ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
04-02-2025
Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
April 2 – April 14, 2025
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Welcome to the first wildflower forecast of 2025!
The first two weeks of the growing season bring
a small burst of spring ephemerals in our woodlands.
But in only takes days for last year’s bronze carpet of discarded foliage
to be pushed aside by a verdant filigree of renewal.
The door to the past will officially close, and a new door will open.
Cross the threshold into nature’s wonders. Begin your revival, now.
WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:
RIGHT NOW, SPRING WILDFLOWERS MAY OR MAY NOT BE BLOOMING. But blooming times vary from year to year. According to my database, spring can start anytime between the middle of March and mid-April. So just pick a preserve from the list below, and discover. Get out into nature and be open to its unexpected gifts, whether it be a colorful, awe-inspiring bloom, the mysterious squeak of two rubbing trees mimicking the cry of a baby animal, or the life-affirming odor of skunk cabbage. All of these things will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.
The start of spring begins in Chicago’s woodlands with a celebration of delicate wildflowers. The blossoms may be plentiful, but they’re often diminutive. In particular, skunk cabbage is officially the first plant to bloom each year. It usually sprouts at the beginning of March, but I’ve seen it in January! Its teeny-tiny yellow flowers are tucked away inside a camouflaged maroon hood that hides amongst the scatter of bronze leaves. (Read my poem about it.) If you look very carefully, right now, you may still find the hoods. But most likely, you’ll see a single curl of cabbage leaves poking out from the ground, like one bright-green bunny ear. This may also be the time to find the gorgeous blossoms of sharp-lobed hepatica that visually pop from autumn’s brown carpet. And then there’s the sublime lemon flowers of marsh marigold that can be found in some of the muddiest wooded areas. Oh, how I love the flowers and the round-hearted leaves. Both hepatica and marsh marigold are our Plants of the Week.
To best appreciate the flowers that are so small and low to the ground, bend down and take a closer look. Marvel at their intricate beauty. Many of our springtime flowers are colored white, like cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, rue anemone, spring cress, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, and bloodroot. Spring beauty is white with pink stripes, and hepatica offers a beautiful palette ranging from white to lavender to purple. In addition to marsh marigold, you may find yellow flowers in the form of yellow violet, swamp buttercup, yellow trout lily, buttery wood betony, and the shy drooping blossoms of large-flowered bellwort. We can find some red in the form of the ethereal prairie trillium. And as for the blues and purples, our common blue violet is extremely beautiful when growing in a clump amidst its heart-shaped foliage. In fact, one of the biggest flower shows of the year is a celebration of blue, as a sea of Virginia Bluebells flood the woodland floor. Our database shows peak bloom taking place as early as April 2, but that was in 2012 when March temperatures reached into the 80’s. Normally, it happens between April 20 and May 6.
And let’s not forget the bright green leaves of the vernal season. You’ll find sprawling leaves of skunk cabbage in the wet and muddy areas with great displays at Pilcher Park, Trout Park, Black Partridge Woods, and Bluff Spring Fen. Wild leek is the one of the first plants to sprout, with swordlike leaves that make up a large percentage of the early-spring greenery. It’s the plant that gives Chicago its name. In the late 1600s, Potawatomi Indians who paddled the area rivers were commonly heard yelling “Chicagoua!” after catching a strong whiff of chicagoua, or wild leek, growing prolifically along the wooded banks. Wild leek is part of the onion family, hence the Chicago nickname, “The Big Onion.” And look for mayapple with foliage that resembles an umbrella, and a closed umbrella when they first sprout. It can take several days for them to open.
NOTE: It is illegal to remove this plant, or any other plant, from any preserve in the Chicago region.
SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:
I’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the information predicted by my one-of-a-kind propriety database of wildflowers blooming events, starting out with the best or “Go!” The “Go, if You’re in the Neighborhood” section is for sites that are worth visiting if you can’t make it to the top-rated preserves.
LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):
Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee: The preserve puts on a show with a rich variety of flowers throughout the month of April and into the second half of May. Depending on when spring sprung this year, look for the whitish pink expanse of spring beauty and myriad other wildflowers, including Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, rue anemone, bloodroot, and surprisingly large colonies of flowering white trout lily. The strange and wonderful prairie trillium may also be in bloom. Also, experience the jade hues and lush patterns of wild leek, mayapple, and wild ginger that add to the springtime mix. This preserve will soon offer a nice display of Virginia bluebells, but not an overwhelming ocean like other preserves. Note that many spring flowers don’t open up at the break of day. They are awakened by the light. On cloudy days, they may remain enclosed safely in their buds. Fortunately, when closed, the white petals of toothwort are still visible and continue to twinkle.
Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park: Begin at the west parking lot. This woodland usually blooms earlier than most of our other preserves, but it can also be flooded by waters of the adjacent Little Calumet River. Depending on your timing, you may find sparkles of sharp-lobed hepatica, rue anemone and false rue anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, cutleaf toothwort, purple cress, bloodroot, and spring beauty. Look for patches of spear-like foliage that resemble green spotted trout. In there, you may find magnificent blooms of yellow trout lily. And prairie trillium may also be flowering by now. The lush, sprawling foliage of mayapple and wild leek greatly enhance the springtime experience.
O’Hara Woods Preserve in Romeoville: The preserve was once called Dynamite Woods because the site stored explosives during World War II. You can still see the crumbling bunkers, but they’re being taken over by woodland plants. Right now, white flowers of cutleaf toothwort should be exploding, like sparklers across the woodland floor. Walk towards the stream along the south end of the preserve, and you’ll find Dutchman’s breeches (that look like white, puffy overalls), spring beauty, skunk cabbage, mayapple, wild leek (Chicago’s namesake), and soon-to-bloom Virginia bluebells. This will be the top preserve to visit when the Virginia bluebells reach their peak.
Black Partridge Woods in Lemont: When spring takes hold, this preserve is breathtaking. From the filigreed tree canopy to an understory of lushness with many patterns and shades of emerald foliage, especially wild leek, mayapple, the glorious leaves of skunk cabbage, and the small heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger. And you should soon find the shimmering petals of bloodroot, sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, and the occasional Dutchman’s breeches. Virginia bluebells bloom a little later.
Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet: Begin your hike at the nature center where you may find a lush understory of spring wildflowers. Depending on when you visit, you may find sharp-lobed hepatica, cutleaf toothwort, false rue anemone, spring beauty, purple cress, and Dutchman’s breeches. Just as beautiful as the flowers are the fresh green leaves of wild leek, mayapple, and skunk cabbage. My favorite flower-of-the-moment is marsh marigold, which is probably reaching peak bloom. Look for its yellow blossoms in the low, muddy areas of the site. You can find them near the nature center and around the trail after the bridge at this GPS coordinate: 41.532780, -88.016478. While you’re there (and just about anywhere with mud), look for the large fanning foliage of skunk cabbage. They’re hard to miss. Virginia bluebells also like the mud, especially along the banks of the creek. This preserve is one of the best places to experience a vastitude of bluebells, which often flowers between mid-April and the first week of May.
Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn: This intimate preserve is known for its ravines that sparkle white with dense white colonies of false rue anemone that flow across the braes. But you’ll also see many other plants, as well, like cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches. sharp-lobed hepatica, wild leek, mayapple, prairie trillium and common blue violet, and the sublime large-flowered large-flowered bellwort that also grows in colonies. In late April or early May, look for drooping trillium and large-flowered trillium.
Fermilab Natural Areas in Batavia: The woodland adjacent to the prairie is rich in springtime ephemerals. Depending on the date of your visit, you’ll find many of the usual suspects in bloom: cutleaf toothwort, bloodroot, spring beauty, white trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, false rue anemone, prairie trillium, and yellow colonies swamp buttercup. And of course, these flowers will fall against a verdant backdrop of mayapple, wild ginger, and some wild leek. In May, the grand alabaster blossoms of large-flowered trillium steal the show amidst floating pink blossoms of wild geranium.
