Spring is finally around the corner and coming soon to Illinois. These last few weeks have brought warmer temperatures, some nice sunlight, and a lot of rain. For most of us, spring is a time when we can finally begin to get back into the outdoors and enjoy nature. If you look closely around outside, you’ll start to see a rebirth of life all around. For example, a lot of our native plants are beginning to sprout. In the first picture, Common milkweed is beginning to sprout. This is a very important native plant as it offers food and is a host plant for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. The Milkweed Bug uses common milkweed as a host plant as well and cannot survive without it. In the second picture, Rattlesnake Master is beginning to sprout. This plant is also a very important native plant as it adds to local biodiversity and is a feed plant for native pollinators. In the third picture, Wild Bergamot is beginning to show its face. Wild bergamot is an important native species as it provides food for many species of bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. The fourth and final picture is Butterfly Weed. This native species is in the same family as common milkweed and serves as a host and feed plant for monarchs. Spring is a great time of year as many plants and animals are beginning to come out of hibernation and enjoy the warmer weather just like us.
Common Milkweed, Asclepias Syriaca, beginning to sprout in my backyard.
Source: Taken in my backyard by myself.
Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium, is just beginning to pop up with its unique spike-edged leaves.
Source: Taken by me in my backyard
Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa, is a relative of European bee balm and is also beginning to show itself after this long brutal winter.
Source: Taken by me in my backyard
Butterfly Weed, Asclepius tuberosa, a member of the milkweed family “Asclepias” is just emerging a little late this year possibly due to the brutal cold this winter.
Conservation Biology 