Can You Find These Blooming Now in Crow Island Woods?

Especially in the spring, Crow Island Woods is ever-changing, with new wildflowers coming into bloom every week. The following plants may be blooming right now in the Woods. Can you find them?

Blue Cardinal Flower Lobelia siphilitica

Where to Find It: Great lobelia is a Midwest native perennial which typically grows in moist to wet locations along streams, swamps, meadows and in low wooded areas -- much like Crow Island Woods. In late summer, it's easy to find along the woodland paths. Why to Like It: Hummbirds (and humans) enjoy the pretty blue flowers in late summer.

Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum

Where to Find It: At the end of the season, Cup Plant is impossible to miss in the wetland at the north end of the property. How to Recognize It: By the end of summer, Cup Plant 2-3" yellow flowers on stems with very large leaves can tower nearly 10' above ground. Why to Like It: Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) is one of the biggest plants you'll see in Crow Island Woods which isn't a tree. The seeds are enjoyed by a variety of birds.

Joe Pye Weed Eutrochium purpureum

Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum

Where to Find It: There are Wild Geranium in almost all parts of Crow Island Woods. In late April and May, you can easily see it from all of the trails. How to Recognize It: Geranium maculatum is the showiest of the Illinois native geraniums, with large 1" pink flowers with 5 broad overlapping petals. The distinctive leaves have 5 big divisions like an exaggerated maple leaf. Why to Like It: Wild Geraniums are one of the longest-blooming early season wildflowers. The nectar and pollen attract a wide variety of pollinators.

American Blue Vervain Verbena hastata

Where to Find It: Cup Plants are hard to miss in late summer, as they (and their yellow flowers) tower over the wetland on the north end of the property. Why to Like It: Pretty purple flowers in late summer!

Jewelweed Impatiens capensis

Where to Find It: Jewelweed is easy to find in late summer. It's small orange flowers appear near the trails throughout the woods, and even around the wetland area. Why to Like It: Also sometimes called "Touch Me Not" -- Just barely peel back its pea-like pod and the seeds spring out! Crushed leaves & steps are sometimes used as a salve to reduce inflammation from insect bites & poison ivy rashes.

Grey-Head Coneflower Ratibida pinnata

Rough Goldenrod Solidago rugosa

Where to Find It: Look for Rough Goldenrod along many of the trails in late summer/early fall.

Gray Sedge Carex grayi

Wild Senna Cassia hebecarpa

Turtlehead Chelone glabra

Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea

American Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum

Oxeye Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides

Where to Find It: The Oxeye Sunflower is found in the wild in areas similar to all parts of Crow Island Woods -- wooded areas and tallgrass prairie. Why to Like It: Its bright, attractive late summer flowers have also made it a popular garden plant, with cultivars in a variety of colors.

Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis

Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa

Beard Tongue Penstemon digitalis

Lady's Thumb Persicaria vulgaris

Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis

Why to Like It: Many birds rely on the seeds of this native grass.

Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis

Cattail Typha latifolia

Crown Vetch Coronilla varia

Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

Where to Find It: Its preferred habitat is in low, marshy areas like the wetland at the north of the property, but you can also see it periodically elsewhere in the woods. How to Recognize It: Pretty pink/purple flowers on spikes reaching 4 feet tall. Why to Like It: Purple loosestrife has beautiful flowers, but is an aggressive invader brought to North America in the early 1800s quickly which encroaches on the habitats of plants needed by local animals.

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