Chicago Spring Wildflower Report & Info – 05/24/2019
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
May 24, 2019
Memorial Day Edition
“Weekly Wildflower Reports with
Chicago’s Best Wildflower Walks & Outdoor Adventures”
Plan Your Spring Wildflower Walk This Weekend!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower alerts!
Last week, WTTW Chicago Tonight told a beautiful television story about ChicagoNatureNOW!. Watch it here.
WE NEED SCOUTS! Each week, we cover up to 5,000 square miles to bring beauty, peace, and hope to Chicago-area residents. Consider volunteering for us by becoming a nature scout. It’s a rich and rewarding experience.
Wildflower highlights to help you plan your weekend adventure in Chicago nature:
The flower of the week is the sublime blue-and-white wild lupine. Believe it or not, the show is just as breathtaking as the Virginia bluebell performances of previous weeks. Last week, O’Hara Woods was transformed into an azure ocean of bluebells. But when I visited on Wednesday, virtually every flower had fallen off, and the preserve has returned to an emerald sea. The flowering of our woodlands fade as the tree canopy fills with leaves and the sunlight under the trees becomes more scarce. Now, we begin to turn our attention away from the woodlands and to our light-filled oak savannas and sun-drenched prairies.
The best place to experience wild lupine is in Indiana Dunes National Park at Miller Woods, Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach,. Alongside breathtaking displays of wild lupine, you’ll find golden hoary puccoon and hairy puccoon blooming in great numbers. Wild geranium was screaming at Messenger Woods (5/22,) Black Partridge Woods (5/22), and Oldfield Oaks (5/23). And wild hyacinth is beginning to flower at Wolf Road Prairie (5/23) Messenger Woods (5/22), and it’s reached peak bloom at Oldfield Oaks (5/23). I love the beautiful foliage displays of umbrella-like mayapple, spears of wild leek, the grand sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage, and the hearts of wild ginger. Look for flowers hiding under the foliage of wild ginger and double-leafed mayapples. (Mayapples with one leaf do not produce a flower. See picture below.) Note that the bloom times for the northern preserves are about a week behind those in the south.
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER WALK AROUND CHICAGO:
The order of the preserves below is based on the quality of the wildflower experience, starting out with the best. See our “Go, if You’re in the Neighborhood” section for sites that are worth visiting if you can’t get out to our top preserves. And we have a new section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore!
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park (5/19): This preserve is a dream, right now. With its vast display of wild lupine mixed with hoary puccoon, this preserve easily tops this week’s list. See the picture below for an example of the glory you might experience. While you’re here, take the trail to the lake. Then check out Tolleston Dunes and West Beach.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (5/23): There are several dense and prominent displays of wild geranium atop the bluffs which is why it is ranked as a “Go.” However, we aren’t sure how long the flowers will last. In any case, this preserve gives an immersive emerald experience that will steal your heart. Its bubbling, sparkling stream is the most beautiful in the region. And the bluffs add to the fairy-tale feel. The lush, green feel is prominent in the lowland area where plants of all sorts show off their foliage, including skunk cabbage, wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger. Look under the leaves of wild ginger to find a fuzzy burgundy blossom. Moving now to the trails atop the bluffs, I found several dense and prominent displays of wild geranium, but they’re past peak and I don’t now how long it will last. This is why I put it under this category. Woodland phlox is the next most prominent flower which, like geranium, can be found in many spots. The wild hyacinth is just starting to bloom, while shooting star is at its peak.
Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin (5/24): We visit this preserve at this time of year because the display of shooting star can be spectacular. Amongst the newly blooming shooting star, you’ll find some beautiful, colorful patches of hoary puccoon, wood betony, and birdfoot violet.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (5/22): Normally, this preserve would be rated among “This Week’s Best” because the wild geranium is fantastic. However, on our visits, water covered the trail entrance and the bridge over the creek. Yet, our intrepid scouts, John Boldt and Zeke Wei, we not dissuaded. John, in particular, was not going to let a little water stop him after driving over 150 round-trip miles to scout the place. Both men rolled up their pants, took off their shoes and socks, and waded across in their bare feet. Please contact Forest Preserve District of Will County and ask them to fix the bridge, otherwise this will keeping happening, as it has for years. After our visits, it rained a couple more times. So, if you’d like a little adventure and want to make your Memorial Day weekend memorable, come and wade through the knee-deep water (at your own risk). You’ll probably have the preserve to yourself, and the experience should be well worth it. And bring a towel!
Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates (5/24): The flowers of the spring prairie grow very low to the ground and aren’t as showy as the woodlands. But take a closer look and you’re in for a treat, as the hill prairie is covered with large patches of golden hoary puccoon, alongside purple birdfoot violet, golden Alexander, and shooting star. Yellow star grass can be found outside the fence. And, in the woodland, there is a clump of the fascinating Jack-in-the-pulpit.
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook (5/23): There are some nice flowers blooming around the preserve, but not in great densities. The bloom with the greatest population throughout the site is wood betony. Other flowers showing their stuff are balsam ragwort, hoary puccoon, large-flowered trillium, red trillium, blue-eyed grass, and hoary puccoon. Golden Alexander is just starting out.
PRESERVES FOR YOU TO SCOUT (A NEW CATEGORY):
This is a new category for those who’d like do a little exploring for us. The preserves listed below were not scouted, this week, but may be worth the trip. Please send us your findings and images by email or, better still, join our Friends of ChicagoNatureNOW! Facebook page. While visiting a preserve, take mostly scenic pictures, tell us which flowers are blooming, and then give us your bottom-line opinion of your experience. Tell us if it’s a “GO,” a “Go, if you’re in the neighborhood,” or a “NO.” If you’d like to scout more regularly, then learn about becoming an official Nature Scout.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: Check for wild geranium and woodland phlox , which could be past peak. If you find wild hyacinth, it should be at peak. And check on the status of false Solomon’s seal, which will soon be putting on a nice show.
