The flower emerges first with a purplish brown shell-like covering as large as an adult's hand. It is soon eclipsed by the leaves. Impossibly green and enormous, they seem to erupt with a flourish like bedding plants for the Jolly Green Giant's window boxes. While these marshy plants bloom at the bottom of steep stone steps, much of Grant Park's beauty is accessible to wildflower lovers who use wheelchairs. Both white and yellow trout lilies and deep purple violets line the paved bike path from the top of the hill across from the roofed picnic pavilion south to the edge of the woods along the S-curve road.
Trillium appear in white drifts on the southernmost part of the path.
He said later that he should have included the Schlitz center itself, the 225-acre education and nature preserve along Lake Michigan, where migrating birds bejewel the branches in spring and fall. On the ground expect to see thousands of violets of all varieties, both white and yellow trout lilies and false rue-anemone. The center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day but Monday. Only a state sticker is needed. Park in the small lot off Waukesha County Highway ZZ across from Ottawa Lake Campground.