ll find these same flowers at all of our other preserves to one degree or another. While you’re walking through the woods, you’ll also find hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, spring beauty, false rue anemone, rue anemone, spring cress, purple cress, white trout lily, and Dutchman’s breeches. Marsh marigold is still blooming at many preserves, including Pilcher Park, Bluff Spring Fen, and at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park (across the stream from the parking lot). Other yellow flowers that you may find are the spectacular blooms of yellow trout lily (only at Heron Rookery Trail) and large-flowered bellwort. And let’s not forget the bright green leaves of spring: the umbrellas of mayapple, the sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage, the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger., and the spears of wild leek.
This is a great time to experience the long emerald spears of wild leek, the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who traveled the area rivers were commonly heard to yell “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.” If you pay close attention to your nose in woodlands that do not feature the fragrant bluebell, you may be able to catch its sweet onion scent. Then imagine what the smell would have been like a couple hundred years ago when thousands of these plants grew along the flowing waters. Chicagoua!
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
We’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the quality of the wildflower experience, 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 get out to our top-rated preserves. And our “Preserves for You to Scout” section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore! The date within the parentheses tells you when we last scouted the preserve. After the date, you may see one of these three mathematical symbols: +, –, = (plus, minus, equal). They represent our prediction about how the flowers will look like on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville (4/27+): The show of Virginia bluebells has begun, with peak bloom sometime next week. There are plenty of flowers to begin filling the air with the perfumed scent of Froot Loops cereal. The bluebells are so dramatic that they distract your attention away from the other flowers, like the white blossoms of cutleaf toothwort that are now fading. You’ll also find Dutchman’s breeches (that look like white, puffy overalls), spring beauty, skunk cabbage, and wild leek (Chicago’s namesake).
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park (4/27+): This national park offers the greatest density of native plants in the entire national park system and, quite possibly, the nation. And now, you definitely need to see the sublime display of large-flowered trillium at peak bloom! On your visit, you’ll also find dense displays of sharp-lobed hepatica and false rue anemone, along with rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, spring beauty, common blue violet, and common yellow violet. Look for patches of spear-like foliage that resemble green spotted trout. In there, you may find magnificent blooms of yellow trout lily And red trillium is just beginning to flower. The lush, green springtime experience is further enhanced by the spreading foliage of mayapple, wild leek, and wild ginger.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (4/26+): Parking lot is open starting May 1st.
A rich variety of flowers really putting on a show. The woodland floor scintillates with large densities of small bright blooms. The most prolific sparkler is spring beauty They are joined by rue anemone, false rue anemone, purple cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, and just a handful of remaining cutleaf toothwort. 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 stay closed up safely in their buds. Fortunately, when closed, the white petals of toothwort are still visible and continue to twinkle. And if that’s not enough, the strange and wonderful red trillium is blooming in very large numbers. Finally, experience the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger that add to the springtime mix. The Virginia bluebells are blooming along the creek, as well.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (4/27+): This lush woodland sparkles bright when the many flowers of spring beauty and false rue anemone open up in the sun. Rue anemone and Dutchman’s breeches can be found alongside the fading white blooms of cutleaf toothwort. And Virginia bluebell is finally blooming. However, I most love this preserve for how it celebrates spring through a rich display of emerald hues. Breathtaking expanses of mayapple and its parasol-shaped leaves set the stage for the large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage, the swords of wild leek, and the small heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet (4/30+): NOTE: On 4/30, the road through the park was closed. But you can still walk the trails from the visitor center. Simply park at visitor center that you can access from the Route 30 entrance (at Highland Park Drive).