Messenger Woods in Homer Glen: This preserve exudes that green and luxuriant feeling of spring. Once spring takes hold, you’ll see a variety of blooming ephemerals amidst an emerald carpet often rich in a lacy false mermaid. The most common blossoms that bloom in early spring are spring beauty, cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, and false rue anemone. The foliage of mayapple and wild leek greatly contribute to the lush springtime feel of the place. This preserve is known for its vast display of bluebells, which can reach peak bloom sometime between April 2 and May 5, though often in the last week of April.
“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Early in the spring, the transcendent yellow blossoms of marsh marigold should be flowering alongside fresh lush colonies of skunk cabbage. Soon after, you should also find miniature canopies of mayapple and a small number of spring ephemerals. And under the shade of the oaks in the savanna, you’ll find small patches false rue anemone. For the best views of marsh marigold and skunk cabbage, visit Trout Park for dense populations of these plants in an intimate setting. The preserve features a trail that takes you up and down the bluffs that includes a wooden boardwalk that carefully guides you through sensitive wet areas. While on the boardwalk, look for Chicago’s only native evergreen tree, the northern white cedar. Atop the bluff, you’ll find other spring wildflowers.
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: Park at the main parking lot for this preserve, located at Somme Woods, and then follow the narrow trail to Somme Prairie Grove. Note that springtime starts a little later in the northern suburbs. Remain under the tree canopy to see the most spring ephemerals. Along your stroll, you should discover spring beauty, white trout lily, some bloodroot, cutleaf toothwort, mayapple, and others.
PLANTS OF THE WEEK (Sharp-lobed Hepatica & Marsh Marigold):
SHARP-LOBED HEPATICA
This is sharp-lobed hepatica of species Hepatica nobilis acuta. It pops up through a layer of last year’s leaves and beckons the start of the new blooming season with floral color that ranges from white to pink, blue to purple. I’m especially taken by the colorful, textured cluster of miniature structures that inhabit the center of the flower, the deep three-lobed leaves, and the dark red stems. Another name for hepatica is liverleaf, referring to the shape of the leaf’s lobes. Early in the spring, you can find them at Heron Rookery Trail, Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve, Bluff Spring Fen, and here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.*
Here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois, a group of sharp-lobed hepatica huddles around the base of an oak tree.*
MARSH MARIGOLD
My heart skips a beat when I see marsh marigold. At Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, yellow flowers of marsh marigold were covered in a magical patina of morning frost. Visit nearby Trout Park for the best view of these plants. Pilcher Park Nature Center also has a beautiful display.*
In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.*
PHOTO SECTION
Skunk Cabbage:
Skunk cabbage penetrates the frozen temperatures of late winter to be Chicago’s first plant to bloom. It uses its own heating system to melt the snow and ice in a process known as thermogenesis. The bumps atop the ball inside the spathe (the hood) are the plant’s flowers. And that ball is called the spadix. It’s the furnace that generates the heat and also creates a odor reminiscent of a yummy dead animal. Not yummy to us, but to carrion flies that are in search of a delicious treat. The plant uses this trick to attract flies, hoping that they’ll unwittingly pollinate the flowers as they buzz about looking for something dead to eat.
The speckled maroon spathe of skunk cabbage blends with leaf litter on the woodland floor, making it difficult to find when it first emerges. However, the plant becomes more conspicuous as it grows larger and produces its curious, oval-shaped yellow flower head, known as a spadix. The tiny delicate protrusions you see on the spadix are the flowers.
It’s springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering. If you’re someone who, like me, finds the powerful essence of skunk to be an invigorating and life-affirming experience, the skunk inside the cabbage will definitely let you down. You’ll find many at Pilcher Park Nature Center, Black Partridge Woods, Bluff Spring Fen, Trout Park, and O’Hara Woods.*
Cutleaf Toothwort:
Cutleaf toothwort is small flowers makes a big impact for their size of its flowers, especially when blooming in large numbers. Even when closed, they still impart a sparkle because the petals are much longer than the sepals. Initially, I thought that the “toothwort” name came from the toothed leaves or the closed flowers that look like molars. But I was wrong. It is the rhyzome, a root-like structure located just below the soil between the stem and the root. Most people would not figure this out. I mean, I only discovered it after employing my X-ray vision. However, there was a time when people relied on plants, and often their roots, for survival. And Native Americans ate the tooth-shaped tuber. Now, this isn’t the only plant named after its root. The root of bloodroot, as the name suggest, bleeds a red liquid when broken. Native Americans used this sanguine solution as body paint and to dye clothes and baskets. This shot was taken at O’Hara Woods in Romeoville, but you can find it at any of our featured woodlands.*
In April, cutleaf toothwort blooms in profusion amongst a backdrop of mayapples at every local woodland, including here at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve where they explode like firecrackers. This preserve was previously known as Dynamite Woods because explosives were stored here during World War II. Nowadays, the only thing that blows up are the spring wildflowers.*
During the month of April, O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve brings a woodland floor sparkling with cutleaf toothwort and the greenery of wild leek and mayapple. You can see all of these plants at all of our featured woodlands.
Dutchman’s Breeches (or Dutchman’s Britches):
O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve has a large number of Dutchman’s breeches. It is one of my favorite spring flowers because the flower is just so kooky and the leaves are a dream. You can find them at Heron Rookery Trail, Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve, and many of our showcase woodlands.*
I discovered this pink variety of Dutchman’s breeches at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville. Notice the beautiful parts and details.*
Bloodroot (catch it before it goes away for another year):
This is bloodroot of species Sanguinaria canadensis. The white flowers are beautiful, but short-lived. At the end of its run, the slightest touch send the petals falling to the ground. The common name and genus name Sanguinaria come from the fact that breaking the stem or the roots makes the plant bleed a red juice. Don’t pick the flower to find out. Just take my word for it. Native Americans used the plant for dying their clothes and baskets, and for body paint. In woodlands, the wind gets broken up by trees which reduces its speed. Therefore, bloodroot and most other woodland plants do not depend on the breeze to disperse their seed. They rely on ants. In a process known as myrmechochory, the seeds of bloodroot have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that’s made up of fat or oil. The ants take the seeds back to their colonies where they eat the elaiosomes, but discard the seed into an rich and nourishing accumulation of nest debris where the seeds can safety germinate under the unwitting protection of the colony.
Rue Anemone:
Rue anemone (of species Thalictrum thalictroides) is a found in the higher quality woodlands of our region that have not been disturbed by human activity. The plant is sometimes called windflower because of the ease at which the flowers blow around in the breeze. And windflower definitely likes the breeze because its blossoms depend on the wind for pollination. Here, it was a cold Tuesday morning at Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve. And while there were hundreds of flowers waiting to open, only this plant of rue anemone was brave enough to blossom. This plant is often confused with false rue anemone. The flowers and foliage are similar, but a closer look will reveal the difference. The number of flower petals, which are actually not petals but sepals, number only five on false rue anemone, whereas the sepal count for rue anemone varies widely, even on the same plant. Here, we see ten. As for the foliage, both have foliage with three lobes. However, they’re “deeply lobed” on the false version, meaning that the leaves have a deeper cleavage between the lobes. Also, the true version tends to grow alone, while the false often grows in clusters.
False Rue Anemone:
False rue anemone (of species Enemion biternatum) is a beautiful plant that often blooms in dense colonies. The flowers are white and never have more than five sepals (the white petals that really aren’t petals at all). During the night, they close up into little white balls. False rue anemone is more common than its similar, (true) rue anemone. You can tell them apart by looking at their leaves and flowers. The flowers of false rue anemone can have many sepals, whereas the false version only has five. And the three-lobed leaves have a deeper cleavage between the lobes. Both characteristics are depicted in the image. You can see this plant at any of our showcase woodland. But the nicest shows take place at Johnson’s Mound, Black Partridge Woods, and Heron Rookery Trail. This and every other woodland wildflower is under attack by the foreign invader known as garlic mustard. It crowds out and poisons its neighbors until all that remains is its own kind covering black earth. This is one reason why the forest preserves are always looking for volunteers, like you, to help control such threats. Volunteer today!
