By Mike McGraw, Extension Master Naturalist serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell counties
Even as a teenager, I loved the ephemeral wildflowers that grew in the woods near my home in Alton, Illinois – plants with wonderfully evocative names like Harbinger of Spring, Spring Beauty, Dutchman’s Breeches, Bloodroot, Dog-Tooth Violet, Jacob’s Ladder, and Jack-in-the-Pulpit. Each spring, the forest floor would be carpeted with thousands of these beautiful and interesting wildflowers.
Unfortunately, such a display of spring ephemerals is getting harder and harder to find. Large parts of our Central Illinois woodlands are being taken over by aggressive, non-native plants such as Japanese honeysuckle, autumn olive, multiflora rose, and garlic mustard. Spring ephemerals simply cannot survive under the conditions that these invasive plants create on the forest floor.
Fortunately, though, Spring Creek Preserve is one place where you can still see a spectacular display of spring ephemerals, such as sharp-lobed hepatica and the delicate snow trillium. Located on Spring Creek Road, near its intersection with Route 116 in Tazewell County, the preserve consists of 262 acres of hiking trails, creeks, wooded hills, bottomland, and old farm fields. Part of East Peoria’s Fon du Lac Park District, Spring Creek has been designated as a Land and Water Preserve by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
It is no accident that spring ephemerals are still abundant in Spring Creek Preserve. It is only through the hard work of a few dedicated volunteers, over many years, that large areas of the preserve have become, and continue to be, largely free of invasives. Their work and dedication have allowed spring ephemerals to continue to thrive there.
Since I became a Master Naturalist in 2022, many of my volunteer hours have been spent doing invasive removal at Spring Creek, either alone or with others. I lead monthly invasive-removal workdays, the second Wednesday of each month. Our target this spring has been garlic mustard. With the help of Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners like Janine Donahue, Lori Hanson and Laura Hertz, we have pulled and disposed of dozens of bags of garlic mustard.
New volunteers to help in our invasive removal efforts are always welcome. The work is sometimes strenuous, but always rewarding. If you are interested in helping and would like more information, you can email me at mcgrama53@gmail.com.
You can learn more about Spring Creek Preserve at the Fon du Lac Park District’s web site.
