Woodland Gardens with Pat Sullivan-Schroyer
Small Meeting Room, Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak park, IL, 60301 Map
Woodland Gardens with Pat Sullivan-Schroyer
Presentation Description:
28 years ago, Pat began restoring woodland plants to her front yard. Little did she know the adventure and education to which she was opening the door! Because her work included reintroducing various native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and understory trees compatible with the native bur oaks, shagbark hickory, and wild black cherry trees, their yard now provides a buffet for dozens of birds, butterflies, and insects, as well as reptiles and mammals.
In this program, Pat will share with you how she transformed her ¾+ acre subdivision lot from a buckthorn filled old pasture and a very weedy old corn field into a recreated woodland/savannah. You will get to see steps she recommends in recreating a natural area, some of the invasive plants you may need to remove, native plants appropriate for shady places, and more.
Pat has been actively learning about native plants, participating in native areas restoration, and recreating native areas in her and her husbands residential yard since 1988. She has presented her native plant programs to garden clubs, library groups, book clubs, and at Garden Fest held at McHenry Co. College. In addition, Pat has been a volunteer for the Chicago Botanic Gardens Plants of Concern program, the McHenry Co. Conservation District (MCCD) Phenology Project, Seed Collecting Days ,and numerous restoration workdays with both MCCD and the Land Conservancy of McHenry County. Pat has also fulfilled the requirements and earned the Ecological Restoration Certificate from MCCD. She recently became Steward of Pioneer Fen Natural Area, for which she recruits volunteers, and plans, organizes, and carries out workdays for MCCD. To encourage more homeowners to use natives, Pat is an active member of the Wildflower Propagation and Preservation Committee including serving as a mentor the last 5 years helping residents get started with natives.
Location:
2nd Floor, Small Meeting Room, Oak Park Main Library
834 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301