Mayapple:
In woodlands across northeastern Illinois, like here at Black Partridge Woods, in Lemont, April showers bring out the umbrellas in the form of mayapples. And the white flowers of false rue anemone sparkle like raindrops. At the moment, mayapples are either just sprouting or just starting to open their umbrellas.*
Virginia Bluebell:
Right now, you’ll find the blue and pink buds of Virginia bluebell (of species Mertensia virginica) at Messenger Woods, Pilcher Park, Black Partridge Woods, and here at O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve in Romeoville.*
* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.
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
2025 Chicago Wildflower
Spring Preview
2025 Chicago Spring Wildflower Slideshow Preview
“A walk in nature is the best medicine.”
In early May, Black Partridge Woods becomes an emerald dream. And ChicagoNatureNOW! brings moments like this to you every week from April through September. The new season is upon us, and this is the perfect time to help by donating here.*
See the slideshow below for a preview of spring wildflowers. (Please be patient, it can take a little time to load.)
Now that spring is in the air, we can finally get outside and get a dose of the best medicine around. Nature! Right now, you can experience the solitude of nature and find delight in Mother Nature’s whimsical surprises and creations, like the otherworldly skunk cabbage that generates its own heat to melt the late-winter snow. (Learn about where to find it.) Beginning in April, Chicago nature will put on a show in the muddy bottoms of some woodlands, with the emergence of marsh marigolds. Soon after will come performances from an array of diminutive spring wildflowers, like cutleaf toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, and spring beauty. And as the month ends, a flourish as endless expanses of Virginia bluebells fill woodlands with a smell that I can only describe as a fragrant, floral Chanel version of Froot Loops cereal. And this is just the first month of spring. See the slideshow below for a preview of spring wildflowers.
SUBSCRIBE NOW (for free) to receive our weekly wildflower reports to learn when and where these wonderful events are taking place.
April begins our sixth season of ChicagoNatureNOW!. Each week over the six-month growing season (early April through late September), you can use this website to experience breathtaking displays of wildflowers around Chicago.
In the meantime, here’s an interactive slideshow (which takes a few seconds to download) that foretells a beautiful future for us all:
Chicago Nature
Spring Preview
If you find this website of Chicago wildflower information useful, please donate to our GoFundMe campaign or purchase my nationally-acclaimed book that celebrates all of the preserves featured on this website.
—Mike
ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
03-10-2025
Annual “Searching for Spring” Poem Celebrates Spring’s Arrival
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
March 10, 2025
SEARCHING FOR SPRING
2025 Edition
“Chicago’s Best Nature Outings, Outdoor Adventures,
Wildflower Walks, Nature Hikes, & Weekend Getaways!”
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to received FREE weekly wildflower alerts!
BREAKING NEWS: SPRING HAS ARRIVED IN THE CHICAGO REGION!
In Chicago, spring officially arrives when sprouts of spotted skunk cabbage push up through mud or snow. And now it’s official. Thus far, sprouts of skunk cabbage have been found at Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet and Black Partridge Woods in Lemont.
Here’s a past photograph of skunk cabbage from Pilcher Park Nature Center in Joliet:*
Spring has officially arrived in the Chicago region when skunk cabbage rises the frozen elements using its own heating system known as thermogenesis. Read more about this remarkable species below.*
As is my tradition, I celebrate the emergence of skunk cabbage and the rebirth of a new growing season by posting my poem and educational excerpt the “Searching for Spring” chapter of my book, “My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago: A Celebration of Chicagoland’s Startling Natural Wonders.” And maybe you and your family can make it a tradition, too. (Please watch your step and tread lightly. Skunk cabbage is very hard to see.)
And now, “Searching for Spring.”
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 (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
See My New Show & Learn About Chicago Nature at Wild Things Conference 2025
Wild Things Conference on March 1, 2025
See My Brand New Show
& Learn About Chicagoland’s Natural Wonders
On Saturday, March 1st, emerge from your winter haven and into the warmth and excitement of fellow nature lovers to learn about Chicago’s natural wonders at the 2025 Wild Things Conference.
On March 1st, I’m performing a new show at the 2025 Wild Things Conference entitled “The Enchantment of Light: How Earth’s Star Can Bring Magic to Your Nature Experience“. It’s an inspirational multimedia experience where I show how an awareness of light can give you a fresh perspective on the world and make your nature adventures even more beautiful and enchanting than they already are.
Remarkably, almost everything I’ve learned about Chicago nature over the last three decades didn’t come from books, magazines, or the Internet. My knowledge has come from years of talking to people I’d meet on the trails, volunteering on work days, and from events like the upcoming 2025 Wild Things Conference scheduled for Saturday, March 1st in Rosemont at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
This biennial event is for nature enthusiasts who want to learn more about our region’s wondrous flora, fauna, and natural history from dozens of passionate presenters. And it’s also a great place to make new friends. And while you’re there, please attend my 11:15 AM performance in Room 40. Click here to learn more or to register. And click here to learn about my show.
I hope to see you there!
—Mike
The Milky Way of Ephemeral Balloons
The Milky Way of Ephemeral Balloons
As the final rays of day illuminate icy Indian Creek, a bouncy parade of water bubbles still manage to flow just beneath the glassy surface.
Signs of a Chicago Autumntime Woodland
Signs of a Chicago Autumntime Woodland
At Black Partridge Woods, the rain left a wet gloss on the arboreal leaves, while the leaves of wild giger and false rue anemone attempt to retain their green springtime hues.
On a drizzly afternoon this November, I visited Lemont’s Black Partridge Woods to photograph my favorite symbol of the autumntime woodland. No, not the conspicuous red and bronze hues of the fallen canopy, but the yellowing heart-shaped perimeters of wild ginger, seen hiding amidst the filigree of false rue anemone.
—Mike
A Tribute to Dune Succession
A Tribute to Dune Succession
This portion of Cowles Bog Trail that runs along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Indiana Dunes National Park is a wonderful example of dune succession and the pioneering work on the topic by Henry Chandler Cowles (the trail’s namesake).
It’s autumn. And a yellow Eastern cottonwood tree stood far in the distance, made evermore golden and bright by a spotlight of sun and the dark backdrop of a shadowy dune.
Little did I know, I was standing at the epicenter of the study of ecological succession and, more specifically, dune succession—along the Cowles Bog Trail, named after Henry Chandler Cowles for his groundbreaking research on the topic. The dunes of this national-park are the Birthplace of American Ecology.
The image was made on a foredune near the Michigan shoreline, not long after Zeke and I bounded down a high, steep dune (upper right in the photo) through powdery sand that supposedly “sings” when walked upon. We spotted that tree just after we landed. My photographer friend headed straight for it. I decided to stay back to appreciate and photograph the soft highlights and long, gentle shadows of a low sun, known for accentuating ephemeral shapes in the sand and the individual plants that make up any habitat.
Do you see those saplings of golden-leaved cottonwood in the foreground, mixed in with marram grass? Together, they make the perfect tribute to that dazzling distant tree and the building of the dunes through a few-thousand-year process known as dune succession. Nutrient-barren sand is transformed into a sea of grass, flowers, shrubs, sand-loving trees, like cottonwoods and black oaks, and, most remarkably, the towering dunes like the one I most recently plunged.
The currents and waves of Lake Michigan deposit barren grains of sand on the shoreline to create a lifeless beach. As sand is washed and blown inland, it is trapped by plants that, over time, form a foredune—a long, narrow mound that runs parallel to the beach.
The main collector of sand is marram grass, which is able to survive the brutal elements and a soil devoid of nutrients. It does this, in part, thanks to a rootlike structure of rhizomes, a type of stem that collects and stores nutrients while also spreading out horizontally to sprout more plants. This net of rhizomes can spread as wide as twenty feet to moor the wandering sand. Each winter, its foliage decays to the ground to further nourish the sand that, over time, becomes rich enough to support other plant species which, in turn, repeat the same pattern. Each new plant stabilizes the soil and amasses more sand, eventually supplanting and occupying the role of marram grass. The cycle continues until nutrient-hungry trees take hold atop towering dunes of sand.
