2023 FREE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS
Benjamin Vogt, Monarch GardensJoin us for a series of online native plant seminars featuring Benjamin Vogt, writer, author, landscape designer, and owner of Monarch Gardens where he specializes in prairie inspired design and lawn to meadow conversions.
Benjamin's design work has been featured in Fine Gardening, Garden Design, Horticulture, Midwest Living, The Guardian, Birds and Blooms, The Wall Street Journal, The American Gardener, Nebraska Life, the Omaha World Herald, and the Lincoln Journal Star. Active on social media with nearly 50,000 followers, he runs the Facebook page Milk the Weed and posts frequently on Instagram. Benjamin is author of several books, including the disruptive, call to action A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future (watch the presentation based on the book) as well as Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design. When Weed Control Comes
Designing for Winter Beauty and Wildlife
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IT'S TIME TO RETHINK PRETTY!
Less than 3% of the original tallgrass prairie remains, making it more threatened than the Amazon and Indonesian rainforests combined. 70% of all U.S. grasslands may be gone by 2100. Kids today will see 35% fewer butterflies and moths than their parents did 40 years ago, and 28% fewer birds, mammals, amphibians, and fish. 90% of insects who feed on plants are specialists, needing a particular plant to raise their young. We have 50% fewer birds than 40 years ago. 230 North American bird species are at risk of extinction within decades. 96% of songbirds feed only insects to their young. Native plants support 35x the number of insects. More than 1/3 of fresh water in the U.S. is used to water lawns. 5,000 acres per day are converted to lawn. |
The Latest from Benjamin Vogt: Why Wildlife Gardeners Need to Become Garden Designers ASAP, March 1, 2023 and Spring Cleanup Doesn't Start at 50 Degrees, February 8, 2023
Seminar Recording: Pollinator Conservation at Home with Stephanie Frische, The Xerces Society
Learn practical suggestions and advice for creating what pollinators need most: flower-rich foraging areas, suitable host plants or nests where pollinators can lay their eggs, and an environment free of pesticides.
The Latest from Xerces: Troubling News for Eastern Monarchs as Overwintering Areas Decline, March 22, 2023
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The loss and fragmentation of habitat, the degradation or remaining habitat, pesticide poisoning, climate disruption, and the spread of diseases and parasites account for most of the declines in populations of bees and other pollinators. These factors have complex political, economic, and social origins that are a challenge to address.
At the same time, individuals can take simple and straightforward actions to reduce the impact of these threats. Insects are a diverse group of wildlife that live in our backyards and neighborhoods, on farms and ranches, and in city parks and wild areas – the choices we make about those areas can help strengthen and support pollinator populations. |
Looking for information and inspiration...check out our video archive!
OUR INVEST IN NATURE PARTNERS
This year's Native Plant Sale Events and the Learn & Grow Seminars would not be possible without the generous support from the business community. These partners invest in nature and share in our efforts to support Forest Preserve District and Nature Foundation programs and initiatives that protect nature, inspire discovery, and bring people and nature together. Thank you!
Enbridge, Brent Hassert Consulting LLC, Pizzo & Associates LTD, Pizzo Native Plant Nursery, PuroClean of Romeoville, CBBE, JULIE Inc., KGG LLC, A.J. Dralle Inc, Strand Associates, Village of Romeoville, and Uni-Max Management Corporation.
Enbridge, Brent Hassert Consulting LLC, Pizzo & Associates LTD, Pizzo Native Plant Nursery, PuroClean of Romeoville, CBBE, JULIE Inc., KGG LLC, A.J. Dralle Inc, Strand Associates, Village of Romeoville, and Uni-Max Management Corporation.
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NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES
Native Plant Finders
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HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK® is a grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks.Their resource page includes a native plant finder as well as resources on landscape design, removing invasive species and native plant lists. You can also put your native plant garden on their national map.
