Chicago Nature NOW! Alert
June 3, 2025
“Weekly Wildflower Forecasts Featuring
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Get outside to experience magnificent flower shows
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WILDFLOWER FORECAST & HIGHLIGHTS to help you plan your outdoor adventures into Chicago’s Woodlands:
Around this time, sand coreopsis stages its beautiful late-spring performance. But this platform isn’t just about flowers. It’s about having a genuine nature experience, which includes being curious and expecting the unexpected. Explore these preserves and discover the many flowers from the list below. No matter what you find, if you’re open to nature’s unpredictability, as well as its gifts, you’ll open up your life to a new world of understanding and wonder. In other words, if a flower show isn’t as grand as you expected. That’s an opportunity to look more closely and to learn about what is there, not to dwell on what is not.
As we enter June, my attention turns to the magnificent display of sand coreopsis (one of our Plants of the Week) at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion. This is one of those “can’t miss” experiences that actually happen quite a lot around Chicago. The performance is so dramatic that my picture of it was featured in the world famous 2020 Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar (see Photo Section). Our second Plant of the Week is the melting flower of Ohio spiderwort that puts on a monthlong show at various savannas and prairies throughout the region. The flower actually dissolves soon after it first opens. Yes, you read that correctly. Click here to read my poem about it. And the pearly trumpet-shaped flowers of foxglove beardtongue may also be starting. I love this plant because, in the fall, their seeds smell exactly, and I mean “exactly,” like vomit!
The breathtaking shows of shooting star and wild lupine may still be happening, but they usually peak in late of May. At Chiwaukee Prairie, shooting star can cover the grassland pink with touches of yellow star grass, birdfoot violet, and golden Alexander. It’s absolutely spectacular. You can also experience their celestial beauty at Fermilab Prairie, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and Somme Prairie Grove. At Miller Woods at Indiana Dunes National Park, the show of wild lupine is unbelievably beautiful, as the blues and purples drape across the rolling dunes sprinkled with golden hoary puccoon. Wow! Within the national park, they also bloom at Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach, but the blue-and-white blossom also shows up at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie.
The aforementioned blossoms of hoary puccoon may be found in our prairies and oak savannas, including Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Pembroke Savanna, Belmont Prairie, Miller Woods, and usually a little later at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and Chiwaukee Prairie. And the sparkling sprays of golden Alexander put on nice performances at Shoe Factory Road Prairie and Chiwaukee Prairie.
SPRING 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!”):
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion: The happy, sunny show of golden sand coreopsis may be underway under the open sky of the sand prairie. It’s a sight to remember. You may also find shows of blue-and-white wild lupine, golden hoary puccoon, and bubble gum pink downy phlox. For the best performances, take the wide gravel trail (Dunes Trail) that heads south from the parking lot. In open shade of the black oak savanna, the buttery yellow blooms of western goat’s beard are may be open for business along with the three-petaled blossoms of Ohio spiderwort, but the purplish blue flower doesn’t last long. Each morning, a few buds open to reveal fresh flowers that dissolve in the heat of the day into drops of purple liquid. Along the way, you should also find the delightful blue-eyed grass, little white sparkles of sand cress and sandwort, and the red glow of red Indian paintbrush. And while you’re here, consider visiting nearby Chiwaukee Prairie.
Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park: The show of wild lupine may still be blooming in combination with the golds of hoary puccoon. Adding to the mix should be the blue hues of blue-eyed grass, red-and-yellow blossoms of wild columbine, golden tones of two-flowered Cynthia, and flashes of white from wild strawberry and bastard toadflax. Keep your eyes open, and you may even find the gorgeous red Indian paintbrush. While you’re here, take the trail to the lakeshore. Along the way, the path crosses a wide gravel path that goes straight east-west. Head west, and you’ll find beaver lodges and activity. If you arrive early or remain late in the day, chances are you’ll be greeted by a beaver slapping its flat tail against the water to alert others of its kind about that human lurking about. This abandoned railroad right-of-way isn’t as intimate as the official narrow trail, but I like the views better. After your hike, consider checking out the lupines at Tolleston Dunes and West Beach. NOTE: The trail can be covered in water in some areas. We recommend high boots. Or just slosh on through!
Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook: This preserve has a nice feel to it. In the woodland, you may experience beautiful displays of the flat-topped umbrellas of golden Alexander alongside the occasional flat-topped white flowers of cow parsnip. The latter is a little toxic and can irritate the skin. So, no touchy-feely with this plant. You’ll find a variety of flowering species in bloom under the sun, including golden balsam ragwort, shooting star, ivory buttons of bastard toadflax, the occasional shooting star, the delicately elegant stout blue-eyed grass, and the heart-stopping red Indian paintbrush. Wow! Along the way, look for the beautiful creamy blooms of cream wild indigo. And don’t forget to appreciate the lush green textures that come from the foliage of forbs, sedges, and grasses, including the floppy hairdos of prairie dropseed and the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock. This is also the time of year to experience blue flag iris and yellow water buttercup in the wet areas.
Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin: This prairie-by-the-lake puts on a stunning show of shooting star that takes place sometime between mid-May and early June, joined by a colorful cast: hoary puccoon, golden Alexander, wood betony, yellow star grass, blue-eyed grass, birdfoot violet, and wild strawberry. You may also find some wild lupine along the edges. And the occasional fluffy seed heads of common cottongrass help to brighten up the wetlands. If you’re lucky, you just may find patches of yellow Indian paintbrush. While you’re here, you should definitely visit Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, which is easily provides the best nature experience in the region.
Shoe Factory Road Prairie in Hoffman Estates: Though not officially a hill prairie, this gravelly prairie on a hill gets a lot of sun and also a lot of wildflowers. This is usually a good time to see large patches of golden Alexander and hoary puccoon alongside a smattering of pink downy phlox growing, and any remaining blooms of wood betony, shooting star, birdfoot violet, and blue-eyed grass.
Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester: Late May usually starts the monthlong performance of Ohio spiderwort along the southeast edge of the preserve near Wolf Road. However, those flowers will be gone by afternoon, especially if it’s hot. In the prairie, you’ll also find a small mix of other flowers including hoary puccoon, golden Alexander, downy phlox and daisy fleabane. I particularly love the emerging tones and textures of prairie dock, rattlesnake master, and compass plant.
Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove: I’m recommending this preserve for a morning visit to see the blooms of the ephemeral Ohio spiderwort. Throughout the month of June, the 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.
Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest: This preserve consists of prairie, wetland, and oak savanna. Check for sparkling expanses of white-petaled meadow anemone along with blue Ohio spiderwort. And the tall purple meadow rue with fluffy yellowish flowers and purple stems can sometimes be abundant about a quarter-mile north of the entrance.
Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park: Ohio spiderwort should be blooming throughout the preserve along with nice expanses of nice displays of daisy fleabane with golden highlights of hairy puccoon. The intoxicating pasture rose may also be flowering alongside porcupine grass and June grass that glows in the low sunlight.
“GO, IF YOU’RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD”:
Fermilab Prairie in Batavia: In early June, the prairie is often aflower with golden Alexander and lush with the foliage of future blooms, like prairie dock and compass plant.
Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin: The most prolific blooms may be happening under the sun with shining displays of balsam ragwort and golden Alexander. Then add to that the brilliant yellow blossoms of hairy puccoon. You may also find ivory tones from bastard toadflax in the prairie and fluffy plumes of common cottongrass in the soggy areas.