Thanks to marram grass, we have our mighty dunes.
—Mike
A Bunny’s View of a Springtime Woodland
A Bunny’s View of a Springtime Woodland
An intimate view from underneath a miniature forest of mayapples in the woodland known as Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, Illinois.
In the woodlands of early May, shy waxy white blossoms of mayapples hide under their umbrella-like foliage. Their parasols obscure our view of the flowers from above. But the bunnies below can see them just fine. Mayapples with one umbrella cannot flower. The plant needs two umbrellas to collect extra light energy to do the job. The flowering mayapple in the center clearly shows the leaves rising from the central stalk.
I’ve been photographing nature for thirty-one years, now. And for much of that time, I’ve been searching for an opportunity to showcase these flowers in the form of a landscape. However, due to the logistical and compositional challenges of setting up a clean shot from ground level, many conditions need to be met, much of which I have no control. Therefore, I don’t waste time actively searching for the unlikely perfect scenario. Rather, I enter the scenario into my brain’s pattern-recognition system with the instruction to subconsciously search for the proper conditions and to sound the alarm when they’re met.
In May of 2008, the alarm went off, and I composed an image that I thought I’d never beat. Then in May, sixteen springs later, the alarm went off again. With this image, I may be able to switch the alarm for good.
—Mike
ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
09-23-2024
Mike MacDonald’s
Chicago Nature Now! Alert
September 23, 2024
(Fall Color Preview & Final Forecast of the Year)
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The Wildflower Blooming Season Has Come To An End
As for our followers, please share with us how our service has contributed to your life. We’d love to hear about your adventures! You can write a comment in this blog post or send me an email. And please share this website with others, and ask them to subscribe. Now that autumn is only days away, the blooming season has effectively ended in terms of new dramatic wildflower shows. Therefore, this post will be our final wildflower alert for the 2022 growing season. Below, I suggest where to find any remaining blooms and kaleidoscopic fall color in the weeks to come.
HIGHLIGHTS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR FALL COLOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS IN CHICAGO NATURE:
Even though the goldenrods and sunflowers are fading, the prairie is already displaying autumn colors in its foliage. And with the many asters and gentians that flower into October, the prairie becomes a beautiful mosaic of oranges, golds, reds, maroons, cyans, browns, and tans. In one small patch of prairie, it’s common to see more color than any autumn woodland. You’ll experience towering waves of red-stemmed grasses and the tawny, fluffy spikes of gayfeather glowing in the sunlight. Here’s a preview of what you can find in the scenic preserves and woodlands as they change into their autumn wardrobes: PRAIRIES TO VISIT THIS FALL:
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: Visit the golden sand prairie close to the lake using the trail to the east. I love this place, which is why it tops the list.
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: This preserve offers open expanses of woodland, wetland, and prairie that is my personal favorite preserve of the fall season. Click here for the location of the trailhead that goes west into the prairies.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: This preserve is really a savanna, but it features many prairie plants that offer rich autumn color and texture. The many flowers and grasses that have brought us joy throughout the growing season are now performing their final show of the year.
- Lake in the Hills Fen: Visit this vast preserve to experience the grand grassland expanse that runs to a distant horizon. Wow!
- Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois: This prairie offers hundreds of species with a wonderful combination of color and texture. Walk (or drive) to the prairie house at the north end and view the prairie expanse from the deck.
- Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This large prairie offers an array of changing colors, including blooms of fringed and prairie gentians that last through the end of September.
- Theodore Stone Preserve: The seas of grasses are beautiful. 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. There is also a woodland trail that offers some canopy color.
- Kickapoo Prairie in Riverdale, Illinois: This is a beautiful prairie very close to Chicago’s city limits with a sea of grasses.
- Powderhorn Prairie: Experience the fall color of the prairie at the most biodiverse natural area within the city limits of Chicago.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: Visit the prairie for tall expanses of grasses and colorful foliage from the forbs. And while you’re on your way in, stop under the trees to receive a hug from the gallant oaks.
- Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, Illinois: Contrary to the name, the preserve offers an expansive prairie that looks great in the fall.
- 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 intimate remnant prairie is beautiful throughout the year. And because it’s quite small, your visits may be quite short, but always quite memorable.
- Lockport Prairie in Lockport, Illinois: This prairie features a wonderful expanse of tall, waving grasses on a short out-and-back trail.
WOODLANDS TO VISIT THIS FALL:
- Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois: Asters bloom into the first week of October along with white snakeroot and elm-leaved goldenrod. And because there is a mix of tree species, the color range is spectacular. The wetlands are beautiful as they reflect the surrounding color. And you’ll find lots of great hiking over the rolling terrain.
- Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois: The black oak savanna takes up the majority of this preserve. You can spend all day exploring.
- Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois: Because this is an oak savanna, the tree color is not as colorful as woodlands with a variety of species. Combined with the understory in the prairie-like expanse, this is a wonderful preserve to visit.
- Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois: This is a magical place with steep bluffs, a beautiful stream, and maples that scream gold. Wow! This is another favorite preserve of mine.
- Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien, Illinois: This vast preserve is a very popular spot for hikers, bikers, and fall-color chasers. The tree colors in the woodland and savanna are very nice and I love the views along Sawmill Creek. It’s beautiful, but there are crowds of people on the weekends, especially around the man-made waterfall.
- Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve in Monee, Illinois: Like Black Partridge Woods, this site features a beautiful creek and a wonderful woodland where maples turn to gold.
- Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The intimate oak savanna is a dream come true! Stand under the tawny tones of venerable oaks and feel their warm embrace. Then continue on the trail into the prairie and fen, where unexpected color and texture complete the autumn experience.
- Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois: This is the finest example of a black oak savanna anywhere in the world. For fall color, the black oaks can be a bit understated, but there is a wealth of color in the understory. I love the feel of this preserve. And you’re likely to be alone because the preserve is not frequently visited.
- Messenger Woods in Lockport, Illinois: This large woodland offers a golden maple forest.
- Pilcher Park in Joliet, Illinois: This hardwood maple woodland offers great color. But keep in mind that it’s a popular preserve. Go early for the best experience.
- Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park: This is a big, beautiful preserve that features a black oak savanna with a rich understory. And the ferns are fun!
- Cowles Bog Trail in Indiana Dunes National Park: Walk the trail through the colorful black oak savanna. At a point along the trail, choose the fork to the right. Soon, you’ll be taken over a steep dune and onto a spectacular panorama of waving golden grasses along the sandy shores of a blue Lake Michigan. Wow!
- Sagawau Canyon: Call them to register for a canyon tour, or just go for a walk through the colorful woodland and prairie.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
HUMMINGBIRDS! The hummingbirds are here! You can find them buzzing about at many nature centers including: Sagawau Canyon, Pilcher Park (at the nature center and south of the greenhouse), and Little Red Schoolhouse.
