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Specialist BeesWednesday, June 15, 2022
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom **At the presenter's request, this seminar will not be recorded. Only one registration per household required. The monarch butterfly is probably the most famous insect specialist (the caterpillars only feed on milkweed), but did you know that many native bees are also specialists? Female native bee specialists or oligoleges, only collect pollen from a narrow range of native plants; this could mean just one plant genus or many genera that belong to one plant family. Heather will highlight many of these native plant-bee specializations as well as the overlapping habitat requirements of the bees and plants. The presentation will also include the threats to specialists such as habitat loss and climate change. You will receive and email confirmation and Zoom link after you register. |
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Restoring the Little Things That Run the World
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Zoom **This seminar will be recorded and available after the presentation. Only one registration per household required. A recent UN report predicts that as many as 1 million species will disappear from planet earth because of human activities. Many of these are insects and nearly all species at risk rely on insects. Insects have already declined 45% since 1974. The most alarming part of this statistic is that we don’t seem to care, despite the fact that a world without insects is a world without humans! So how do we create beautiful landscapes brimming with life; landscapes that support the pollinators, herbivores, detritivores, predators and parasitoids that run the ecosystems we depend on? Tallamy will remind us of the many essential roles insects play, and describe the simple changes we must make in our landscapes and our attitudes to keep insects on the ground, in the air and yes, on our plants. Doug's presentation will last about an hour and there will be time for questions after his presentation. You will receive an email with your confirmation and zoom link after you register. |
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Protect Nature, Inspire Discovery and Bring People & Nature Together!We are able to offer these free native plant seminars because of the generosity of our donors and corporate partners. Please consider becoming a donor today. Your gift makes a difference and provides essential funding for programs and initiatives that protect nature and enrich lives!
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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. |
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. |
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. |
Possibility Place Nursery
Monee, Illinois |
Natural Garden Natives
St. Charles, Illinois |
Natural Communities
Algonquin, Illinois |
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. |
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 |
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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Contact USThe Nature Foundation of Will County
17540 W. Laraway Rd. Joliet, IL 60433 |
Preserve the moment
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Willy's WildernessWilly's Wilderness is a nature web site for kids (and their parents) developed by the Forest Preserve District of Will County and funded by donations to The Nature Foundation of Will County. The web site features fun topics for kids, crafts, jokes, books, and so much more!
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Copyright 2022 The Nature Foundation of Will County
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