How To Visit

 


Location:

1342 E 54th St

Chicago, IL 60615

Within: Nichols (John Fountain) Park

Location Notes: Access the southern entrance to this natural area from the East 54th St. cul-de-sac.

Features: Natural Areas, Prairie, Savanna

More Info: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/nichols-natural-area

Hours Notes

Natural areas are open from 6am to 11pm daily.

Description

Nichols Park Natural Area is 0.3 acres of native prairie and savanna tucked into a corner of Nichols Park. In the summer and early fall, the natural area features a wide array of wildflowers that attract and feed the local wildlife, especially butterflies, birds, and bees.

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In the Meadow ... early July 2021

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  Monarchs feeding on Milkweed - part of the reason we have the Meadow, to provide healthy food for pollinators of all kinds.             American Bellflower Campanulastrum americanum Bellflower family (Campanulaceae) http://illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/am_bellflower.htm     Royal Catchfly Silene regia Pink family (Caryophyllaceae) https://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/royal_catchflyx.htm  (  Although this could also be Fire Pink, Silene Virginicana   )         A two-fer here, a couple of native flowers growing together Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum Snapdragon family (Scrophulariaceae) https://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/culverx.htm Starry Campion Silene stellata Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)  https://illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/starry_campion.htm
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In the Meadow ... Late August 2021

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The wildflowers seem to be confused by the variations in the weather conditions over the summer.  Many flowers that bloom late in fall are already in bloom, some of them past their peak already.   Here's a roundup of the blooms out now - not sure how long they will last:     Cutleaf Coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata Aster family (Asteraceae) http://illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/cl_coneflower.htm         Canada Goldenrod Solidago canadensis Aster family (Asteraceae) http://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/cn_goldenrodx.htm       False Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides Aster family (Asteraceae) http://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/fs_sunflowerx.htm        New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Aster family (Asteraceae) http://illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ne_asterx.htm         Dwarf Blazing Star       Woodland Sunflow...
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In the Meadow ... late June 2021

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      Soapwort Saponaria officinalis Pink family (Caryophyllaceae) Also called Wild Sweet William, and a bunch of other names.  We planted this a couple of years ago late in the season, this is the first year that it bloomed.  At the time, we were told this was a native wildflower; now we know better.  Since this is not a native plant, it will soon be relocated out of the Meadow.   Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea Bean family (Fabaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ppr_cloverx.htm  In the beds outside the Meadow, at the south entrance.   Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/btf_milkweedx.htm Also at the south entrance to the Meadow   A Bird in the Bush - a resident of the Meadow This one you have to know what you're looking at.  Notice the birdhouse on the left, then look slightly lower in the branches on the r...
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