ACROBATIC FERNS Miller Woods, Tolleston Dunes, Cowles Bog Trail, and Hoosier Prairie (all in northwestern Indiana) are leaping with gymnastic ferns that are beginning to change into their autumn color
PHOTO SECTION
Asters mark the end of the blooming season
Asters come in a variety of colors: white, pink, purple, and blue. The name comes from an Ancient Greek word for “star.” You can find them in most prairies and savannas, and in some wetlands around the region. This is an image of New England aster, which is just one of the many species of aster that bloom at this time of year. Click here for a complete (pdf) list of local asters and goldenrods.*
Bottle Gentians (through late September, possibly into October)
Bottle gentian (or closed gentian) is fully dependent on bumblebees for its survival. The petals of this unusual flower are effectively closed to other insects, but the strong bumblebee is able to muscle its way in through the tip. Late in the season, when fewer plants are blooming, bottle gentian relies on the slim pickings for pollination, hoping bumblebees won’t mind the extra effort.*
These are not flowers that fill the landscape, but they are sublime. Look closely and you’ll find them at Lake in the Hills Fen, Wolf Road Prairie, Somme Prairie Grove, Powderhorn Prairie, and Belmont Prairie. When I first set eyes upon these fading blooms of bottle gentian, I was taken aback, struck by an arrow through my heart. Instantly, I fell in love with the prettiest flowers I had ever seen. Maybe I was just having one of those days, but I was close to tears.*
Fringed Gentian (through late September, possibly into October)
Gorgeous fringed gentian bloom in September. However, the flowers are diurnal, meaning that the the blooms only open up with the sun and are closed at night and, sometimes, on cloudy days. You can find them at preserves like Bluff Spring Fen, Chiwaukee Prairie, and Lake in the Hills Fen.*
The Tallgrass Prairie
Here at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, big bluestem grass gives true meaning to the term “tallgrass prairie.” Find big bluestem at Belmont Prairie, Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Wolf Road Prairie, Fermilab Prairie, Gensburg Markham Prairie, Kickapoo Prairie, Spears Woods, Theodore Stone Preserve, and other local prairies over the next several weeks.*
The grasses of Canada wild rye and big bluestem sparkle with dew in the morning prairie at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.
As a photographer, the grass called Canada wild rye is a favorite of mine. The flower heads resemble those of wheat or rye. Rabbits and deer like this plant for the taste of its young foliage. But the seed heads are much less appetizing. Each seed head is a sharp awn, a little spear that can easily puncture the mouths of deer and cause problems as it travels through their digestive tracts. The drooping heads beautifully capture the morning dew for everyone to see and to feel as they swoosh to-and-fro across your body. They are the paintbrushes of the prairie. I photographed this perfect plume of Canada wild rye with my clothes soaked from my trek through the dew-drenched prairie. On this day, the landscape painted the artist.
Acrobatic Ferns
Royal fern spreads out in the light foggy savanna at Hoosier Prairie in Schererville, Indiana.*
In the Cowles Bog Trail area, you’ll find many species of fern. Here, a forest of royal fern thrives in a wetland that has formed at the base of a high dune. And you can find more ferns at Miller Woods.*
Get Outdoors and Discover What Autumn Can Bring:
At Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois, where the prairie meets the woodland, late-September grasses turn to gold.*
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.*
At Spears Woods, this ephemeral pond becomes a portal into an afternoon of autumn splendor.*
Rare marram grass dominates the flavescent foredune along the shore of Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois.*
At Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, this radiant bush reaching out into the sand prairie is shrubby cinquefoil. In the summer, the plant is undramatic. Like a long, drawn-out fireworks display, it releases its arsenal of flowers over a two to three-month period as one flower explodes over here and another over there. But, in the fall, with foliage burning bright, shrubby cinquefoil goes all out, putting on one of the finest finales of any plant. There’s a lesson here. This fall, spare yourself the stiff neck from staring up at the trees and visit the prairie where you’ll find more color than in any woodland.*
At Illinois Beach Nature Preserve , wise oaks in this savanna spread their branches wide to allow the sun’s rays to nourish the diverse community of plants below. These enlightened trees have learned that sharing the light with life at the bottom ensures not only their survival but also the prospect of reaching new heights.*
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.*
Acrobatic cinnamon fern take hold in the soggy ground of Cowles Bog Trail, which is not a bog at all but, rather, a wetland known as a fen.*
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.*
At Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Illinois, the glorious autumn *canopy of white oak bring dramatic color to the open woodland.
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.*
Visit Raccoon Grove in the fall for its golden maples and picturesque stream.*
Every October, I am drawn to the banks of Sawmill Creek at Waterfall Glen for the annual celebration of golden maples. On this particular day, the stream turned to a trickle, its rocky bed transformed into the staging area for a colorful, yet peculiar, parade—one that waits for rainfall in order to proceed.*
* 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
ChicagoNatureNow! ALERT
09-16-2024
Mike MacDonald’s
Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
September 16, 2024
“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
Chicago’s Best Weekend Getaways & Nature Walks”
Summer Nature Walks & Outdoor Getaways!
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
Click here to subscribe to receive FREE wildflower forecasts!
Each week, we offer you opportunities to find peace during this trying time!
PLEASE DONATE IF WE’VE HELPED YOU FIND SOLACE IN NATURE.
Donate to Our GoFundMe Campaign
Find peace by getting out into nature!
Break from your screens to experience
magnificent flower shows at our showcase preserves.
WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago nature:
September is “The Month of Gold” around Chicago, as sunflowers and goldenrods fill our prairies and oak savannas alongside tall grasses that take on rich autumnal tones. And the start of the month also brings breathtaking purple performances of rough blazing star. But nature isn’t just about flowers. It’s about the experience. Explore and discover a preserve from the list below. Be open to nature’s unexpected gifts, whether it be a colorful, awe-inspiring bloom, the mysterious squeak of two rubbing trees mimicking the cry of a baby animal, or the life-affirming scent of mountain mint. All of these things will open up your life to a world of wonder and intrigue.
This is often peak time to experience The Month of Gold. Goldenrods and sunflowers radiate across Chicago’s prairies and savannas. Spectacular shows of towering sawtooth sunflower are likely taking place at Wolf Road Prairie, Somme Prairie Grove, Spears Woods, and Lake in the Hills Fen.
The big purple performances of rough blazing star may still be happening at Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Bluff Spring Fen, Lake in the Hills Fen, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, and Pembroke Savanna. Of course, the goldenrods are blooming everywhere around Chicago. But the best display is probably taking place at the panoramic Lake in the Hills Fen.
This is also the moment to experience the beautiful and prominent grasses of our prairies and oak savannas, including big bluestem, Indian grass, side oats grama, little bluestem, Canada wild rye, and prairie dropseed. Indian grass has feather duster plumes with miniature yellow flowers. Gensburg-Markham Prairie and Theodore Stone Preserve are particularly beautiful with their flowing seas of grasses.
TIP: Here is my most profound recommendation for enjoying your time in nature. If the preserve allows, arrive before first light. A morning rendezvous with nature is a magical experience that vastly transcends what’s possible at other times of day. In the early light, the world expands beyond the usual three dimensions, as the transformation from darkness into light excites more than just the visual sense. As night gives birth to dawn, and the landscape gently turns from azure to gold, the soft and changing light is a spectacle for the eyes. A moist fog or a splash of crisp dew against your skin affirms your existence. The still atmosphere concentrates the fragrances floating in the air and provides a tranquil stage for birds to project their crystal melodies. In the morning, you’ll find all of this, along with the promise of a new day.
As summer comes to a close, the large and conspicuous plants are stealing the show, which is why you’ll have to look carefully to find the gems hiding at your feet. In particular, September is also the season of gentians: cream, bottle, prairie, stiff, and fringed gentian, our Plant of the Week. You can find one or more species flowering at many of our preserves, including Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Bluff Spring Fen, Lake in the Hills Fen, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, and Belmont Prairie.
Spears Woods features wildflower shows in its prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. This preserve also provides great trails far away from traffic, with varied habitats, and dramatic vistas.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When visiting a preserve before ten o’clock in the morning, wear rain gear or you could end up soaked to the skin from the dew. A pioneer of the prairie once remarked, “Walking through a dewy stand of big bluestem is like jumpin’ in the crick.” And I can vouch for that.