Fermilab Prairie & woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia: In last week’s report, “The woodland offers a large number of woodland phlox and mayapple. The gorgeous large-flowered trillium blooms alongside red trillium. Also look for swamp buttercup. The prairie is showing the sprouting foliage of soon-to-bloom golden Alexander, the red-leafed wood betony, and the sublime shooting star.” You mission is to first check the woodland to see what remains. Then visit the prairie where you’ll find golden Alexander, wood betony, and the sublime shooting star.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park: In last week’s report, “Visit this world-class sand savanna for its vast display of birdfoot violet and sand phlox. Starry false Solomon’s seal is now in bloom with it’s geometric leaves, and stout blue-eye grass is also beginning to flower. On his scouting mission, John was startled by a turkey as he hiked the trail! I’ve twice been startled by quail that suddenly flew out from the brush.” For this week, check for the same flowers and let us know if you notice anything else.
PHOTO SECTION
Wild Lupine in Our Black Oak Savannas (Sand Savannas)
Atop this spring dune thrives wild lupine atMiller Woods, part of Indiana Dunes National Park in Gary, Indiana.*
Unlike the southern preserves at Indiana Dunes National Park, the lupines at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion are still about a week away.*
Wild lupine of species Lupinus perennis.
An exploration into the inner world of wild lupine.
Wild Geranium
You can find wild geranium at most of our featured woodlands. Here, at Black Partridge Woods, the pink blooms float above its star-shaped foliage.*
At Raccoon Grove, as evening nears in this beautiful spring woodland, the final streaks of sunlight penetrate the emerald canopy. The shining rays highlight the broad leaves of false Solomon’s seal and animate the soft, pink blooms of wild geranium, making all that is illuminated stand apart from the surrounding foliage.*
This week brings glorious displays of wild geranium to Oldfield Oaks in Darien, Illinois, part of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.*
Large-flowered Trillium
You may still be able to find large-flowered trillium blooming in the northern woodlands, like Captain Daniel Wright Woods and, here, at Harms Woods. Notice how their white flowers turn pink as they age.*
Mayapple
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples as white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops.*
This is the time to check underneath the double-leafed plants of mayapple for a single waxy white flower. Here at Black Partridge Woods, I found one! You may also discover a burgundy flower hiding beneath the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.*
Skunk Cabbage
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park, and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering. If you’re someone who, like me, finds the powerful essence of skunk to be an invigorating and life-affirming experience, the skunk inside the cabbage will definitely let you down.*
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.*
Shooting Star
The beautiful blooms of shooting star.
Shooting star and woodland phlox at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.”
Wild Hyacinth in Our Woodlands
Wild hyacinth at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*
Right now, wild hyacinths are blooming in abundance at Oldfield Oaks in Darien.*
Hoary Puccoon at Shoe Factory Road Prairie
Hoary puccoon and birdfoot violet glow in the morning light at the hill prairie called Shoe Factory Road Prairie.*
Stout Blue-Eyed Grass
The sublime blooms of stout blue-eyed grass are now being revealed at Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois.*
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 Spring Wildflower Report & Info – 05/16/2019
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
May 16, 2019
“Weekly Wildflower Reports with
Chicago’s Best Wildflower Walks & Outdoor Adventures”
Plan Your Spring Wildflower Walk This Weekend!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower alerts!
ChicagoNatureNOW! is on TV! On Thursday, May 16th, between 7:30 and 8:00 pm, we’ll be featured on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight. If you can’t watch it live, you can watch it here.
WE NEED SCOUTS! Each week, we cover up to 5,000 square miles to bring beauty, peace, and hope to Chicago-area residents. Consider volunteering for us by becoming a nature scout. It’s a rich and rewarding experience.
Wildflower highlights to help you plan your outdoor adventure into Chicago’s woodlands:
BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS! Again, the Virginia bluebells are flowering in profusion at three preserves. Many of the flowers have already reached peak bloom, and we’re nearing the end of their phenomenal performances. See them now or you’ll have to endure another cold winter for your next opportunity!
These sublime performances are proof that Chicago’s natural beauty rivals the national parks. Experience the magnificence of the bluebells with your eyes as well as your nose, as the scent of these azure flowers fill the air with a sweet scent that is reminiscent of Froot Loops cereal.
FROOT LOOPS FINDINGS: I have a sensitive nose, and I like smelling things. (Sometimes I think that I’m part drooling hound dog.) So, when I stuck my face into a box of Froot Loops cereal, I quickly realized that its smell was much sharper than blooms of bluebell. However, when I smelled the multi-colored O’s from farther away, the sharpness faded into what I think is the essential scent that most people are referring to. Still, the flower has its own unique floral fragrance that is slightly stronger than the cereal smell. Therefore, after a side-by-side olfactory comparison, I can describe the smell of the bluebell as “a fragrant floral scent with the clear fruity, citrusy undertone of Froot Loops cereal.” Before I was told of the Froot Loops resemblance, I always described the fragrance as “quintessentially blue.” If blue had a smell, then that would be it. Now it’s time to do the Froot Loops test for yourself. And let me know what your nose comes up with!
For bluebell performances that will take your breath away, visit O’Hara Woods Preserve, Pilcher Park, and Messenger Woods.
