One of the fantastic Riveredge volunteers, who has been exploring Riveredge trails for years to both take photographs and record observations, is letting us know what she sees blooming at Riveredge. In scientific terms, this is called “Phenology.” What is phenology? It’s very similar to another word, phenomenon. Phenology means what happens, and when, in nature. Some of the most common examples are: when flowers are blooming, when buds are present, when specific migratory bird species return, when birds are nesting.
Chances are, you already notice phenology you just might not call it that. If you notice when your garden is blooming, when the trees are budding, or when butterflies return to the skies – you’re observing phenology! Read below to learn what you can find along the trails when you visit Riveredge Nature Center right now. A notation of -P means that the flower has moved past peak bloom stage.
Blooming
False Rue Anemone
Dutchman’s Breeches
Marsh Marigold
Blue Violet
Spring Cress
Wild Ginger
Wood Anemone
Prairie Smoke
Swamp Buttercup
Large Flowered Trillium
Jack in the Pulpit-P
Blue Cohosh
Downy Yellow Violet
Kidney Leaved Buttercup
Wood Betony
Hoary Puccoon
Wild Blue Phlox -P
Miterwort
Bellwort
Pussy Toes
Nodding Trillium
Early Meadow Rue
Heart leaved Golden Alexander
Wild Geranium – P
Gooseberry
Common Valerian
Cleaver’s Bedstraw
Goldenseal
Lyre leaved Rock Cress – P
Wild Columbine
Kitten Tails
Golden Alexander
Jacob’s Ladder-P
Red Trillium
Starry False Solomon’s Seal
Thyme leaved Speedwell
Mayapple -P
Bastard Toadflax -P
Red Baneberry
Grove Sandwort
Stoneseed
Cursed Crowfoot
Robin’s Plantain
Wild Lily of the Valley
Tower Mustard
Solomon’s Seal
Small Yellow Lady’s Slipper -P
Wild Strawberry
Shooting Star -P
Blue Eyed Grass
Cream Wild Indigo
False Solomon’s Seal
Dwarf Ginseng-P
Star Flower
Fringed Puccoon -P
In Bud
Wild Garlic
Yellow Pimpernel
Yarrow
Prairie Phlox
Blue Wild Indigo
Sprouting/Leaves Present
Common Milkweed
Large leaved Aster
Stiff Goldenrod
Carrion Flower
Zig Zag Goldenrod
Jewelweed
Wild Quinine
Poison Ivy