When we went to the Palos Forest Preserve yesterday we noticed all the spring woodland wildflowers starting to open up.
Claytonia virginica spring beauty
Pollinator on spring beauty wildflowers.
Toothwort
Trillium
There are two or more different sets of leaves here which may produce flowers, but not sure what they will be…
Male red-bellied woodpecker
We saw a bird fly in and out of this knot hole, but did not see what kind of bird it was.
Northern flickers. The female is on the left and the male on the right.
This morning we went to the Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, where we saw this white-breasted nuthatch, right near the sign for snake crossings.
Mertensia virginica Virginia bluebells
In the wetlands there were large swaths of marsh marigolds.
Close-up of marsh marigolds
Podophillum peltatum mayapples. We came across this patch of mayapples starting to come up as we walked along on to the Sagawau trail.
Violets were blooming here and there.
Back in my yard I have started to plant the vegetable garden. Curly kale and romaine lettuce in this picture, but also, cauliflower, collards and eggplant.