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Chicago Nature Now! Alert
June 30, 2016

Somme Prairie Grove, Bluff Spring Fen, and Shoe Factory Road Prairie are among the best places to visit through the week of the Fourth of July:

 

In late June, purple-flowered leadplant erupts in the praries and oak savannas, including here in the savanna at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois.

Purple-flowered leadplant is beginning to flower in the prairies and oak savannas of the Chicago region, including here in the savanna at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois.*

 

In the golden light of morning, wild quinine, stiff coreopsis, and leadplant overlook the foggy fen from atop the reconstructed kame and the remnants of Healy Road Prairie transplanted here at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.

White wild quinine, yellow coreopsis, and purple leadplant are all going strong at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois.*

 

Atop this hill prairie, deep-rooted leadplants combine with the happy yellow faces of coreopsis as they shine through the dissipating fog.

At Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, deep-rooted leadplants combine with the happy yellow faces of coreopsis.*

Eastern prickly pear cactus is blooming in sandy preserves across the Chicago region. Learn more below.

Eastern prickly pear cactus blooms in late June in sandy preserves around the Chicago area.

Eastern prickly pear cactus blooms in late June in sandy preserves around the Chicago area. See where to find this wonder of nature below.*

The summer sun goes down on wild quinine and marsh phlox as nonstop tollway traffic rolls past its eastern border. Each hour of each day, people drive by, unaware of the natural treasures they’d discover by taking the West 159th Street exit.

White-flowered wild quinine and marsh phlox can be found at Gensburg-Markham Prairie in Markham, Illinois.*

* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.

For an array of different wildflowers, Bluff Spring Fen is a great place to visit over the next weeks. Watch this video to learn about what you’ll see at Bluff Spring Fen:


Here’s what’s happening in Chicago nature, Right Now!:

Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook, Illinois offers many different wildflowers in bloom throughout this preserve, including  prairie coreopsis, leadplant, smooth phlox, wild quinine, and black-eyed Susan. This preserve is a nice size, which gives you a nice amount of time to spend along the many trails.

Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois is blooming like mad, offering flowers like pale purple coneflower, prairie coreopsis, leadplant, black-eyed Susan, common milkweed, and wild quinine. Purple prairie clover and the minty-smelling wild bergamot are just starting to flower. Orange and red Michigan lily can be found at the bridge over the stream near the main entrance.

Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates, Illinois is a gem. Visit over the next week for fantastic blooms of prairie coreopsis and leadplant. Purple and, the rarer, white prairie clover are also flowering!

Gensburg-Markham Prairie in Markham, Illinois is currently putting on a dramatic show of wild quinine and Indian plantain.

To experience Chicago’s own cactus in bloom, visit:

Powderhorn Marsh and Prairie in Chicago, Illinois

Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois

Miller Woods in Gary, Indiana

Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve in South Elgin, Illinois

—Mike

 

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