If you can’t get to the best preserves to see the bluebells, you’ll find a many other wildflower displays throughout the region. The spectacular large-flowered trillium is blooming at Messenger Woods, the woodland connected to Fermilab Prairie, Heron Rookery Trail (Indiana Dunes National Park), Harms Woods in Glenview and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa. Large-flowered trillium was first to bloom at Heron Rookery Trail, and it’s now fading. But their age brings a fresh and wondrous beauty, as their white petals turn to pink. (See image below from Harms Woods.) Yet, as the white trillium fades, another species has emerged to take its place. Drooping trillium is flowering at Raccoon Grove. And the elegant and understated red trillium is now blooming in many of our woodlands.
I love the beautiful foliage displays of umbrella-like mayapple, spears of wild leek, the grand sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage, and the hearts of wild ginger. You may even find flowers hiding under the foliage of wild ginger and double-leafed mayapples. (Mayapples with one leaf do not produce a flower. See picture below.) Note that the bloom time for the northern preserves are about a week behind those to the south.
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
The order of the preserves below is based on the quality of the wildflower experience, starting out with the best. The top preserves this week feature the Virginia bluebells. Also see our “Go, if You’re in the Neighborhood” section for sites that are worth visiting if you can’t get out to our top preserves.
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: This is the preserve that will be featured in the Chicago Tonight segment. On Tuesday, the Virginia bluebells were looking great., and mayapples add to the mix.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: On Wednesday, the Virginia bluebells looked fantastic. And the bluebell wasn’t the only flower putting on a show! The pink flowers of wild geranium seem to be everywhere, with a mix of purple woodland phlox, yellow swamp buttercup, red trillium, and the sublime blooms of white large-flowered trillium. The umbrella leaves of mayapple add wonderful texture to the woodland floor.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet (Report by Pilcher Park staff): Like last week, the Virginia bluebells steal the show. Begin your hike at the kid-friendly nature center, and you’ll be surrounded by a lush understory of spring wildflowers. You should also find nice blooms of wild geranium, and the mayapple and skunk cabbage patches are wonderful.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: I love this place. This intimate preserve will steal your heart. Its bubbling, sparkling stream is the most beautiful in the region. And the bluffs add to the fairy-tale feel. You’ll find many spring flowers, including woodland phlox, wild geranium, spring beauty, rue anemone, and false rue anemone. The lowland is rich with the green foliage of skunk cabbage, wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger. Look under the leaves of mayapple and wild ginger to discover a single hidden flower. There are still some fading patches of Virginia bluebells. And, atop the bluffs, look for the newly blooming shooting star and wild hyacinth.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: The floral biodiversity and intensity of green is breathtaking. This week, the most prominent blooms come from woodland phlox, rue anemone, and wild geranium. Look for the a gorgeous drooping white flower growing in patches along the trail with the apt name of drooping trillium. As the Virginia bluebells fade, the hidden blooms of mayapple and wild ginger are now flowering. Just look under their leaves. The sword-like foliage of wild leek also adds to the mix.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park: Visit this world-class sand savanna for its vast display of birdfoot violet and sand phlox. Starry false Solomon’s seal is now in bloom with it’s geometric leaves, and stout blue-eye grass grass is also beginning to flower. Oh, how I love blue-eyed grass! (See picture below in Photo Section.) On Wednesday, our scout, John, was startled by a turkey as he hiked the trail! I’ve twice been startled by quail that suddenly flew out from the brush.
Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: The flowers of the spring prairie grow very low to the ground and aren’t as showy as the woodlands. But take a closer look and you’re be in for a treat, as the hill prairie is covered with large patches of buttery wood betony, purple birdfoot violet, the golden blooms of hoary puccoon and the newly flowering golden Alexander. Large areas of mayapple can be found by the trees along the eastern slope. See picture below from Saturday, May 11.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia: The woodland offers a large number of woodland phlox and mayapple. The gorgeous large-flowered trillium blooms alongside red trillium. Mayapple can be found in many places, and you may find some swamp buttercup. The prairie is showing the sprouting foliage of soon-to-bloom golden Alexander, the red-leafed wood betony, and the sublime shooting star.
PHOTO SECTION
The Sublime Virginia Bluebell
Virginia Bluebells will blow your mind. But this is the final week! So get out there, or wait another year!
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019: Virginia bluebells fill the April woodland of O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville, Illinois.
At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois, the sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells. While you’re there, take a deep breath. Many say that the flower emits a scent reminicent of Froot Loops cereal.*
At Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, sunlight filters through the thin green foliage of the foggy forest where a profusion of Virginia bluebells populate the woodland floor.*
Visit Pilcher Park now for the dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells.*
Large-flowered Trillium
White trillium carpet the woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Illinois.*
Large-flowered trillium in the springtime woodland at Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia, Illinois.*
At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, the flowers are now fading, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not just as beautiful. See the picture below from Harms Woods.*
Large-flowered trillium bloom in profusion at Harms Woods in Cook County, Illinois. Notice how their white flowers turn pink as they age.*
Red Trillium can be seen at many of our woodlands
Red trillium blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville, Illinois.*
Mayapple
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples as white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops.*
This is the time to check underneath the double-leafed plants of mayapple for a single waxy white flower. Here at Black Partridge Woods, I found one! You may also discover a burgundy flower hiding beneath the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.*
Skunk Cabbage
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park, and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering. If you’re someone who, like me, finds the powerful essence of skunk to be an invigorating and life-affirming experience, the skunk inside the cabbage will definitely let you down.*
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.*
Stout Blue-Eyed Grass
The sublime blooms of stout blue-eyed grass are now being revealed at Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois.*
Wood Betony at Shoe Factory Road Prairie
On the morning of Saturday, May 11, 2019, wood betony and golden Alexander bloomed under a red sunrise at Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates.