The Virginia bluebell is beginning its two-week run. As of the scouting date, it’s at 30% peak bloom, which is quite nice. This is one of the best preserves to experience a stunning vastitude of the flower. Bluebells really like the muddier areas along the banks of the creek that meanders through the preserve. Two other plants also like to play in the mud, also also standing water: marsh marigold and skunk cabbage. The yellow flowers of marsh marigold are still looking good. You can find them near the nature center and by the gate and parking area near the bridge (GPS coordinate: 41.532780, -88.016478). Often growing alongside the marigolds (and at other wet woodland spots), you’ll find the large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage. They’re hard to miss. You’ll also find a handful of the usual ephemerals: spring beauty, false rue anemone, purple cress, Dutchman’s breeches, and Jack-in-the-pulpit. The glossy yellow flowers of swamp buttercup are also showing their stuff. And the lush foliage of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger add to the springtime feel.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin (4/28+): The transcendent lemon blooms of marsh marigold, are currently at peak bloom. And the large areas of skunk cabbage are refreshingly green. There are also some nice patches of mayapple and a small number of spring ephemerals. However, for marsh marigold and skunk cabbage, you’re better off visiting nearby Trout Park for dense populations of these plants in an intimate setting. The trail takes you up and down through the bluffs, using a wooden boardwalk that carefully guides you through the extremely sensitive wet areas. When you’re on the boardwalk, look for Chicago’s only native evergreen tree, the rare northern white cedar. Yes, all of those evergreens you see at homes and preserves are not from around here. At the top of the bluff, you’ll also find other spring wildflowers.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park (4/30=): Currently, the sand savanna is covered with vast amounts of the blue birdfoot violet and nice amounts of the white sand phlox mixed in. 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.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (4/22+): Parking lot is open starting May 1st.
NOTE: On 4/30, the asphalt bridge just after the trailhead was covered in water. When the water is still, hikers have been known to cross it with high boots or barefoot. Come prepared for a muddy hike.
This weekend, I’d skip all high-water drama at this preserve and head over to O’Hara Woods or Pilcher Park. This preserve is known throughout the country for its display of Virginia bluebell. Mary Jo, our newest scout, reported that the bluebell bloom is behind the other preserves. I’d say about a week. Extrapolating from last week’s scouting mission, you should find a carpet of fresh foliage and blooming ephemerals throughout. The most common flowers in bloom are spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, rand false rue anemone. In the uplands, there are several patches of glorious large-flowered trillium that I suspect are just starting to bloom.
PLANT OF THE WEEK: VIRGINIA BLUEBELL
Ah, the Virginia bluebell. This is the April performance that we’ve all been waiting for. This flower not only looks beautiful, but it smells wonderful, as well. When the flower 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.
PHOTO SECTION
Virginia Bluebells begin their spectacular show:
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 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. See report above for current conditions.*
Large-flowered Trillium is also putting on a show:
At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered trillium are currently at peak bloom. It’s a magnificent sight.*
Very soon, large-flowered trillium will carpet the woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen.*
I’d say we’re still about a week away from nice displays of large-flowered trillium at Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Metawa and, here, at Harms Woods in Glenview. Notice how the flowers turn pink as they fade.*
Red Trillium is now flowering at many of our woodlands:
You can find red trillium at all of our featured woodlands. Here, it blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve.*
Cutleaf Toothwort can still be found across our woodlands:
Cutleaf toothwort is small flowers makes a big impact for their size of its flowers, especially when blooming in large numbers. Even when closes, they still impart a sparkle because the petals are much longer than the sepals. Initially, I thought that the “toothwort” name came 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.
Early this week, O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve offered a woodland floor sparkling with cutleaf toothwort and the greenery of wild leek and mayapple.
Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):
The flower is called Dutchman’s breeches because it resembles a Dutchman in overalls. I love this flower for the whimsical blooms and the striking foliage.
I photographed this pink Dutchman’s breeches flower at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville. Notice the beautiful parts and details.
False Rue Anemone:
False rue anemone is a beautiful flower that often blooms in clusters. During the day, they close up into little white balls.
Hepatica:
The sublime pastel tones of sharp-lobed hepatica can be found at most of our featured woodlands.
Marsh Marigold:
Marsh marigold can still be found blooming in the mud throughout the region. On Saturday, April 18 at Elgin’s Bluff Spring Fen, the yellow flowers were covered in a magical patina of morning frost.
On April 15 at Joliet’s Pilcher Park Nature Center, I found these marsh marigolds flowering in the muddy woodland.
Marsh marigold and skunk cabbage at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park, Illinois. They can also be found at Bluff Spring Fen and Pilcher Park Nature Center.*
Birdfoot Violet and Sand Phlox:
Visit Pembroke Savanna to experience a beautiful combination of birdfoot violet white sand phlox.”
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, 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. Both plants will begin their bloom soon.*
Skunk Cabbage:
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park Nature Center, 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.*
* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.
