Vulcan grant helps Hidden Oaks cultivate self-guided native plant experience
- The Nature Foundation of Will County
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Nature Foundation of Will County secured a gift from the Vulcan Materials Company Foundation to install teaching gardens at the Forest Preserve District’s Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook. Thanks to the $5,000 donation the landscape got little more colorful and a lot more informative.
The donation was used to add native plant gardens and interpretive signs that improve wildlife habitat and educate visitors about the ecological value of native plants, said Angie Opiola, the facility supervisor at the nature center.
To help simplify, “native” means the grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees that evolved or adapted to our local climate and soil for thousands of years. They are beneficial to the ecosystem because they provide food and shelter for wildlife, plus they require less water and maintenance than many non-native alternatives once they are established.
At Hidden Oaks, the new plantings are complemented by colorful signs that educate visitors about the wildflowers as well as the kinds of insects and other animals they might attract.
“Since it is an education garden, there were some big ideas we wanted to get across,” Opiola said. “Not only did we want pretty plants and grasses and flowers, we also wanted to convey meaningful ecological messages with our gardens.”
The project includes three garden spaces, Opiola said. The first is an introduction to milkweed as well as the animal species — monarchs and more — that rely on it. The second space is a larger garden with stepping stones that encourage visitors to have a more interactive, engaging experience. The final space is a rainbow garden — both figuratively and literally. Opiola said the garden includes plants organized in colorful bands to mimic a rainbow. A sign in the garden will explain how different species are attracted to different plants and how some are attracted to certain colors. For example, bees prefer yellow, while hummingbirds are attracted to red.
The self-guided design allows visitors to enjoy the gardens whether or not the nature center is open, sort of like an outdoor exhibit.
“Everything you need is outside, and the signs will guide, inform and instruct,” Opiola said.
Visitors will find reference guides as well as magnifying lenses and critter containers so they can learn more about what they are seeing.
“The Nature Foundation’s mission is to support and celebrate Forest Preserve District’s priorities. Vulcan Materials Company Foundation helped us give you more of what you love,” said Tara Neff, executive director of the Foundation.
Vulcan Materials Company, which previously quarried dolomite limestone at what is now Whalon Lake, has invested more than $17,000 with The Nature Foundation since 2022. Their gifts helped the Forest Preserve District install more benches on the trails at Whalon Lake and Hidden Oaks Preserve, as well the “School of Rock” educational and wayfinding signs at Whalon Lake.
Stop by Hidden Oaks Nature Center this summer to see the newly installed gardens and learn more about the life they help support.