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Greater DuPage Chapter |
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Greater DuPage Chapter |
Wild Ones, Native Plants, Natural Landscapes is a non-profit organization dedicated to natural landscaping and related education.
Wild Ones is a national organization with local chapters that serve various parts of the United States. The Greater DuPage chapter covers several counties across the western suburbs of metropolitan Chicago in Illinois. It was founded in 1991 by Vicki Nowicki and Pat Armstrong.
This local chapter provides a venue for sharing information among members about using plants adapted to the soils and climate of Chicagoland. Our gardens range in size from small areas of native plants up to full-blown prairies. Become a member of Wild Ones and explore how to grow your own natural garden or yard full of native plant species that provide wildlife habitat and an interesting landscape. Gardeners of any skill or interest level are welcome. We encourage visitors to join us at one of our meetings to hear firsthand about our group.
We have over 120 individual, household, and business memberships. See the membership page for more information about the benefits of joining The Wild Ones.
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Naperville
Municipal Center 400 S. Eagle St. Room C (lower level) Naperville, IL 60540 Primary meeting location. Free parking is available in the garage at the south side of the building. |
Willowbrook Wildlife Center 525 S Park Blvd Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Alternate meeting location. See calendar entry for details related to a specific month's meeting. |
Events we sponsor include:
For details about upcoming monthly meetings and special events, see calendar below.
Calendar |
Mar 18, 2010 (Thu)
Call of the Wild
7:00PM
Location: Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S Eagle Street, Naperville
Leslie Cummings, a Wild Ones DuPage member, will talk briefly on the National Wildlife Foundation's Backyard for Wildlife program in which she is a habitat steward. After we’ve learned about the four essentials of a wildlife-friendly backyard, we’ll view a slide show of wildlife that has shown up in our own yards.
As always, families are welcome to attend.
May 22, 2010 (Sat)
Sierra Club River Prairie Group Plant Sale
10AM - 3PM
Whole Foods in Wheaton
Native plants will be available for purchase beginning at 10 a.m. Free talks will be given in the café by Greater DuPage Wild Ones beginning at 12:00 with Jane Foulser on Butterfly Gardens; 12:30, Denise Sandoval on Rain Gardens; 1:00 Bruce Blake, Prairie Gardening, and Pat Armstrong at 1:30 on Woodland Plants
Jun 12, 2010 (Sat)
FIELD TRIP TO OAK PARK: Yard Tour
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Mena Boulanger (207 N. Elmwood, Oak Park, IL)
Sherry Fedota (211 N. Elmwood, Oak Park, IL)
Mena and Sherry have been next-door neighbors for many, many years. A long time ago when they were members of our newly formed Illinois Wild Ones chapter, we visited their yard. They had at that time turned their adjoining front yards into a wonderful butterfly garden. Since then, they have removed the fence separating their back yards and created a lovely garden around their two back decks. Although they are not strictly native plant gardeners, they do employ a lot of native plants in their designs. Mena has gotten rid of ALL of the lawn in her back yard, and Sherry has developed a shade garden in hers. They live one block from the Oak Park Farmer's Market, so if you arrive by noon, you can take in the Market as well, which closes at 1:00. You might see Art & Linda's Wildflowers selling native plants there. The garden tour is scheduled from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
BONUS YARD: Terry Grace at 227 South Taylor , has converted his backyard to prairie and his front yard to woodland. Swing by after leaving Mena's and Sherry's
Jul 17, 2010 (Sat)
McDonald Farm Open House & Conservation @ Home Day
10AM - 3PM
Conservation Foundation’s McDonald Farm
10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville, IL
Free, Family-Friendly, Informative Day at The Conservation Foundation's 60-acre Headquarters
Have you ever heard of or driven by McDonald Farm in south Naperville and wondered what exactly goes on there? Are you looking for tips on what you can do to conserve water and invite nature into your yard?
The Conservation Foundation and The Wild Ones invite you come learn about native plants, how to make your yard more environmentally friendly, and see examples at work on the 60-acre McDonald Farm. This is one of the last working farms in Naperville and an oasis in a sea of subdivisions.
Activities include educational and how-to presentations, farm and garden tours, rain barrels for sale, bee keeping demonstrations, and environmental exhibits. The Growing Place will be on hand selling native plants so you can apply what you learn to your own yard, and once your natives are established, become certified through the Conservation@Home program. You can also learn more about the alternative energy and water conservation demonstration project that is under construction at the Farm.
There will be water and healthy snacks for sale, or bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy in the Farm's peaceful pastoral setting. Plenty of picnic tables will be available.
Schedule of Events:
10-10:30: Welcome
10:30-11: Presentation on benefits of native plants
11-11:30: Tour of native landscaped areas
Tour of organic farm
11:30-12: Presentation on designing native landscapes
12-12:30: Tour of wetland area and bird boxes
Tour of native landscaped areas
12:30-1: Presentation on rainwater harvesting and rain barrels
1-1:30: Tour of rainwater harvesting systems, rain barrels and rain gardens
Tour of organic farm
1:30- 2: Presentation on landscaping to attract beneficial wildlife
2-2:30: Tour of rainwater harvesting systems, rain barrels and rain gardens
Tour of wetland area and bird boxes
3:00-5PM For those interested - Visit to nearby Conservation@Home certified properties in Naperville (self guided) including Pat Armstrong's yard
For more details, call 630-428-4500, Ext. 12 or go to www.theconservationfoundation.org
Aug 14, 2010 (Sat)
Winfield Area Yard Tour (yards needed!)
We are trying to pull together a yard tour for the morning of this date, but so far we have only one yard. If anyone lives in that area and would like to open their yard on that day, please contact Rich Whitney at (630) 858-8632, or gowild@sbcglobal.net. Further information about the yard tour will be distributed through e-mail only, sometime this summer
Aug 21, 2010 (Sat)
Picnic at Pat Clancy's
2:00PM
5608 Essex Road
Lisle, IL
One of our traditions is a summer picnic at the home of a chapter member. This year it will be at Pat Clancy’s in Lisle, with a tour of her established prairie, developing woodland plot, and the rain garden she installed last summer.
Another feature at Pat’s is a totally artificial swimming pool; so if it’s not against your ecological principles, bring a suit and towel and enjoy a cool dip.
Hot dogs and beverages will be provided; bring something to share.
A nearby neighbor’s yard may also be available for viewing that day.
Contact Pat at pjclancy@yahoo.com or (630) 964-0448
Sep 16, 2010 (Thu)
Woodland Restoration
7:00PM
To kick off our fall schedule of evening meetings, Kurt Dreisilker, Manager of Natural Resources at The Morton Arboretum, will speak on woodland restoration. In his position at the Arboretum, Kurt also coordinates prairie and wetland restoration
Board Members
President: *open*
Vice President: Pat Armstrong
Secretary: Pat Clancy
Treasurer: Rich Whitney
Terms end on December 31st. We line up our leadership and committees for the coming year in October. Open positions can be filled anytime. Please consider sharing your interest by getting involved in one of these capacities. Help support the healthy continuation and growth of our chapter. Duties are flexible; if you think you can help in any way contact one of the people listed above. There is a strong core of former officers still very much involved in the group who will be happy to help anyone new coming on board. Board meetings are held monthly on the second Friday of the month.
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