Mike MacDonald’s
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August 5, 2024
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WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Prairies, Woodlands and Savannas:
August overflowers with floral splendor, including stunning shows of cylindrical blazing star, sweet and spotted Joe-Pye Weed, rattlesnake master, and prairie dock. 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 should be a remarkable week of flower shows in our woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. It’s hard to go wrong when picking a preserve to visit because they all have something exciting to offer. According to my database for this moment in time, this should be another memorable week with flower shows happening in woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. The best flower shows often take place at Spears Woods, Wolf Road Prairie, Bluff Spring Fen, Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and Illinois Beach Nature Preserve,
Spears Woods may still be the frontrunner for floral beauty with blooming in the prairies, woodlands, and wetlands, especially if it’s a good year for prairie blazing star. This preserve also provides great trails far away from traffic, with varied habitats, and dramatic vistas. And while you’re there, catch a glimpse of the aquatic American lotus in Hogwash Slough. I also love Spears Woods for its the rolling terrain, and Hogwash Slough—easily, the prettiest wetland around here.
NOTE: It’s August. But I sometimes call it Fogust because August is the foggiest month of the year. Therefore, if you visit a preserve in the morning, wear rain gear or risk ending up soaked to the skin from the dew.
Wolf Road Prairie has the potential to blow you away, with flowering happening in both the savanna and the prairie. In the prairie, there can be forests of prairie dock that will make you hyperventilate. And the oak savanna puts on a show of woodland sunflower (our first of two Plants of the Week) and sweet Joe-Pye weed.
TIP: I recommend visiting grasslands at the beginning or the end of the day when it’s much cooler and the sunlight is beautiful. Prairies are treeless expanses with no escape from the sun. It’s a challenge to appreciate the prairie in the blinding light of ninety-degree afternoon.
Somme Prairie Grove and Bluff Spring Fen each feature many performance stages thanks to a fanfare of color from at least two dozen flowering species, including a dramatic show of woodland sunflower.
Shoe Factory Road Prairie and the adjacent prairie should be blooming strong with many different species, including cylindrical blazing star (our second Plant of the Week) in the former and potentially breathtaking expanses of prairie blazing star, wild quinine, and rattlesnake master in the latter.
Belmont Prairie can be a beautiful little dream. Nodding wild onion should be blooming across the vast grasslands of Lockport Prairie, Chiwaukee Prairie, Lake in the Hills Fen, and also at Shoe Factory Road Prairie and Bluff Spring Fen.
Gensburg-Markham Prairie, located in the south suburbs, is one of the finest prairies in the world. It offers a wide array of color and blowing seas of grasses.
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Pembroke Savanna often overflow with sparkling florets of flowering spurge amidst the occasional buttery blooms of large flowered false foxglove. And Theodore Stone Preserve usually provides a great show that stars yellow coneflower and a cast of others plants.
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.
The scent of the flowers are especially invigorating right now. Experience the eye-opening minty freshness of wild bergamot and mountain mint, the licorice scent of yellow coneflower, and the wonderful lemon-carrot scent of fading purple prairie clover. And of course, experience the scents of the milkweeds of common, whorled, and swamp.
Summer is a wonderful time to experience green glow in the prairie. Green glow is a term that I recently invented that describes the bright-green glow of foliage from sunlight shining through it. The green glow of compass plant and prairie dock is spectacular. Prairie dock is especially delightful when its large heart-shaped leaf is transformed into a projection screen, as plants that fall between the sun and the screen cast their silhouettes in a kind of prairie shadow play.
And finally, the dramatic aquatic American lotus is flowering. The pale yellow blossoms resemble those of a water lily, but they’re much larger—up to eight inches wide atop stems that can reach six feet high. And that isn’t all. The circular leaf is gorgeous and enormous, up to two-and-a-half feet in diameter! See the Photo Section below for images of American lotus (and where to find it) along with the many flowers featured in this report.