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
Chicago Wildflower Report & Info – 04/24/2020
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
April 24, 2020
“Weekly Wildflower Reports Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Trips”
Plan the Best Outdoor COVID-19 Getaways Around Chicago!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower alerts!
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE VISITING OUR SHOWCASE PRESERVES DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASED INTEREST IN NATURE:
ChicagoNatureNOW! preserves are Sacred Cathedrals of Nature, NOT playgrounds or amusement parks. Please treat these sanctuaries with reverence, and behave as you would in any house of worship:
- Stay on the trails.
- Walk, don’t run.
- If your kids need to run around, there are THOUSANDS of more appropriate places to play.
- Speak quietly as to not interfere with the spiritual experiences of others.
- Do not pick flowers or remove anything from a preserve.
- Share cherished moments by making pictures, drawing, painting, or writing.
- Many of these preserves do NOT allow pets, even if they’re leashed.
- If a rule isn’t listed here, then ask yourself, “Would I do this in church?”
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SITE ACCESS & SAFETY TIPS
SITE ACCESS:
Most sites and trails owned by the Chicago-area counties and Indiana Dunes National Park are open, except for visitor centers, buildings, and bathrooms. However, Will County has closed their parking lots and only allows access by foot or bicycle. Just park your car nearby and walk in. But convenient or nearby parking doesn’t exist at some of their best springtime preserves. There’s no problem accessing O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville. And at Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, you can park on either side of gate or on the gravel shoulder across the road. As for Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, I’m not sure if it’s worth the trip because you’ll have to park much farther away. Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia is closed. Period.
Check out these websites before you go:
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- McHenry County Conservation District
- Forest Preserve District of Will County
- Indiana Dunes National Park
BE SAFE:
- Give people at least six feet of space. This also means giving your cars some space, as well.
- Don’t block people’s progress by gathering around trailheads or intersections.
- Wear a face mask when around people. (I drape a triangle-fold bandanna over my face, making it easier to rob a bank afterwards.)
- When you’re outdoors having a conversation, position yourselves so that the wind is blowing from the left or the right. Wear your mask.
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES INTO CHICAGO’S WOODLANDS:
Spring is now in full swing with an array of flowers carpeting the woodland floor, including our Plant of the Week, cutleaf toothwort. All of these flowers are quite small. But they’re visually exciting when blooming in large numbers. Bend down and take a closer look at the individual flowers. You’ll be marveled by their intricate beauty. At the moment, most of the springtime flowers are white or light shades of pink or purple, including hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, spring beauty, false rue anemone, rue anemone, spring cress, purple cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, and you might still be able to find bloodroot. Marsh marigold is currently at or near peak bloom at many preserves, including Pilcher Park, Bluff Spring Fen, and at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park (by the parking lot across the stream). And let’s not forget the bright green leaves of spring: the umbrellas of mayapple, the spears of wild leek, the sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage, and the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.
In some woodlands, you’ll find the shy yellow of large-flowered bellwort. And finally, the Virginia Bluebell is still about a week away from peak bloom. The sea of blue is the most breathtaking event of early spring.
Now is also a good time to see the long emerald spears of wild leek, the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who traveled the area rivers were commonly heard to yell “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.”
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
We’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the quality of the wildflower experience, 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 get out to our top-rated preserves. And our “Preserves for You to Scout” section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore! The date within the parentheses tells you when we last scouted the preserve. After the date, you may see one of these three mathematical symbols: +, –, = (plus, minus, equal). They represent our prediction about how the flowers will look like on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
The order of the preserves below is based on the quality of the wildflower experience, starting out with the best.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (4/22+): Preserve is open, but parking lot is closed. Just park on the gravel shoulder across the street or on either side of the gate. This is my favorite preserve of the week because of the rich variety of flowers that are currently putting on shows. The woodland floor scintillates with large densities of small bright blooms. The most prolific sparklers are cutleaf toothwort and spring beauty They are joined by rue anemone, false rue anemone, purple cress, white trout lily, and Dutchman’s breeches. 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 stay closed up safely in their buds. Fortunately, when closed, the white petals of toothwort are still visible and continue to twinkle. And if that’s not enough, the strange and wonderful red trillium is blooming in very large numbers. Finally, experience the lush jade hues and 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.
