In Search of Spring Ephemerals? Look No Further than Your Forest Preserves

Spring is the season of new beginnings, and what better way to celebrate than by exploring the beauty of native wildflowers in Winnebago County? From showy wild geraniums to striking shooting stars, spring wildflowers are a feast for the senses. Here is your guide to the spring wildflowers to watch for—and the forest preserves where you’re most likely to spot them!

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Dutchman’s Breeches

(Dicentra Cucullaria)

Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve

(5360 Mulford Road & 5801 Perryville Rd, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Severson Dells Forest Preserve

(8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL 61102)

R. Robert Funderburg Forest Preserve

(4551 S. Meridian Road, Rockford, IL 61102)

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Spring Beauty

(Claytonia virginica)

Deer Run Forest Preserve

(5691 River Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Severson Dells Forest Preserve

(8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL 61102

Kilbuck Bluffs Forest Preserve

(3061 & 3020 South Bend Road, Rockford, IL 61109)

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Trout Lily

(Erythronium albidum)

Rockford Rotary Forest Preserve

(5390 Rotary Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61063)

Deer Run Forest Preserve

(5691 River Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Oak Ridge Forest Preserve

(8322 Blomberg Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

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Cutleaf Toothwort

(Cardamine concatenate)

Hononegah Forest Preserve

(#80 Hononegah Road, Rockton, IL 61072)

Oak Ridge Forest Preserve

(8322 Blomberg Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Severson Dells Forest Preserve

(8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL 61102

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Virginia Bluebells

(Mertensia virginica)

Deer Run Forest Preserve

(along wooded section by river)

(5691 River Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Oak Ridge Forest Preserve

(along wooded section by river)

(8322 Blomberg Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

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Bloodroot

(Sanguinaria canadensis)

Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve

(5360 Mulford Road & 5801 Perryville Rd, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Kishwaukee River Forest Preserve

(6303 Mulford Road & 5757 Blackhawk Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

(16999 Comly Road, Seward, IL 61077)

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Wild Geranium

(Geranium maculatum)

Hartley Memorial Forest Preserve

(14990 Campbell Road, Durand, IL 61024)

Pecatonica River Forest Preserve (overlook area)

(7260 Judd Road & 14960 Brick School Road, Pecatonica, IL 61063)

R. Robert Funderburg Forest Preserve

(4551 S. Meridian Road, Rockford, IL 61102)

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Woodland Phlox

(Phlox divaricata)

Pecatonica River Forest Preserve

(7260 Judd Road & 14960 Brick School Road, Pecatonica, IL 61063)

Kishwaukee River Forest Preserve – Lithuania Club addition

(6303 Mulford Road & 5757 Blackhawk Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Deer Run Forest Preserve

(5691 River Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

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Mayapple

(Podophyllum peltatum)

Kishwaukee River Forest Preserve – Lithuania Club addition

(6303 Mulford Road & 5757 Blackhawk Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

(16999 Comly Road, Seward, IL 61077)

Pecatonica River Forest Preserve

(7260 Judd Road & 14960 Brick School Road, Pecatonica, IL 61063)

Deer Run Forest Preserve

(5691 River Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Oak Ridge Forest Preserve

(8322 Blomberg Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

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Shooting Stars

(Dodecatheon meadia)

Oak Ridge Forest Preserve

(8322 Blomberg Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)

Kieselburg Forest Preserve

(5801 Swanson Road, Roscoe, IL 61073)

Kishwaukee Gorge North Forest Preserve

(4643 Blackhawk Road, Cherry Valley, IL 61016)