If you’re looking for longer walks, try these showcase preserves: Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Lake in the Hills Fen, Spears 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!”):
Spears Woods in Willow Springs: This preserve offers many blooms and habitats you can experience while you’re hiking about. Around this time, the freshest wildflowers often come from flowering spurge, nodding wild onion, and prairie dock (I once found a nine-footer). The flowers atop prairie dock’s cousin, compass plant, are mostly gone. But the middle and bottom of the plants are in full bloom. The ivory Tinker Toy shapes of rattlesnake master are still showing their white balls while the once alabaster wild quinine is fading to brown. The white button flower heads of mountain mint don’t have many flowers left, but they still retain their stimulating scent. The purples of the occasional ironweed try to replace the pinks of fading prairie blazing star. And the yellow petals of rosinweed, woodland sunflower, and early goldenrod faded to be replaced by the budding grass-leaved goldenrod, long-bracted tickseed sunflower, and the skyward blooms of sawtooth sunflower. Notice the pink filigree of showy tick trefoil that can look like a purple mist mingling amongst the other flowers. The turkey-footed heads of big bluestem grass are now aflower. And the feathery heads Indian grass may also be blooming. The woodland should be alive and brimming with fluffy mauve heads of sweet Joe-Pye weed and golden rays of woodland sunflower. And a spectacular scene of the aquatic American lotus blossom is taking place at the the north end of Hogwash Slough. Along the shoreline, it’s difficult to see the lotus through the towering sedges and cattails. But there’s a beautiful view of Hogwash Slough and the colony of American lotus located halfway between the eastern prairie trailhead and the shore of Hogwash Slough. The pale yellow blossoms resemble those of a water lily, but they’re much larger—up to eight inches wide atop stems that can reach six feet high. Note: Theodore Stone Preserve and Wolf Road Prairie is not too far away. Note: Theodore Stone Preserve and Wolf Road Prairie is not too far away.
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: This is one of the finest preserves in the region. This week, the woodland surrounding the savanna usually makes a strong statement with a glorious displays of woodland sunflower and many more flowers and grasses that include the pink-plumed sweet Joe-Pye weed, blue American bellflower, alabaster starry campion and lofty pale Indian plantain, the yellow-petaled sweet coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and large flowered false foxglove, the purple buttons of ironweed, and the perfectly named bottlebrush grass. Under the open sky, golden rays of prairie dock, compass plant, and tall coreopsis reach for the sky. Closer to Earth, you’ll find scores of other flowers that will take your breath away with sparkling textures and colors that include the following species: white filigrees of flowering spurge and mountain mint, fading wild quinine, mountain mint, and rattlesnake master, early goldenrod, the wonderfully woolly flower heads of round-headed bush clover, and the pinks of showy tick trefoil, nodding wild onion, swamp milkweed, obedient plant, and spotted Joe-Pye weed. . If you run into the yellow-flowered rosinweed, run your fingers over the stiff foliage and you’ll instantly understand the name. Along your walk, you may also find these flowering plants: wild bergamot, prairie blazing star, self heal, blue vervain, and the miniature blooms of big bluestem and possibly Indian grass. The floppy stringy hairdos of prairie dropseed is growing everywhere under the sun, but watch your step. It’s very easy to trip over. Come early or late in the day to experience green glow from compass plant and prairie dock. NOTE: If you visit in the morning, wear waterproof pants and shoes, otherwise you’ll probably get soaked from the dew.
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: You can usually find tremendous beauty around this time, with at least twenty flower species blooming across the preserve. The trail begins by the kiosk where the oak savanna greets you and where you’ll find yourself protected under the warm embrace of majestic oaks. The trail winds you through the trees and along the kames, around the sunny prairie, and through the main wetland known as a fen. At first, should see the fluffy and tall sweet Joe-Pye weed, towering white pale Indian plantain, the aptly named bottlebrush grass, and silky wild rye and its larger cousin Canada wild rye. Look for the white five-petaled fringed blooms of starry campion, lavender puffs of wild bergamot, rockets of yellow coneflower, the buttery blooms of large flowered false foxglove and mullein foxglove, and any remaining blue American bellflower. The towering stands of white pale Indian plantain and mauve sweet Joe-Pye weed are stunning. At the troll bridge, where friendly trolls have helped to restore the adjacent wetland habitat, look to your right for a grand expanse of spotted Joe-Pye weed alongside towering white cowbane, gorgeous great blue lobelia, and the occasional cup plant. Continuing under the protection of oaks, look to your right at the base of the kame to find a tremendous golden show of tall cutleaf coneflower and the wingstem. On your left is narrow trail that takes you to the top of the “big kame.” On your way up, look for the white five-petaled fringed blooms of starry campion and whimsical displays of the aptly named bottlebrush grass. Once atop gravelly peak, you’ll experience a unique view of the preserve with pink-buttoned cylindrical blazing star alongside pearly plumes of whorled milkweed, flat-topped wild quinine, and blue hoary vervain. After returning to ground level, as you pass the savanna, I recommend making a right turn into the open prairie and moving counter-clockwise around the preserve back to this spot. Once under the sun, you’ll find blue vervain, fading marsh blazing star, wild bergamot, creamy tuberous Indian plantain, sparkling flowering spurge, plus wild quinine, flowering rattlesnake master and big bluestem grass, and the wonderful bristled heads of Canada wild rye that will soak you to the skin when loaded with morning dew. And you may find a glorious “forest” of tall compass plant to the west. To see them up close, take the trail to the right at the “Y.” Twist and turn through a tangle of delightfully bristly compass plant stalks to experience the best skin exfoliation service that Chicago nature has to offer. Talk about the best arm-scratch ever!
