Below are photos of native plants from member yards in the spring.
2021
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) from Joe and Sue LeCroy’s yard blooming by the pond 4/24/21
2020
Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) near creek in Pat Clancy’s yard 5/31/20.Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei) next to small pond in Pat Clancy’s yard 5/31/20The Dark-green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens) has taken over next to the creek in Pat Clancy’s yard 5/28/20. It’s good because it does a good job of soaking up the water and covering everything.The Cow Parsnip (Heraculum maximum) is very dramatic! This picture was taken from Pat Clancy’s yard on 5/28/20. It spreads around by seed and chose to plant itself at the tip of her driveway island. It’s a great placement, but this year there are 3 plants there instead of one. They fade away after a month or so.Close up of Cow Parsnip (Heraculum maximum) flowers from Pat Clancy’s yard 5/28/20Close up of Cow Parsnip (Heraculum maximum) leaves from Pat Clancy’s yard 5/28/20Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis) from Pat Clancy’s yard 5/28/20. Pat first planted this in a dry shady part of her yard but was then carried over to the creek (most likely by birds) and is spreading much better over there.Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei) from David Jagodzinski’s yard 5/27/20Close-up of Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) from Steve Windsor’s yard 5/26/20Bunch of Wild Geraniums (Geranium maculatum) from Steve Windsor’s yard 5/26/20Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) (other common names:Stout Blue-eyed Grass or Meadow Blue-eyed Grass) from Steve Windsor’s yard 5/26/20. It is not a grass, it is a forb but it looks like grass with a flower on the end. The flowers fold up shop at night.Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) from Steve Windsor’s yard 5/26/20. Must be careful when mowing! Best behind a border, as pictured. It’s 18″ tall.Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) and Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) from Steve Windsor’s yard 5/26/20.Wild Hyacinth ( Cammasia scilloides) from Pat Clancy’s yard 5/20/20Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) with common violet foliage and one Wild Hyacinth (Cammasia scilloides) in the background in Pat Clancy’s yard 5/20/20Blackhaw Viburnum, (Viburnum prunifolium) flowering in woodland corner of Pat Clancy’s yard 5/18/20Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum commutatum) in woodland corner of Pat Clancy’s yard 5/18/20Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum commutatum) with small yellow buds in woodland corner of Pat Clancy’s yard 5/18/20Solomon’s Seal unfurling, not sure of variety, maybe a cultivar in woodland corner of Pat Clancy’s yard 5/18/20Starry False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina stellata) in woodland corner of Pat Clancy’s yard 5/18/20. The Starry Solomon’s Seal form a colony with Mayapple under a bur oak that Pat planted in 1996.Midland Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia) from Joe and Sue LeCroy’s yard 5/18/20Midland Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia) from Joe and Sue LeCroy’s yard 5/18/20Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) from Joe and Sue LeCroy’s yard 5/18/20Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) from Joe and Sue LeCroy’s yard 5/18/20Jill and Dean Paulus have been busy building a fruit tree guild with Dwarf North Star Cherries mixed with native and non-natives. Both have chives and Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) around. Photo was taken 5/16/20.Fruit Tree Guild from Jill and Dean Paulus’ yard 5/16/20. The front tree has strawberries, basil, and off to the side some Rudbeckia and Coneflowers as well as other perennials including iris and a lilac, which may be replaced.Fruit Tree Guild from Jill and Dean Paulus’ yard 5/16/20. The larger area has from front to back: Thyme, rosemary, then 2 kinds of chard and broccoli with Roman chamomile behind them, then Indigo Baptista, dill, asparagus, aster, Coneflower, Rudbeckia and comfrey. Later they will add a small berry bush.Front area of Jill and Dean Paulus’ Fruit Tree Guild 5/16/20A cluster of Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon meadia) showing their white drooping flowers from Steve Windor’s yard 5/12/20Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon meadia) in the foreground, Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia) in front of the rock, and Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) in the background of the rock from Steve Windsor’s yard 5/9/20The pink of Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) in bloom in Steve Windsor’s yard 5/9/20A surprise Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) showing its single yellow flower in Steve Windsor’s yard 5/9/20Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia) from David Jagodzinski’s yard 5/6/20Pussy Toes (Antennaria plantaginfolia) from Rich Whitney’s yard 5/6/20Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) from Rich Whitney’s yard 5/6/20Bishop’s Cap (Mitella diphylla) from Rich Whitney’s yard 5/6/20Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divericata) from Donna Retzlaff’s yard 5/5/20Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) from Donna Retzlaff’s yard 5/5/20Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) from Donna Retzlaff’s yard 5/5/20Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) from David Jagodzinski’s yard 5/2/20White Trillium (Trillium grandiflora) fully opened in Pat Clancy’s yard 5/2/20Starry False Solomon Seal (Smilacina stellata) just opening up in Pat Clancy’s yard 5/2/20Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) from Pat Clancy’s yard 5/2/20Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) just began blooming in a sunny spot next to Pat Clancy’s driveway 5/2/20Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) from Pat Clancy’s yard 5/2/20. This is a Class A invasive weed and an example of something you should try to get rid of in your yard!Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) taken on Naperville Riverwalk by Bryan Ogg, 5/2/20Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum recurvatum) taken on Naperville Riverwalk by Bryan Ogg, 5/2/20Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis) taken on Naperville Riverwalk by Bryan Ogg, 5/2/20Squirrel Enjoying Snack with Natives on Naperville Riverwalk taken by Bryan Ogg, 5/2/20The stunning combo of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginiana) and Celandine or Wood Poppy (Podophyllum peltatum) is at the base of a black walnut tree in Pat Clancy’s yard 5/1/20Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) from David Jagodzinski’s yard 5/1/20Striped White Violet (Viola striata) in Pat Clancy’s yard 04/30/20Large patch of Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum recurvatum) under a red oak in Pat Clancy’s yard 4/30/20Closeup of Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum recurvatum) in Pat Clancy’s yard 4/30/20The Large-flowered Bellwort or Merrybells (Uvularia grandiflora) is a bit droopy looking because the cold weather hit after it was up and trying to bloom under the black walnut tree in Pat Clancy’s yard on 4/30/20. It has recovered pretty well.
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) from Joe and Sue LeCroy’s yard in the morning by the pond 4/28/20Becky LeCroy having some fun letting her toad swim in a rain garden filled with a variety of Carex Sedges 4/28/20White Trillium (Trillium grandiflora) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/28/20White Trillium (Trillium grandiflora) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/28/20Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Slender Corydalis (Corydalis micrantha micrantha) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Confederate Violet (Viola sororia priceana) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum dyphillum) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) from Carolyn Finzer’s yard 4/27/20Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/27/20Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/27/20White Trillium (Trillium grandiflora) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/27/20White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) and Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum recurvatum) buds from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/26/20Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia) in bud from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/26/20Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) with Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/26/20False Starry Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina stellata) is just poking up in Pat Clancy’s yard 4/26/20Violets (Viola sororia) from Pat Clancy’s Yard 4/24/20Violets (Viola sororia) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/24/20Violets (Viola sororia) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/24/20Violets (Viola sororia) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/24/20Violets (Viola sororia) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/24/20Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis) just starting to bloom in Pat Clancy’s yard 4/24/20Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis) just starting to bloom in Pat Clancy’s yard 4/24/20Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) from Roger and Wendy Vernon’s yard 4/21/20Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) from Roger and Wendy Vernon’s Yard 4/21/20Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) from Roger and Wendy Vernon’s yard 4/21/20Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) just starting to come up in Roger and Wendy Vernon’s yard 4/21/20Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) from Roger and Wendy Vernon’s yard 4/21/20Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) just starting to bloom in Roger and Wendy Vernon’s yard 4/21/20Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) just starting to bloom in Roger and Wendy Vernon’s yard 4/18/20Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/18/20Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginiana) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/18/20Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginiana) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/18/20Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) from Benia Zouras’ yard 4/14/20. Our bloodroots are slowly multiplying over the years. In 2015, we had just one bloom. Today, it’s up to 14 here, plus a couple in a different area in the yard. Response from Wild Ones: Ants take the seeds to their nests, thus the plants will show up in a new spot. The seeds are partially covered by a fatty tissue called elaiosome, which the ant larva feed on.Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum recurvatum) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/14/20. Buds in the center of these mottled leaves will bloom soon when the weather warms. The flower is a deep red, tri-part blossom.Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensilvanica) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/14/20. A lovely woodland sedge which blooms early and then persists throughout the summer and fall as a graceful tuft of green.Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) from Pat Clancy’s yard 4/14/20. Today the temperature was chilly so the flowers remained closed, but the many-lobed leaves are beginning to open.Sharp Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) from Rich Whitney’s yard 4/7/20Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) from Rich Whitney’s yard 4/1/20
