Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
July 1, 2021
Fourth of July Edition
“Weekly Wildflower Reports Featuring
Chicago’s Best Outdoor Getaways & Nature Trips”
Chicago Fourth of July Weekend Walks & Outdoor Getaways!
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WE URGENTLY NEED SCOUTS TO CONTINUE THIS VALUABLE FREE SERVICE!
Click here to learn how you can help share Chicago’s natural beauty with others and to expand the region’s nature volunteer base. We have 1,300 followers. There should be enough people out there who’d love to pitch in.
INSPIRING UPDATE (7/2/21): Amanda Moss read our plea for more scouts on Wednesday, joined our scouting group on Thursday, and scouted Somme Prairie Grove on Friday. Wow! Thank you so much, Amanda! Now that’s what I call “taking action.” If you’re interested in being part of our inspiring team, please let me know.
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES INTO CHICAGO’S WOODLANDS:
Rain usually puts out the fire. But in the prairies and savannas, recent water-from-the-sky has become a spark for explosions of wildflowers just in time for the July Fourth weekend.
The dry gravelly prairies at Shoe Factory Road Prairie and Bluff Spring Fen are now featuring an eruption of our Plant of the Week, the brilliantly yellow prairie coreopsis. Beautiful purple-fingered leadplant and purple prairie clover are flaring up most prominently at these same preserves and at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook. And the biggest blast of orange butterfly weed can be found at Belmont Prairie amidst a panorama of pale purple coneflower and blue scurfy pea. What a glorious sight to behold.
Spears Woods and Wolf Road Prairie are also aflower with many species, including the omnipresent cauliflower heads of wild quinine, which can be found at any of our mesic prairies.
For just a while longer, you can still experience the ephemeral blue flowers of Ohio spiderwort that open to meet their one-and-only day, then dissolve into a gem of purple liquid. They are now melting hearts around Chicago as they continue their monthlong show. You can find them at many preserves around the area. Click here to read my poem about it.
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 bright, 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 this, along with the promise of a new day.
If a flower that turns to liquid isn’t weird enough, you can now find porcupine grass with a seed that drills itself into the soil. Watch my real-time video of the drilling seed below. Look for this grass and its seeds at Belmont Prairie, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Bluff Spring Fen, Pembroke Savanna, Miller Woods, and Powderhorn Marsh & Prairie.
The pearly white trumpets of foxglove beardtongue are still flowering. The flower doesn’t smell like anything. But in the fall, their seeds smell exactly, and I mean “exactly,” like vomit! In stark contrast, you can now experience a most wonderful fragrance by dropping to your knees and lowering your nose into the pink blossom of pasture rose. Over several weeks in late spring, it blooms barely inches from the ground. During that time, whenever we’re together, I partake in a sacred ritual. I drop to my knees and bow in reverence, nose to petal. Only once did I experience a downside. As I lowered my nose to the flower, I immediately felt a tingling on my upper lip that had come into contact with poison ivy. It was a small price to pay for the many years of delight that this flower has brought me.
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SPRING WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
We’ve ranked the preserves on this week’s list based on the quality of the wildflower experience, starting out with the best or “Go!” The “Go, if You’re in the Neighborhood” section is for sites that are worth visiting if you can’t get out to our top-rated preserves. And our “Preserves for You to Scout” section for those preserves that we couldn’t get to this week, but that you can help us explore! The date within the parentheses tells you when we last scouted the preserve. After the date, you may see one of these three mathematical symbols: +, –, = (plus, minus, equal). They represent our prediction about how the flowers will look on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
The order of the preserves below is based on the quality of the wildflower experience, starting out with the best.
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook (UPDATED 7/2+): Scouted by Amanda, our newest teammate.