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville (4/23+): The preserve was once called Dynamite Woods because the site was used to store 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 are in full explosion, 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, and wild leek (Chicago’s namesake), and soon-to-bloom Virginia bluebells. This will be an exciting place to visit when the Virginia bluebells reach peak bloom.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park (UNSCOUTED): We didn’t scout it, this week, because we don’t have enough scouts. If you’re interested in volunteering, click here to learn more. Begin your walk at the west parking lot. Along the narrow trail, you’ll also find sparkles of false rue anemone, rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, and spring beauty. Yellow trout lily occasionally poke up above its carpet of spotted trout-like leaves. And red trillium is in bloom. The lush, green springtime experience is further enhanced by the spreading foliage of mayapple, wild leek., and wild ginger.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (4/22+): Our Plant of the Week, cutleaf toothwort, is the star at this preserve. Costars include false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches. However, I love the greenery the most. This preserve makes me happy because of its lushness and its many atterns and shades of emerald foliage, especially wild leek, mayapple, the glorious leaves of skunk cabbage, and the small heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger. Virginia bluebells are present, but not yet blooming.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet (4/22+): Begin your hike at the nature center and you’ll be surrounded by a lush understory of spring wildflowers that include cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, purple cress, and Dutchman’s breeches. My favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold, which is reaching peak bloom. Look for its yellow flowers in the low, muddy areas of the site. You can find them near the nature center and by the gate and parking area near the bridge (GPS coordinate: 41.532780, -88.016478). In theses same places, 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 wet areas, as long it’s not muddy, usually along the banks of the creek. This preserve is one of the best places to experience a vastitude of bluebells, which is just beginning to flower and should be looking very good next week.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin (4/22+): Visit for the marsh marigold and the lush sprays of skunk cabbage. Then visit nearby Trout Park to see many more of these plants in an intimate setting. The trail takes you up and down through the bluffs, using a wooden boardwalk that carefully guides you through the extremely sensitive wet areas. When you’re on the boardwalk, look for Chicago’s only native evergreen tree, the rare northern white cedar. Yes, all of those evergreens you see at homes and preserves are not from around here. At the top of the bluff, you’ll also find other spring wildflowers.
LIMITED ACCESS PRESERVES THAT YOU CAN TRY:
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (UNSCOUTED): Preserve is open, but parking lot is closed. However, there’s not adjacent street parking. This preserve always provides that green and luxuriant feeling of spring. Currently, you’ll see a carpet of fresh foliage and blooming ephemerals throughout. The most common flowers in bloom are spring beauty cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, rue anemone, and false rue anemone. In the uplands, there are several patches of white large-flowered trillium that are soon going to bloom. This preserve was known nationwide for its vast display of bluebells, which will probably reach peak in about a week.
COMING SOON: BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES OF VIRGINIA BLUEBELL
PLANT OF THE WEEK: CUTLEAF TOOTHWORT
Cutleaf toothwort is small plant the has a big impact for the size of its flowers, especially when blooming in large numbers. Initially, I thought that the “toothwort” name came 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.
PHOTO SECTION
Cutleaf Toothwort can be found exploding across our woodlands:
In April at O’Hara Woods, cutleaf toothwort blooms in profusion, like an explosion of fireworks before a backdrop of mayapples. Coincidentally, during World War II, explosives were stored on the site, earning it the name Dynamite Woods.*
Hepatica can be found in many of our high-quality woodlands:
Sharp-lobed hepatica are still blooming, but not for much longer. The flowers come in white and the pastel tones of blue, pink, and purple.
Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):
O’Hara Woods and Raccoon Grove have a large number of Dutchman’s Breeches. I really love the leaves and, of course, the flowers that resemble suspenders worn by a Dutchman.*
False Rue Anemone:
False rue anemone can be found in all of our featured woodlands. They often grow in thick colonies, which is a beautiful sight when the flowers are wide open. Unfortunately, under cloudy skies, the flowers close up and not very noticeable.
Marsh Marigolds:
On Saturday, April 18 at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, the yellow flowers of marsh marigold were covered in a magical patina of morning frost.
On April 15 at Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet, I found these marsh marigolds flowering in the muddy woodland.