Returning to the main trail, head east through a dense stand of big bluestem grass full of miniature flowers that can give off fragrant plumes of pollen as you brush past. After a short walk, you’ll run into a gravelly area with hoary vervain, named for its soft hairy leaves, and some remaining blooms of purple prairie clover. Ahead to your right is what we call the “transplant kame.” We call it that because Healy Road Prairie, located six miles away, was being mined for its gravel, and a community of hundreds of volunteers dug it up and transplanted it here. Years before, the transplant kame was also mined to the ground, but it was reconstructed to become the new home of Healy Road Prairie. Blossoming upon the kame are compass plant, wild quinine, and yellow coneflower. If you circumnavigate the base of the kame, you might find lots of yellow coneflower, wild bergamot, and whorled milkweed, each emitting its own wonderful fragrance. Make a left at the end of the kame to descend into the bowl of the fen. Move slowly and watch your step as you pass through dense willows (which always need trimming) that also hides a narrow boardwalk that’s easy to trip over. Crossing the boardwalk will take you towards a gravelly bowl with pools of trickling water. That’s the main seep of the fen and one of the rarest habitats on earth. On higher, drier ground surrounding the bowl you should find nice patches of pale Indian plantain mixed in with wild quinine, wild bergamot yellow coneflower, mountain mint, black-eyed Susan, early goldenrod, showy tick trefoil, and fading purple spikes of marsh blazing star. In and immediately around the alkaline water of the seep, you’ll find the yellow blooms of prairie loosestrife, rough cinquefoil, and bushy shrubby cinquefoil along with the flamboyantly pink spotted Joe-Pye weed and a smattering of newly blooming purple pasture thistle.
As you continue to the north, watch for the narrow hard-to-see boardwalk. After crossing it, stay straight (don’t veer left), as the trail ducks under a low tree and up the “switchback kame.” On your way to the top you should find a beautiful pink show of cylindrical blazing star with the deepest roots of any prairie plant. (See an illustration of root depth at the very bottom of this post.) On the switchback kame, you’ll also notice a plant with white balls dotting the vertical stems. That’s rough blazing star which will start blooming as its cylindrical cousin fades. As the trails steers left and down, you’ll see some of the same species as before, including especially nice stands of pale Indian plantain, sweet Joe-Pye weed, and American bellflower. At the top of the kame, head west towards the savanna. Soon, you’ll reach an intersection that you’ll take to the left and across a small creek with stepping stones. This is the place to experience plants from the fen, the prairie, and oak savanna. As you reach the kame, stay left with the kame to your right and you’ll soon find yourself back where you started and into the sun. If you visit early in the morning, wear rain gear or you’ll end up soaked to the skin from dew. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Note: While you’re here, consider checking out nearby Shoe Factory Road Prairie.
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion: This is often the time when floating white blooms of flowering spurge are aflower across the preserve, in both the savanna and sand prairie. It’s a beautiful sparkling scene. There are other flowers blooming here and there, but not many. However, there is a beautiful one that always makes me happy: the round trumpeted yellow blossom of large flowered false foxglove. Along your way, you’ll find a few remaining blooms of purple prairie clover, the lovely scented whorled milkweed, some grass-leaved and early goldenrod, shrubby cinquefoil and blue vervain. The tall golden rays of western sunflower are beginning to open and will soon spread across the site.
Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: This Illinois Nature Preserve is located inside the fence, where the color is often dominated by yellow and white with patches of pink. Rosinweed is the main contributor to the yellows along with its cousins prairie dock and compass plant, plus yellow coneflower and early goldenrod. In the savanna, look for a large display of woodland sunflower. The whites come mainly from rattlesnake master and flowering spurge. Nice patches of obedient plant provide most of the pink alongside a smattering of nodding wild onion, a growing display of cylindrical blazing star, and the final blooms of purple prairie clover. Outside the fence, you’ll experience a wider array of flowers, including a vast display of Tinker-Toy shaped rattlesnake master. Notice how they smell. I can’t put my nose on it, but it’s odd. The best I can do is to describe it as sour and powdery. Let me know how you’d describe it by writing a comment below. You’ll also find nodding wild onion and lots of yellow coneflower, flowering spurge, and wild bergamot. Just along the perimeter of the fence, you should see both white prairie clover and purple prairie clover. The latter has the best smell—a refreshing mix of lemons and carrots. But the white species has a traditional floral scent. Just as the color suggests. A fabulous show of prairie blazing star is purpling up the southern base of the hill. You’ll also see early goldenrod, wild quinine, rosinweed, compass plant, and round-headed bush clover. Note: Consider visiting Bluff Spring Fen while you’re here. It’s roughly in the neighborhood.
Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester: Most of the action is taking place in the southern portion of the preserve, which includes both oak savanna and grassland, where there can be soaring jungles of golden prairie dock that steal the show. The savanna is alive with fading blooms of woodland sunflower alongside pink plumes of sweet Joe-Pye weed and bristly sprays of bottlebrush grass. And the prairie is overflowing with all manner of flowers, including incredible forests of golden flowering prairie dock and compass plant, with rosinweed, grass-leaved goldenrod, early goldenrod contributing a matrix of yellow to the palette. The white bursts of flowering spurge add a beautiful lift of contrast to the prairie bouquet. The cauliflower heads of wild quinine and playful scenes of rattlesnake master bring their usual delight. Flickering purple torches of prairie blazing star, royal puffs of ironweed, and light-pink balls of nodding wild onion add beautifully to the mix of silver and gold. And big bluestem grass softens the sharp textures. Note: Theodore Stone Preserve and Spears Woods are not too far away.
Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest: Many dramatic plants may be blooming in large quantities. The most conspicuous and widespread shows come from wild bergamot, cup plant, rosinweed, prairie dock, compass plant, yellow coneflower, rattlesnake master, and rosinweed. Dramatic purples of prairie blazing star and ironweed add visual excitement. Skyward stalks of pale Indian plantain make an impression. And there’s much more to see: mountain mint, blue vervain, obedient plant, Culver’s root, nodding wild onion, and the gloriously red cardinal flower. In the wetter areas, you’ll find the gorgeous pink blooms of swamp milkweed, the bright pink blooms of spotted Joe-Pye weed, the spectacular purple spikes of pickerel weed, and the large pink blossoms of swamp rose mallow.
Lockport Prairie in Lockport: The best flower show at this dolomite prairie happens around this time, when nodding wild onion spreads across the preserve mixed in with fragrant patches of whorled milkweed and waves of towering big bluestem with tassels that may now be flowering. On your walk along the out-and-back trail (that seems to end soon after the trees begin), you’ll find the wonderfully fragrant whorled milkweed and a sprinkling of blue vervain, hoary vervain, pale-spiked lobelia, Canada wild rye, and spotted Joe-Pye weed amidst the waves of grasses that dominate this rare habitat. You may still find some American bellflower under the trees at the end of the trail.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park: Sparkling flowering spurge should be at or beyond peak bloom and in glorious flower across the preserve alongside the purple rough blazing star on the verge of a potentially dramatic performance. The yellow blossoms of partridge pea should also be at peak alongside the beautiful buttery trumpets of large flowered false foxglove. The tiny ivory flowers of whorled milkweed may still be hanging on, which you can smell if you stop for a moment and concentrate on the fragrances around you. It might help to first calibrate your nose by bending down to inhale its pleasant aroma. And while you’re down there, experience the fresh minty scent of pink spotted bee balm (also known as spotted or dotted horsemint).