The savanna is aflower with blooms that represent a vibrant array of color: purple, blue, pink, orange, yellow, and white. Under areas of open sky, a grand celebration is underway starring purple spikes of newly blooming leadplant alongside glowing orange blooms of butterfly weed, the yellow flowers atop skyrocketing compass plant, an ivory filigree of mountain mint, and the cauliflower heads off wild quinine. Many more flowerers include marsh phlox, pasture rose, prairie lily, black-eyed Susan, common St. John’s wort, daisy fleabane, white wild indigo, fragrant round plumes of New Jersey tea, and the tall tuberous Indian plantain. Keep your eyes open for the striking blooms of purple milkweed and the beautifully scented pasture rose. Also take this time to appreciate the beautiful textures from the foliage of sedges, grasses, and bloomers-to-be, including the floppy hairdos of prairie dropseed, heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock, desert-looking rattlesnake master, and fern-looking leadplant. Come early or late in the day to experience the green glow from compass plant and prairie dock.
Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove (6/29+): This is best time of year to visit this remnant prairie when several colorful flowers bloom at once, led by a spectacular performance of butterfly weed, which is saying a lot given the wonderful display of pale purple coneflower. I’ve never seen so much butterfly weed here. Complementing the pinks of coneflower are the orange of the spectacular butterfly weed, the golden hues of black-eyed Susan, ivory heads of wild quinine, and a beautiful blue veil of scurfy pea. This is your last chance to experience the ephemeral blue blossoms of Ohio spiderwort. Their blue flowers open around sunrise, but only last a few hours until they shrivel away into a purple liquid. Very cool! Click here to read my poem about spiderwort’s miraculous melting flowers. And the grasses are wonderful, as well, including the drooping heads of prairie brome and the miraculous self-drilling seed of porcupine grass. Click here to watch my video about it.
Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates (6/29+): UPDATE! Many flowers are blooming at the official Illinois Nature Preserve inside the fence at the top of the hill. But there’s also a lot of flowering along the slope outside the fence. On the slope on your way to the entrance, you’ll experience hundreds of pale purple coneflower along with leadplant and prairie coreopsis, purple prairie clover and it’s white cousin white prairie clover, a sprinkling of black-eyed Susan, an occasional yellow coneflower, an abundance of wild quinine, and the whitish Tinker Toy flower heads of rattlesnake master. Once inside the preserve, you’ll find dramatic displays of golden prairie coreopsis and purple prairie clover. You’ll also experience leadplant, marsh phlox, short green milkweed, porcupine grass, and a handful of wild quinine. NOTE: Consider visiting Bluff Spring Fen while you’re here. It’s roughly in the neighborhood.
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin (6/27+): Thanks to the rains, the flower blooms are rebounding. (Note: Some areas of the trail could be damp or underwater. So come prepared.) Many flowers are sharing in this week’s July Fourth celebration, including pale purple coneflower, yellow prairie coreopsis, leadplant, newly flowering purple prairie clover. The occasional oranges of butterfly weed, blue hues of vervain, and silvery splashes of foxglove beardtongue, wild quinine, and white wild indigo all add flair to the festivities. As you traverse the trails, you’ll discover several colorful vignettes, each with its own personality. You’ll find shows atop the big kame in the savanna, in the gravelly bowl around the fen, and upon the eastern prairie kames.
Spears Woods in Willow Springs (6/29=): The preserve’s prairies are are still looking very nice with alabaster heads of wild quinine flowering across the panorama. You’ll discover explosions of orange butterfly weed and sparklers of mountain mint and yellow bursts of skyward compass plant. Golden black-eyed Susan are sprinkled about, and bushy climbing wild rose is still sending out its fragrant scent. And you’ll find the orange Silly String of parasitic field dodder draped over and around the plants that it’s feeding on. Thanks to spring’s prescribed fire, the prairie is green and clean, uncluttered by last year’s tan skeletons. Spears Woods is one of the most beautiful sites in the region, where various trails guide you through woodlands, prairies, and wetlands.
Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester (6/29+): The flower show is happening in the southmost portion of the prairie with the most dramatic performance by wild quinine. Along the way, you’ll also experience the occasional white wild indigo, yellow-petaled black-eyed Susan and towering compass plant, pink marsh phlox and pasture rose, and the gorgeous orange prairie lily. Five important plants are just beginning to sparkle for the Fourth of July celebration: rattlesnake master, wild bergamot, flowering spurge, Culver’s root, and rosinweed. They’ll all be putting on bigger shows in the weeks ahead. The textures and colors of the foliage adds to excitement, including the blue-greens of rattlesnake master and hundreds of prairie dock hearts that glow in the light of a low sun.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park (6/28=): There is some blooming going on, but the ferns are stealing the show. Granted, it’s not as colorful, but this big, beautiful savanna offers a grand outdoor experience and a trail leading to the cooling waters of Lake Michigan. Click here to help us scout this preserve. Come on Southsiders! You have a lot of great southern preserves, but most of our scouts are from the north and western suburbs. Help us turn turn your neighbors into nature lovers.
Gensburg-Markham Prairie in Markham (6/29+): 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 because of how the prairie and flowers vary along the way. The preserve is quite green, but if you don’t have a lot of time and you’re in the Markham area, it’s worth a trip into nature to clear your head. The most prominent flower in bloom is wild quinine. There’s also some white wild indigo, golden black-eyed Susan, common milkweed, and tuberous Indian plantain. Along my walk, I startled a mother deer and its fawn. Before I knew it, they disappeared into the prairie shrubbery, forever hidden.
NOTE: Under the summer sun, this prairie can feel hot and bright. For a more enjoyable time, visit in the morning or late-afternoon.
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion (UNSCOUTED): Again, we need scouts and couldn’t get here. This is my prediction of what you’ll find. There should be butterfly weed, a revived bloom of sand coreopsis, possibly some marsh phlox, blue morning blossoms of Ohio spiderwort, and fragrant pasture rose. Under the sun of the sand prairie and the dunes to the east, keep your eyes peeled for the spectacular yellow blossoms of eastern prickly pear cactus. Each flower only lasts a day. Along your prairie hike, you should see three special grasses: marram grass, June grass, and porcupine grass. Marram grass grows in the most barren sandy soil closer to the beach. June grass is best experienced early and late in the day when it’s white plumes radiate like small torches. And porcupine grass has seeds that drill themselves into the soil. Watch my real-time video of the drilling seed below.
NOTE: Go early in the day to avoid the boisterous beachgoers.
PLANT OF THE WEEK: PRAIRIE COREOPSIS
Sometime between late June through early July, the golden rays of prairie coreopsis (or stiff coreopsis) can be found in best preserves, often in dry and gravelly spots. The plant multiplies by spreading rhizome to create colonies. Their bright yellow flower heads bloom at the beginning of summer before tall warm-season grasses obscure them from the sight of pollinating insects. Atop this gravelly hill prairie at Shoe Factory Road Prairie, deep-rooted leadplant combine with the happy yellow faces of prairie coreopsis as they shine through the dissipating fog.*
PHOTO SECTION
Butterfly Weed is Blooming Strong
Coral hairstreak butterfly on butterfly weed at Gensburg-Markham Prairie in Markham, Illinois.*
Here at Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove, the bright orange flowers of butterfly weed makes a colorful statement. You can find this plant at several high-quality preserves, including Bluff Spring Fen, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, and Somme Prairie Grove.*
Butterfly weed blooms across the oak savanna at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve. You can also find it at many other preserves including, Somme Prairie Grove, Belmont Prairie, and Bluff Spring Fen.*
Leadplant is Aflower
Here at Somme Prairie Grove, the purple plant in this panorama is leadplant, which can search for water fifteen feet below the arid surface. Other drought-tolerant species seen here include prairie dropseed and wild quinine, in the front; and farther out, prairie dock, compass plant, and rattlesnake master.*
Wild Quinine Can Be Found in Many Prairies
This is a common scene at Elgin’s Bluff Spring Fen. Here in the golden light of morning, wild quinine, prairie coreopsis, and leadplant overlook the foggy fen.
