Chapter Events

Plant propagation from seed is an inexpensive way to provide an annual supply of native plants for home landscapes. By growing your native plants from seed, you help preserve genetic diversity of the species, which helps create more resilient plant communities. 

The experience of native seed starting is an enjoyable and rewarding experience but can be challenging too, until you know the tricks to sparking germination. 

This presentation focuses on making plant choices with our native pollinators in mind. Presenter will discuss our native bees, butterflies, wasps, and other pollinators that are under serious threat from a variety of stress factors causing an unceasing decline in their populations. Learn of our pollinators’ importance to biodiversity and about the plants that attract them and why. Find out how a little effort on our part can go a long way for pollinators and our ecosystem while also providing you with beauty and enjoyment. 

Illinois is home to the Sandhill Crane and the endangered Whooping Crane. The history, habitats and threats these cranes face will be discussed. We will also learn how the crane conservation partners are helping out these magnificent birds.

Many plants can add a pop of color to every season.  It's essential to plant across all seasons not just for colors but also to keep your garden and the miniature ecosystems in your backyard healthy and thriving year-round. Find out about some of the favorite spring ephemerals and summer staples in the native plant world, along with underrated fall foliage favorites and essential winter warriors.

Our presenter will introduce us to a variety of  bumble bee species which includes the once common, but now endangered Rusty-patched bumble bee. The program will cover the challenges bumble bees are facing, the important role they play in a healthy ecosystem, and the action steps people can take to transition their community into a more hospitable and welcoming place for all pollinators. 

Jeff Weiss, of the Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watershed Partnership will discus the multiple stressors to our rivers, streams and wetlands and how community education and collaboration with local municipalities and area environmental/conservation groups is fundamental to improving water quality, preserving ecosystems and restoring wetlands, prairies and other natural features for current and future generations. 

The Midwest is a vastly diverse landscape of savannas, prairies, and dense forests. Every single plant in these ecosystems has a direct or indirect relationship with native species of fungi. This presentation will explore these relationships and their impacts on preserving the natural world.

Judy Speer, director of Small Waters Education, will present the story of 14 years of growth in a (mostly) native food forest in northern Illinois. Inspired by permaculture and ecological restoration practices, she and  husband Jack have been transforming a patch of woody invasives into a diverse multilayered perennial habitat. Learn how their observations and experimentation are deepening their relationship with the land, and what they have discovered about pawpaws, chokeberries, butternuts and other indigenous foods.

Learn how to bring nature to your own backyard and explore why using native plants is an important part of environmentally friendly gardening and landscape design. Gain the skills necessary to evaluate site conditions and create landscape designs in harmony with nature by working with natural systems and native plants. Registration link coming soon.