Chicago Nature Now! Alert
August 13, 2020
Weekly Wildflower Report
“Chicago’s Best Nature Outings, Outdoor Adventures,
Wildflower Walks, Nature Hikes, & Weekend Getaways!”
Don’t miss one beautiful moment.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic,
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WE NEED MORE SCOUTS!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT VOLUNTEERING.
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE VISITING OUR SHOWCASE PRESERVES DURING THIS TIME OF INCREASED OUTDOOR ACTIVITY:
ChicagoNatureNOW! preserves are Sacred Cathedrals of Nature, NOT playgrounds or amusement parks. Please treat these sanctuaries with reverence. Behave as you would in any house of worship:
- No foraging. And don’t pick flowers or plants or remove anything from a preserve.
- Our preserves are small and rare. That’s why Chicago has grocery stores and flower shops.
- Share cherished moments through photography, drawing, painting, and writing.
- Stay on the trails.
- Walk, don’t run.
- If your kids need to run around, there are THOUSANDS of more appropriate places to play.
- Speak quietly as to not interfere with the spiritual experiences of others.
- Many of these preserves do NOT allow pets, even if they’re leashed.
- When in doubt, ask yourself, “Would I do this in a house of worship?”
IMPORTANT COVID-19 SITE ACCESS & SAFETY TIPS
SITE ACCESS:
Most sites and trails that are owned by Chicago-area counties and Indiana Dunes National Park are open, except for visitor centers, buildings, and bathrooms. Fermilab Prairie woodland (Fermilab Natural Areas) in Batavia is closed. Period. Check out these websites before you go:
- Forest Preserve District of Will County
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- McHenry County Conservation District
BE SAFE:
- WEAR A MASK to protect others. Act as if you are infected because you very well could be.
- Respect Science: Science doesn’t care what you think or do.
- Respect Nature: Nature does what it’s programmed to do. It responds to provocation and, like science, doesn’t care what you think or do.
- Respect Each Other: People DO care about what you do, especially when it affects them. If you don’t respect others, they won’t respect you.
- WATCH YOUR DISTANCE by giving each other at least TEN feet of space because a breeze can carry the virus.
- Don’t obstruct people’s progress by blocking trails or gathering around trailheads or intersections.
- When people are present, be conscious of the wind and its direction.
- When having a conversation, position yourselves so that the wind is blowing from the left or the right.
WE NEED SCOUTS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE SOUTH.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT VOLUNTEERING!
WILDFLOWER HIGHLIGHTS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR WEEKEND OUTDOOR GETAWAY:
Dear friends of chicagonaturenow, the man and steward behind the website and the weekly report, Mike MacDonald, was in hospital due to multiple blockages to his heart last week. Mike noticed the first symptom while he was scouting at Spear Woods, one of his favorite preserves featured on the website. The good news is he had a successful bypass surgery last Wednesday and is now recovering at home. Here is a post from Mike at his Facebook group:
My name is Zeke, and I am one of the first subscribers and volunteer scouts for ChicagoNatureNOW! (CNN). It has been almost 5 years since Mike started posting the weekly reports on Chicagoland wildflower shows during the bloom seasons from April through September. I had been completely connected with the Chicagoland nature at those precious nature preserves that Mike explored and featured on this website. Every year, I had some new findings. And this year has been the best. I feel so much joy and excitement when I visit the sites when the conditions and time is right. This experience is so different from what many people see in a garden or park. It is the wild nature at its most beautiful condition that was developed through millions of years. We almost lost them, but now they are being restored and maintained by many volunteers who have deep love with nature. It does take some time and training to learn how to enjoy the best part. For example, ChicagoNatureNow.com provides weekly report on wildflower blooms so that you know where is the best show each week.
We only have a handful volunteer scouts and there is a large area to cover, so please consider joining our scouts team (click here). It does not have to be a task or job. Simply report a few words with some cell phone pictures after you happen to visit one of the featured sites and share that in the Facebook group. Please also consider a donation using the link above to help Mike carry on the mission. Mike has been scouting most of the preserves and reporting every week at the website. It is a lot of work. The website itself has a cost, but he provides all these works to the public for free so that more Chicagoans can get connected with the best local native nature.
This week we did not get many scouting reports back, but it is so easy for me to predict what is going on in our best quality woods and prairies. This is the time of the summer when you can observe the best biodiversity and show after show of different wildflower species. You may not know exactly what you will encounter, but chances are you will encounter something exciting. The secret is that you have to go to the good quality preserves, not the random ones you can find at your neighborhood as many poor quality prairies had been disturbed by invasive weeds. Go to Bluff Spring Fen to experience a “national park level” show of spotted Joe-Pye weed. Its grand display is the best we observed in years in the area. Somme Prairie Grove is consistently putting up a show of woodland sunflower with the sweet Joe-Pye weed under the trees. It should be at peak condition right now.