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 Spring Wildflower Report & Info – 05/09/2019
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
May 9, 2019
“Weekly Wildflower Reports with
Chicago’s Best Wildflower Walks & Outdoor Adventures”
Plan Your Spring Wildflower Walk This Weekend!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower alerts!
ChicagoNatureNOW! is making news! We’re being featured on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight and also on Jay’s Chicago! On Tuesday, I was out filming with Jay Shefsky, host of Jay’s Chicago, and cameraman Felix Mendez. For more than four hours, we immersed ourselves in the glorious expanse of bluebells at O’Hara Woods. The story is about ChicagoNatureNOW!, my style of photography, and how I use photography to bring attention to Chicago nature. Chicago Tonight will air the segment very soon, and it’ll then be compiled into Jay Shefsky’s TV series called Jay’s Chicago. I’ve been a fan of this show for years, which features interesting people from around town.
WE NEED SCOUTS! You’ll notice that many of our featured sites could not be scouted this week. That’s because we have a lot of ground to cover and not enough scouts. Consider volunteering for us by becoming a nature scout. It’s a rich and rewarding experience.
Wildflower highlights to help you plan your weekend outdoor adventure into Chicago’s woodlands:
BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS! Again, the Virginia bluebells are flowering in profusion at three preserves. Many of the flowers have already reached peak bloom, and this glorious experience will not last much longer. It is a wonder to behold and easily the best flower show of the week.
On Tuesday, when Jay and Felix first set eyes on the expanse of bluebells at O’Hara Wood, their stunned reactions were priceless! These sublime performances are proof that Chicago’s natural beauty rivals the national parks. Experience the magnificence of the bluebells with your eyes as well as your nose, as the scent of these azure flowers fill the air with a sweet scent that is reminiscent of Froot Loops cereal.
FROOT LOOPS FINDINGS: I have a sensitive nose and sometimes I think that I’m part drooling hound dog. If you stick your face into a box of Froot Loops, you’ll quickly realize that its smell is quite sharp. Bluebells do not emit such sharpness. Though, if you don’t stand so close to the cereal, that sharpness fades, which I think is the essential scent that most people are referring to. And this scent is closer to what I detect when I’m out there with the bluebells. Still, the flower has its own obvious floral scent that tends to come in slightly stronger than that of the cereal. Therefore, after a side-by-side olfactory comparison, I can describe the smell of bluebells as “a fragrant floral scent with the clear fruity, citrusy undertone of Froot Loops cereal.” However, before I was told of the Froot Loops resemblance, I always described the fragrance as “quintessentially blue.” If blue had a smell, then that would be it. For marketing purposes, to get people’s attention, it’s better to use the Froot Loops reference. But, personally, the “quintessentially blue” description is my favorite. And, I’d have to say, it’s much more poetic. Now it’s time to do the Froot Loops test for yourself. And let me know what your nose comes up with!
For bluebell performances that will take your breath away, visit O’Hara Woods Preserve, Pilcher Park, and Messenger Woods.
If you can’t get to the best preserves to see the bluebells, you’ll find a many other wildflower displays throughout the region. The spectacular large-flowered trillium is blooming at Messenger Woods, the woodland connected to Fermilab Prairie, Heron Rookery Trail (Indiana Dunes National Park), Harms Woods in Glenview and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa. We didn’t scout the latter two preserves, so please let us know what you find there. This flower was first to bloom at Heron Rookery Trail, and it’s now fading. But their age brings a fresh and wondrous beauty, as their white petals turn to pink. (See image below from Harms Woods.) Yet, as the white trillium fades, another species has emerged to take its place. The elegant and understated red trillium is now blooming in many of our woodlands.
I love the beautiful foliage displays of umbrella-like mayapple, spears of wild leek, the grand sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage, and the hearts of wild ginger. You may even find flowers hiding under the foliage of wild ginger and double-leafed mayapples. (Mayapples with one leaf do not produce a flower.) Note that the bloom time for the northern preserves are about a week behind those to the south.
I mentioned the long emerald swords of wild leek. Research proves that this 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:
The order of the preserves below is based on the quality of the wildflower experience, starting out with the best. The top preserves this week feature the Virginia bluebells. Also see our “Go, if You’re in the Neighborhood” section for sites that are worth visiting if you can’t get out to our top preserves.
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: Go here this weekend! See the Virginia bluebells at their finest in a setting that’s simply breathtaking. This is one of America’s finest woodland wildflower displays. 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. The mayapples are looking wonderful and they might even be flowering by the weekend.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet (UNSCOUTED): This is a great preserve to visit, especially if you have kids. They have a nature center with animals on display and the the best maintained trails of those in the current alert. Begin your hike at the nature center and you’ll be surrounded by a lush understory of spring wildflowers. This preserve is also one of the best places to experience a vastitude of Virginia bluebells, which should be peaking this weekend. Bluebells also like the mud. So, look for them along banks of the creek. And the mayapple and skunk cabbage patches are wonderful.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen (UNSCOUTED): This preserve was unscouted this week, as well, but the Virginia bluebells are still going strong. The bridge leading to the bluebells and the sublime white large-flowered trillium is under water. So wear high boots or just take off your shoes to cross. You should also experience carpets of fresh foliage and blooming ephemerals throughout, including false rue anemone, There are patches of large-flowered trillium that should still be looking quite good. The mayapples may also be blooming by this weekend.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont (UNSCOUTED): Even though we didn’t see this place with our own eyes, this is my favorite time to visit and I am certain that you’ll love it. This intimate preserve will steal your heart. Its bubbling, sparkling stream is the most beautiful in the region. And the bluffs add to the fairy-tale feel. You’ll find many spring flowers and plants, including woodland phlox, skunk cabbage, and wild leek. You may see the blooms of mayapple and wild ginger hiding under their leaves. Accenting the emerald understory are the sparkling white flowers of rue anemone and false rue anemone. And there are still some nice patches of Virginia bluebells.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee (UNSCOUTED): The floral biodiversity and intensity of green is breathtaking. You’ll find nice strips of Virginia bluebells along the creek. But my favorite display is the mayapple foliage and, right now, you may find many of them flowering. Check under the leaves of plants with two leaves. The foliage of wild leek also adds to the mix.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park (UNSCOUTED): We couldn’t get out to Indiana, this week. Please help us scout this preserve and others by becoming a nature scout. This newly minted national park offers the greatest density of native plants in the entire national park system and, quite possibly, the nation. A week ago, you could still find the magnificent large-flowered trillium. I predict that the white petals are transforming into a beautiful, delicate pink. On your visit, you’ll also find sparkles of false rue anemone, and the lush, green springtime foliage of mayapple and wild leek. I suspect that mayapples are already blooming because this preserve is about a week or two ahead of the others.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: Go for the beautiful birdfoot violet and the start of hoary puccoon in the prairie and the dense forest of mayapple along the eastern slope.
