Oh the Trillium’s!
Ok, there were other flowers that had popped up – Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica), and Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) to name a few. It was March 31, 2012 (so it wasn’t really April, but it was to the plants). It was cool in temperature with absolutely beautiful lighting with the cloud cover. The ground was moist from the previous day’s rain, and the plants were loving it. An amazing twenty-three people came out to enjoy the spring fling that nature was displaying at Messenger Woods Nature Preserve in Homer Glen, IL.
The MAPS group at Messenger Woods Forest Preserve in Homer Glen
Trillium recurvatum
The Prairie trillium (Trillium recurvatum) was the most photographed flower by our attendees, and rightly so. It was popping up everywhere. The flowers were just starting to reveal themselves to the forest floor.
Towards the back of the Preserve a network of creeks (both wet
and long-time dry) provided natural vignettes to the flowers growing in each section. Many of the members wandered up and down these “corridors” to find the perfect specimens, and find them they did as you can see in the gallery below.
After carefully working there way through our group traveled to Blueberry Hill Breakfast Cafe and Pancake House to talk over their finds. I have heard from many in the group that it was almost as good as their time in the Woods.