Goldenrod is blooming everywhere, but don’t worry about your allergies because goldenrod is NOT responsible for triggering them. Yes, you read that right. The pollen of goldenrod is so heavy that it drops to the ground. Therefore, it can’t float through air to be inhaled. The real culprit is common ragweed that blooms at the same time. This is also when many of the asters begin to flower, which marks the end of the blooming season. There are so many asters and goldenrods that it’s hard to identify them all. Click here for a complete (pdf) list of local asters and goldenrods. And, right now, you can see white snakeroot, the deadly plant that killed thousands in the 1800’s to what was called “milk sickness,” including Mary Lincoln, mother to Abraham. You can smell it and touch it, JUST DON’T EAT IT! Watch this video to learn more:
For a greater appreciation of our native habitats, touch and smell the plants. (But don’t eat them unless you know what you’re doing.) Run your fingers across the soft tan tassels of Indian grass and atop the rough, sometimes smooth leaves of our many sunflowers. Tickle your hand as you pass through a cloudy plume of prairie dropseed. And while you’re there, stop and pay attention to its rich fragrance of slightly burnt buttered popcorn. Receive the strong and refreshing fragrance of mint from the fading flowers of mountain mint and wild bergamot. The seeds of yellow coneflower smell like licorice, while the seeds of purple prairie clover give off my favorite good smell in Chicago nature—a transfusion of lemons and carrots. So, what is my favorite bad smell? That would be the brown, teardrop seed ball of foxglove beardtongue. When in bloom, the white snapdragon flowers have no appreciable smell. But beginning around the end of August, the seeds smell exactly like vomit. Some say, “moldy socks.” Either way, it’s fabulous!
If you’re looking for longer walks, try these showcase preserves: Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Lake in the Hills Fen, Spears Woods, Miller Woods, and Somme Prairie Grove.
SUMMER WILDFLOWER GETAWAYS AROUND CHICAGO:
I’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the information predicted by my one-of-a-kind propriety database of wildflowers blooming events, starting out with the best or “Go!” The “Go, if You’re in the Neighborhood” section is for sites that are worth visiting if you can’t make it to the top-rated preserves.
LIKELY, THIS WEEK’S BEST CHOICES (“GO!”):
Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester: Spectacular! The prairie should be covered in an ocean of gold. Normally, I’d have you park at the kiosk along 31st Street on the south end. But to best immerse yourself into the deep sea of gold is to follow the narrow southbound trail located behind the prairie house on Constitution Avenue at the north end of the preserve. Quite quickly, the trail immerses you in swaying waves of towering sawtooth sunflower. Take your tape measure or a child on your shoulders to find the tallest one. The scientific literature states that they can grow as high as twelve feet. But I’ve found thirteen-footers here! That’s taller than two of me. (See picture below.) Large stands of tall boneset represent the most dominant display of white. Adding to the golds are flowers of tall coreopsis, some remaining prairie dock and rosinweed, and various species of goldenrod that include stiff, tall, grass-leaved, field, plus elm-leaved under the trees. Take note of the bob hairdos of prairie dropseed and its feather duster plume that smells like slightly burnt buttered popcorn. And appreciate the warm hues of the coming season with the turkey-footed tassels of big bluestem and the flowering feathery plumes of Indian grass. Along your hike to the south end, you’ll experience cream gentian, bottle gentian, obedient plant, pasture thistle, rough blazing star, ironweed, and the soft rusty flower heads of round-headed bush clover. The oak savanna at the south end offers goldenrod, bottlebrush grass, and the occasional ironweed. Note: Theodore Stone Preserve and Spears Woods are located close by.
Spears Woods in Willow Springs: An adventure! This week is probably this year’s last chance to experience the sea of sawtooth sunflower in the prairie’s undulating terrain. I love this preserve for its varied habitats, topography, and personalities. And it’s big enough to fill a good part of your day with hiking. The golds of September should now be on full display in the prairies, as sawtooth sunflower and its shorter red-stemmed counterpart, long-bracted tickseed sunflower, are joined by tall coreopsis, stiff goldenrod and others of that ilk. There are beautiful displays of ivory false aster and tall boneset along with the purplish hues of pasture thistle, ironweed, New England aster, and slender false foxglove. The turkey-foot tassels of big bluestem and feathered plumes of Indian grass fill the prairie with early tones of autumn. They sway in the prairie winds amongst a subtle color palette of plants that have exited the main stage. While the ivory Tinker Toy shapes of rattlesnake master and the cauliflower-heads of wild quinine have browned, they still maintain their whimsical nature. The white button flower heads of mountain mint don’t have many flowers left, but they still retain their stimulating scent. The woodlands have a bit of a sparkle, with elm-leaved goldenrod, white snakeroot, and a variety of asters. Note: Theodore Stone Preserve and Wolf Road Prairie is not too far away.
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion: Wilderness! This preserve is wild and beautiful and full of unexpected surprises. And that’s why you should visit. You should find various asters aflower along with goldenrods and any remaining blooms of rough blazing star, western sunflower, large flowered false foxglove, and flowering spurge flowering in the savanna. And in the sunny open expanse towards the beach, you’ll find the final blooms of rough blazing star, western sunflower, flowering spurge, beach wormwood, white goldenrod, showy goldenrod, field goldenrod, and shrubby cinquefoil all amidst a sandy landscape of Indian grass, sand reed, little bluestem, marram grass, and a sprawling groundcover of creeping juniper and bearberry. And keep your eyes open for the intoxicating blossoms of fringed gentian. Note: Consider visiting Chiwaukee Prairie while you’re already in the area. Note: Consider visiting Chiwaukee Prairie while you’re already in the area.
Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: A gem! This Illinois Nature Preserve is located atop the hill inside the fence, where you’ll often find grand displays of showy goldenrod along with its cousins stiff and field goldenrod. Adding to the golden mix are tall coreopsis, western sunflower, and prairie dock. And you should still see some purple spikes of rough blazing star. I simply love the sea of short curving grass known as tall dropseed. The subtle, yet gorgeous, round-headed bush clover is showing off its fuzzy rusty head. And then there’s fading ivory displays of white goldenrod, which looks nothing like goldenrod and more like an aster. And search for bottle gentian hiding in the grasses. The savanna often overflows with yellow and white, mostly comprised of tall goldenrod, tall coreopsis, and tall boneset. From the overlook atop the hill, soak up the colors and textures of the vast gold and auburn vista beyond the fence, where the celebration continues. Venturing out into that panorama, you’ll pass large expanses of sawtooth sunflower, a profusion of goldenrods, plus tall coreopsis amidst the tawny grasses of big bluestem and Indian grass, and browning rattlesnake master and wild quinine. Note: Consider visiting Bluff Spring Fen while you’re here. It’s roughly in the neighborhood.
Lake in the Hills Fen in Lake in the Hills: Panoramic beauty! This preserve offers a dramatic panoramic view that is best enjoyed at edges of daylight, when it’s not hot and sunny. Enjoy the array of flowers that flow along the vast rolling landscape of the prairie and fen. On the high ground, dramatic shows of rough blazing star often take center stage in waves of purple. Also take note of the golden hues of late summer exuded by the many goldenrods including Riddell’s, tall, field, showy, and grass-leaved plus the sunflower-like blooms of tall coreopsis and vast colonies of sawtooth sunflower. Oceans of tall grasses wave in the warm prairie winds, including flowering, feathery Indian grass, turkey-foot tasseled big bluestem, and the breathtaking reddening little bluestem. White goldenrod may still be blooming on a gravelly kame near the entrance. The plant looks nothing like goldenrod and more like a white aster. Next to the the fens you may find grass-of-Parnassus, great blue lobelia, shrubby cinquefoil, the cream, bottle and fringed gentians, and spotted Joe-Pye weed that also grows in abundance in most of the wet areas. Along your way, you’ll also notice a significant amount of ivory tall boneset. And you might find a small forest of prairie dock along the far southern trail. When you enter the preserve through the zig-zag opening, consider taking a left and hiking the short looping trail that ends right back at the entrance. Then take the longer trail (making a right at the entrance) that takes the high ground into the southern section of the fen and all the way to “Barbara’s Bench.” This memorial bench pays tribute to the late Barbara Wilson, who dedicated much of her life to the stewardship and protection of this preserve, and to her favorite area of the preserve. In 2004, Barb escorted me to a spot that’s overlooks the seep of a hanging fen that she described as “nirvana” and the “holiest of holy.” NOTE: If you visit in the morning, wear waterproof pants and shoes, otherwise you’ll likely get soaked to the skin with the dew.