Marsh marigolds and skunk cabbage at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park, Illinois. They can also be found at Bluff Spring Fen and Pilcher Park Nature Center.*
Red Trillium is just starting to bloom:
Red trillium blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville. See this beautiful flower at most, if not all, of our featured woodland.*
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 can also discover these beautiful cabbage plants at Black Partridge Woods, O’Hara Woods, Messenger Woods, Raccoon Grove, Heron Rookery Trail, and Fermilab Prairie woodland.*
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. You can find both of these plants at any of our featured woodlands.*
Virginia Bluebell:
The bluebells are beginning to flower and, right now, this is what the blooms look like on some of the plants. However, most of them still display a cluster of unopened buds.
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
Chicago Wildflower Report & Info – 04/13/2020
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE VISITING OUR SHOWCASE PRESERVES DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASED INTEREST IN NATURE:
ChicagoNatureNOW! preserves are Sacred Cathedrals of Nature, NOT playgrounds or amusement parks. Please treat these sanctuaries with reverence, and behave as you would in any house of worship:
- Stay on the trails.
- Walk, don’t run.
- If your kids need to run around, there are THOUSANDS of more appropriate places to play.
- Speak quietly as to not interfere with the spiritual experiences of others.
- Do not pick flowers or remove anything from a preserve.
- Share cherished moments by making pictures, drawing, painting, or writing.
- Many of these preserves do NOT allow pets, even if they’re leashed.
- If a rule isn’t listed here, then ask yourself, “Would I do this in church?”
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SITE ACCESS & SAFETY TIPS
SITE ACCESS:
Most sites and trails owned by the Chicago-area counties and Indiana Dunes National Park are open, except for visitor centers, buildings, and bathrooms. However, Will County has closed their parking lots, and only allows access by foot or bicycle. Just park nearby and walk in. But convenient or nearby parking doesn’t exist at some of their best springtime preserves. This includes Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (possible, if you’re crafty) and Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (you’ll have to walk a long way). If you can get into these two preserves, do it! They would normally top our list. Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia is closed. Period.
Check out these websites before you go:
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- McHenry County Conservation District
- Forest Preserve District of Will County
- Indiana Dunes National Park
BE SAFE:
- Give people at least six feet of space. This also means giving your cars some space, as well.
- Don’t block people’s progress by gathering around trailheads or intersections.
- Wear a face mask when around people. (I drape a triangle-fold bandanna over my face, making it easier to rob a bank afterwards.)
- When you’re outdoors having a conversation, position yourselves so that the wind is blowing from the left or the right. Wear your mask.
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES INTO CHICAGO’S WOODLANDS:
It’s April, and spring has arrived with a celebration of delicate wildflowers in many of Chicago’s woodlands. The first flowers to bloom are plentiful, but they are also diminutive. But bend down and take a closer look. You’ll be marveled by their intricate beauty. At the moment, most of the springtime flowers are flowering white (or a light pink), like hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, spring beauty, false rue anemone, spring cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, and bloodroot. Marsh marigold is currently in bloom at Pilcher Park, Bluff Spring Fen, and at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park (by the parking lot across the stream). The umbrella leaves of mayapple are looking great, along with the think spears of wild leek and the sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage.
In some woodlands, you’ll find the shy yellow bloom of large-flowered bellwort. And let’s not forget the bright green leaves of spring. And finally, the Virginia Bluebell is still a couple of weeks away from peak bloom. The sea of blue is the most breathtaking event of early spring.
Now is also a good time to see the long emerald spears of wild leek, the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who traveled the area rivers were commonly heard to yell “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.”
