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Note: This issue is long and browsers will clip this email. Please click the "View the entire message" toggle at the bottom left corner to view the complete Resources Journal.
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Earth Day Workday and Celebration 2024
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The Sierra Club is announcing a partnership with the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission, the Prospect Heights Park District, the City of Prospect Heights, Commonwealth Edison, and Crescent Brands, to sponsor a grand day out to celebrate Earth Day and participate in a day of environmental restoration. We invite you to come out, join in the fun and make a positive impact on the environment!
The workday is scheduled for individuals and groups to come together to remove invasive shrubs at the ComEd Right of Way remnant sedge meadow in Wheeling. This provides an opportunity for volunteers to contribute to the preservation and improvement of this important native sedge meadow and celebrate Earth Day in style.
The workday is scheduled from 9:00am – 2:00pm, with check-in starting at 8:30 am. A complimentary lunch from Marco's Pizza and presentations from State Senator Julie Morrison and Illinois Representative Mary Beth Canty will begin starting at noon.
The sedge meadow is located in Wheeling, across the street from Crescent Brands, 100 west Willow Road in Wheeling Illinois, see the downloadable map. Parking, check-in, restroom facilities and lunch are located at the Crescent Brands facility.
We ask everyone attending to please click here to register to participate. We kindly request attendees to come dressed appropriately in fully-covered shoes and clothing, and to bring along gloves if available. The sedge meadow can be wet so if you have waterproof boots, bring them along. Work tools, additional gloves and water will be available on site. For those parking a car, please download this waiver, fill it out and bring it with you. One per car.
In case of inclement weather, click here for updated information.
Thank You for your participation and helping us make a difference. Remember, there is no Planet B.
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The Earth Day Workday Sponsors
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It's Officially Spring
This year, the Vernal Equinox came a day early on March 19th and PHNRC was at the Solstice Garden to celebrate. The morning was frigid with the wind sweeping across the water but that did not stop the hearty revelers from coming out to celebrate the arrival of spring as they sipped hot coffee and waited for the sun to rise.
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"The actual Equinox occurs at 10:06 pm, but there is nothing to see at that time, and that is usually the case. So we always key our passage of season to the sun's alignment to the stones of the Solstice Garden," said Commissioner Dana Sievertson. "It's dramatic and really creates a mindful, meaningful point in time, which for me, makes it easier to see more clearly, people and events in blocks of time. It allows us to come together as a community, embrace each other and the change of season. It is great fun.
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The sun arrives. Spiritual guide Mary Ellen Siemens reads a group
blessing - Photos courtesy of Mara Lovisetto
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Longtime volunteer Mary Ellen Siemens serves in the role of "Spiritual Advisor", reading seasonal blessings she learned in Canada. "The Indigenous People had such reverence for the land.," she stated. "By doing our Solstice rituals at the garden, we honor them, we honor the land, and we honor our connection to one another and to all living beings."
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The last few minutes of winter - Photo courtesy of Seth Marcus
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Spiritual guide Mary Ellen Siemens bestows a Native American blessing on Commissioner Sievertson Photo courtesy of John Kamysz
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It is that time of year again and the PHNRC will be conducting interviews for the two paid summer intern positions. This is a full time seasonal position that can run from May through September, 40 hours a week for 10 weeks. Applicants are required to submit a cover letter outlining why you are interested in the position, what you think you can bring to the position and how it might benefit your career/education along with an updated Bio. Click here for details
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Evie Sanchez and Eric Rivas interns 2022
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Winter Burns Continue on Into Spring!
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Riparian Buffers burn along the south side of the Slough
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The crazy weather that dominated most of February, continued on into the normal spring burn season in March. The NRC took advantage of the prolonged season and got 95% of their burn targets done. "Things that would normally be a problem have worked very well for us this year," said the NRC Burn Boss Agnes Wojnarski. "Using the high winds as a tool, we were able to safely make up for patchy fuel in areas where we were just not able to burn previously. The wind just kept moving the flames and the results were close to 95% burns. The prolonged conditions gave us more time and opportunities to get it done."
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The basin along Elmhurst Road
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"Because the burns were so complete in so many areas, we were able to put out around 60 pounds of seed with great seed soil contact. That will go a long way to creating better burns in the future," added Commissioner Ed Madden.
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West of the north boardwalk
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North boardwalk looking south
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North boardwalk looking north
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"It has been a long, drawn out campaign this year," said one of the burn crew. Long hours, and a lot of hard work but the results are very satisfying. We look forward to the spring and seeing how the habitat benefits from the efforts."