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: Resplendent! Somme Prairie Grove is known for the simultaneous blooms of many species. And that’s what you’ll find, right now. The best blooms are happening under the sun with beautiful expanses of sawtooth sunflower alongside tall coreopsis, goldenrods, obedient plant, savanna blazing star, and many asters that are just starting (see list below). You also find several beautiful gentians: cream gentian, bottle gentian, stiff gentian, and prairie gentian. The gold continues under the trees with displays of sweet coneflower and brown-eyed Susan mixed with rich purples of Missouri ironweed and spotted Joe-Pye weed. You’ll also find great blue lobelia, white turtlehead, savanna blazing star, and the deadly white snakeroot (watch video above). As is common during the late-summer months, you’ll travel through tunnels of big bluestem grass and Indian grass, which is probably the reason for the misnomer “tallgrass prairie.” It’s a misnomer because most species in a prairie are actually forbs (flowering plants). Still, when the first settlers travelled from the forests of the east, the towering grasses of Illinois would have been an unexpected obstacle. The floppy stringy hairdos of prairie dropseed is growing everywhere under the sun, but watch your step. It’s very easy to trip over. Spend a moment to inhale dropseed‘s feather duster. It smells like slightly burnt buttered popcorn. Finally, don’t miss the dramatic rising of rattlesnake master “skeletons” in the open prairie. During the summer, it’s safe to touch their prickly flower heads. But right now, they’re extremely sharp and will probably leave one of its bony seeds in your finger.
Here’s a list of asters that you can find at Somme Prairie Grove:
In the shade: Drummond’s aster, Short’s aster, and Calico aster (aka side-flowering aster)
Open woods: forked aster
Under the sun: sky blue aster, smooth blue aster, flat-topped aster, and New England aster
NOTE: The trails are narrow and often a little overgrown. So watch your step. If you visit in the morning, wear rain gear or the plants will drench you with dew.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park: Paradise! This black oak/sand savanna may still be putting on its finest performance of the season that can be described as purple with splashes of gold and white. The spectacular purple spikes of rough blazing star are the star of the show with a glowing cast that includes white flowering spurge, flashy field goldenrod, the floating yellow rays of western sunflower, and creamy sweet everlasting. You’ll also find the buttery trumpets of large flowered false foxglove, the elegantly understated flower heads of round-headed bush clover, and many beautiful grasses.
Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest: Golden! The prairie is overflowing with golden flowers, mainly dominated by sawtooth sunflower and many goldenrods that include tall, grass-leaved, and stiff. Also adding to the yellow mix is sneezeweed, brown-eyed Susan, and a towering combination of cup plant, tall coreopsis, sweet coneflower, and prairie dock. Highlights of pearl can be seen in tall boneset, flowering spurge, false aster, hairy aster, and in the fading, fragrant flourishes of mountain mint alongside the browning rattlesnake master. The dramatic deep purples of ironweed add some visual excitement. The purples of ironweed, New England aster, and pasture thistle add splashes of visual excitement. And there’s much more to see: obedient plant and the sublime cream gentian. In the wetter areas, you may still find spires of great blue lobelia, orange jewelweed, the brilliantly red cardinal flower, and the gorgeous pink blooms of swamp milkweed and spotted Joe-Pye weed. And finally, this is the perfect time to experience the many grasses that include Canada wild rye, big bluestem, and Indian grass.
Gensburg-Markham Prairie in Markham: First of all, the preserve is NOT LOCKED. It only looks that way. The chain is just draped over the top of the gate. Just move the chain to enter, and then move it back when you leave. Once inside, I suggest walking all of the trails to enjoy the many flowers that vary along the way. In August, you can often find at least two dozen species in bloom at the same time, while the textures of the grasses and sedges add to the grand experience. Stop to appreciate the purple waves of big bluestem and oceans of prairie cordgrass that rise and fall like waves in the wind. Experience the whimsical plumes of Canada wild rye, big bluestem, Indian grass, switch grass, and prairie dropseed. Spend a moment to inhale dropseed‘s feather duster. It smells like slightly burnt buttered popcorn. Start by taking the path to your left, and travel clockwise around the square mowed trail. Along your way, you should find a beautiful mix of yellow, white, and pink. Grass-leaved, tall, and stiff goldenrod combined with sympathetic hues of long-bracted tickseed sunflower sawtooth sunflower, rosinweed, tall coreopsis, prairie dock, and sneezeweed. Large white blooms of tall boneset fall amidst the now-brown flowers of rattlesnake master, wild quinine, and mountain mint. The pinks are provided by ironweed, New England aster, spotted Joe-Pye weed in the wet areas, and the occasional appearances of rough blazing star and pasture thistle. And a variety of aster add color to the mix. As you peruse the prairie, see if you can find the fluffy greenish heads of round-headed bush clover. As you return on the final leg of the square, the scenery turns to shrubs and royal ferns.
“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:
Theodore Stone Preserve in Hodgkins: A glorious grassland! The main show should be taking place in a small patch of dolomite prairie on the eastern half of the preserve. Growing from the rock you may find a glorious little patch that includes rough blazing star, little bluestem, prairie dock, field goldenrod, and the unusual white goldenrod that looks like an aster. This is a scene that steals my heart. It’s a very special and delicate spot, so please stay on the trail. Aside from that little show, the sea of grasses and the mix of yellow flowers dominate the vast majority of the prairie panorama. You’ll experience the beautiful flowing grasses that includes: Indian grass, big bluestem, little bluestem, switch grass, Canada wild rye, prairie dropseed, and side oats grama. And you may see many other flowers, too, like asters, tall coreopsis, goldenrods, smooth ironweed, spotted Joe-Pye weed, great blue lobelia, sneezeweed, sweet coneflower, swamp rose mallow, pasture thistle, swamp thistle, and stands of late boneset. NOTE: Spears Woods and Wolf Road Prairie are not too far away.
Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove: This intimate remnant prairie is probably not as showy as the preserves on our “Go” list (above). But, if you’re in Downers Grove and have a few minutes, it’s worth a trip. Amidst the tunnels of tall grasses of Indian and big bluestem, you’ll find sawtooth sunflower, a mix of goldenrods, colorful asters, the occasional pasture thistle, tall boneset, cream gentian, and blue bottle (or “closed”) gentian. Unlike cream gentian‘s slight opening at the tip of the flower, the flowers of bottle gentian are always closed, so don’t expect them to ever open. To detect these low-lying plants, keep your eyes to the ground. They’re easy to miss as you swim through the sea of tall grasses. A special thanks to Greg Jerzyk who provided us with a list of asters at Belmont Prairie: Drummond’s aster, Heath aster, New England aster, hairy aster, and smooth blue aster.
NOTE: If you visit in the morning, make sure to wear rain gear or you’ll get drenched from head to toe.
Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin: This pretty prairie-on-the-lake is a “Go!” for the appearance of the breathtaking fringed and prairie gentians. You should also see a smattering of golden sawtooth sunflower, several species of goldenrod, and fading flowers of rough blazing star, western sunflower, and flowering spurge. You should also find swamp thistle and a variety of asters. And seas of beautiful grasses are changing color into their autumn tones.
Note: Definitely consider visiting Illinois Beach Nature Preserve while you’re already in the area.
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The foliage of the summer prairie transform into the rusts, browns, and reds of autumn, with just a handful of blooming flowers. Under the trees, you’ll find asters, some goldenrods, and the poisonous white snakeroot. Under the sun, the grasses of big bluestem and Indian grass show off beautiful tones of brown and rusty tones. You may find a smattering of goldenrods and sunflowers. The seep of the fen at the center of the preserve may be the preserves most enchanting spot, that could feature a beautiful mixture of shrubby cinquefoil, grass-leaved goldenrod, assorted sunflowers, and gentians, including cream, bottle, and fringed. Finally, keep an eye out for the beautiful great blue lobelia, which is scattered across the preserve. Watch your step on the narrow, hard-to-see boardwalks in the center of the preserve.
