Above / A whitetail deer caught our attention and vice versa in the woodlands of Knoch Knolls Park while we were checking on bluebells. The wonderfully natural setting with winding trails is located at 336 Knoch Knolls Road in Naperville. (PN Photo, 4-12-25)
Late this afternoon, we hit the trails in the woodlands of Knoch Knolls Park, mindful that typically from mid-April through early May the wooded landscape along the DuPage River becomes blanketed with bluebells. Our aim was to check progress.
For years, vivid memories of the beautiful violet-blue bluebells in this tranquil setting have carried us from one spring season to the next in the park with a history that dates back to 1830 when the Scott family settled here.
Bicyclists in large numbers passed us along the paved path that led to the bridge over the DuPage River. And before we crossed the bridge, we observed a vacant Frisbee golf course typically active with players throughout the day.
Frisbee golf is an internationally-played flying disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc toward a wire basket on a set course. In the spirit of the game of golf where a low score is better, the object of the game is to follow a course from start to finish in the fewest number of throws of the disc.
Yet, our trips to Knoch Knolls have never been to play Frisbee golf.
Rather, the natural surroundings that include sounds, sights and smells of springtime attract us to the woodlands where we’ve often watched beaver and deer in the distance. And we’ve listened to bird calls overhead and ducks quacking in the DuPage River.
When we’re looking for bluebells, we take a hard right on the first trail just over the bridge.
On this afternoon’s trek, we quickly were in the middle of a sea of green plants with pinkish-purple tiny bluebell buds, mostly hidden. None were blooming brilliantly blue. Yet, uprooted trees, tangled branches and knotted treetops produced an unusual calm and beauty all along the DuPage River.
As we traipsed along the dirt paths, signs of the ground covered with brown fallen leaves from earlier seasons were in plain view, but not a single dangling bluebell appeared just yet. And when they do begin to bloom, we’ll let readers know. Blankets of plants then will bloom for about three weeks.
On this visit, we were delighted to encounter young families with enthusiastic children who wanted us to be sure to see the deer they’d just seen from the trail along the DuPage River.
One of the youngsters noticed our camera. He expressed concern that while trying to take photos, the “two big deer and one baby deer” might chase us.
No worries here. We only saw two deer!
Buddy up and head on down to Knoch Knolls where it’s time to keep your eyes out for the bluebells, likely to open in a week or two.
Next time we visit we’ll try to remember to take our pocket field guides of Illinois birds and trees.
Knoch Knolls Park and Nature Center are located at 336 Knoch Knolls Road in Naperville. —PN
One more thing… Here’s what just one bluebell cluster along the trail at Knoch Knolls looked like last year!