"Prescribed burns are the most effective tool in the restoration toolbox, the benefits are numerous," commented Commissioner Dana Sievertson. "The process is fun, exciting and very interesting. We are always looking for volunteers that are interested in joining the crew. Participants must become Burn Crew certified to join in and training sessions usually take place in the spring and fall, right before the start of the season over a two day period. Anyone interested in doing that can contact me at info@phnrc.com and I will be glad to assist in making arrangements."
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PHNRC announces Earth Week 2024 Plans
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East path heading up the steps at the Nature Preserve
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The Natural Resources Commission is pleased to announce the 2024 Earth Week Activities. Mark Your calendars.
Saturday - April 20th - Sierra Club/PHNRC Earth Week Work Day 9:00AM - 2:00 PM. Join the Sierra Club, PHNRC Commissioners and Volunteers, The Prospect Heights Park District, the City of Prospect Heights, ComEd and Crescent Brands for a special Earth Day Workday celebration at the Remnant Sedge Meadow. Click here for more information
Sunday - April 21st - Slough Tour with the League of Women's Voters. 1:00pm Tour starts from 9 East Marion in Prospect Heights.
Thursday - April 25, 2024 - Commissioners from the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission. 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM to present “Ten Years of Restoration in Prospect Heights”, in person at the Prospect Heights Public Library and on Zoom.
Come join in the celebration!
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Artwork courtesy of Kate Tully
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Calling all Artists! The Sunflower Group is calling on Artists to participate in ArtWalk 2024 with this year's theme being, "What's the Buzz". This is the 4th year of the award winning project to fill the Izaak Walton Park in Prospect Heights with outdoor installations of "bug" art. The emphasis is on using recycled materials, metal, paper, plastic, found objects and repurposed materials. Size is not a limitation. Work will begin being installed starting after April 15th and run through September. Join at any time. And don't forget the Pop-Up art sale in September!
Izaak Walton Pavilion is located in Prospect Heights just off of Elmhurst Road and is part of the naturally occurring wetland being restored by the Natural Resources Commission. The park is nestled into a canopy of tall trees that add to the ambience that makes this event so special. Photos of the past events and the park environment can be seen here. Artwalk 2021-2022
For more information on how to participate or sign up to participate contact Kate Tully at katekatul8@sbcglobal.net, Mara Lovisetto at maralovisetto@gmail.com from the Sunflower Project, or Ray Doemer from the Park District at rdoerner@phparks.org or 847.666.4862. ArtWalk is a joint project of the Prospect Heights Park District, Sunflower Group, and the Natural Resources Commission. Come join in a spring and summer of outdoor art and fun!
Thank You for making our little part of the world a better place.
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Photo courtesy of Seth Marcus Photo taken April 2023
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Photo courtesy of Dr. John Hilty at Illinois Wildflowers
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Common Name: Hepatica
Scientific Name: Hepatica nobilis acuta
(Sharp-lobed hepatica)
Hepatica nobilis obtusa
(Round lobed hepatica)
Hepatica comes from the Greek and Latin word for liver - hepatica means pertaining to the liver - because its three-lobed leaf was thought to resemble the human liver.
Nobilis is Latin for noble.
Hepatica is one of the numerous, beautiful, native, early spring bloomers.
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Next Up for Nature Speaks
The PHNRC Commissioners
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April 25, 2024 - Commissioners from the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission. In person at the Prospect Heights Public Library and on Zoom.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM to present “Ten Years of Restoration in Prospect Heights”.
The Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission turned 10 in February. A lot has happened over those 10 years that has changed the face of Prospect Heights through restoration and habitat recreation. This program will look back at the changes at every site....
Click here to learn more
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North boardwalk at the Slough
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The ComEd Prairie conversion
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Guess What's in Prospect Heights?
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Photo courtesy of Seth Marcus
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Guess Who I Am
Send your answer to us at info@phnrc.com We'll give you the answer in the April Resources Journal.
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February's answer to Guess What's in Prospect Heights
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Photo courtesy of Seth Marcus taken in August 2023
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Answer: Tawny-edged Skipper
The scientific name for this native butterfly is Polites themistocles. It has a wingspan of about an inch.
It lives in grassy areas including native grasses and lawns. It eats nectar from numerius plants including native plants such as purple coneflower, dogbane, and thistles.
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