Spring 2003

A large grove of sugar maples as much as 100 years old, and oak woods that are burned often, makes a special place for spring wildflowers

McHenry County, Illinois

When the temperatures climb in early spring, a subtle, earthy scent rises from the damp humus that covers the forest floor at Coral Woods Conservation Area. The woodland is awakening from its winter slumber.

In 1976, the McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD) bought four acres in the northwest corner of Coral Township. With subsequent acquisitions, the most recent in 2001, the site has grown to 410 acres. A grove of sugar maples — the only one of its size in McHenry County — features several matronly maples 70 to 100 years old. Some trees on the property might have been used to mark trails by American Indians, according to Perry Weborg, MCCD site ranger. In mid-March, this area thrives with activity during the district's annual Festival of the Sugar Maples.

Coral Woods hugs the western edge of the Marengo Moraine, which was left by the Wisconsin glacier about 15,000 years ago. In spring, before leaves hide the view, the undulating terrain shaped by the glaciers is easy to see.

Roughly five miles of trails parallel the perimeter and loop through this property, which is heavily wooded with red and white oak interspersed with white ash, shagbark hickory, and sugar maple. Starting at the bulletin board near the parking lot, walk north. At the first directional post, take the left fork, down the narrow nature trail.

"This is a great place for spring wildflowers," says Kim Caldwell, MCCD education program coordinator. As if on cue, when we round the bend, spring ephemerals festoon the forest floor. These delicate beauties include sharp-lobed hepatica, Jack-in-the-pulpit, spring beauty, toothwort, and bloodroot. In April, wild geranium, blue phlox, and red trillium will join the display.

"This profusion of wildflowers illustrates the value of a prescribed woodland burn, which the district conducts every two or three years here at Coral Woods," Caldwell notes. In spring, color abounds above the ground, too. Scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings, and warblers add their brilliant hues to spring's palette. Great horned and screech owls, downy and hairy woodpeckers, and flickers also claim these woods as their home.

We stop for a moment where the trail crosses the southwest corner of an old field. "In the fall, the view from this spot — the mix of colors from the sugar maple, ash, red and white oak, and hickory — is spectacular," Caldwell says. Reentering the woods, the path meanders past a vernal pond. As we approach, the chorus frogs cease their trill. Other denizens of this habitat include blue-spotted salamanders, leopard frogs, and snapping and painted turtles.

But all is not still. Overhead and out of sight, we hear the burble of sandhill cranes. Just past a clump of staghorn sumac, the path meets a trail. We take the left fork, which leads us through more woods and open areas. In an earlier era, crops of corn and soybeans grew here. To encourage and stabilize the bluebird population, the district has placed bluebird boxes where the field meets the forest. Eventually, we reach the terminus of our trek, the parking lot.

At Coral Woods, visitors should stay on the trails. Dogs must be leashed. Pit toilets are available. This year the site will be closed to the public from March 10 to 14 (to accommodate school groups) and the weekends before and after Thanksgiving (due to hunting on adjacent lands). For more information, including picnic shelter reservations, call (815) 338-6223.

Celebrate the Festival of the Sugar Maples from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 15 and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 16.

For those who want to learn more about spring wildflowers, the district will conduct a guided tour from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26 at Coral Woods Conservation Area. Call the Prairieview Education Center at (815) 479-5779 to register.

— Ann W. Davis