Chicago Nature Info & News – 04/18/2017
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
April 18, 2017
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest natural wonders.”
Here’s what’s happening in Chicago nature, right now!
BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS, BLUEBELLS! The Virginia bluebell is the flower of the week and the spring season. If the glorious displays of these flowers don’t make you realize why I say that Chicago nature offers national-park quality natural events, you never will. Not only will you experience the beauty with your eyes, but their sweet scent fills the air (and your nose) with a smell reminiscent of Froot Loops cereal.
Joining the spring celebration of bluebells are false rue anemone, spring beauty, spring cress, Dutchman’s breeches, and trout lily. But look for the wild leek with it’s spraying, spear-like foliage, the umbrellas of mayapple, the small heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger, and the large leaves of skunk cabbage in the muddy areas.
Here are the best preserves to find magnificent displays of Virginia bluebells, and don’t forget to take in their Fruit-Loops scent:
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: No matter where you walk, you’ll find bluebells. My favorite place is along the stream in the southern part of the preserve. They go on as far as you can see. This preserve used to be called Dynamite Woods because the site was used to store explosives during World War II. You can still see the crumbling bunkers, but they are being overgrown by woodland plants. But, right now, the ground is exploding with white flowers, like sparklers across the woodland floor. Walk towards the stream at the back of the preserve and you’ll find Dutchman’s breeches that look like puffy white overalls, spring beauties, and, most dramatically, flowing seas of toothwort.
Pilcher Park in Joliet: You’ll find an endless display of bluebells along the creek. Begin your hike at the nature center and you’ll be surround by spring ephemerals throughout your walk. My very favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold. Look for its yellow blooms in the low, muddy areas of the site. And, when you find a wet and muddy spot, also look for the cabbage foliage of skunk cabbage. It’s hard to miss.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: After crossing the bridge, you’ll find an endless carpet of bluebells along the trail that splits to the left. This preserve provides you with the feeling of spring, with a fresh green carpet of foliage and ephemerals throughout.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: Thanks to Zeke Wei, my first volunteer scout, I can confidently say that the bluebells are going strong and so are many other spring plants and flowers. If you’d like to volunteer to scout preserve for me and to help all Chicagoans fall in love with local nature, click here for information.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: Bluebells can be found here, though not as many as the above preserves. But, I must say that this intimate preserve will win your heart. It also features the most beautiful stream in the region, but differs from the other preserves because of the tall bluffs. This place is a miracle. You’ll also find false rue anemone, skunk cabbage, wild leek, mayapple, and Solomon’s seal. There’s also wild ginger, with their small heart-shaped leaves, that are just beginning to fill in the woodland floor.
PHOTO SECTION
The Sublime Virginia Bluebell
Virginia Bluebells at O’Hara Woods
At O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, Illinois, the April sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells.*
Virginia Bluebells at Messenger Woods
April at Messenger Woods in Lockport features a breathtaking display of Virginia bluebells.*
Virginia Bluebells at Raccoon Grove
In April, Virginia bluebells bloom in profusion along the creek at Raccoon Grove in Monee, Illinois.*
Virginia Bluebells at Raccoon Grove
Come to Pilcher Park in April for the dramatic performance starring Viriginia bluebells.*
MORE FLOWERS
Mayapples and False Rue Anemone at Black Partridge Woods
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.*
Cut-leaved 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
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.*
Pilcher Park’s marsh marigolds and skunk cabbage
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.*
* 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 Nature Info – 04/13/2017
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
April 13, 2017
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest natural wonders.”
Welcome to the first official post of the 2017 season
Here’s what’s happening in Chicago nature, right now!
Finally, it’s starting to look like spring with innumerable species of wildflowers flowing across the floors of several area woodlands.
At this moment, most of the springtime flowers are blooming white (or a light pink), like cut-leaved toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, spring cress, Dutchman’s breeches, and bloodroot. Bright green leaves are also playing a part in turning winter into spring. Umbrella-like leaves of mayapple are just coming up, along with spears of wild leek, and the sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage that are getting bigger every day. And keep your eyes open for Virginia bluebells. They also green up the preserves but, in about a week, they’ll turn wet woodlands into seas of blue and pink. It is, by far, the most dramatic blooming event of the spring season. If you like yellow flowers, marsh marigolds are blooming at Pilcher Park and at McClaughry Springs Woods in Palos Park. From the parking lot, look across the stream.