Audubon Native Plant Database
Enter your zip code and the database will generate a list of native plants. The 'Best Results' tab includes native plants for a particular area that have been hand-selected by Audubon experts. They are important bird resources that are relatively easy to grow and are usually available at native plant sales and nurseries. Your can filter your results by types of plants, resources, and the bird families you'd like to attract, or search for specific plant names. Add plants to your list by selecting the checkbox below each plant profile. Then click the orange 'Get your plant list' button below to receive an emailed list. |
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National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder
Based on the research of Douglas W. Tallamy, this native plant finder uses your zip code to find plants that host the highest numbers of butterflies and moths to feed birds and other wildlife where you live. No other online resource offers zip code specific lists of native plants ranked by the number of butterflies and moths that use them as caterpillar host plants. Plants are ranked by greatest number of butterfly and moth associations, since their young play a directly proportional role in supporting bird populations. Butterflies and moths are ranked by choosiness of their diet, indicating which may receive the greatest benefit by inclusion of their host plant in your garden. |
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Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center offers the most comprehensive database on native plants for North America. You can search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. Your search results can be narrowed according to criteria such as State/Province, general appearance or habit, light requirements, soil moisture, flower color, bloom time, plant height and even more criteria. |
Native Plant Nursery Databases
Many native plant nurseries have databases you can use to learn more about native plants and their benefits. It's a great way to do a bit of research, make your native plant lists, and get some design tips. Several of them have email newsletters you can sign up for. And, while we would love for you to purchase all your native plants at one of our native plant sale fundraisers, we know that we might not have everything you want or need. Here's just a few places to check out:
Many native plant nurseries have databases you can use to learn more about native plants and their benefits. It's a great way to do a bit of research, make your native plant lists, and get some design tips. Several of them have email newsletters you can sign up for. And, while we would love for you to purchase all your native plants at one of our native plant sale fundraisers, we know that we might not have everything you want or need. Here's just a few places to check out:
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Possibility Place Nursery
Monee, Illinois |
Natural Garden Natives
St. Charles, Illinois |
Natural Communities
Algonquin, Illinois |
Native Plant & Gardening Resources
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Illinois Wildflowers by Dr. John Hilty
This amazing resource contains descriptions, photographs, and range maps of many wildflowers and other plants in Illinois. These plants consist primarily of herbaceous flowering plants and some woody plants, whether native to Illinois or introduced from somewhere else. Wildflowers and other plants are divided into 5 large groups according to the general habitat in which they are most likely to occur and include prairie wildflowers, savanna wildflowers, weedy wildflowers, wetland wildflowers, and woodland wildflowers. The website also includes information on grasses, sedges and non-flowering plants as well as trees, shrubs, and woody vines. |
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Rain Gardens: A Manual for Homeowners & Landscapers
This 32-page manual from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is a comprehensive guide for creating rain gardens. Contents include sizing and siting, constructing, planting and maintaining, and recommended plants. The manual is full of photos and illustrations to assist you with your project. The file is large and it may take a few minutes to download. | ||
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The Southern Lake Michigan Rain Garden Manual
This manual is a Southern Lake Michigan-specific resource developed for homeowners, landscape architects, city planners, and anyone else interested in protecting local rivers and lakes through gardening. The information in this manual clarifies the process of installing a rain garden and demonstrates that rain gardens are cost-effective storm water management tools, which can be incorporated into a variety of landscapes. | ||
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Butterfly Gardens
This brochure from the Illinois Department of Nature Resources provides some really great plant lists which include a list of native host plants for butterfly larvae and a list of native plants that provide adult butterflies with nectar sources, shelter and resting spots. | ||
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources provides an extensive selection of different types of native plants lists on its website. A selection of links provided below:
Hummingbird Garden Requirements & Plant List Butterfly Garden Requirements & Plant List Shortgrass Prairie Requirements & Plant List Tallgrass Prairie Requirements & Plant List Container and Planter Requirements & Plant List |
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Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Resources for the Great Lakes Region
The Xerces Society has put together a wonderful selection of region-specific native plant lists and resources. A small selection of what they offer is provided below:
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Native Plant Organizations, Societies & Initiatives
The native plant movement is growing! Check out these organizations, groups, societies or initiatives to learn more about native plants, their benefits and how to incorporate them into your home landscape! Milkweed For Monarchs also has inexpensive milkweed seed packets and free, bulk milkweed seed for large acreages.
Chicago Living Corridors
Greater DuPage Wild Ones
Homegrown National Park with Douglas Tallamy
Illinois Native Plant Society - Kankakee Torrent Chapter
Milkweed For Monarchs
Pollinator Press with Heather Holm
The Conservation Foundation
Will County Audubon
Greater DuPage Wild Ones
Homegrown National Park with Douglas Tallamy
Illinois Native Plant Society - Kankakee Torrent Chapter
Milkweed For Monarchs
Pollinator Press with Heather Holm
The Conservation Foundation
Will County Audubon
Get Involved
The Nature Foundation of Will County and the Forest Preserve District of Will County work together to provide opportunities for you to grow, learn and make a positive impact on the environment and in your community. Both organizations rely on generous, dedicated people to help each achieve its mission and encourage the stewardship of our natural areas for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.
Volunteers include professionals, students, seniors, organized groups and families. Volunteer opportunities exist for individuals and groups, and projects can be designed for school, corporate, civic and scout groups. If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, start your journey today with the Forest Preserve District of Will County and its Volunteer Services Office.
Volunteers include professionals, students, seniors, organized groups and families. Volunteer opportunities exist for individuals and groups, and projects can be designed for school, corporate, civic and scout groups. If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, start your journey today with the Forest Preserve District of Will County and its Volunteer Services Office.
Join Others Who Invest in Nature!
Everything we do here at The Nature Foundation is because of our donors. Their gifts not only further our mission, they fund essential conservation, nature education and recreation initiatives in the Will County forest preserves. Our donors care deeply about protecting nature and providing opportunities for everyone to enjoy and learn more about the wonders of nature. Their support makes great things happen! Please consider becoming a donor today!