PLANTS OF THE WEEK (Sand Coreopsis & Ohio Spiderwort):
Sand Coreopsis:
The showy golden sand coreopsis is not a common plant in Illinois, but it looks familiar because we often see cultivated double-flowered and bicolored versions in our neighbors’ gardens . It’s easy to grow and can spread fast. This image of the world class display of sand coreopsis was featured in the 2022 Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar. Here, blossoms of sand coreopsis spread their golden joy along the banks of the Dead River at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.*
The turning earth is the dimmer switch, gradually recasting every dim dewdrop, petal, and blade of grass into a galaxy of blazing bulbs and lustrous lamps. On this late-spring morning at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, blooms of golden sand coreopsis and New Jersey tea are set aglow alongside shimmering spider webs that cling to last year’s grasses.*
The Melting Flowers of Ohio Spiderwort:
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 may 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 ferns cover the side of the dunes.*
PHOTO SECTION
Shooting Star:
In May, the beautiful blooms of shooting star can be found in prairies and woodlands, alike. The shape of the flower belies its celestial name, with five petals that trail behind its pointed tip. This springtime plant favors soil that is moist to modestly dry, but can thrive on the sunny slopes if there’s enough rain. It seems to like slopes because it doesn’t get as much competition there. The plant is also sensitive to dead vegetation that can smother it, which is why it also favors the occasional fire.*
On this May evening, shooting stars glowed in the final light of day at Fermilab Prairie in Batavia, Illinois.*
Shooting Star at Chiwaukee Prairie:
Later in May and sometimes into early June, Chiwaukee Prairie offers a spectacular display of shooting star.*
Shooting star, hoary puccoon, yellow star grass, and others are blooming in profusion at Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. You can also find the plant at Black Partridge Woods, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Fermilab Prairie, and Somme Prairie Grove.*
Wild Lupine:
Wild lupine, of species Lupinus perennis, seems to love poor soil. However, in ancient times, it was believed that the lupines were creating the bad soil by wolfing down the nutrients. Hence, the name comes from the Greek word “Lupus,” or “wolf.” In reality, lupine brings nutrients to the soil just like other legumes, such as leadplant, white wild indigo, scurfy pea, and purple prairie clover. Around Chicago, lupine can be found growing in sandy soil under the trees of black oak savannas, including Miller Woods, part of Indiana Dunes National Park and Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.
Atop this spring dune thrives wild lupine at Miller Woods, part of Indiana Dunes National Park in Gary, Indiana. While you’re in the park, you also can find them at Tolleston Dunes, and West Beach.*
Biodiversity is about the many, not the few. Here, it’s springtime in the savanna at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, where blue lupines share precious space with hoary puccoon. But, as the season advances, both will fade, making room for an array of other species, in a cycle where each has its time in the sun and then returns to the soil.*
An exploration into the inner world of wild lupine.
Meadow Anemone
Meadow anemone and common milkweed at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion, Illinois.*
Hoary Puccoon:
The golden blooms of hoary puccoon can be found, here, at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve and many other preserves around the region including Miller Woods, Powderhorn Marsh and Prairie, Wolf Road Prairie, Gensburg-Markham Prairie, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, and more.*
At Shoe Factory Road Prairie, hoary puccoon and birdfoot violet glow in the morning light at this prairie-on-a-hill.*
Blue Flag Iris starts to bloom in the late May:
Blue flag iris is a wetland plant that grows in standing mud or standing water. Here, a phalanx of blue flag iris towered over the spring wetland at Somme Prairie Grove in Northbrook.*
Blue flag iris blooms in the late-May wetland at Spears Woods in Willow Springs. But you can see it in good wetlands throughout the area.*
Golden Alexander:
Golden Alexander of species Zizia aurea appears to have large flowers, but what you are seeing is a cluster of miniature one-eighth-inch blooms. The pollen and nectar of the flowers benefit insects with short mouthparts. The plant grows in both high-quality and degraded habitats. The golden blooms can be found brightening up the panoramas at preserves that include Somme Prairie Grove, Shoe Factory Road Prairie, Wolf Road Prairie, and Chiwaukee Prairie.*
In May at Chiwaukee Prairie, golden Alexander blooms amidst the heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock.*
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.*
Foxglove Beardtongue usually begins its bloom in early to mid-June:
At Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois, pearl blossoms of foxglove beardtongue catch the morning rays and a new day awakens—one as splendid and picturesque as any place on Earth.*
In June, foxglove beardtongue blooms at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin and many other preserves. In the fall, the seeds smell EXACTLY like vomit! Be still my heart.*
Wild Columbine:
Wild columbine reflects the afternoon light at Miller Woods in Indiana Dunes National Park.
Indian Paintbrush:
Here at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Indian paintbrush brightens up the foggy morning landscape. You can also find this flower at Gensburg-Markham Prairie and Somme Prairie Grove.*
Stout Blue-Eyed Grass
The sublime blooms of stout blue-eye grass may now be aflower at Pembroke Savanna in Hopkins Park, Illinois. And they bloom at these other preserves: Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Chiwaukee Prairie, Miller Woods, and Somme Prairie Grove.*
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
