Congratulations to all the Wild Ones members and friends whom this award recognizes. To see the videos from the Community Read that this award honors, Click the Community Read button, then the 2021 Nature's Best Hope button. Thanks to all our partners that made the series happen.
Click here to read the nomination
Click here to read the article by David Mizejewski.
Extend the benefits of your summer's work into the fall.
Seven Species That Need You to Leave the Leaves
Don't you dare rake your leaves!
Click here for overview and details of the program
Click here for the list of trees and details
Click here for the application to submit to the city.
Click here for list of plants from Midwest Groundcovers.
Click here for list of plants from Taylor Creek Nursery and from Pizzo Native Plant Nursery.
InstructionsPre-order ListNative trees and shrubs from Majestic OaksPre-order ListNative plants from Midwest GroundcoversPrice List for 38-cell flats of plugs from Midwest
If you're interested in adding native plants to your yard, you can request a site visit. We will schedule an appointment for experienced native gardeners to come out and walk your property with you. They'll listen to what you'd like to do, help you identify what you have, and talk about both possibilities and next steps.
Getting this kind of perspective is a great way to get started, or to continue developing what you've already begun.
Click to see images of selected plants.
Saturday, March 26 at 9:00 A.M.
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles
Learn the history of the federal land survey of the 1800s and how the surveyors' notes help us understand the natural environment that existed in this area prior to settlement.
Afterward, we will hike out to see one of these trees that remains to this day, so be sure to dress for the weather.
Click to register on Eventbrite
Now that you're planting (or planning) native plants, what will you do with the old plant material in the spring? You'll want to leave it standing for overwintering insects, for snow sculpture, and for bird food. When you remove the leaves and canes in the spring, you'll want to return these resources to your gardens.
If you decide to compost them rather than burning them to return ash to the gardens, there are multiple ways to proceed. This very informative video from The Conservation Foundation can help you get started.