Pale Purple Coneflower
Pale purple coneflower is favorite of mine. I just love how the petals droop downward. The plant has deep taproot, allowing it to survive drought and to thrive in gravel and dolomite limestone prairies. In the warm light of rising or setting sun, the flowers turn a stunning orange pink. Here at Belmont Prairie, I picked out this scene from a thousand coneflowers: a miniature, slow-motion rodeo that was taking place upon one prickly flower head. I watched as a tiny ant rode the back of a slinking inchworm.*
The predawn clouds take on the colors of the pale purple coneflower at this dolomite limestone prairie at Theodore Stone Preserve in Hodgkins, Illinois. You can usually find this majestic plant growing most prominently at Bluff Spring Fen.*
Each day, Mother Nature chooses from an array of natural elements and then fashions them into new works of art. Most Junes at Belmont Prairie, dazzling mosaics like this go on exhibit. Assembled from over one hundred pale purple coneflowers, the final work, not the individual pieces, draws our attention.*
Sometimes the petals of pale purple coneflowers can be pale white. Here, a combination of pink and white coneflowers populate the kame at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.*
Porcupine Grass and its Miraculous Self-Drilling Seeds
The seeds of porcupine grass are located at the tip of long sharp needles that fall off the plant and then slowly drill themselves into the soil. You can find porcupine grass at Belmont Prairie, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Bluff Spring Fen, Pembroke Savanna, Miller Woods, and Powderhorn Marsh & Prairie.*
The awn of this porcupine grass seed is tightly twisted, as you can see by the winding yellow and black stripes along its length. The pointy seed head of porcupine grass is bearded, with hairs pointing upward to keep it lodged in the soil.
As a fun experiment, drop the entire fruit into a tall glass of water and remove it after it has mostly straightened out. Dab it dry with a towel, and then stick the seed head into a small pot of dirt or, if in a pinch, a dry sponge. Now watch. Soon, you’ll begin to see the awn wind like a very slow second hand of a backwards-running clock.
Watch my video of porcupine grass drilling itself into the soil right before your eyes!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PORCUPINE GRASS.
June Grass
June grass and hoary puccoon glow in the morning light of the sand savanna at Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park.*
Marram Grass
Near the Lake Michigan shore at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, amidst marram grass and bearberry, 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.*
Ohio Spiderwort is Ending its Ethereal Run
In late May or early June, Ohio spiderwort begins a performance that will last a month or longer, starring a cluster of buds that releases only a couple of flowers each day. Each morning, a new bud opens into a delicate blue or purple flower. You can find spiderwort, right now, at Wolf Road Prairie, Belmont Prairie, Bluff Spring Fen, Pembroke Savanna, Powderhorn Prairie, Miller Woods, Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, and more.
As the day wears on, each blossom begins to wither—then miraculously melts into a gem of royal jelly. An enzyme in the flower causes it to slowly decompose, and hot weather speeds up the process. It’s noon, and this flower is already shriveling.
By midafternoon, this spiderwort bloom was melting blue between my fingertips. Do you notice my purple fingers? I was arrested earlier that morning.
This is the scene from Wolf Road Prairie, as blossoms of Ohio spiderwort open to meet the new day.*
At Miller Woods (Indiana Dunes National Park), spiderwort and bracken fern cover the side of the dunes.*
Now that you know a little something about spiderwort, click here to read my poem about this plant from my book, My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago: A Celebration of Chicagoland’s Startling Natural Wonders.
Pasture Rose is a Must-Smell Flower
Pasture rose grows here in the sand prairie at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve. But you can also find it at other preserves, including Bluff Spring Fen and Pembroke Savanna. The fragrance of pasture rose is transcendent—a spiritual experience.*
Purple Milkweed
The striking blooms of purple milkweed can be found in the best prairies and savannas, including Somme Prairie Grove and, here, at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester, Illinois.*
Compass Plant is Now Blooming
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.
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, while the long-lobed leaf is its cousin compass plant.
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.*
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—Mike
