Events

Liven Up Your Landscape with Beautiful Native Plants

Preorders: March 15-May 11, 2025

Two Pick-Up Locations:

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Central Warehouse, 2199 S. 1st Ave,  Maywood, IL.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W. 111th St., Lemont, IL. 

Members are welcome to attend.  We will open with a brief period for member comment before commencing business.  If you are a paid member and would like to attend, please email us [email protected] for the Zoom link. Please include your Membership ID. Your ID can be found on your Membership Page. 

Please join us for "Rethinking Lawn: Can Alternatives Support Wildlife & Climate Resilience?" with Becky Barak of The Chicago Botanic Garden on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 2:30 pm (Central Time).

Traditional lawns require many resources-water, fertilizer, time and energy yet they support little wildlife, absorb little water and store little carbon. Can we transform our lawns into spaces that meet our needs, wildlife's needs and improve sustainability? The Chicago Botanic Garden in collaboration with other Chicago area institutions seek to answer this question by planting test plots of plants that might work as lawn alternatives. Some plants they are testing include microclover, fine fescue, mixes of sedges, short prairie grasses, prairie mini-meadows (short & tall versions). Come hear what scientists are learning from this exciting study.

Photo credits: Chicago Botanic Garden

Speaker Bio

Rebecca Barak is an Assistant Conservation Scientist at Chicago Botanic Garden and Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University in the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation. Becky studies seed biology and biodiversity in restored tallgrass prairies, and how decisions are made for restoration, particularly for seed mix design.

Members are welcome to attend.  We will open with a brief period for member comment before commencing business.  If you are a paid member and would like to attend, please email us [email protected] for the Zoom link. Please include your Membership ID. Your ID can be found on your Membership Page. 

Liven Up Your Landscape with Beautiful Native Plants

Preorders: March 15-May 11, 2025

Two Pick-Up Locations:

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Central Warehouse, 2199 S. 1st Ave,  Maywood, IL. June 5-7
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W. 111th St., Lemont, IL.  June 6-7

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!