Somme Prairie Grove woodland in Northbrook (UNSCOUTED): Last week, you would have found a carpet of spring beauty with some nice patches of cutleaf toothwort. We also found bloodroot, false rue anemone, and white trout lily. Red trillium is not yet blooming. And wood betony is just showing its reddish foliage at the moment.
Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia (UNSCOUTED): The gorgeous large-flowered trillium blooms alongside red trillium. Mayapple can be found in many places, and you may find some swamp buttercup. The prairie is showing the sprouting foliage of soon-to-bloom golden Alexander, the red-leafed wood betony, and the sublime shooting star.
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The highlight of your hike will be the golden blooms of marsh marigold growing in the wet areas, which is also where skunk cabbage thrives. You’ll find the gorgeous birdfoot violet scattered about. And, in the savanna, look for rue anemone and colonies of mayapple.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park (UNSCOUTED): Visit for the vast display of birdfoot violet throughout the preserve and a smattering of sand phlox and wild strawberry.
PHOTO SECTION
The Sublime Virginia Bluebell
Virginia Bluebells will blow your mind. But his is the final week! So get out there, or wait another year!
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019: Virginia bluebells fill the April woodland of O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville, Illinois.
At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois, the sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells. While you’re there, take a deep breath. Many say that the flower emits the sweet scent of Froot Loops cereal.*
At Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, sunlight filters through the thin green foliage of the foggy forest where a profusion of Virginia bluebells populate the woodland floor.*
Visit Pilcher Park now for the dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells.*
At the end of April or the beginning of May, Virginia bluebells bloom in profusion along the creek at Raccoon Grove in Monee, Illinois.*
Large-flowered Trillium
White trillium carpet the woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Illinois.*
Large-flowered trillium in the springtime woodland at Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia, Illinois.*
At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, the flowers are now fading, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not just as beautiful. See the picture below from Harms Woods.*
Large-flowered trillium bloom in profusion at Harms Woods in Cook County, Illinois. Notice how their white flowers turn pink as they age.*
Red Trillium can be seen at many of our woodlands
Red trillium blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville, Illinois.*
Mayapple
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops.*
This is the time to check underneath the double-leafed plants of mayapple for a single waxy white flower. Here at Black Partridge Woods, I found one! You may also discover a burgundy flower hiding beneath the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.*
Skunk Cabbage
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering. If you’re someone who, like me, finds the powerful essence of skunk to be an invigorating and life-affirming experience, the skunk inside the cabbage will definitely let you down.*
Woodland Phlox
Woodland phlox covers the bluffs at Black Partridge Woods. They can also be found at the other featured woodlands, like Raccoon Grove and Fermilab Natural Areas.*
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 Spring Wildflower Report & News – 05/03/2019
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
May 3, 2019
“Weekly Wildflower Reports with
Chicago’s Best Wildflower Hikes & Outdoor Adventures”
Plan Your Spring Wildflower Walk This Weekend!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
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Wildflower highlights to help you plan your spring outdoor adventure into Chicago’s woodlands:
BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS! The Virginia bluebell is the flower of the week and the spring season. These sublime performances are proof that Chicago nature offers beauty equal to 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 smell reminiscent of Froot Loops cereal. I’m in the midst of comparing this presumed olfactory resemblance with a side-by-side test. I’ll provide the report in a later post, and I encourage you to do the same. Take the cereal out on your bluebell hike and let me know your thoughts. The flower is reaching peak bloom and should continue for another week. For performances that will take your breath away, visit O’Hara Woods Preserve, Pilcher Park, and Messenger Woods.
The spectacular large-flowered trillium is blooming at at Messenger Woods, the woodland connected to Fermilab Prairie, the Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore), and most likely at Harms Woods in Glenview and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa. The elegant and understated red trillium is flowering in most of our woodlands.
The beginning of May brings an unusual explosion of wildflowers, as the late-blooming flowers of April overlap with the timely blooms of May. Currently, you’ll find many different species. Of course, the highlight of the week is the overwhelming blooms of Virginia bluebells. But if you can’t get to the best preserves to see them (above), you’ll find a lot of flowers elsewhere in the region. You’ll find the diminutive white or light-pink flowers of cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, spring cress, Dutchman’s britches, and trout lily. And I love the beautiful foliage displays of umbrella-like mayapple, spears of wild leek, the grand sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage, and the hearts of wild ginger. Red trillium is flowering in most preserves and the glorious large-flowered trillium should be blooming by the weekend at Messenger Woods, the woodland connected to Fermilab Prairie, the Heron Rookery Trail (at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore), and possibly at Harms Woods in Glenview and Captain Daniel Wright Woods in Mettawa usually have great displays, too, but they may not be blooming until next week. The preserves to the north are a week behind those to the south. The woodland next to Fermilab Prairie is looking wonderful with a wide range of blooms including sublime yellow patches of large-flowered bellwort.