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
We’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the quality of the wildflower experience, 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 get out to our top-rated preserves. And our “Preserves for You to Scout” section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore! The date within the parentheses tells you when we last scouted the preserve. After the date, you may see one of these three mathematical symbols: +, –, = (plus, minus, equal). They represent our prediction about how the flowers will look like on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
The order of the preserves below is based on the quality of the wildflower experience, starting out with the best.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet (4/11+): Begin your hike at the nature center and you’ll be surrounded by a lush understory of spring wildflowers, including sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, and Dutchman’s breeches. My favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold, which is reaching peak bloom. Look for its yellow flowers 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. In the same place, 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, usually along the banks of the creek. This preserve is one of the best places to experience a vastitude of bluebells, which should flower in the next couple weeks.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park (4/8+): Begin at the west parking lot. Along the narrow trail, you’ll also find sparkles of sharp-lobed hepatica, false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, and spring beauty. Also look for flowers of yellow trout lily occasionally poking up above its carpet of spotted trout-like leaves. The lush, green springtime experience is further enhanced by the spreading foliage of mayapple and wild leek.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (4/11+): This preserve makes me happy because of its lushness and its many shades and patterns of emerald foliage, especially wild leek, mayapple, the glorious leaves of skunk cabbage, and the small heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.. And right now, you’ll also find sparkles amongst the greenery from the shimmering petals of sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches. Virginia bluebells are present, but not yet blooming.
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville (4/11+): The preserve was once called Dynamite Woods because the site was used to store 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 are in full explosion, 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 beauties, skunk cabbage, and wild leek (Chicago’s namesake), and soon-to-bloom Virginia bluebells. This should be the top preserve to visit in a couple of weeks when the Virginia bluebells reach peak bloom.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
NONE THIS WEEK.
LIMITED ACCESS PRESERVES THAT YOU CAN TRY:
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (UNSCOUTED): PARKING LOT CLOSED. ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY FOOT OR BIKE. No adjacent street parking. This would be my favorite preserve of the week, if it weren’t for the difficulty in accessing the preserve. Experience the whitish pink expanse of spring beauty and myriad of other spring wildflowers, including Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, and surprisingly large colonies of flowering white trout lily. And then there’s the jade hues and patterns of wild leek and mayapple that beautifully add to the mix. This preserve will soon offer a nice display of Virginia bluebells, but not an overwhelming ocean like other preserves.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (UNSCOUTED): PARKING LOT CLOSED. ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY FOOT OR BIKE. No adjacent street parking. This preserve is always provides that green and luxuriant feeling of spring. Currently, you’ll see a carpet of fresh foliage and blooming ephemerals throughout. The most common flowers in bloom are spring beauty cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, and false rue anemone, In the uplands, I also spotted several patches of the sublime white large-flowered trillium, only days away from bloom. This preserve was known nationwide for its vast display of bluebells, which will probably reach peak in late April.
PHOTO SECTION
Hepatica can be found exploding across our woodlands:
Cutleaf Toothwort can be found exploding across our woodlands:
Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):
Bloodroot (catch it before it goes away for another year):
Marsh Marigolds:
Skunk Cabbage:
Mayapple:
Virginia Bluebell:
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
People Need Us More Than Ever! Please Donate!
People Need Us More Than Ever!
Please Donate!
CLICK HERE to Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign
During this stressful time, people are turning to nature to clear their heads and heal their spirits. And as a new blooming season begins, ChicagoNatureNOW! has an important role to play this year. We have a rare opportunity to connect Chicagoans with nature and to build a constituency to preserve and protect our local preserves.
PLEASE DONATE, TODAY!
As most people cancel their vacations, they’ll need help finding exciting things to do around Chicago. And for the ninety-nine percent of Chicagoans who think they need to travel to the national parks to find natural beauty, boy do we have a surprise for them! Our free service allows families to plan nature staycations in Chicago and experience the finest wildflower shows in the country.
People are relying on our accurate weekly reporting and our scouts who drive hundreds of miles each week to seek out the beauty.
SUPPORT ART THAT GIVES NATURE A VOICE
I’m a photographer and a communicator who uses his art to speak for nature. Please donate to support my art and my mission of helping Chicagoans fall in love with the natural world.
Thank you, and stay safe!
Mike
ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
03-20-2020
Spring Wildflower Preview
2020 Chicago Nature Spring Preview
of a Beautiful Future
“Taking a walk in nature is the best medicine for healing our hearts and our spirits during this coronavirus pandemic.”
Come to O’Hara Woods in April for a dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells. The miracles of nature are all around us. And ChicagoNatureNOW! brings them to you every week from April through September. The new season is upon us, and this is the perfect time to join our team by becoming a scout. You can even help by donating here.
Experience the healing power of nature during the coronavirus pandemic. Enjoying nature is a LEGAL STAY-AT-HOME ACTIVITY in Illinois, as it should be.
