Chicago Nature Now! Alert
July 22, 2016
Here’s what’s happening in Chicago nature, Right Now!:
Spears Woods tops this week’s list for its impressive show of prairie blazing star in its prairies. These purple flowers also share the stage with rattlesnake master, wild quinine, mountain mint, and more. Click here for the location of the trailhead that goes west into the prairies. To experience the tall and feathery sweet Joe-Pye Weed in the woodland, with nice view of Hogwash Slough to the southwest, visit this spot along the trail.
Somme Prairie Grove and Bluff Spring Fen are also overflowing with flowers. Both these preserves offer mountain mint, wild bergamot, wild quinine, black-eyed Susan, the very tall compass plant, yellow coneflower, sweet Joy-Pye weed, and more. Somme Prairie Grove has large patches of rattlesnake master.
Wolf Road Prairie also features blazing star, but it’s also rich in white blooms, including rattlesnake master, wild quinine, and Culver’s root. Also look for the large, heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock.
Here are some sample photos of the blazing star displays at Spears Woods and Bluff Spring Fen (from previous years):
Spears Woods’ finest show is beginning right now in its prairies, as blazing stars shoot toward the sky.*
At Bluff Spring Fen, blazing star also blooms throughout the preserve. This spot is the seep of the fen, located at the bottom of the “bowl” in the center of the preserve.*
* Photo is representational and was not recorded this year. Bloom times vary from year to year.
—Mike