I mentioned the long emerald swords of wild leek. Research proves that this 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:
The order of the preserves below is based on the quality of the wildflower experience, starting out with the best. The top preserves this week feature the Virginia bluebells. Also see our “Go, if You’re in the Neighborhood” section for sites that are worth visiting if you can’t get out to our top preserves.
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: See the Virginia bluebells without having to deal with the flooding, though you still want to wear boots on the side trails. 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.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet: This is a great preserve to visit, especially if you have kids. They have a nature center with animals on display and the the best maintained trails of those in the current alert. Begin your hike at the nature center and you’ll be surrounded by a lush understory of spring wildflowers. My favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold, but it’s at the end of its run. Look for its yellow blooms 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 anywhere you find muddy spot, look for the large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage. They’re hard to miss. This preserve is also one of the best places to experience a see vastitude of Virginia bluebells, which should be peaking this weekend. Bluebells also like the mud. So, look for them along banks of the creek.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: I cannot express the beauty of this place, even though there aren’t as many flowers to see. It’s mostly green. And that is its magic! This preserve makes me happy because of its lushness and its many shades and patterns of emerald foliage from mayapple, wild leek, skunk cabbage, and the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger. And right now, you’ll also find shimmers of white sparkling amongst the greenery coming mainly from false rue anemone, though you’ll find cutleaf toothwort, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches. Virginia bluebells are at full peak, but not in great expanses.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: The floral biodiversity and intensity of green is breathtaking. You’ll find nice strips of Virginia bluebells along the creek, if it’s not flooded, but my favorite display are the mayapple foliage. The foliage of wild leek also adds to the mix of spring beauty Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, and surprisingly large colonies of flowering white trout lily.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park: You should go to see the sublime display of large-flowered trillium at peak bloom! This newly minted national park offers the greatest density of native plants in the entire national park system and, quite possibly, the nation. On your visit, you’ll also find sparkles of false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, and a few remaining blooms of cutleaf toothwort 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.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: This preserve was unscouted this week, which is why it’s at the bottom of our list. (Please help us by becoming an official nature scout. Learn more here.) It’s possible that the bridge leading to the bluebells and the sublime white large-flowered trillium is under water. If you go, wear high boots. You should also experience carpets 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, There are patches of large-flowered trillium that are probably at peak bloom.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park: Visit for the vast display of birdfoot violet throughout the preserve and a smattering of sand phlox and wild strawberry.
Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia: We rated this “Go, if you’re in the neighborhood” because the flowers are not as fully bloomed and the trail is also quite muddy. The yet-to-flower mayapple is stealing the show here. However, you should be able to find the gorgeous large-flowered trillium alongside red trillium, spring beauty Dutchman’s breeches, the occasional large-flowered bellwort, and possibly swamp buttercup. The prairie is showing sprouting foliage of golden Alexander, the red-leafed wood betony, and the sublime shooting star.
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The highlight of your hike will be the golden blooms of marsh marigold growing in the wet areas, which is also where skunk cabbage thrives. You’ll find the gorgeous birdfoot violet scattered about. And, in the savanna, look for false rue anemone and colonies of mayapple.
Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: Go for the beautiful birdfoot violet and the start of hoary puccoon in the prairie and the dense forest of mayapple under the trees.
Somme Prairie Grove woodland in Northbrook (UNSCOUTED): Last week, you would have found a carpet of spring beauty with some nice patches of cutleaf toothwort. We also found bloodroot, false rue anemone, and white trout lily. Red trillium is not yet blooming. And wood betony is just showing its reddish foliage at the moment.
PHOTO SECTION
The Sublime Virginia Bluebell
Virginia Bluebells will blow your mind this weekend and into next!:
At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois, the sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells. While you’re there, take a deep breath. Many say that the flower emits the sweet scent of Froot Loops cereal.*
At Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, sunlight filters through the thin green foliage of the foggy forest where a profusion of Virginia bluebells populate the woodland floor.*
Visit Pilcher Park now for the dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells.*
At the end of April or the beginning of May, Virginia bluebells bloom in profusion along the creek at Raccoon Grove in Monee, Illinois.*
Large-flowered Trillium:
White trillium carpet the woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, Illinois.*
Large-flowered trillium in the springtime woodland at Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia, Illinois.*
At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered white trillium is at peak bloom. It’s a magnificent sight.*
Red Trillium can be seen at many of our woodlands:
Red trillium blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville, Illinois.*
Mayapple:
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops.*
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.*
The Hidden Flowers of Mayapple and 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 blooming mayapple. The flowers of both plants can be found hiding beneath the leaves. Both plants will begin their bloom soon.*
Cutleaf toothwort can still be found across our woodlands:
Like firecrackers, cut-leaved toothwort explodes in profusion against a backdrop of mayapples at O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois. This preserves was previously known as Dynamite Woods because explosives were stored here during World War II. Nowadays, spring is when the preserve explodes with flora.*
Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):
O’Hara Woods has a large number of Dutchman’s Breeches. It is one of my favorite spring flowers because the flower is just so kooky and the leaves are a dream.
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 Spring Wildflower Report & News – 04/26/2019
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
April 26, 2019
“Plan your Chicago spring outdoor adventure
with our weekly Chicago wildflower reports.”
Welcome to the first official post of the 2019 season!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to received FREE nature alerts!
