Catch them While you Can!

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

The Virginia Bluebells, and numerous other spring woodland wildflowers, are in bloom throughout Knoch Knolls Park!

Don't miss this year's spring floral display!

• Often called "Spring Ephemerals", because their appearance is so fleeting, native spring wildflowers must grow, flower and go to seed before the trees leaf out and shade them.
  • By the summertime, most of these plant have gone dormant and seem to have disappeared.
  • Their leaves have withered away but below ground their specialized root systems are storing the energy the plant made during their short growth spurt.
• These slow-growing, perennial plants take anywhere from 5-10 years to mature and produce flowers. 
• They are important sources of nectar and pollen for native, ground dwelling bees and colonial bumblebees.
• Other insects, and even hummingbirds, may help pollinate these flowers.
• One species, the Bloodroot, has large, fragrant white blossoms that are only open for 1-2 days and require sun to do so.
  • To compensate for low pollination rates (due to short bloom windows/cold weather/lack of pollinators), these spring wildflowers can also spread on their own.
• You can pick up a Spring Woodland Wildflower Identification brochure at the nature center that shows the most commonly seen wildflowers at Knoch Knolls Park.
• For a more comprehensive list of woodland wildflowers find throughout NE Illinois download this guide -  https://science.fieldmuseum.org/fieldguides/guides/guide/575