|  |
photo: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County |
Things to See: Prairies
Exploring Chicago Wilderness prairies:
Ashburn Prairie, Marquette Park
Located on east of Kedzie and south of Mann Street, Chicago, IL
Ashburn Prairie contains over 100 species of prairie plants and hosts a variety of butterflies, dragonflies and migratory and resident birds. This remnant prairie was protected from nearby development in 1994. For more information, call (312) 742-PLAY.
Bobolink Meadow, Jackson Park
Located south of the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
This prairie habitat is home to a variety of butterflies, dragonflies, and birds. It contains plants such as nodding wild onion, plant cup and aster. For more information, call (312) 742-PLAY.
Burnham Park's 47th Street Nature Area
Located west of Lake Shore Drive and north of 47th Street, Chicago, IL
This site contains prairie and wetland habitats. It features four acres of prairie and savanna plantings and a wetland boardwalk. For more information, call (312) 742-PLAY.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Located at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
The 15-acre prairie at the Chicago Botanic Garden features six distinct prairie communities, recreated to represent the different native prairies once common to northeastern Illinois. For more information, call (847) 835-5440.
photo: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County |
Cressmoor Prairie State Nature Preserve
Located on Lake Park Avenue, ¼ mile south of U.S. 6 in Hobart, IN
This 38-acre property is the largest preserved remnant of black soil prairie in Indiana. It features prairie grasses that grow up to nine feet tall. It contains a variety of wildflowers, including eight species of mildweed, seven types of goldenrod and eight types of aster. This is a good site for hiking, birding, nature study and photography. For more information, call (219) 879-4725.
Danada Forest Preserve
Located on Naperville Road, ½ mile north if I-88, Wheaton, IL
This site features wetland, woodland and prairie habitats. The preserve attracts herons, grassland birds, deer, foxes and coyotes. Visitor features include parking, trails and drinking water. An equestrian center is also located on this site. For more information, call (630) 933-7200.
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
Located at 5010 N Jugtown Road, Morris, IL
This state natural area features tallgrass prairie containing native grasses such as big bluestem, and wildflowers including violets, asters and goldenrod. Wild inhabitants include deer, coyote, red fox, beaver and badger. The park offers seven miles of hiking trails, picnic areas and a visitor center. For more information, call (815) 942-2899.
Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve
Located on Main Street, ½ mile east of U.S. 41 in Highland and Griffith, IN
Hoosier Prairie is a large remnant of the prairie landscape that was once common in northwest Indiana. Plant diversity is exceptionally high at this site due to a wide range of moisture conditions. This site contains tallgrass prairie, marsh, and oak savanna communities. For more information, call the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves at (317) 232-4052.
Indian Boundaries Prairies, Markham, IL
Located near U.S. Route 57 and Interstate 294
The Indian Boundary Prairies feature a great diversity of insects, particularly butterflies and moths. For more information call (847) 462-9789.
Lockport Prairie, Lockport, IL
Located on Division Street, East of Route 53, Lockport, IL
This site features rare indigenous prairie plants and is a good spot for hiking, walking and birding. Visitor features include foot trails and parking. For more information call (815) 727-8700.
Lyons Prairie and Marsh, Cary, IL
Part of the Hickory Grove Conservation Area
Located at 7000 South Hickory Nut Grove Road
This site features a rich wetland bird community adjacent to the Fox River. Visitor features include foot trails, horse trails parking and toilets. For more information, call (815) 338-6223.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Wilmington, IL
Located at 30071 South State Route 53, Wilmington, IL
This is the largest prairie restoration project east of the Mississippi. Visitor features are currently under development. For more information call (815) 423-6370.
The Morton Arboretum
Located at 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL
The Arboretum's magnificent 100-acre Schulenberg Prairie is one of the nation's largest planted tallgrass prairies. It contains more than 400 species of plants native to a Northern Illinois mesic prairie. For more information contact the Morton Arboretum at (630) 968-0074.
Peck Farm Park
Located at 38W199 Kaneville Road, Geneva, IL
Peck Farm Park includes a 200-acre restored tallgrass prairie and 17-acre Peck Lake. It features 2.4 miles of paved biking and running paths and is a good spot for wildlife watching, hiking, jogging, cross-country skiing biking and bird watching. For more information, call (630) 262-8244.
Powderhorn Lake, Marsh, and Prairie
Located near Brainard Avenue and Burnham/Avenue O in southeast Chicago, IL
This site includes a rare sand savanna ecosystem. Visitor features include foot trails, parking, toilets, a canoe or boat launch and picnic tables. For more information, call (708) 868-0606.
The Prairie Garden and the Barbara Dunham Dale Prairie
Located in Wayne, IL
These small prairie gardens bring a little piece of nature into residential Wayne, IL. For more information, call (630) 584-3090.
photo: Ray Kammer |
Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve
Located in Grayslake, IL
Rollins Savanna is one of Lake County's largest forest preserves with 1,225 uninterrupted acres. Scattered groves of majestic oaks, wide-open prairies and abundant wetlands offer the perfect setting for grassland birds and other wildlife. Wetlands provide food and rest stops for great blue herons, sandhill cranes, egrets and other waterfowl. Visitor features include trails, restrooms, drinking water, picnic shelters, an observation blind and a native seed nursery. For more information, call (847) 367-6640.
Seidner Dune and Swale State Nature Preserve
Located on Kennedy Avenue near Interstate 90 in Hammond, IN
This is a good spot to see wading birds such as great egrets, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants and black-crowned night herons. The 43-acre preserve is located along the Grand Calumet River and contains prairie and wetland communities. Glaciers created the dune and swale landscape centuries ago. Barely 1,000 acres of this type of natural landscape survives. For more information, call (219) 879-4725.
Skokie River Nature Preserve
Located at the west end of Laurel Avenue in Lake Forest, IL
This site contains several high quality undisturbed prairie remnants hosting large populations of rare wildflowers. Late May through early June is a good time to see wildflowers at this site. For more information, call (847) 482-1928.
Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary
Located at 1111 East Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL
This site features 135 acres of restored native habitats, including prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Exhibits in the visitor center introduce guests to the area's wildlife and ecosystems. Natural history programs are available for families, children and adults. For more information, call (847) 985-2100.
Veterans Acres Park
Located at 330 N. Main, Crystal Lake, IL
Prairie restoration is currently underway at this site. The park also features pond and fen habitats and harbors orchids and butterflies. A nature center at the site offers information about a variety of environmental topics. This is a good spot for hiking, biking, fishing, ice skating and cross-country skiing. For more information, call (815) 455-1763.
West Chicago Prairie
Located in West Chicago, IL
Abundant wildlife and 500 native plant species in prairie, wetlands, and savannas. Visitor features include foot trails, toilets and parking. For more information call (630) 933-7200.
Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve
Located at Wolf Road and 31st Street in Westchester, IL
Wolf Road Prairie is considered the finest and largest black soil prairie east of the Mississippi. It contains a black soil savanna remnant. This type of ecosystem is considered more endangered than world rainforests. In mid-May the savanna understory blooms with wild hyacinths and other spring wildflowers. Visitor features include foot trails and parking. For more information call (708) 366-9420.
 E-mail to a friend
| |
