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Seen in the Bog: Week of June 16, 2024

  • Friends of Volo Bog
  • Jun 20, 2024
  • 1 min read

The open-water area at the center of the bog, surrounded by lush, dark green vegetation.
Eye of Volo Bog on a hot June day

Seen in the Bog


When I walked the Volo Bog Interpretive Trail this warm Sunday morning, the vegetation around the boardwalk was thick and lush. Some of the ferns reached shoulder height. Flowers could be seen high and low.


Small white flowers appear directly on a branch, as well as green leaves that are much larger than the flowers
Flowers along a winterberry holly branch

A couple of the water arums along the boardwalk were still in bloom, but most were beginning to fruit.


  • The flower of a water arum...
  • ...and its developing fruit.

The signs of interesting insects appeared on various bog plants. Many of the tall shrubs were sporting globs of what appeared to be spittlebug foam. At one point, I reached out to feel the soft tamarack needles, and I nearly put my hand in a cluster of small orange bugs.


  • Unidentified orange bugs
  • Interpretive trail boardwalk
  • Spittlebug "spittle"

At the eye of the bog, an egret was hunting around the edge. Some pickerelweed was blooming, though not the one closest to the boardwalk.


Seen Around the Bog


Several sandhill cranes and their gangly offspring were lurking near the visitor center.


It was a good day to see purple flowers! Lots of blue flag irises have popped up in the marsh. Some are quite close to the boardwalk. A few marsh skullcaps were also spotted.


  • Blue flag irises
  • Marsh skullcap

Comments


Friends of Volo Bog is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to promote citizen awareness of the local natural heritage of Volo Bog State Natural Area, portions of which are dedicated state nature preserves, and to preserve the same through special events, educational and training programs, acquisitions of properties for such purposes and take whatever steps deemed necessary to insure the continued care and preservation of Volo Bog State Natural Area as a natural site.

28478 W. Brandenburg Rd.

Ingleside, IL 60041

815-344-1294

FriendsofVoloBog@gmail.com

www.FriendsofVoloBog.org

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