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 and enter. 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. As you enter, take the path to your left where you may be immediately greeted by a caboodle of color coming from compass plant, yellow coneflower, flowering spurge, white prairie clover, marsh phlox, wild bergamot, early goldenrod, and marsh blazing star, which can sometimes take over large portions of the prairie. The trail is square. And this northbound leg has the most floral color and diversity, with blooms of blue vervain, Culver’s root, dense stands of rattlesnake master, wild quinine, wild bergamot, nodding wild onion, tall green milkweed, rosinweed, forests of towering pale Indian plantain, freshly flowering partridge pea, and fading purple prairie clover. As you approach the north end, there’s a beautiful spot to your left that’s composed of a complementary mix of pink marsh blazing star, pearly wild quinine, the golds of brown-eyed Susan and early goldenrod. As the trail turns to the right (east), you’ll find rattlesnake master, swamp milkweed, marsh phlox, and ironweed. Looking south, oceans of prairie cordgrass rise and fall like waves in the wind. And as the trail turns back to the south, you’ll sail into seas of sedges and a small fleet of flowers that includes the fading whites of mountain mint. I highly suggest that you stop for a moment to smell this invigorating plant. For that short time, your mind will sail away from the worries of the world. As you circle right (and to the west) on the returning leg of the trail, the scenery turns to shrubs and royal ferns. Along the way, look for a pretty stand of wild senna. The grasses of big bluestem and Indian grass may both be blooming, and the heads of Canada wild rye and switch grass should look fabulous now! And finally, your journey ends with a flourish of color that incorporates the lavenders of another minty plant, wild bergamot. If you like to smell stuff, then this is a good week for you.
Theodore Stone Preserve in Hodgkins: Around this time, the rays of yellow coneflower play a leading role throughout the western mesic prairie alongside other flowers that include wild bergamot, early goldenrod, rosinweed, prairie blazing star, compass plant, Culver’s root, pale Indian plantain, false sunflower, and the yellow blossoms of partridge pea. The deep pinks of ironweed make a great addition to the panorama. Rattlesnake master and wild quinine can create fantastic spreads alongside fragrant mountain mint. The grass of big bluestem should now be blooming. And check for the beautiful pink swamp milkweed in the low or wet areas. In the dry dolomite prairie to the east, you’ll find a much different landscape with a very open feel. It’s my favorite part of the preserve. Unlike the mesic soil of the western prairie with its tall, dense communities of plants, the soil here is rock—a porous limestone called “dolomite”—which makes it harder for plants to establish themselves. Some can’t. Many that can will probably not grow as tall. And then there are the hearty plants that enjoy being between a rock and a hard place, like purple prairie clover with a scent that’s a cross between carrots and lemons—my favorite “good” scent in nature. And you may also find another of my favorite plants that seems to love sand, gravel, and rock: whorled milkweed. It, too, has a wonderful scent. Also, the grasses of Canada wild rye, Indian grass, switch grass, northern dropseed, and big bluestem provide rich texture. The latter is probably flowering, right now. And finally, look for the glorious hairy wild petunia. It’s a great plant for any prairie garden, no matter the soil, because of how much it spreads to prevent weeds. And I just adore the fuzzy touch of the leaves. Note: Spears Woods and Wolf Road Prairie are located nearby.
“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:
Lake in the Hills Fen in Lake in the Hills: This preserve offers a beautiful expansive view that is best enjoyed at the edges of daylight, when it’s not so hot and sunny. Experience an array of blooms that flow along the vast rolling landscape of the prairie and fen, including potentially dense displays of yellow coneflower, wild bergamot, and prairie blazing star along with black-eyed Susan, the lovely pinks of marsh phlox, nodding wild onion, and the start of sawtooth sunflower. The rare white prairie clover can be quite abundant. Early goldenrod can sometimes carpet the brae of the kames, and cylindrical blazing star is blooming here and there. And white goldenrod blooms on an exposed gravelly kame. It which looks nothing like goldenrod and more like an aster. The large sunny flowers of towering compass plant reach for the clouds. A forest of prairie dock can be found along the far southern trail. And many other flowers are abloom, including the spikes of both Culver’s root and blue vervain, and hoary vervain, as well as prominent pink plumes of spotted Joe-Pye weed in the wet areas. And look for the flowering tassels of big bluestem grass.
Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove: At this time, this remnant prairie can be gloriously aglow with tones of mostly yellow and white. The most prominent shows are often staged by towering compass plant and prairie dock. These golden blossoms are joined by others of its hue, including yellow coneflower, early goldenrod, black-eyed Susan, and rosinweed. The whimsical ivory balls of rattlesnake master are supported by sparkling sprays of flowering spurge and the fragrant, but occasional, wild bergamot and mountain mint. And along the way, you may experience purple torches of prairie blazing star that are likely fading. On the more intimate side, I particularly like the nodding tassels of prairie brome that frolic between the forbs. And look for the beautiful filigreed foliage of scurfy pea floating amidst the large leaves of prairie dock and compass plant, glowing bright green in the low warm sunlight.
Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This prairie-by-the-lake often features beautiful expanses of many flowers including nodding wild onion, marsh blazing star, tuberous Indian plantain and a mix of other flowers that include pink marsh phlox, golden black-eyed Susan, alabaster wild quinine, and prairie dock. As you stroll, you may see the yellows of rosinweed and shrubby cinquefoil along with the occasional pale-spiked lobelia. Look for beautiful pink displays of spotted Joe-Pye weed in the wet spots. And consider checking out Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in nearby Zion. It’s the most biologically rich preserve in the state.
Kickapoo Prairie in Riverdale: This southside prairie offers a variety of flowers, including rattlesnake master, prairie blazing star, mountain mint, wild bergamot, yellow coneflower, compass plant, and blooming big bluestem grass.
PLANTS OF THE WEEK: CYLINDRICAL BLAZING STAR & WOODLAND SUNFLOWER
Cylindrical Blazing Star
Cylindrical blazing star (Liatris cylindracea if you care) likes dry sunny conditions. I often find it growing in gravel or moist sand. The plant only stands two feet tall, which is short for a late-summer bloomer. But it makes up for its above-ground stature by possessing the deepest roots of any prairie or savanna species, reaching down as far as fifteen feet. In August, cylindrical blazing star blooms, here, in the sand savanna at Indiana Dunes National Park and in the gravelly prairies of Bluff Spring Fen and Shoe Factory Road Prairie. *
Woodland Sunflower
Woodland sunflower of species Helianthus divaricatus is a beautiful plant that thrives in open woodlands, savannas, and prairies with mesic to sandy soil. It can be a bit weedy in many woodlands and savannas, especially after regular fires. Here at Somme Prairie Grove, woodland sunflower surrounds this majestic bur oak in the savanna.
PHOTO SECTION
Spears Woods Often Explodes
In late July and early August at Spears Woods, wildflowers float above the prairie like musical notes in a symphony of color and texture: rattlesnake master, prairie blazing star, and early goldenrod *
At Spears Woods in Willow Springs, the late-July and early-August prairie erupts with an array of wildflowers like wild quinine, prairie blazing star, and early goldenrod.*
Somme Prairie Grove Overflows with Beauty and Biodiversity
In 1985 at Somme Prairie Grove, this area of woodland was cast in total darkness, a dirt floor under an endless gray barrier of scraggly buckthorn. Now, after lots of love from volunteers, it is the edge of a woodland, well lit and teeming with tall flowers that reach for the sun. Here, we can see an August a celebration of woodland sunflower, brown-eyed Susan, sweet Joe-Pye weed, and tall ironweed.*
The beautiful blue American bellflower blooms alongside sweet Joe-Pye weed and woodland sunflower, here at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook and other local woodlands.*
Wolf Road Prairie: A State of Glorious Chaos
Wolf Road Prairie puts on a lesson in biodiversity. Pictured are prairie blazing star, wild quinine, rattlesnake master, flowering spurge, Culver’s root, rosinweed, and yellow coneflower.*
This image is fairly representative of what you’ll see, right now, at Wolf Road Prairie: wild bergamot, wild quinine, rattlesnake master, rosinweed, Culver’s root, and prairie blazing star, and early goldenrod.*
Wolf Road Prairie, wildflowers combine to resemble a fireworks display.*
Culver’s root blooms en masse at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester.*
Bluff Spring Fen
Soon after entering Bluff Spring Fen, you’ll find yourself in an intimate oak savanna, where majestic bur oaks with outstretched limbs protect you in their nurturing embrace.*
Bottlebrush grass and wild bergamot glow in the morning light in the oak savanna at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.*
Sweet Joe-Pye weed grows tall in the oak savanna at the side of a kame at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin*
Cylindrical blazing star blooms cover the northeast kame at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.*
Shoe Factory Road Prairie
Atop this hill prairie called Shoe Factory Road Prairie, obedient plant and Indian grass take in the view.*
Lockport Prairie
Nodding wild onion blooms across the vast prairie at Lockport Prairie in Lockport and in lesser amounts at many prairies on our list.*
Gensburg-Markham Prairie
Gensburg-Markham Prairie is famous for its midsummer fanfare, when the fields ignite with white sparks of flowering spurge and purple torches of marsh blazing star. *
Middlefork Savanna
As summer progresses, most prairie plants grow ever taller in a battle for the sun. Like elegant dancers, they always want their moment in the spotlight. Here, in the morning stillness, blazing star, compass plant, and prairie dock stand adorned and erect.