Wildflower highlights to help you plan your spring outdoor adventure into Chicago’s woodlands:
It’s the end of April and, finally, 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 cutleaf toothwort, spring beauty, false rue anemone, spring cress, Dutchman’s breeches, and bloodroot. Marsh marigold is still in bloom at Pilcher Park, Bluff Spring Fen, and at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park (by the parking lot across the stream). In some woodlands, you’ll find the shy yellow bloom of large-flowered bellwort. Also, red trillium is beginning its understated run in our high-quality woodlands. And let’s not forget the bright green leaves of spring. The umbrella leaves of mayapple are looking great, along with the think spears of wild leek and the sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage. And finally, the Virginia Bluebell is just beginning to flower, but we don’t expect peak bloom until later next week or the weekend of May 4. 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:
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: This is my favorite preserve of the week. I visited Raccoon Grove on Earth Day, April 22, and I was impressed with 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.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park: You should go to see the sublime display large-flowered trillium at peak bloom! This newly minted national park offers the greatest density of native plants in the entire national park system and, quite possibly, the nation. On your visit, you’ll also find sparkles of false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, and a few remaining blooms of cutleaf toothwort 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. Thanks to Laura Brennan, ranger at Indiana Dunes National Park, for phoning in her report to me.
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: 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 next weekend when I predict Virginia bluebells. to be at peak bloom.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet: This is a great preserve to visit, especially if you have kids. They have a nature center with animals on display and the the best maintained trails of those in the current alert. Begin your hike at the nature center and you’ll be surrounded by a lush understory of spring wildflowers. My favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold, but it’s at the end of its run. Look for its yellow blooms 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 anywhere you find muddy spot, look for the large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage. They’re hard to miss. This preserve is also one of the best places to experience a see vastitude of Virginia bluebells, which should be at peak during the weekend of May 4. Bluebells also like the mud. So, look for them along banks of the creek.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: 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 skunk cabbage, and the small heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.. And right now, you’ll also find shimmers of white sparkling amongst the greenery coming mainly from cutleaf toothwort, along with some false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches. Virginia bluebells are present, but not in great expanses. They should begin their bloom this weekend.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: 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 bloom by the May 4th weekend.
Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia: We rated this “Go, if you’re in the neighborhood” because the flowers are just starting out, as opposed to the warmer southern preserves listed above. This beautiful woodland abuts the east side of the prairie. You’ll find many flower species that are easily viewed from the trail, which can get muddy at times. Just wear your boots. (Learn some Outdoor Tips.) The white, pink-striped spring beauty is the most prominent blooming flower. You’ll also see some nice colonies of bloodroot and white trout lily, along with cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, and the occasional large-flowered bellwort. Swamp buttercup, red trillium, and large-flowered trillium are not quite flowering.
Somme Prairie Grove woodland in Northbrook: Like Fermilab’s woodland, we rated this “Go, if you’re in the neighborhood” because the flowers are just starting out. You’ll find a carpet of spring beauty with some nice patches of cutleaf toothwort. We also found bloodroot, false rue anemone, and white trout lily. Red trillium is not yet blooming. And wood betony is just showing its reddish foliage at the moment.
PHOTO SECTION
Cutleaf toothwort can be found exploding across our woodlands:
Like firecrackers, cut-leaved toothwort explodes in profusion against a backdrop of mayapples at O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois. This preserves was previously known as Dynamite Woods because explosives were stored here during World War II. Nowadays, spring is when the preserve explodes with flora.*
Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):
O’Hara Woods has a large number of Dutchman’s Breeches. It is one of my favorite spring flowers because the flower is just so kooky and the leaves are a dream.
Bloodroot (catch it before it goes away for another year):
This is bloodroot. The name comes from the fact that breaking the stem makes the plant bleed red. Please, just take my word for it, and don’t pick the flower to find out.
Wow! Large-flowered Trillium is in PEAK BLOOM at Indiana Dunes National Park:
At Heron Rookery Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park, large-flowered white trillium is at peak bloom. It’s a magnificent sight.*
Red Trillium is just starting to bloom and can be seen at every preserve in this week’s alert:
Red trillium blooms as the sun sets at O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville, Illinois.*
Pilcher Park’s marsh marigolds are ending their blooms:
In April, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.*
Marsh marigolds and skunk cabbage at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park, Illinois. They can also be found at Bluff Spring Fen, Pilcher Park Nature Center, and Black Partridge Woods.*
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.*
Mayapple:
In every woodland across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods (Lemont), April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops.*
THE SPECTACULAR SHOWS OF VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS ARE COMING SOON!
The Sublime Virginia Bluebell
The Bluebell Experience:
At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois, the sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells. While you’re there, take a deep breathe. The air is filled with the sweet scent of Froot Loops cereal.*
At Messenger Woods in Homer Glen, sunlight filters through the thin green foliage of the foggy forest where a profusion of Virginia bluebells populate the woodland floor.*
Visit Pilcher Park now for the dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells.*
In April, Virginia bluebells bloom in profusion along the creek at Raccoon Grove in Monee, Illinois.*
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
2019 Spring Prescribed Fire Season
Fire is Nature’s Friend
Before I celebrate the exciting spring fire season with a dramatic, educational slideshow with all the action, you should know that the first great bloom of 2019 is still about a week away. However, on this Easter weekend, if you want to fill your heart with the hope that springtime brings, here are some scouted preserves that are lush, green, and about to explode:
- O’Hara Woods In Romeoville
- Black Partridge Woods in Lemont
- Messenger Woods in Homer Glen
- Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet
- Raccoon Grove in Monee
If you’re new to ChicagoNatureNOW!, click here to SUBSCRIBE to our weekly report that tells you where to find local wildflower blooms of national park quality. Now it’s time to talk “fire.”
