WILDFLOWER WALKS
Join Severson Dells and the Natural Land Institute staff and volunteers on an exploration of many of the local wildflower hotspots. Wildflower Walks showcase what is currently in bloom at various woodland and prairie preserves around Winnebago, Boone, and Ogle Counties. All walks will begin at 6:00 p.m. No fee for the walks, but membership in Severson Dells and/or the Natural Land Institute is encouraged.
Registration for all of the walks will be required. Each walk has two leaders, and each group will allow reservations for 20 people. Please register for a maximum of five walks starting April 1 at www.SeversonDells.org/wildflower-walkabouts For more information, please call 815/335-2915 (SD) or 815/964-6666 (NLI).
Please note, all registration goes LIVE on April 1st. Dates and times will be available once registration is available.
List of Services
- Aldeen Park
List Item 1
Wednesday, April 22
Join Rockford Park District Conservation Supervisor Joni Denker & an educator from Atwood Nature Center for a stroll through a natural gem right in the middle of Rockford! Aldeen Park's hilled woodlands offer a variety of spring ephemerals like wild ginger, trillium, trout lilies, bluebells, and more. Located near the intersection of Alpine Road and Rural Street in Rockford. Moderate hiking.
- Devil's Backbone
List Item 2
Tuesday, April 28
Natural Land Institute owns this 60-acre preserve adjacent to scenic Highway 2 just south of Oregon. NLI staff Alan Branhagen and Grace Wieland will explore some of the site's unique habitats from open oak openings to sandstone outcrops on this rugged ridge. The sandstone based soils on the site are acidic with unique plants like Velvet Blueberry and Black Huckleberry. The outcrops have evergreen Polypody and Spinulose Wood Ferns. Prepare to hike up a steep hill and along some rocky ridges and we will be blazing a trail so wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Turn north on W. Devil’s Backbone Road off of Highway 2, east of Castle Rock State Park. Difficult hiking.
- Deer Run Forest Preserve
List Item 3
Wednesday, May 6
Join us for an evening with Mike Groves and Sandra Vaughn-Pottorff of Forest Preserves of Winnebago County. We will be on the lookout for Virginia bluebells, trout lilies, red trillium, spring beauties, rue anemones, wild ginger, May apples and more as we enjoy the forest and wetland at Deer Run. Located 3 miles southeast of Rockford city limits on River Road. Easy hiking.
- Kinnickinick Creek Preserve
List Item 4
Tuesday, May 12
Aarron Minson, Natural Areas Manager, and Brian Hale, Volunteer Botanist from Boone County Conservation District will take you through the recently restored prairie and stunning oak savanna at Kinnickinnick Creek Conservation Area. Kinnikinnick Creek Conservation Area is located 3.2 miles north of Route 173 on Caledonia Road. The entrance is just north of North Boone School Road. Moderate hiking.
- Colored Sands
Wednesday, May 20
Join us for an evening with Mike Groves and Sandra Vaughn-Pottorff of Forest Preserves of Winnebago County at birding and wildflower hotspot Colored Sands Forest Preserve! Known for its sandy soil, Colored Sands is a great spot to see wild lupines and a variety of milkweed species. Located on Haas Road in Shirland Illinois. Easy hiking.
- Harlem Hills Preserve
Tuesday, May 26
Will Overbeck of Illinois Nature Preserves and Daniel Pohl of Illinois Natural History Survey will take you through the early summer landscape of Harlem Hills Nature Preserve. This can be a great time of year for spotting Prairie Smoke, Shooting Star, and early Pale Purple Coneflowers. The always-beautiful sunset will be a bonus on this favorite of walks. Please meet on Flora Drive in Loves Park. Easy hiking.
- Burr Oak Valley
Wednesday, June 3
Kyle Hulbert and Cate Nelson, Natural Land Institute staff, will lead us through this 99- acre property that is owned and managed by NLI. The natural communities we will visit include mesic upland forest, dolomite prairie, dolomite cliff and intermittent stream. Expect to see blue-eyed grass, Columbine, maidenhair fern, and the rare kittentails. Please park at the northern entrance of the preserve at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, 7404 Elevator Rd. in Roscoe. Moderate hiking.
- Kishwaukee Valley Conservation Area
Tuesday, June 9
Join Aaron Minson and Ben Davies from Boone County Conservation District on a hike through Kishwaukee Valley Conservation Area. The recently burned prairie should put on a diverse show of wildflowers including wood anemone, Heart-leaved Golden Alexanders, lupine, blue-eyed grass and columbine, to name a few. Located off of US 20 in Garden Prairie. Easy hiking, some off trail.
- Jarrett Prairie
Wednesday, June 17
Join Byron Forest Preserve naturalists Russell Brunner and Scott Krueger to search the prairie for early summer wildflowers. We will meet at the Jarrett Prairie Center, 7993 N. River Rd., Byron and explore the Indigo Trace Trail. This will be an easy hiking adventure. Please bring comfortable hiking shoes and binoculars if you’re interested in seeing some of our summer resident beauties.
- Searls Prairie
Tuesday, June 23
Joni Denker of the Rockford Park District and an educator from Atwood Nature Center and will lead this hike through mesic and wet-mesic prairie where prairie dropseed, Indian grass, and big bluestem grow. This site is one of the highest quality wet prairies in the state. We will explore the impacts of fire ecology on the landscape and enjoy a showcase of summer flowers. Meet at Searls Park on Central Avenue in Rockford across from the soccer fields. Easy hiking, but the area may be wet.
