2019 Chicago Nature Spring Preview
Come to Pilcher Park in April for a dramatic performance starring Viriginia bluebells. The miracles of nature are all around us. And ChicagoNatureNOW! brings them to you every week from April through September. The new season is upon us and this is the perfect time to join our team by becoming a scout. You can even help by donating here.
Spring is officially here in Chicago, but we’re still waiting for the native flowers to bloom. But you won’t have to wait much longer. In just days, Chicago nature will put on a show in the muddy bottoms of some woodlands, with the emergence of marsh marigolds. Soon after will come performances from an array of diminutive spring wildflowers, like toothwort, Dutchman’s breeches, and spring beauties. April’s show concludes with an encore performance, as endless expanses of Virginia bluebells fill your eyes with blue and your nose with the scent of Froot Loops cereal. See the video slideshow below for a preview of spring wildflowers. SUBSCRIBE NOW (for free) to learn when these wonderful events are taking place.
Also, in April, the fourth season of ChicagoNatureNOW! scouting begins. And this means that, each week over the six-month growing season (mid-April through mid-September), you can use this website to experience breathtaking displays of wildflowers around Chicago. Our scouts will begin venturing out across the 5,000-square-mile region to find out what’s going on at our twenty-eight showcase preserves. That’s a lot of land to cover! Click here to learn about becoming a nature scout.
In the meantime, here’s an interactive slideshow of what’s to come:
Chicago Nature
Spring Preview
When skunk cabbage sprouts in late February, we know that spring is on the way.
When skunk cabbage sprouts in late February, we know that spring is on the way.
When skunk cabbage sprouts in late February, we know that spring is on the way.
Skunk cabbage's burgundy spathe becomes more conspicuous as it grows larger and produces its heat-generating yellow flower head, known as a spadix. The spadix warms the air with the foul odor of a dead animal to lure pollinating insects.
Skunk cabbage's burgundy spathe becomes more conspicuous as it grows larger and produces its heat-generating yellow flower head, known as a spadix. The spadix warms the air with the foul odor of a dead animal to lure pollinating insects.
Skunk cabbage's burgundy spathe becomes more conspicuous as it grows larger and produces its heat-generating yellow flower head, known as a spadix. The spadix warms the air with the foul odor of a dead animal to lure pollinating insects.
These tender leaves of skunk cabbage will soon develop into giants, up to two feet long and one foot wide.
These tender leaves of skunk cabbage will soon develop into giants, up to two feet long and one foot wide.
These tender leaves of skunk cabbage will soon develop into giants, up to two feet long and one foot wide.
It's springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering.
It's springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering.
It's springtime at Pilcher Park and sunlight shines through the enormous fanning foliage of skunk cabbage which, if broken, releases a strong scent reminiscent of skunk, though sweeter and not nearly as overpowering.
After skunk cabbage rises, sharp-lobed hepatica is the next plant to bloom around the Chicago region, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.
After skunk cabbage rises, sharp-lobed hepatica is the next plant to bloom around the Chicago region, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.
After skunk cabbage rises, sharp-lobed hepatica is the next plant to bloom around the Chicago region, like here at Black Partridge Woods in Lemont, Illinois.
In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.
In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.
In early spring, I come to Pilcher Park to play in the mud. Here, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold thrive in a woodland floodplain of inky water and the blackest muck I’ve ever seen.
In April, the woodland floor at O'Hara Woods explodes with spring ephemerals including flowers like toothwort.
In April, the woodland floor at O'Hara Woods explodes with spring ephemerals including flowers like toothwort.
In April, the woodland floor at O'Hara Woods explodes with spring ephemerals including flowers like toothwort.
Dutchman's breeches with its beautiful foliage at O'Hara Woods.
Dutchman's breeches with its beautiful foliage at O'Hara Woods.
Dutchman's breeches with its beautiful foliage at O'Hara Woods.
Virginia bluebells can be found in profusion at a few of our southern woodlands.
Virginia bluebells can be found in profusion at a few of our southern woodlands.
Virginia bluebells can be found in profusion at a few of our southern woodlands.
April at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen features a breathtaking display of Virginia bluebells.
April at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen features a breathtaking display of Virginia bluebells.
April at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen features a breathtaking display of Virginia bluebells.
Come to Pilcher Park in April for the dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells.
Come to Pilcher Park in April for the dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells.
Come to Pilcher Park in April for the dramatic performance starring Virginia bluebells.
At O'Hara Woods in Romeoville, the April sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells.
At O'Hara Woods in Romeoville, the April sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells.
At O'Hara Woods in Romeoville, the April sun rises to warm the springtime woodland brimming with Virginia bluebells.
At Black Partridge Woods, take a look underneath the fanning mayapple leaf, and you may find a hidden waxy, white bloom. You may also discover a burgundy flower hiding beneath the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.
