Native Plant Gardening Q&A
Presented by Monica Buckley and Sarah Michehl
Sunday, April 18, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Online Presentation (Zoom)
Bring your questions to this final presentation in the Midwest Native Gardening Basics. Monica Buckley is the owner of Red Stem Native Landscapes in Chicago. Sarah Michehl is a community engagement specialist at The Land Conservancy of McHenry County.
Both are accustomed to fielding questions about home gardens and natives. They’re ready for yours, both the simple and the stumper. Learn more and free registration (required).
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The Plant Sale Is On
The plant sale is in full swing. Pick-up is June 3-5, and orders are open through May 18. Like last year, we will ask you to schedule your pick-ups at either the Maywood or Lemont location to ensure a covid-safe process. Best to place your order as soon as possible. We are re-stocking some plants that sold out. Check back if you missed out.
If you’ve made your purchase, schedule your pickup time.
Browse our selection. We have kits for butterflies, birds and bees, parkways, and woodland. Some 29 plants are new to the sale this year.
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Help Make the Sale a Success
We always depend on volunteer power to make our plant sale a success. With the extra layer of pandemic protocols this year, we need your help more than ever. Please consider where you might lend a hand.
Sale Day
We have organized in a volunteer schedule in three-hour shifts Tuesday and Wednesday, June 1-2, for setting up and plant sorting; and Thursday through Saturday, June 3-5, for pick-up. Join the sale day team with this Sign Up Genius
Phone Bank
We coordinate timely pick-ups with plant purchasers with reminders and follow-up phone calls. Join the phone bank team with this Sign Up Genius.
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U.N Recognition of Morton Freshman Center
Morton Freshman Center’s 10,000 square-foot butterfly habitat in Cicero, Illinois was featured in a United Nations video celebrating the International Day of Forest.
Led by biology teacher Kevin O'Toole and several faculty members, eight students designed the garden. Groups in Cicero and nearby communities assisted in the habitat's creation. West Cook Wild Ones donated funds in honor of Art Gara, installed shrubs and plants, and cooperated in maintenance.
Click the image to view a video of their habitat project.
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Call for Gardens to Tour
We need native gardens in the Oak Park/River Forest area for our summer garden tour. The theme is Year of the Butterfly, an endeavor inspired and guided by the Illinois Monarch Project.
Submission Deadline -- April 23
Garden Selection -- May 14
Garden Tour --July 24
We are seeking a broad spectrum of garden types:
- Rain
- Bioswale
- Parkway
- Grand
- Miniscule
- Zen-sentient
- And more
If you believe your native garden is worthy of a tour or have something important in it to share, become a candidate and fill out this form. Include photos if you have them. Please submit by April 23, 2021.
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Is Your Garden Ready for Spring Migratory Birds?
About 500 species of birds will migrate through Illinois this year. The Chicago area is an important refuge for the migratory species. Many have just flown over the corn belt, where places safe to rest and forage are too few and far between. New on our blog, learn what you can do for these birds in your yard.
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BIRD FEEDING WITHOUT BIRDFEEDERS
How did seed-eating birds eat before bird feeders? Kate Caldwell, an Interpretive Naturalist at Plum Creek Nature Center, discusses which native plants attract the insects needed for our birds to feed their young. Even seed-eating birds feed insects to their young.
This is a virtual meeting using Zoom on April 6 at 7 PM CDT made possible by Midwest SOARRING Foundation (Save Our Ancestors Remains & Resources Indigenous Network Group).
Register here. Please consider a small donation.
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Also of interest
"If we can bring back Calumet, we can bring back any place."
As part of a blueprint released last week, Audubon Great Lakes highlighted 42 projects in a dozen regions to aid bird survival and help bolster overall ecosystems. Chicago Tribune.
Woodcock Watch (Free Event)
Observe the zigzag, whacked-out courtship flight of the American Woodcock from the deck of the Save the Prairie Society Historic Prairie House April 1, 2, & 3, 7 PM, 11225 Constitution Dr., Westchester IL, 60154
Sandhill Cranes on the Move
You may be hearing loud squawks in the sky. We are in the midst of the spring Sandhill Crane migration. Check out this Conservation Foundation webinar on Sandhill Cranes.
What You May Not Know About Those April Flowers
"Americans have cultivated nonnative plants and flowers for so long, it has skewed our experience of spring." Margaret Renkl NY Times
The Real Diet Of Hummingbirds
It's "Not All Sweetness And Light." Know what to look for and you’ll see hummingbirds sally-hawking and hover-gleaning on insects. Another good reason to keep leaves and stems in your gardens. All About Birds.
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Join West Cook Wild Ones!
Your membership supports speakers on a monthly basis, educational materials, and advocacy for public gardens. You get a 10% discount on plants. All memberships or donations are fully tax-deductible.
Click here to join/renew: Wild Ones Membership
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