Here’s a list of the best preserves to visit for this first important blooming event of the year:
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville used to be called Dynamite Woods because the site was used to store explosives during World War II. You can still see the crumbling bunkers, but they are being overgrown by woodland plants. But, right now, the ground is exploding with white flowers, like sparklers across the woodland floor. Walk towards the stream at the back of the preserve and you’ll find Dutchman’s breeches that look like puffy white overalls, spring beauties, and, most dramatically, flowing seas of toothwort. You’ll also
Pilcher Park has the best trails in the current alert. Begin your hike at the nature center and you’ll be surround by spring ephemerals throughout your walk. My very favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold. Look for its yellow blooms in the low, muddy areas of the site. And, when you find a wet and muddy spot, also look for the cabbage foliage of skunk cabbage. It’s hard to miss. This preserve is also one of the best places for Virginia bluebells. They like it a little bit wet. Look for them along the creek. The go on forever.
Messenger Woods in Lockport will provide you with the feeling of spring, with a fresh green carpet of foliage and ephemerals throughout. The preserve is also known for its vast expanses of bluebells, but that’s still more than a week away.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont is a gem, but it’s quite small. False rue anemone, skunk cabbage, wild leek, mayapple, and some Virginia bluebells. There’s also wild ginger, with their small heart-shaped leaves, that are just beginning to fill in the woodland floor.
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee went unscouted this week, but this preserve is dense with spring wildflowers. You will not be disappointed. If you’d like to volunteer to scout this preserve for us, click here for information.
PHOTO SECTION
Cut-leaved 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:
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.
Pilcher Park’s marsh marigolds and skunk cabbage:
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.*
* 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 Nature Now! Alert – 02/27/2017
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
February 27, 2017
(Skunk Cabbage Update)
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest natural wonders.”
SPRING HAS ARRIVED IN CHICAGO AND THE EVIDENCE IS SPREADING!
In my February 15th blog post and alert, I reported finding the first sprouts of skunk cabbage at Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet, signalling the start of spring in the Chicago area. Now, I’ve confirmed that it’s now pushing up its spotted spathes (see below) at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont and at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.
In Chicago, spring usually arrives in March when sprouts of skunk cabbage push up from the muck. But this hasn’t been a normal winter, given the well-above-average temperatures and minimal snowfall (so far). On February 14, I had a hunch that skunk cabbage may have already popped up. So, I visited Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet. And there it was: skunk cabbage and the beginning of spring in Chicago! The preserve is farther to the south with slightly higher temperatures, making this site one of the first places to see skunk cabbage. To find the skunk cabbage at Pilcher Park, click here for directions to the spot. Park in the gravel pull-off to the right and walk directly off into the woods to your right (east) until you reach a narrow., muddy runoff. It’s no farther than fifty yards from the road. Please keep your eye to the ground and tread lightly. Fresh shoots of skunk cabbage are hidden under the fallen leaves.
Watch my video from my Valentine’s Day visit to Pilcher Park Nature Center:
To follow are entertaining and educational excerpts 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 tiny delicate protrusions you see on the spadix are the flowers.
The spadix emits a foul odor that, to a human, is reminiscent of skunk. However, to flesh flies, carrion flies, and several kinds of gnats, the spadix smells and looks more like a yummy dead animal, a trick the plant uses to lure them in for pollination. The spadix is also where the process of thermogenesis takes place. It warms the confines of the spathe, providing a cozy haven for pollinating insects while transmitting the smell of carrion far and wide.*
These tender leaves of skunk cabbage will soon develop into giants, up to two feet long and one foot wide.*
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
Chicago Nature Now! Alert – 02/15/2017
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
February 15, 2017
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest natural wonders.”
IT’S OFFICIAL. SPRING HAS ARRIVED IN CHICAGO!
In Chicago, spring usually arrives in March when sprouts of skunk cabbage push up from the muck. But this hasn’t been a normal winter, given the well-above-average temperatures and minimal snowfall (so far). Yesterday, February 14, I had a hunch that skunk cabbage may have already popped up. So, I visited Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet. And there it was: skunk cabbage and the beginning of spring in Chicago! The preserve is farther to the south with slightly higher temperatures, making this site one of the first places to see skunk cabbage. Black Partridge Woods in Lemont should see sprouting soon. To find the skunk cabbage at Pilcher Park, click here for directions to the spot. Park in the gravel pull-off to the right and walk directly off into the woods to your right (east) until you reach a narrow., muddy runoff. It’s no farther than fifty yards from the road. Please keep your eye to the ground and tread lightly. Fresh shoots of skunk cabbage are hidden under the fallen leaves.