At Black Partridge Woods, take a look underneath the fanning mayapple leaf, and you may find a hidden waxy, white bloom. You may also discover a burgundy flower hiding beneath the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.
At Black Partridge Woods, take a look underneath the fanning mayapple leaf, and you may find a hidden waxy, white bloom. You may also discover a burgundy flower hiding beneath the heart-shaped leaves of wild ginger.
At Black Partridge Woods, springtime brings greens of every shade to the woodland floor, including skunk cabbage, wild ginger, starry false Solomon's seal.
At Black Partridge Woods, springtime brings greens of every shade to the woodland floor, including skunk cabbage, wild ginger, starry false Solomon's seal.
At Black Partridge Woods, springtime brings greens of every shade to the woodland floor, including skunk cabbage, wild ginger, starry false Solomon's seal.
You can find wild geranium at all featured woodlands. Here, at Black Partridge Woods, the pink blooms float above its star-shaped foliage.
You can find wild geranium at all featured woodlands. Here, at Black Partridge Woods, the pink blooms float above its star-shaped foliage.
You can find wild geranium at all featured woodlands. Here, at Black Partridge Woods, the pink blooms float above its star-shaped foliage.
In late April to early May, large-flowered trillium carpet the woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen.
In late April to early May, large-flowered trillium carpet the woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen.
In late April to early May, large-flowered trillium carpet the woodland floor at Messenger Woods in Homer Glen.
In May, large-flowered trillium cover the woodland floor at Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park.
In May, large-flowered trillium cover the woodland floor at Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park.
In May, large-flowered trillium cover the woodland floor at Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park.
In May, Pembroke Savanna is home to blooms of white sand phlox and rare bird-foot violet.
In May, Pembroke Savanna is home to blooms of white sand phlox and rare bird-foot violet.
In May, Pembroke Savanna is home to blooms of white sand phlox and rare bird-foot violet.
Each May, wild hyacinths bloom in the oak savanna at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester.
Each May, wild hyacinths bloom in the oak savanna at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester.
Each May, wild hyacinths bloom in the oak savanna at Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester.
In May, Chiwaukee Prairie offers a breathtaking display of shooting stars.
In May, Chiwaukee Prairie offers a breathtaking display of shooting stars.
In May, Chiwaukee Prairie offers a breathtaking display of shooting stars.
At Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, hoary puccoon blooms in here in the dunes and also throughout the sandy preserve
At Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, hoary puccoon blooms in here in the dunes and also throughout the sandy preserve
At Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, hoary puccoon blooms in here in the dunes and also throughout the sandy preserve
In the savanna at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, blue lupines share precious space with hoary puccoon.
In the savanna at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, blue lupines share precious space with hoary puccoon.
In the savanna at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, blue lupines share precious space with hoary puccoon.
Wild lupine bloom on the dunes of this black oak savanna at Indiana Dunes National Park.
Wild lupine bloom on the dunes of this black oak savanna at Indiana Dunes National Park.
Wild lupine bloom on the dunes of this black oak savanna at Indiana Dunes National Park.
In a celebration of life, blooms of sand coreopsis spread with golden joy along the banks of the Dead River at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.
In a celebration of life, blooms of sand coreopsis spread with golden joy along the banks of the Dead River at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.
In a celebration of life, blooms of sand coreopsis spread with golden joy along the banks of the Dead River at Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in Zion.
On this morning in late May, blooms of golden coreopsis and New Jersey tea are set aglow alongside shimmering spider webs that cling to last year’s grasses.
On this morning in late May, blooms of golden coreopsis and New Jersey tea are set aglow alongside shimmering spider webs that cling to last year’s grasses.
On this morning in late May, blooms of golden coreopsis and New Jersey tea are set aglow alongside shimmering spider webs that cling to last year’s grasses.
Purple pale coneflowers, scurfy pea, and porcupine grass at Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove.
Purple pale coneflowers, scurfy pea, and porcupine grass at Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove.
Purple pale coneflowers, scurfy pea, and porcupine grass at Belmont Prairie in Downers Grove.
Pale purple coneflowers rise above the prairie at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.
Pale purple coneflowers rise above the prairie at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.
Pale purple coneflowers rise above the prairie at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin.
The spring prairie at Spears Woods in Willow Springs provides a dreamy show of foxglove beardtongue.
The spring prairie at Spears Woods in Willow Springs provides a dreamy show of foxglove beardtongue.
The spring prairie at Spears Woods in Willow Springs provides a dreamy show of foxglove beardtongue.
At Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, pearl blossoms of foxglove beardtongue catch the morning rays and a new day awakens.
At Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, pearl blossoms of foxglove beardtongue catch the morning rays and a new day awakens.
At Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, pearl blossoms of foxglove beardtongue catch the morning rays and a new day awakens.
