Spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner – making it the perfect time to see all of the flowers that are native to our beautiful state.

The sweet coneflower – which can be found statewide – is known for its faintly sweet, anise-scented flowers. It puts out bright yellow flowers with dark centers and blooms from mid-summer until the first frost. The sweet coneflower’s seeds and blossoms are nutritious to goldfinches and other songbirds as well as butterflies and bees.

A popular flower in the northern part of Illinois is the white heath aster, which get its name from the Greek and Latin words for star. It is characterized by its lilting, fine-leaved stems with small white flowers with yellow centers. This flower blooms from July through September and is great for the bees. The white health aster grows throughout the state in prairies, old fields and pastures.

The dooryard violet is a part of the violet species, which is the Illinois state flower. It blooms in early spring and can be found in many backyards throughout central Illinois. Dooryard violet is a lovely groundcover, known to be medicinal, edible and good for pollinators.

White trillium is characterized by its three green leaves and three white petals with a small yellow center. It flowers from late April through June and is usually found in large patches in the forests of southern Illinois.

Make sure to put on your sunscreen and get outside while flowers are in full bloom. Click here for a list of flower farms across the state.

April 14 is Garden Day, and there are so many gardens to either be a part of or explore throughout Illinois. Garden Day can be celebrated by planting the state flower, the common blue violet, starting your own garden at home, or visiting your local gardens.

In celebration, here are some places to visit across the state:

March 30 is Take a Walk in the Park Day! With spring weather greeting the state, it is a chance to get outside and enjoy what local parks have to share. To celebrate, here are some parks across the state with walking trails to take a stroll with family, friends or your dog!

Ferne Clyffe State Park: Goreville, IL
With many unique geological features to see at Ferne Clyffe Park, there are plenty of opportunities to walk one of their eighteen trails! Along these different walking trails – ranging from a quarter-mile to eight miles long – there are chances to see the lake, waterfalls and rock formations.

Although an unusual sport, crab racing is a thrill-filled event that captivates the attention of many. Today on National Champion Crab Races Day, celebrate alongside crab race enthusiasts here in Illinois!

Crab racing has been around for decades with a National Crab Racing Association arising in 1979, becoming the most prominent organization involved in crab racing. As for the holiday, it began in the town of Long Beach, Washington in the early 2000s and expanded to other areas. Since then, people annually celebrate the holiday by entering their own crab in races, attending a race or even enjoying their favorite crab dish.

This year, celebrate the Illinois way by visiting Don’s Place in Jacksonville. For over 30 years, Don’s Place has hosted crab races every Thursday evening. Customers can witness the spectacle while enjoying food, drinks, and live music on occasion. Don’s Place is a family-owned establishment that has earned its title as a local favorite operating in Jacksonville since 1933.

Crab races at Don’s Place are held every Thursday from 8:30 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit their website.

Happy racing!