Watch my video from my Valentine’s Day visit to Pilcher Park Nature Center:
To follow are entertaining and educational excerpts 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 tiny delicate protrusions you see on the spadix are the flowers.
The spadix emits a foul odor that, to a human, is reminiscent of skunk. However, to flesh flies, carrion flies, and several kinds of gnats, the spadix smells and looks more like a yummy dead animal, a trick the plant uses to lure them in for pollination. The spadix is also where the process of thermogenesis takes place. It warms the confines of the spathe, providing a cozy haven for pollinating insects while transmitting the smell of carrion far and wide.*
These tender leaves of skunk cabbage will soon develop into giants, up to two feet long and one foot wide.*
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
REMARKABLE FACTS ABOUT CHICAGO NATURE – Fact 2: Chicago Has A Native Cactus!
REMARKABLE FACTS ABOUT CHICAGO NATURE
Fact 2: Chicago Has A Native Cactus!
(Experience the Magic of Nature Near Your Home)
Eastern prickly pear cactus blooms in late June in sandy preserves around the Chicago area.
It’s wintertime. So why am I showing you this plant of the desert in a book about Chicago’s natural wonders? First, I did it to remind the weenies, those who complain about the weather as they walk out into the blizzard without a hat, that there is a place called Arizona. But my primary motivation is to provide support to the real Chicagoans, the hearty souls who love it here, by introducing them to a kindred spirit and probably our most unexpected neighbor. Meet the eastern prickly pear cactus. Yes, it seems crazy, but Chicago has a native cactus!
If you’d like to pay a visit to this longtime and sometimes bristly resident, maybe to exchange ideas or the occasional barb, look for habitats with sandy or rocky soils, like those found at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Powderhorn Marsh and Prairie (located in Chicago proper), Tolleston Dunes Trail (part of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore), or here, at Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve near the Fox River.
—Mike
P.S. 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.
Chicago Nature Now! Alert – 11/02/2016
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
November 2, 2016
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest natural wonders.”
Here’s what’s happening in Chicago nature, right now!
This is THE week for fall color in the Chicago region:
Finally, six weeks into autumn and the colors are at their peak in Chicago’s nature preserves. Here are beautiful places to visit to see the autumn color in our woodlands and prairies:
Prairies to visit this fall:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: Visit the sand prairie using the trail to the east.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Click here for the location of the trailhead that goes west into the prairies.
- Lake in the Hills Fen: Visit to experience the grand grassland expanse.
- Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois: This prairie offers a hundreds of species and a wonderful mix of colors and textures.
- Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This is a beautiful prairie to see an array of changing colors, along with fringed and prairie gentians.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: There is a savanna, not a prairie, but it features many prairie plants.
- Theodore Stone Preserve: There are two different prairies here, a mesic prairie on the west side of the preserve (near the main entrance) and a dolomite (limestone) prairie on the east side.
- Kickapoo Prairie in Riverdale, Illinois: This is a beautiful prairie very close to Chicago’s city limits.
- Powderhorn Prairie: This is the most biodiverse site within the city limits of Chicago.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Visit to see the tall grasses and changing foliage of the forbs.
- Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, Illinois: Contrary to the name, the preserve offers an expanse of prairie.
- Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates, Illinois: Hike this hill prairie and the large grassland at its base.
- Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove, Illinois: This is an intimate preserve to visit if you’re in the area and can’t visit any others on this list.
- Lockport Prairie in Lockport, Illinois: This prairie is going to feature tall grasses and a short out-and-back trail.
Woodlands to visit this fall:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: The savanna takes up the majority of this preserve. You can spend all day exploring.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Lots of great hiking and color through beautiful woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. Spears is one of my favorite autumn spots.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: It’s worth the visit for its savanna and woodland habitats.
- Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois: This is a magic place with steep bluffs, a beautiful stream, and where maples scream gold.
- Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien, Illinois: This vast preserve is a very popular spot for hikers, bikers, and fall-color chasers. It’s beautiful, but there are a lot of people.
- Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, Illinois: Like Black Partridge Woods, this is a wonderful woodland where maples turn to gold.
- Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve in Schererville, Indiana: The name refers to the large expanse of mostly inaccessible prairie across the street from the parking lot.
- Messenger Woods in Lockport, Illinois: A beautiful maple forest with nice color.
- Pilcher Park in Joliet, Illinois: The color here can be great, but keep in mind that it’s a popular preserve.
- Sagawau Canyon: You can sign up for a tour of the canyon, but you can go anytime to walk the trails in the preserve around the canyon.
- Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois: This is the finest example of black oak savanna anywhere in the world. For fall color, black oaks can be a bit understated, but there is a wealth of color in the understory.
- Miller Woods in Gary, Indiana: This is a big, beautiful preserve that features black oak savanna and a rich understory.
- Cowles Bog Trail at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: The colors of this black oak (or sand) savanna is a great experience.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The oak savanna at the entrance is a gem. It’s small, but very inviting and intimate. And, you also can also hike the trail through the prairie and fen.
PHOTO SECTION
Here are fall colors from previous years. Get out there and discover what this fall brings:
At Spears Woods, with the warm evening light falling on this October prairie, the tubular tops of blazing star burned with a golden glow; but not two months earlier, they blazed with purple passion. Autumn transformed the cylindrical inflorescence of hundreds of feathery purple flowers into a column of invisible seeds—invisible because what we see is not the seed but the achene, a dry fruit with a single seed hidden inside. On this plant, also known as gayfeather, each achene, by design, forms a downy tan plume that takes to the air to be scattered by the wind.*
Visit Raccoon Grove in the fall for its golden maples and picturesque stream.*
In the fall at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, don’t just stare up at the trees. Look down. There’s a bounty of color at your feet. Here, a black oak leaf landed amidst a bed of pasture rose with leaves more vibrant than any tree in this savanna.*
At Spears Woods, this ephemeral pond becomes a portal into an afternoon of autumn splendor.*
At Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, acrobatic cinnamon ferns change to gold along the Cowles Bog Trail.*
In the fall at Black Partridge Woods, I head to the high vantage point of these bluffs to immerse myself in the intoxicating colors and textures of the tiered foliage. Down below, the creek bed is dry. But when the flow returns, fallen leaves will ride the colorful currents that reflect the radiant dome.*
Compared to the golden maples of autumn, oaks can be a bit understated. Here at Bluff Spring Fen, this bur oak, when placed in the spotlight, certainly puts on a show.*
As you hike the boardwalk and the narrow sections of the Cowles Bog Trail, you may find yourself glancing down to watch your step. But in the fall, remember to raise your eyes to view the scenery in the skies.*
* 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
The Monsters in Our Midst – In the Fall, Japanese Honeysuckle & Other Alien Invaders Reveal Their True Colors
THE MONSTERS IN OUR MIDST
(Reprinted from the chapter “The Monsters in Our Midst” from my coffee table book,
“My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago: A Celebration of Chicagoland’s Startling Natural Wonders”)
Within this tranquil autumnal scene, at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, a monster lurks. In the distance is the green ghoul, Japanese honeysuckle.
At Black Partridge Woods, raindrops plummet from the gray onto an autumn canopy of golden sugar maples, dislodging turning leaves from their tentative grasps, sending them into a lighthearted aerial choreography destined for the moving stream—where the water ride begins. There, leaves are taken on a winding, whirling adventure, following the will and whim of the current, gliding with ease around branches and rocks—then twirling as the tip of a lobe glances the side of a mossy stone. Sometimes they’re snagged by twigs along the shore, as if nabbed by outstretched arms of rescue workers. Many come to rest with others of their kind, wedged against rocks in angular heaps, like jumbled piles of playing cards. And, to my delight, a friendly and flirtatious few flow over my boots and between my legs as I crouch in the middle of this rocky stream. Meditative music of cascading water floods the sweet autumn air. It is like a dream. But this being the season of Halloween, a nightmare lies in wait. A demon hides in plain sight.
“La, la la, la la!” we sing, as we frolic through a grove or a field of flowers, oblivious to the monsters that lurk all around us: the alien plant species. No, they are not pursuing you. (Or are they?) I mean, heck, they’re just plants. What harm can they do? A lot, as it turns out. They are as deadly as a murderous scene from a horror flick, except that the stranglehold takes place over years, decades. Ignored, incognito, and beautiful to the eye, the aliens creep. But their beauty is only chlorophyll deep. Slowly, diabolically, they take control and annihilate our native species, severing the fragile filaments that make up the web of life.
