Growth ahead of schedule at many locations in Illinois

A trail view from Humiston Woods Nature Center in Pontiac shown last September, file photo.

The growing season is moving right along and May hasn’t even arrived.

Growth of plants, trees and grass appears to be at least a week or two ahead of schedule, says Ed Lipinski with Humiston Woods Nature Center near Pontiac.

“Everything just seems to be a little earlier this year,” Lipinski explained during the Route 24 Radio Forum on Monday.

Usually, growth is measured by where the bluebells are this time of year. The flower grows in timber areas each spring.

“Right now, they’re pretty much gone,” notes Lipinski.

Other flowers are replacing the bluebells, providing the perfect scenery for a hike through the woods.

Visitors from as far away as Chicago flock to Humiston Woods to check out the bluebells each spring.

Lipinski says they did manage to burn off the tall grass prairie earlier this spring during an unusually calm March day with winds under 10 miles per hour. The eight acres was burned off in about 90 minutes.