Spring is officially here, and going out into nature is the best medicine. Right now, experience the solitude of nature and find delight in Mother Nature’s whimsical surprises and creations, like the otherworldly skunk cabbage that generates its own heat to melt the late-winter snow. (Learn about where to find it.) And in just a couple weeks, Chicago nature will put on a show in the muddy bottoms of some woodlands, with the emergence of marsh marigolds. Soon after will come performances from an array of diminutive spring wildflowers, like cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, and spring beauty. April’s show concludes in a flourish as endless expanses of Virginia bluebells fill woodlands with a smell that I can only describe as a fragrant, floral Chanel version of Froot Loops cereal. See the slideshow below for a preview of spring wildflowers. (Please be patient, it can take a little time to load.) SUBSCRIBE NOW (for free) to receive our weekly wildflower reports to learn when and where these wonderful events are taking place.
April begins our fifth season of ChicagoNatureNOW! scouting. Each week over the six-month growing season (mid-April through mid-September), you can use this website to experience breathtaking displays of wildflowers around Chicago. Our scouts will begin venturing out across the 5,000-square-mile region to find out what’s going on at our twenty-four showcase preserves. That’s a lot of land to cover! Click here to learn about becoming a nature scout.
In the meantime, here’s an interactive slideshow that foretells a beautiful future for us all:
Chicago Nature
Spring Preview
If you find this website of Chicago wildflower information useful, please donate to our GoFundMe campaign or purchase my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.
—Mike
ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
03-09-2020
Searching for Spring Annual Issue
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
March 9, 2020
SEARCHING FOR SPRING
Annual Issue
“Chicago’s premiere source to help you discover the region’s finest wildflower blooms.”
SPRING HAS SPRUNG IN CHICAGO!
In Chicago, spring officially arrives when sprouts of skunk cabbage push up from the muck. And on March 7, I found sprouts at Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet (pictured below) and at Black Partridge Woods. It has also emerged at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, too. Our intrepid scout, Charlie, found skunk cabbage in January. But nobody was going to buy the “spring has sprung” headline in January.
Here’s a photograph of skunk cabbage from my March 7th visit to Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet:
Spring has arrived in Chicago signaled by the sprouting of the thermogenetic skunk cabbage plant. Read more about this remarkable species, below.
As is my tradition, each spring I post the entertaining, educational excerpt and poem about skunk cabbage from my book, “My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago: A Celebration of Chicagoland’s Startling Natural Wonders.”
Searching for Spring
For me, the beginning of spring does not arrive in a fanfare of color. Rather, it begins subtly. In early March, burgundy spathes of skunk cabbage, dappled with yellow stripes and spots, quietly emerge from beneath a cloak of brown decaying leaves or, by way of a rare heat-generating process called thermogenesis, melt their way to the surface through layers of late winter ice and snow. And when March arrives, snow or not, I meander my way around Black Partridge Woods in a hopeful search for spring:
Winter is waning;
I’ve made it to March.
With eyes to the ground, I search for Spring.
The temperature rises.
The snow slowly melts.
With eyes to the ground, I search for Spring.
Are you under the white
in a warmth all your own?
With eyes to the ground, I search for Spring.
Are you hiding in leaves
or still waiting to rise?
With eyes to the ground, I search for Spring.
Leafing through litter
on the brown woodland floor,
With eyes to the ground, I search for Spring.
Finally up from the mud
sprouts a burgundy curl.
With eyes to the ground, it is Spring I have found.
Thermogenesis is a rare property that is shared by only a few of Earth’s plants, one of which is skunk cabbage. Concealed deep inside this burgundy hood is a tiny “green” furnace, generating heat that can rise as much as 63°F above the ambient air temperature. This easily allows the curling spathe to melt the surrounding snow and break through the surface.*
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 delicate protrusions you see on the spadix are the flowers.
shape and foul odor of the spadix reminds flesh flies, carrion flies, and several kinds of gnats of 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.*
These tender leaves of skunk cabbage will soon develop into giants, up to two feet long and one foot wide (like those on page 60). a cabbage leaf is broken, it releases an odor reminiscent of skunk, hence the name.*
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.*
* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.
If you find this website of Chicago wildflower information useful, please donate to our GoFundMe campaign or purchase my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.
—Mike