Fermilab Prairie in Batavia: A large display of sawtooth sunflower, goldenrods, and tall seas of of Indian and big bluestem grass dominate the prairie vista. You’ll also run into a smattering of asters. Much of the preserve is covered with waves of purple and brown grasses combined with soft highlights of gold. This prairie is a reconstruction, not a restoration. It was originally a prairie that was turned into farmland and turned back into prairie (sort of). In 1971, Dr. Robert Betz embarked on a bold experiment to reconstruct the prairie from nothing, employing the same agricultural practices that caused its demise. While the soil will take eons to replenish and, though not as rich as other remnants or restored prairies, Fermilab Prairie provides the region with a large expanse of grassland for people to explore. I say “grassland” because, in proportion to the flowering plants (forbs), you’ll find much more big bluestem and Indian grass than most prairies. You can find a similar situation with the prairie at Carl Hansen Woods—the expanse south of the Shoe Factory Road Prairie. It was once thought that planting grasses first would help heal the land. But it was later learned that they prevented the forbs from taking hold. Nowadays, forbs and less-aggressive grasses (like side oats grama) are planted first. Then, after they’re well-established, the grasses are introduced.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
HUMMINGBIRDS!
The hummingbirds are here! You can find them buzzing about at many nature centers including: Sagawau Canyon, Pilcher Park (at the nature center and south of the greenhouse), and Little Red Schoolhouse.
ACROBATIC FERNS
Miller Woods, Tolleston Dunes, Cowles Bog Trail, and Hoosier Prairie (all in northwestern Indiana) are leaping with gymnastic ferns that are beginning to change into their autumn colors.
SEE A SUMMER SUNSET
Saganashkee Slough in Palos Hills: Sensational for sunsets, as our celestial star—a bright, burning brass ball—slowly sinks in the sky to start a sultry summer eve.
PLANT OF THE WEEK: FRINGED GENTIAN
Gorgeous fringed gentians bloom in September. However, the flowers are diurnal, meaning that the blooms only open up with the sun and are closed at night and, sometimes, on cloudy days. You can find them at preserves like Bluff Spring Fen, Chiwaukee Prairie, and Lake in the Hills Fen.*
PHOTO SECTION
Wolf Road Prairie
Sometime between late August and mid-September, Wolf Road Prairie explodes with gold thanks to vast expanses of sawtooth sunflower that consume the prairie. And though Wolf Road Prairie could be the best place to experience it, you can also find this plant at most of Chicago’s prairies.*
Lake in the Hills Fen
In September, tall goldenrod and purple rough blazing star contribute to an explosion of color at Lake in the Hills Fen.*
Rough blazing star and Indian grass dominate the top of this kame at Lake in the Hill Fen.*
This expansive landscape features showy goldenrod as it glows in the morning light at Lake in the Hills Fen in Lake in the Hills, Illinois.*
The golden blooms of stiff goldenrod and shrubby cinquefoil turn the seep of this fen aglow at Lake in the Hills Fen in Lake in the Hills, Illinois.*
Pembroke Savanna
The celebration of rough blazing star and field goldenrod is probably Pembroke’s most prolific performance of the year, but it’s by no means the only one. This rich community of plants puts on many shows throughout the growing season.*
In a shining spot under the open canopy of the black oaks, western sunflowers smile in the late-summer sun at Pembroke Savanna.*
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve
As the sun rises over the dune, rough blazing star, flowering spurge, and western sunflower grow densely in the protection of a swale at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois.*
In late summer, large flowered false foxglove blooms in profusion in the black oak savanna at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Illinois. You can also experience this flower at Pembroke Savanna, Indiana Dunes National Park, and Bluff Spring Fen.*
The Dead River, at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, is the only remaining river in Illinois that flows into Lake Michigan. The name comes either from deep pools of quicksand hidden along the banks that devour unsuspecting hikers or from water that remains still and barely flows. On this sapphire morning, the latter was true.*
Sawtooth Sunflower
Sawtooth sunflower of species Helianthus grosseserratus is a towering native plant that, according to the scientific literature, can reach heights of twelve feet! But I found a colony of thirteen-footers at Wolf Road Prairie. See picture below. The term “sawtooth” describes the long toothed leaves. The golden flowers are quite numerous and beautiful. The plant often grows in colonies, sometimes very large. This plant is considered weedy, but it’s a great ambassador of the prairie. Its grand stature and vast dense displays unwittingly attracts great interest in the prairie from passersby. Wolf Road Prairie gives proof of nature’s comfort, as sawtooth sunflower and obedient plant tangle in a glorious embrace.*
Mike MacDonald and a thirteen-foot sawtooth sunflower at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*
Rough Blazing Star
Rough blazing star of species Liatris aspera may look familiar. It is cousin to our other local blazing stars: cylindrical prairie, marsh, and savanna. The “rough” moniker comes from the widely spaced button-like flower heads along the top of the plant, unlike the buttons of the prairie and marsh species that are very closely spaced. The plant blooms from the top down. And each fluffy button contains several pink or purplish flowers. The plant produces a seedlike structure called an achene, which is simply a seed enclosed within a fruit. For example, those tiny seeds on the surface of strawberries are actually achenes. Each is a hard little fruit that surrounds the seed itself. In the case of all blazing stars, the achene is attached to fluffy hairs that are captured and distributed by the wind. Compared to the densely colonized black soil prairie along its western border, this rocky dolomite prairie at Theodore Stone Preserve can sometimes appear a bit sparse. But near summer’s end, the eastern prairie easily outshines its western neighbor when the vibrant pinks of rough blazing star fill all feelings of emptiness.*
Rough blazing star and western sunflower find protection from the elements inside the swale of the sand prairie at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois.*
The celebration of rough blazing star and field goldenrod is probably Pembroke Savanna‘s most prolific performance of the year, but it’s by no means the only one. This rich community of plants puts on many shows throughout the growing season.*
On this late-summer morning at Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates, the sun burned through the fog to illuminate the purple blooms of rough blazing star and the bright green foliage of compass plant.*
Bottle Gentian
Bottle gentian (or closed gentian) is fully dependent on bumblebees for its survival. The petals of this unusual flower are effectively closed to other insects, but the strong bumblebee is able to muscle its way in through the tip. Late in the season, when fewer plants are blooming, bottle gentian relies on the slim pickings for pollination, hoping bumblebees won’t mind the extra effort.*
When I first set eyes upon these fading blooms of bottle gentian, I was taken aback, struck by an arrow through my heart. Instantly, I fell in love with the prettiest flowers I had ever seen. Maybe I was just having one of those days, but I was close to tears.
In September at Powderhorn Prairie, sawtooth sunflowers rise up to 12 feet into the air while rare bottle gentians are just fine growing near the ground.*
Asters, Asters, Asters!
New England aster is just one of the many species of aster that bloom in September and October.*
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
The pink spotted Joe-Pye weed (of species Eutrochium maculatum) is a flamboyant plant associated with wet and swampy areas in full or partial sunlight, unlike its cousin sweet Joe-Pye weed that grows in drier and shadier woodlands and savannas. Here at Bluff Spring Fen, the morning light arrives at the edge of a flowery seep where spotted Joe-Pye weed thrives.*
Big Bluestem
The towering height of big bluestem grass gives true meaning to the term “tallgrass prairie.” It can be found at every black soil prairie on our list. It wasn’t uncommon for early pioneers to lose their travel companions in the ocean of big bluestem grass.*
Miniature flowers delicately hang from the tassel of big bluestem grass at a prairie near you.*
Canada Wild Rye
In the morning, this plume of Canada wild rye and all the plants of the prairie become drenched in morning dew. Wear your rain gear!*
Grasses of Canada wild rye and big bluestem sparkle with dew in the morning prairie at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.*
Indian Grass
In the dolomite prairie at Theodore Stone Preserve in Hodgkins, Illinois, feathery plumes of dew-drenched Indian grass steal the show from rough blazing star and goldenrod.*
Acrobatic Ferns
Royal fern spread across in the light foggy savanna at Hoosier Prairie in Schererville, Indiana.*
In the Cowles Bog Trail area, you’ll find many species of fern. Here, a forest of royal fern thrives in a wetland that has formed at the base of a high dune. And you can find more ferns at Miller Woods.*
* 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