To signal the arrival of spring, Mother Nature sends up spathes of thermogenetic skunk cabbage. In stark contrast, restoration workers send up smoke signals from inside our nature preserves. Perhaps, in late March on your way home from work, you deciphered one of their billowing white missives in the sky. Or maybe you simply read the orange diamond-shaped sign along the road imploring you to not dial 911. No matter how you were informed, the message was clear, “The burn season is aflame, and the blooming is just around the corner.”
During early spring and late autumn, land managers and restoration volunteers throughout the Chicago region employ the healing benefits of fire to invigorate our native landscapes by stimulating the growth of our indigenous plants and hindering the advance of invaders.
Between the dates of March 18 and March 29, I photographed five prescribed fires inside the Forest Preserves of Cook County. These particular jobs were led by staff from the Forest Preserves and assisted by workers from Friends of the Forest Preserves (one of my favorite organizations). Trained volunteers from the site also participated.
To follow is a slideshow of my photographs that celebrates the healing work performed at five Cook County Forest Preserves sites: Theodore Stone Preserve (Hodgkins), Bemis Woods South (Western Springs), Somme Prairie Grove (Northbrook), Black Partridge Woods (Lemont), and Orland Grassland (Orland Park).
2019 Spring
Prescribed Fire
Season
For those who are featured in the slideshow, I’m happy to send you a digital image (big enough for printing) when you click here to fill out a model release. If you’re not pictured here, I still may have a great shot of you. Just let me know.
Thanks to all the workers for welcoming me and for indulging me as I followed them around with my camera and donned in my orange flame-retardant jumpsuit and blue helmet! With some self-awareness, I jokingly expressed to one of the workers that I always remove my orange jumpsuit before I enter the real world because I worry that I might be mistaken for an escaped convict. That’s when he told me that he used to wear an orange jumpsuit at his previous restoration job. And my fear came true for him when the police arrived after receiving an emergency call from a concerned citizen. So, like they say, “Many a truth is said in jest.”
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—Mike
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Over the past three years, I’ve taught you about Chicago’s most well-kept secret—the rich habitats and fascinating plant species that have thrived here for thousands of years, yet have gone unnoticed by most Chicagoans.
Some of our hard-working Nature Scouts gathered at O’Hara Woods in March just to take this photo: (left to right) Charlie Yang, Jim Yassick, Mike MacDonald, and Zeke Wei.
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2019 Chicago Nature Spring Preview
2019 Chicago Nature Spring Preview
Come to Pilcher Park in April for a dramatic performance starring Viriginia 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.
Spring is officially here in Chicago, but we’re still waiting for the native flowers to bloom. But you won’t have to wait much longer. In just days, 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 toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, and spring beauties. April’s show concludes with an encore performance, as endless expanses of Virginia bluebells fill your eyes with blue and your nose with the scent of Froot Loops cereal. See the video slideshow below for a preview of spring wildflowers. SUBSCRIBE NOW (for free) to learn when these wonderful events are taking place.
Also, in April, the fourth season of ChicagoNatureNOW! scouting begins. And this means that, 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-eight 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 of what’s to come:
Chicago Nature
Spring Preview
—Mike
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I’d personally like to hear from you about how our work brings value to your life. Please share your story in the comment section (below), send me an email, or use our Facebook group.
If ChicagoNatureNOW! has inspired you, your family, or your community, please inspire us with your story. You can post a comment below, send me an email, or join our Facebook group to stay in touch throughout the year.
Lately, I’ve been doing some soul-searching because, in the three years since launching ChicagoNatureNOW!, we’ve heard very little from our 670 subscribers. Of course, this makes me wonder how many people are using this platform to visit the preserves that we scout every week for six months of the year. Now, as we embark on a new season of hard work, I need to be inspired by your story. It’s important for me to know, as I sit at the computer crafting the weekly report, that there are people relying on us to bring beauty into their lives. Please tell me and our wonderful volunteers how you’ve used this platform to enrich your life.
From the beginning, I’ve envisioned ChicagoNatureNOW! as an inspirational, educational, therapeutic, and thought-provoking resource for students and teachers, hikers and healers, explorers and thinkers, authors and artists. After learning in school about the wonders of Chicago nature, I imagine hearing children pestering their parents to take them to see and sniff the flowers. I envision peace and healing arising from therapeutic hikes under ancient oaks. I can picture a plein air painter shading the rich colors and textures of the prairie onto an increasingly kaleidoscopic canvas. And I think of a day when people discover nature’s value and come to share in its revival. These things I’ve only imagined, because so few let us know.
So, please share the value that our work brings to your life. You can tell your story in the comment section below, send me an email, or join our Friends of ChicagoNatureNOW! Facebook group to stay in touch throughout the year.
Thanks! And have a happy spring!
—Mike
ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
03-08-2019
Searching for Spring Annual Issue
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
March 8, 2019
SEARCHING FOR SPRING
Annual Issue
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest wildflower blooms.”
THOUGH IT MAY NOT LOOK OR FEEL LIKE IT, SPRING HAS SPRUNG IN CHICAGO!
In Chicago, spring officially arrives when sprouts of skunk cabbage push up from the muck. This year, I found them at Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet on February 28 (pictured below) and at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont on March 5. Jeanne Golec from Pilcher Park Nature Center reported that skunk cabbage began sprouting during the unseasonably warm January. But nobody is going to buy the “spring has sprung” headline in January, so I held off until March.
Here’s a photograph of skunk cabbage from my February 28th visit to Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet:
On Feb. 28, 2019, thermogenetic skunk cabbage was sprouting despite the ice and cold. Learn what “thermogenetic” means, 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 nature information useful, please consider donating or purchasing my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.
—Mike