In perfect dancing posture they wait for their partners to arrive. Soon, a feathered friend may be the first to show—possibly a bobolink moving from one bloom to another. A flighty partner, in a flash, it shares a fast flamenco with each awaiting dancer. Next on hand might be a soft morning breeze or a brief breath of wind. In the tentative hold of these reluctant leaders, the stalks sway like green children at their first dance. Later comes the firm embrace of an afternoon gale when the tall dancers twirl and waltz. And then comes you. As you brush past their slender torsos, they can’t help but do a little disco.*
Fermilab Prairie
Wild bergamot of species Monarda fistulosa is a popular and prolific pioneer species and part of the mint family. The plant often inhabits gaps of disturbed soil, which is a great service to the prairie because it prevents non-native invaders from taking hold. The flowers have a lavender color, whereas the flowers of its cousin, bee balm (Monarda didyma), are bright red. Most notably, wild bergamot is known for its minty fragrance and frequently used in tea. The name comes from the similarity of its fragrance to the aromatic oils pressed from Bergamot oranges that are grown around Bergamot, Italy. Here, the sun sets over Fermilab Prairie brimming with wild bergamot, prairie cordgrass, and big bluestem.*
Pembroke Savanna
The floating white blooms of flowering spurge erupts across the sand savanna at Pembroke Savanna Nature Preserve in Hopkins Park, Illinois.*
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve
Flowering spurge glows in the summer morning light on the sand prairie 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.*
Near the Lake Michigan shore at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, the low light of morning revealed shapes in the sand that chronicled the secrets of time and affirmed the existence of wondrous creatures and invisible forces.*
A common snapping turtle trudges through the sandy Lake Michigan shoreline on its way to the Dead River at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois.*
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.*
Wild Bergamot & Yellow Coneflower
“Lavender in color and mint in fragrance” describes wild bergamot. “Whimsical with an aroma of anise” describes yellow coneflower. Both are native to the prairie, and both are healers. Known as pioneer species, they are among the first plants to colonize disturbed or degraded areas. Their presence improves soil quality while allowing other plants to move in, leading to greater biodiversity. You can see and smell these plants at most prairies, including here at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.*
Nodding Wild Onion
On this sweltering and sticky August evening at Lockport Prairie, I returned to the car relieved to unload my nearly thirty pounds of camera gear and sweat-soaked photo vest. As I took my seat and started my Easy-Bake Oven of a car, the air conditioning suddenly circulated a cold breeze from below and I recognized a familiar scent, one that made me instinctively glance to the floor expecting to find a discarded Burger King bag baking in the heat. But there was no bag. Then it came to me. I was smelling exactly what I had been photographing: these pink, nodding wild onions that had transferred their sweet aroma to my boots. The pink blooms of nodding wild onion are the highlight of Lockport Prairie. But the sweetly stinky plant can also be found at many other prairies in our region and in our showcase preserves.*
Flowering Spurge
In late summer, early flowering spurge and purple rough blazing star blanket the black oak savanna at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Illinois.*
Prairie & Marsh Blazing Star
In late July and early August, the spectacular purple blooms of marsh blazing star and prairie blazing star turn the prairie ablaze. They are the first of the blazing stars to flower in the summer, followed by cylindrical, savanna, and then rough blazing star. Both marsh and prairie blazing star can easily reach five feet tall. The only way to differentiate them is to decipher this coded message from the Illinois Wildflowers website:, “Prairie Blazingstar has floral bracts (phyllaries) that are strongly recurved, while the floral bracts of Marsh Blazingstar are appressed together and relatively smooth.” Huh? Even my magic decoder ring can’t decipher that.
The flowers on these plants bloom from the top downward, which is helpful for photographers to know if the flowers are coming or going.
You can experience one or both of these magnificent plants at Belmont Prairie, Spears Woods, Gensburg-Markham Prairie, Bluff Spring Fen, Wolf Road Prairie, Somme Prairie Grove, Middlefork Savanna, and many other prairies on our list of showcase preserves.
