After a cold winter, many of us long to feel the sun’s warmth. With spring on the horizon, we will start to see signs of nature coming back to life: birds will return from wintering elsewhere, animals will come out of hibernation, and vibrant flower blooms will start to appear. One beautiful flower species, the Virginia bluebell, is set to bloom this spring at Morton Arboretum and you won’t want to miss it.
Morton Arboretum is a 1,700-acre nature preserve and botanical garden featuring over one million trees from around the world, 16 miles of hiking trails, nine miles of biking paths, a visitors center, restaurant, library, and beautiful gardens and ground cover throughout the property.
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Along the pathways through the East Woods of the Arboretum, Virginia bluebells should start to make their appearance from mid-April to late-May. Depending on the weather, however, they could arrive a little earlier.
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Sprouting from the ground first are the leaves, a sure sign of spring and the upcoming advent of the purple-blue Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) blanketing the forest floor. The leaves are a purplish color at first before changing to green.
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Stalks will start to grow from the leaves and eventually reveal the delicate purple-blue flowers. The stalks can grow between one and two feet tall.
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Throughout Illinois, bluebells thrive in woods and forests where there is moist, rich soil and partial shade provided by leafy trees. In the Arboretum’s Ground Cover Garden, you may also see some pink bleeding hearts among the bluebells as they prefer a similar environment.
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If you are lucky enough, you may see the daffodils in bloom as well. It’s another stunning sight here at Morton Arboretum.
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To witness the forest floor covered in a sea of blue flowers is a magical experience and a beautiful way to welcome the spring season. This is one bloom you shouldn’t miss!
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Will you be heading to Morton Arboretum when the Virginia bluebells are in bloom? Where else have you seen fields of these gorgeous flowers? We would love to know, so please tell us in the comment section.
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To plan your visit to Morton Arboretum, go to the website or Facebook page.
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Address: 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532, USA
