Events

Program Description

More than 45 milliion acres of lawn are cultivated in the United States, covering more American land than any single crop. Most lawns today are comprised of gas guzzling, high maintenance, non-native species; in short, a biologically sterile landscape. Profiled in the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Herald, Chicagoland Gardening Magazine and the Boston Herald as well as a recipient to the the 2011 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award from the USEPA and the Chicago Wilderness, learn how one community in the suburbs became the first 'residential'  association to become a member of the Chicago Wilderness by transforming their lawn into an unfolding range of multi-seasonally colorful prairie, woodland, and wetland wildflowers, forbs, sedges,grasses and  native rain gardens.  An inspirational program to touch the hearts and minds of those who wish to create native earth friendly landscapes around their property to enhance biodiversity and environmental health. WTTW Chicago Tonight highlighted this project and  described this condominium association as "probably the most extensive native gardens of any residential complex in the Chicagoland area." See how this effort can help you get started transforming spaces into eco-friendly places.

Dennis Paige received an M.S. in Environmental Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA and an M.A.T. in Social Studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He works as  an interpretive naturalist and habitat restorationist at Spring Valley  Nature Center in Schaumburg where he has been employed there through the Schaumburg Park District for over 28 years. He is an adjunct faculty member of the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Morton Arboretum.

Since 1996 he has been the chief in-house native landscaper for Town Square Condominium Association in Schaumburg. As a unit owner for over  20 years and board member for over 11 years Dennis (currently V.P. of the board) takes great  pride/interest in promoting healthy natural landscapes in his own  community. For 4 years Dennis wrote an award winning weekly column in the Daily Herald titled 'Green Light Living With Nature' which explored many ways to live lightly on the earth. In 2008 Dennis was awarded among his professional conservation peers in the Chicagoland area the 2008 Grassroots Leadership Award in Conservation from the Chicago Audubon Habitat project and the Chicago Wilderness.