After years of photographing local nature, I’m still not privy to every Franken-plant. Yet, there in Black Partridge Woods, I suspected something sinister, knowing that autumn gives warning by revealing a horror in hiding: European buckthorn, with foliage that remains green deep into the fall. Along the roads, neighborhoods, and natural areas, it stands apart from the golds, burgundies, and browns. Buckthorn seems to be everywhere, providing a sobering realization of how badly our preserves have been infested and how much work remains.
In the pictured autumnal scene, the distant greenery is definitely not buckthorn. I checked before I shot it. But afterwards, haunted by the green monsters of the fall, I got an eerie feeling. If change is the message of the season, then it’s possible that other aliens did not receive the memo either. I called the steward of the site, and my fears were confirmed. The green shrub you see is another demon, as vicious as buckthorn, and one that, up until then, was unknown to me: Japanese honeysuckle. So now I know and so do you, but beware. Complacency is the most
dangerous monster of all.
—Mike
Chicago Nature Now! Alert – 10/21/2016
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
October 21, 2016
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest natural wonders.”
Here’s what’s happening in Chicago nature, right now!
Enjoy the Fall Colors: The Prairies Are Colorful. The Woodlands Are In Various States.
We’re now four weeks into autumn and the transition of tree color is moving very slowly. While the prairies are donning their fall colors, the tree foliage is either still green, transforming into a faded hue, or turning brown and dropping off. It all depends on the preserve. Just get out there in the fresh autumn air and enjoy yourself. The prairies are the first habitats to display autumn color in the foliage. It is a beautiful mosaic of colors and textures. In one small patch of prairie, it’s common to see more color than any autumn woodland in the region: oranges, golds, reds, maroons, cyans, browns, and tans. Visit the prairie to experience towering waves of red-stemmed grasses and tawny, fluffy spikes of gayfeather that glow in the sunlight. Here’s a list of prairies (and savannas) that are looking really nice and that you can visit throughout the fall season:Prairies to visit this fall:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: Visit the sand prairie using the trail to the east.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Click here for the location of the trailhead that goes west into the prairies.
- Lake in the Hills Fen: Visit to experience the grand grassland expanse.
- Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois: This prairie offers a hundreds of species and a wonderful mix of colors and textures.
- Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This is a beautiful prairie to see an array of changing colors, along with fringed and prairie gentians.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: There is a savanna, not a prairie, but it features many prairie plants.
- Theodore Stone Preserve: There are two different prairies here, a mesic prairie on the west side of the preserve (near the main entrance) and a dolomite (limestone) prairie on the east side.
- Kickapoo Prairie in Riverdale, Illinois: This is a beautiful prairie very close to Chicago’s city limits.
- Powderhorn Prairie: This is the most biodiverse site within the city limits of Chicago.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Visit to see the tall grasses and changing foliage of the forbs.
- Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, Illinois: Contrary to the name, the preserve offers an expanse of prairie.
- Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates, Illinois: Hike this hill prairie and the large grassland at its base.
- Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove, Illinois: This is an intimate preserve to visit if you’re in the area and can’t visit any others on this list.
- Lockport Prairie in Lockport, Illinois: This prairie is going to feature tall grasses and a short out-and-back trail.
Woodlands to visit this fall:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: The savanna takes up the majority of this preserve. You can spend all day exploring.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Lots of great hiking and color through beautiful woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. Spears is one of my favorite autumn spots.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: It’s worth the visit for its savanna and woodland habitats.
- Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois: This is a magic place with steep bluffs, a beautiful stream, and where maples scream gold.
- Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien, Illinois: This vast preserve is a very popular spot for hikers, bikers, and fall-color chasers. It’s beautiful, but there are a lot of people.
- Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, Illinois: Like Black Partridge Woods, this is a wonderful woodland where maples turn to gold.
- Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve in Schererville, Indiana: The name refers to the large expanse of mostly inaccessible prairie across the street from the parking lot.
- Messenger Woods in Lockport, Illinois: A beautiful maple forest with nice color.
- Pilcher Park in Joliet, Illinois: The color here can be great, but keep in mind that it’s a popular preserve.