In late July and early August, the prairies at Spears Woods can be a memorable experience. However, it’s not uncommon for the prairie to have a cast of thousands, one year, and only a handful the next.*
At Bluff Spring Fen, the seep of the main fen brings marsh blazing star to the high ground surrounding it.*
Rattlesnake Master
Rattlesnake master is a wonderful Chicago prairie flower that resembles Tinker Toys or molecular structures, or something you might find in Arizona or Texas. The plant gets its name because some Native Americans brewed a tea from the root as an antidote for rattlesnake venom. To prevent bites, some chewed on the root, then spat on their hands before handling a rattlesnake. Of course, I’m interested to know if this really works. What’s more, the research may not even require a flight to the desert. That’s because, believe it or not, the rare and endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnake lives right here in the Chicago area. So, if you perform the experiment, please get back to me with the results, either you or next of kin. To experience rattlesnake master, visit 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 and savannas.*
The prairie at Spears Woods teems with midsummer plant life: rattlesnake master, prairie blazing star, ironweed, early goldenrod, and sawtooth sunflower.*
Culver’s Root
It is thought that Culver’s root gets is named after a Dr. Culver, a physician who prescribed the use of the plant to cure a variety of maladies. The seeds of Culver’s root are very small and light, allowing the wind to spread them several feet from the plant. The plant has a central taproot, but it also has some rhizomes that allows it to spread. The plant is distributed across much of Illinois, but it’s not commonly seen. That’s because the plant can only thrive in the highest quality habitats. On this mysterious summer morning at Wolf Road Prairie, white spikes of Culver’s root, extend into the outer reaches and, like a dream, disappear into the fog. You can also see this plant at Middlefork Savanna, Gensburg-Markham Prairie, Lake in the Hills Fen, Theodore Stone Preserve, Spears Woods, and the prairie around Shoe Factory Road Prairie.
Wild Quinine Can Be Found in Many Prairies
At Spears Woods in Willow Springs, the prairie erupts with an array of wildflowers like wild quinine, prairie blazing star, and early goldenrod.*
Mountain Mint
Inhale the invigorating white flowers of mountain mint that grow here at Spears Woods and at many other preserves on our list.*
Sweet Joe-Pye Weed
In the open woodland at Spears Woods in Willow Springs, summer brings tall blooms of sweet Joe-Pye weed.*
Swamp Rose Mallow
The beautiful blooms of swamp rose mallow is a plant that can be found in August around some of Chicago’s wetlands, including here at Long John Slough near Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center.*
American Lotus at Tomahawk & Hogwash Sloughs
Tomahawk Slough in Willow Springs fills with American Lotus. You can also see it from a distance at Hogwash Slough in Spears Woods.
Tomahawk Slough in Willow Springs teems with the grand American Lotus. You an reach the wetland by first parking at the far end of Pulaski Woods parking lot and then walking a short distance along the trails.
Compass Plant
The golden blooms of compass plant are just starting in some of our prairies. They’re an iconic species that can be found in most of our mesic prairies.
Compass plant reaches for the summer clouds in the prairie at Middlefork Savanna.”
Landscape of compass plant at Springbrook Prairie in Naperville.*
Prairie Dock
You can find prairie dock at Middlefork Savanna, an imaginative creation dreamt up by Mother Nature. Stretching at least twelve feet beneath the prairie is the taproot—the life, the energy source, and the heart of this plant. The root is also the artery, transporting cold water from deep below to nourish and cool the affection of heart-shaped leaves, which are prone to shriveling under the summer sun. Where the root meets the air, a blood-red stalk takes over the job. Swerving towards the sky, the thick stem carries life to multiple golden flowers that may float as high as ten feet above the prairie. Here, the first flower has bloomed, while many ball-like buds are about to follow suit.
A “forest” of prairie dock reaches for the sky at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*
The Charismatic Foliage of Compass Plant & Prairie Dock
These are the large leaves of the prairie’s most iconic plants. The heart-shaped leaf is that of prairie dock, and the long-lobed leaf is its cousin compass plant.*
Mountain Mint
Summer storm clouds brew at Kickapoo Prairie where mountain mint, rattlesnake master, Indian grass, and compass plant glow in the sun.*
Swamp Milkweed
Swamp milkweed glistens in the late afternoon sunlight at Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest, Illinois.*
Grasses of the Season
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 Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.
Soon, miniature flowers delicately hang from the tassel of big bluestem grass at a prairie near you.*
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.*
In August, the delicate red flowers of side oats grama bloom in the dry Chicago prairies, including here at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.*
Obedient Plant
Obedient plant can be found at many local preserves, like here at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and Wolf Road Prairie. Use your finger to pivot the flower on the stem and it will obediently remain in place, hence the name. Though, grow it in your garden, and it has a habit of spreading and not staying put.*
Green Glow
Green glow describes leaves that glow a bright green from sunlight shining through them. Here, we see a special kind of green glow that results in a shadow play, as sunlight shines through a translucent leaf of prairie dock, as golden Alexander casts its distinctive silhouette.*
Prairie Root System
The root system of some common prairie plants. Note that cylindrical blazing star has the deepest root that reaches over fifteen feet! Click the image for a bigger view.
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