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.
WHERE TO GO THIS WEEKEND FOR A SUMMER WILDFLOWER GETAWAY AROUND CHICAGO:
Before visiting a preserve, visit the website for the landholder first. Click here for some resources.
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 like on the coming weekend: “+” is Probably Better; “-” is Probably Less Dramatic; “=” is Probably the Same. Notice the word “probably.”
THIS WEEK’S BEST (“GO!”):
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin (8/10=): This preserve now reaches the top of our list due to the “national park level” display of spotted Joe-Pye weed. You cannot miss it as it is right along the curving creek just after you enter the preserve at the main trail. It has a large coverage with good density of flowers. In a cloudy day or at low light condition in early morning or late evening, the color of the flower is more saturated, with good contrast with the green leaves, wetland grasses, and the oak trees in the far background. There are also many things going on in the woods right after you pass by the creek. You’ll find yourself protected within the embrace of majestic oaks in the savanna. Quickly, you’ll see the fluffy, tall sweet Joe-Pye weed, pale Indian plantain, bottlebrush grass, woodland sunflowers, and some remaining American bellflower. The stand of sweet Joe-Pye weed upon the kame is absolutely stunning. Continuing under the protection of oaks, take the narrow out-and-back trail on your left to the top of the large kame. Once at the gravelly peak, you’ll experience a unique view of the preserve and the blooming cylindrical blazing star, nodding wild onion. 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. Along the counter-clockwise route, you’ll experience the wonderful bristled heads of Canada wild rye, which will soak you with dew in the mornings. You’ll also find a glorious “forest” of tall compass plant to the west. Take the trail at the “Y” to see them up close. Returning to the main trail, you’ll head east through a dense stand of big bluestem grass, which was giving off fragrant plumes of pollen as we passed through it. The next dramatic display along your way happens at the main seep in the center of the bowl. (Turn left at the end of the “transplant kame,” and carefully traverse the narrow trail over the boardwalk. Soon, you’ll arrive at the main seep.) Our scout did not check the fen area, but if you visit, please let us know what you find (find the scouting link at the top of the report). As you continue to the north, there’s a narrow boardwalk that’s hard to see. Take care and continue up the brae of the “switchback” kame where you’ll see an beautiful display of cylindrical blazing star. This plant has the deepest root of any prairie plant. (See an illustration of root depth at the very bottom of this article.) On the kame, you’ll also notice a plant with white balls dotting the vertical stems. That’s rough blazing star which will start blooming in a couple of weeks. 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. Continue along, staying left when you reach the kame. You’ll come around the kame to your right and you’ll find yourself where you began your journey into the sun.
NOTE: If you visit early in the morning, wear rain gear or you’ll end up soaked to the skin from dew.
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook (8/12=): This preserve continues providing a vibrant mix of color. It is one of the best quality nature preserves in Chicagoland, all because there is a good team of volunteers who maintain the place. You can always find something exciting going on at this time of the summer over here. It never disappoints me. The major bloom is still the spectacular legions of bright and happy woodland sunflowers and the fluffy mauve blooms of sweet Joe-Pye weed. The two supplement each other very well under the trees. You can also find many smooth ironweed in the woodland. The whimsical Tinker-Toy blooms of rattlesnake master are coming to an end, but many kinds of goldenrod are coming up nicely and all over the open savanna area. Under the sun, you can still find many mountain mint, wild quinine, flowering spurge, compass plant, prairie blazing star, brown-eyed Susan, nodding wild onion, blue vervain, big bluestem grass , and the gorgeous emerald mop hairdos of prairie dropseed. And keep an eye out for the iconic bottlebrush grass.
NOTE: I suggest donning rainwear to avoid getting drenched in morning dew.
This week, we did not scout Middlefork Savanna and Gensburg-Markham Prairie. You can check last week’s report in the blog section to see what was going on at this time of the summer at those places. As I said above, there should always be something going on now as these are good quality preserves. If you do visit this weekend, please let us know what you see.
We need scouts, especially Southsiders!
Click here to learn about how you can help us share the beauty.
GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove (8/10): We did not scout this preserve this week. Here is last year’s report as a reference: “This intimate remnant prairie is rich in blooms. Walk slowly to absorb the special moments. The main players are flowering spurge, early goldenrod, rattlesnake master, and, to a lesser extent, prairie blazing star. The flowering and towering big bluestem grass runs throughout the preserve, especially along one trail where it feels like you’re walking through a tunnel. Notice the wondrous foliage of prairie dock and compass plant that glow a bright green in the low sun. See Photo Section for a picture of the leaves.”
Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester (8/5/): We did not scout this preserve this week. Here is a report around the same time 2 years ago: “Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much prairie dock in one place. As you enter the oak savanna from the 31st Street trail head you’ll pass through a beautiful expanse of woodland sunflower and sweet Joe-Pye weed. In the prairie, you’ll find towering stalks of prairie dock. Look around for the tallest prairie dock plant. I found at nine-footer! Many other flowers are part of the prairie mix, as well, including flowering spurge, rosinweed, compass plant, and early goldenrod.”
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion (8/10): We did not scout this preserve this week. Here is a report from last year: “The site offers a varied terrain and a mix of habitats that bring interest and an added dimension to your visit, and there are good blooms of many flowers: flowering spurge, nodding wild onion, mountain mint, blue vervain, early goldenrod, and still some butterfly weed. In a week or two, the sand prairie will be exploded with rough blazing star.”
NOTE: Trust me when I tell you to GO EARLY IN THE DAY to avoid the noisy beachgoers and COVID-19 spreaders without masks. Also, the trail that extends along the Dead River may be covered with water and prohibit your journey. Consider bringing along some high boots if you intend to hike that section.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park (Unscouted. Last scouted on 7/11): This is the usual time to see some potentially dramatic displays of partridge pea and flowering spurge. We need help scouting the southern preserves. Consider joining our elite group of volunteer scouts.
PLANT OF THE WEEK: WOODLAND SUNFLOWER
At Somme Prairie Grove, woodland sunflowers surround this majestic bur oak in the savanna.
PHOTO SECTION
American Bellflower
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.*
Cylindrical Blazing Star
Cylindrical blazing star blooms in the sand savanna, here at Indiana Dunes National Park, and at other preserves that include Bluff Spring Fen and Shoe Factory Road Prairie.*
Nodding Wild Onion
The drooping pink blossoms of nodding wild onion are just beginning to flower. The display is often quite dense at Lockport Prairie, but it depends on the year.*
Prairie & Marsh Blazing Star
In late July and early August, the spectacular purple blooms of marsh and prairie blazing star turns 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 this message.
The flowers on these plants bloom from the top downward, which is helpful for photographers (and our scouts) to know if the flowers are coming or going.
You can experience one or both of these magnificent plants in most of our prairies on our list of showcase preserves.
Gensburg-Markham Prairie is famous for its late July fanfare, when the fields ignite with white sparks of flowering spurge and purple torches of marsh blazing star. Right now, there aren’t nearly as many, but it’s still very nice.*
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!
Big Bluestem Grass
The towering height of big bluestem grass gives true meaning to the term “tallgrass prairie.”*
Miniature flowers delicately hang from the tassel of big bluestem grass.*
Rattlesnake Master
Rattlesnake master is a whimsical 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 Woods and Prairie, Spears Woods, Theodore Stone Preserve, and other local prairies over the next few weeks.*
Culver’s Root
Culver’s root is blooming en masse at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester and at other prairies across the Chicago area.*
Mountain Mint
Inhale the invigorating white flowers of mountain mint that grow here at Spears Woods and at many other preserves on our list.*
American Lotus at Tomahawk Slough
American Lotus at Tomahawk Slough in Willow Springs.
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 flowers of compass plant beginning to blooming atop a stalk that reaches for the sky.*
Landscape of compass plant at Springbrook Prairie in Naperville.*
Compass Plant, Prairie Dock, and the Glorious Green Glow
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.
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.*
Gensburg-Markham Prairie
The summer sun goes down on wild quinine and marsh phlox as nonstop tollway traffic rolls past the eastern border of Gensburg-Markham Prairie. Each hour of each day, people drive by, unaware of the natural treasures they’d discover by taking the West 159th Street exit.*
Wolf Road Prairie
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 puts on a lesson in biodiversity. Pictured are prairie blazing star, wild quinine, rattlesnake master, flowering spurge, Culver’s root, rosinweed, and yellow coneflower.*
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.
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.*
Marsh blazing star blooms at the seep of the fen at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.*
Cylindrical blazing star is now blooming on the big kame and northeast kame at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.*
Somme Prairie Grove
At Somme Prairie Grove, woodland sunflower surrounds this majestic bur oak in the savanna.
Here at Somme Prairie Grove we see the deeply lobed leaves of compass plant splash above a sea of purple prairie clover.*
Spears Woods
In the open woodland at Spears Woods in Willow Springs, summer brings tall blooms of sweet Joe-Pye weed. You can also experience this towering plant at Bluff Spring Fen, Somme Prairie Grove,, and other woodland habitats.*
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