- Sagawau Canyon: You can sign up for a tour of the canyon, but you can go anytime to walk the trails in the preserve around the canyon.
- Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinos: This is the finest example of black oak savanna anywhere in the world. For fall color, black oaks can be a bit understated, but there is a wealth of color in the understory.
- Miller Woods in Gary, Indiana: This is a big, beautiful preserve that features black oak savanna and a rich understory.
- Cowles Bog Trail at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: The colors of this black oak (or sand) savanna is a great experience.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The oak savanna at the entrance is a gem. It’s small, but very inviting and intimate. And, you also can also hike the trail through the prairie and fen.
PHOTO SECTION
Fall Colors to Look Forward to:
At Spears Woods, with the warm evening light falling on this October prairie, the tubular tops of blazing star burned with a golden glow; but not two months earlier, they blazed with purple passion. Autumn transformed the cylindrical inflorescence of hundreds of feathery purple flowers into a column of invisible seeds—invisible because what we see is not the seed but the achene, a dry fruit with a single seed hidden inside. On this plant, also known as gayfeather, each achene, by design, forms a downy tan plume that takes to the air to be scattered by the wind.*
In the fall at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, don’t just stare up at the trees. Look down. There’s a bounty of color at your feet. Here, a black oak leaf landed amidst a bed of pasture rose with leaves more vibrant than any tree in this savanna.*
In the fall at Black Partridge Woods, I head to the high vantage point of these bluffs to immerse myself in the intoxicating colors and textures of the tiered foliage. Down below, the creek bed is dry. But when the flow returns, fallen leaves will ride the colorful currents that reflect the radiant dome.*
Compared to the golden maples of autumn, oaks can be a bit understated. Here at Bluff Spring Fen, this bur oak, when placed in the spotlight, certainly puts on a show.*
As you hike the boardwalk and the narrow sections of the Cowles Bog Trail, you may find yourself glancing down to watch your step. But in the fall, remember to raise your eyes to view the scenery in the skies.*
* 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 Nature Now! Alert – 10/14/2016
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
October 14, 2016
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest natural wonders.”
Here’s what’s happening in Chicago nature, right now!
Fall Colors: The Prairies Are Pretty. The Woodlands Are Just Starting to Show Color.
We’re three weeks into autumn and while the prairies are changing color, the woodlands are just starting to show transform. However, I’m seeing also seeing maples and oaks with their leaves just falling off. Time will tell. The prairies are the first habitats to display autumn color in the foliage. And with the many asters still in bloom, the prairie becomes a beautiful mosaic of colors and textures. You may experience towering waves of red-stemmed grasses and tawny, fluffy spikes of gayfeather that glow in the sunlight. In one small patch of prairie, it’s common to see more color than any autumn woodland in the region: oranges, golds, reds, maroons, cyans, browns, and tans. Here’s a list of prairies (and savannas) that are looking really nice and that you can visit throughout the fall season:
Prairies to visit this fall:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: Visit the sand prairie using the trail to the east.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Click here for the location of the trailhead that goes west into the prairies.
- Lake in the Hills Fen: Visit to experience the grand grassland expanse.
- Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois: This prairie offers a hundreds of species and a wonderful mix of colors and textures.
- Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This is a beautiful prairie to see an array of changing colors, along with fringed and prairie gentians.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: There is a savanna, not a prairie, but it features many prairie plants.
- Theodore Stone Preserve: There are two different prairies here, a mesic prairie on the west side of the preserve (near the main entrance) and a dolomite (limestone) prairie on the east side.
- Kickapoo Prairie in Riverdale, Illinois: This is a beautiful prairie very close to Chicago’s city limits.
- Powderhorn Prairie: This is the most biodiverse site within the city limits of Chicago.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Visit to see the tall grasses and changing foliage of the forbs.
- Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, Illinois: Contrary to the name, the preserve offers an expanse of prairie.
- Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates, Illinois: Hike this hill prairie and the large grassland at its base.
- Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove, Illinois: This is an intimate preserve to visit if you’re in the area and can’t visit any others on this list.
- Lockport Prairie in Lockport, Illinois: This prairie is going to feature tall grasses and a short out-and-back trail.
Woodlands to visit this fall, but the trees aren’t changing color just yet:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: The savanna takes up the majority of this preserve. You can spend all day exploring.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Lots of great hiking and color through beautiful woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. Spears is one of my favorite autumn spots.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: It’s worth the visit for its savanna and woodland habitats.
- Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois: This is a magic place with steep bluffs, a beautiful stream, and where maples scream gold.
- Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien, Illinois: This vast preserve is a very popular spot for hikers, bikers, and fall-color chasers. It’s beautiful, but there are a lot of people.
- Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, Illinois: Like Black Partridge Woods, this is a wonderful woodland where maples turn to gold.
- Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve in Schererville, Indiana: The name refers to the large expanse of mostly inaccessible prairie across the street from the parking lot.
- Messenger Woods in Lockport, Illinois: A beautiful maple forest with nice color.
- Pilcher Park in Joliet, Illinois: The color here can be great, but keep in mind that it’s a popular preserve.
- Sagawau Canyon: You can sign up for a tour of the canyon, but you can go anytime to walk the trails in the preserve around the canyon.
- Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinos: This is the finest example of black oak savanna anywhere in the world. For fall color, black oaks can be a bit understated, but there is a wealth of color in the understory.
- Miller Woods in Gary, Indiana: This is a big, beautiful preserve that features black oak savanna and a rich understory.
- Cowles Bog Trail at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: The colors of this black oak (or sand) savanna is a great experience.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The oak savanna at the entrance is a gem. It’s small, but very inviting and intimate. And, you also can also hike the trail through the prairie and fen.
Asters Mark the End of the Blooming Season
In Ancient Greek, “aster” meant “star,” which makes sense because the blooms of the aster species resemble stars. Think of daisies, but much smaller, with colors that range from white and blue to pink and purple. Asters can be found in our prairies, woodlands, and savannas.
PHOTO SECTION
Fall Colors to Look Forward to:
At Spears Woods, with the warm evening light falling on this October prairie, the tubular tops of blazing star burned with a golden glow; but not two months earlier, they blazed with purple passion. Autumn transformed the cylindrical inflorescence of hundreds of feathery purple flowers into a column of invisible seeds—invisible because what we see is not the seed but the achene, a dry fruit with a single seed hidden inside. On this plant, also known as gayfeather, each achene, by design, forms a downy tan plume that takes to the air to be scattered by the wind.*
In the fall at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, don’t just stare up at the trees. Look down. There’s a bounty of color at your feet. Here, a black oak leaf landed amidst a bed of pasture rose with leaves more vibrant than any tree in this savanna.*
In the fall at Black Partridge Woods, I head to the high vantage point of these bluffs to immerse myself in the intoxicating colors and textures of the tiered foliage. Down below, the creek bed is dry. But when the flow returns, fallen leaves will ride the colorful currents that reflect the radiant dome.
Compared to the golden maples of autumn, oaks can be a bit understated. Here at Bluff Spring Fen, this bur oak, when placed in the spotlight, certainly puts on a show.*
As you hike the boardwalk and the narrow sections of the Cowles Bog Trail, you may find yourself glancing down to watch your step. But in the fall, remember to raise your eyes to view the scenery in the skies.*
Asters Mark the End of the Blooming Season
New England aster is just one of the many species of aster that bloom this time of year.*
* 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 Nature Now! Alert – 10/7/2016
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
October 7, 2016
“Chicago nature info and news to help you discover the region’s finest natural wonders.”
Here’s what’s happening in Chicago nature, right now!
Fall Colors: The Prairies Are A Mosaic of Colors & Textures. The Woodlands Are Mostly Green.
We’re two weeks into autumn and the prairies are looking good, while the woodlands are just starting to change color. But, with sunshine and cooler nights ahead, I’m hoping the woodlands will start showing color by next weekend. The prairies are the first habitats to display autumn color in the foliage. And with the many asters currently in bloom, the prairie becomes a beautiful mosaic of colors and textures. You may experience towering waves of red-stemmed grasses and tawny, fluffy spikes of gayfeather that glow in the sunlight. In one small patch of prairie, it’s common to see more color than any autumn woodland in the region: oranges, golds, reds, maroons, cyans, browns, and tans. And, before they fade, don’t forget to look for the ethereal blue and purple gentians. Here’s a list of prairies (and savannas) that are looking really nice and that you can visit throughout the fall season:
Prairies to visit this fall:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: Visit the sand prairie using the trail to the east.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Click here for the location of the trailhead that goes west into the prairies.
- Lake in the Hills Fen: Visit to experience the grand grassland expanse.
- Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois: This prairie offers a hundreds of species and a wonderful mix of colors and textures.
- Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This is a beautiful prairie to see an array of changing colors, along with fringed and prairie gentians.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: There is a savanna, not a prairie, but it features many prairie plants.
- Theodore Stone Preserve: There are two different prairies here, a mesic prairie on the west side of the preserve (near the main entrance) and a dolomite (limestone) prairie on the east side.
- Kickapoo Prairie in Riverdale, Illinois: This is a beautiful prairie very close to Chicago’s city limits.
- Powderhorn Prairie: This is the most biodiverse site within the city limits of Chicago.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Visit to see the tall grasses and changing foliage of the forbs.
- Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, Illinois: Contrary to the name, the preserve offers an expanse of prairie.
- Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates, Illinois: Hike this hill prairie and the large grassland at its base.
- Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove, Illinois: This is an intimate preserve to visit if you’re in the area and can’t visit any others on this list.
- Lockport Prairie in Lockport, Illinois: This prairie is going to feature tall grasses and a short out-and-back trail.
Woodlands to visit this fall, but the trees aren’t changing color just yet:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: The savanna takes up the majority of this preserve. You can spend all day exploring.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Lots of great hiking and color through beautiful woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. Spears is one of my favorite autumn spots.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: It’s worth the visit for its savanna and woodland habitats.
- Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois: This is a magic place with steep bluffs, a beautiful stream, and where maples scream gold.
- Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien, Illinois: This vast preserve is a very popular spot for hikers, bikers, and fall-color chasers. It’s beautiful, but there are a lot of people.
- Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, Illinois: Like Black Partridge Woods, this is a wonderful woodland where maples turn to gold.
- Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve in Schererville, Indiana: The name refers to the large expanse of mostly inaccessible prairie across the street from the parking lot.
- Messenger Woods in Lockport, Illinois: A beautiful maple forest with nice color.
- Pilcher Park in Joliet, Illinois: The color here can be great, but keep in mind that it’s a popular preserve.
- Sagawau Canyon: You can sign up for a tour of the canyon, but you can go anytime to walk the trails in the preserve around the canyon.
- Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinos: This is the finest example of black oak savanna anywhere in the world. For fall color, black oaks can be a bit understated, but there is a wealth of color in the understory.
- Miller Woods in Gary, Indiana: This is a big, beautiful preserve that features black oak savanna and a rich understory.
- Cowles Bog Trail at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: The colors of this black oak (or sand) savanna is a great experience.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The oak savanna at the entrance is a gem. It’s small, but very inviting and intimate. And, you also can also hike the trail through the prairie and fen.
Asters Mark the End of the Blooming Season
In Ancient Greek, “aster” meant “star,” which makes sense because the blooms of the aster species resemble stars. Think of daisies, but much smaller, with colors that range from white and blue to pink and purple. Right now, many species of aster can be found in our prairies and savannas.
PHOTO SECTION
Fall Colors to Look Forward to:
At Spears Woods, with the warm evening light falling on this October prairie, the tubular tops of blazing star burned with a golden glow; but not two months earlier, they blazed with purple passion. Autumn transformed the cylindrical inflorescence of hundreds of feathery purple flowers into a column of invisible seeds—invisible because what we see is not the seed but the achene, a dry fruit with a single seed hidden inside. On this plant, also known as gayfeather, each achene, by design, forms a downy tan plume that takes to the air to be scattered by the wind.*
In the fall at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, don’t just stare up at the trees. Look down. There’s a bounty of color at your feet. Here, a black oak leaf landed amidst a bed of pasture rose with leaves more vibrant than any tree in this savanna.*
In the fall at Black Partridge Woods, I head to the high vantage point of these bluffs to immerse myself in the intoxicating colors and textures of the tiered foliage. Down below, the creek bed is dry. But when the flow returns, fallen leaves will ride the colorful currents that reflect the radiant dome.
Compared to the golden maples of autumn, oaks can be a bit understated. Here at Bluff Spring Fen, this bur oak, when placed in the spotlight, certainly puts on a show.*
As you hike the boardwalk and the narrow sections of the Cowles Bog Trail, you may find yourself glancing down to watch your step. But in the fall, remember to raise your eyes to view the scenery in the skies.*
Asters Mark the End of the Blooming Season
New England aster is just one of the many species of aster that bloom this time of year.*
* 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