On this page you will find an archive of all of our previous native plant articles and videos from the weekly blog produced by Program Coordinator Kate Van Sloten.
Get Started with Native Plants!
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Why Use Native Plants?
Landscaping Basics for Native Plants
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Kid's Lesson about Pollination
Adult Lesson about Pollination
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Our Favorite Local and Online Places to Purchase Native Plants and Shrubs
Boehm's Garden Center - Rushville, IL -https://www.boehmsgardencenter.com/
Harts Nursery - Bushnell, IL -https://www.facebook.com/Harts-Nursery-199766398398/
Prairie Nursery - Wisconsin - https://www.prairienursery.com/
Harts Nursery - Bushnell, IL -https://www.facebook.com/Harts-Nursery-199766398398/
Prairie Nursery - Wisconsin - https://www.prairienursery.com/
4/29/21
At PLC we help butterflies, bees, birds, and pollinating insects by planting native wildflowers and grasses in our large prairies. You can do the same thing on a smaller scale at your home by starting a pollinator garden. Starting a garden isn't as hard as you might think. This week on the Brief, we share with you how to start a pollinator patch by using just five types of perennial plants that are sure to bring beautiful pollinators your way all season long!
9/18/20
Are your trees/shrubs a good source of food in fall?
As temperatures drop and other food sources get more scarce, wildlife relies on trees and shrubs that bear nuts, seeds, and fruit in fall to live and thrive. Watch to see what we recommend and make plans to add a few to your yard.
6/17/20
Putting Our Words Into Action
-Kate Van Sloten
This week on The Nature Brief, we wrap up our "Native Plants for Your Illinois Yard" series by showing you we practice what we preach. This May, our staff and volunteers planted 150 native tree saplings at our Marx woodland property in Macomb, IL. Watch the video to see what six types of trees we planted and how they benefit wildlife. Next time you plant a tree, be sure to choose a native species to your area that provides a food source to wildlife. Follow this link to see a comprehensive recommendation for native trees and plants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It will be an excellent resource for you as you continue transforming your yard to native plants!
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/publications/documents/00000227.pdf
-Kate Van Sloten
This week on The Nature Brief, we wrap up our "Native Plants for Your Illinois Yard" series by showing you we practice what we preach. This May, our staff and volunteers planted 150 native tree saplings at our Marx woodland property in Macomb, IL. Watch the video to see what six types of trees we planted and how they benefit wildlife. Next time you plant a tree, be sure to choose a native species to your area that provides a food source to wildlife. Follow this link to see a comprehensive recommendation for native trees and plants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It will be an excellent resource for you as you continue transforming your yard to native plants!
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/publications/documents/00000227.pdf
6/10/2020
Variety Brings a Bountiful Harvest
-Kate Van Sloten
By now, you are probably eager to start adding more natives to your yard. Before you pick up that shovel, watch this video to learn more about why it is important to consider when your plants will come into bloom. A well balanced yard is one that provides food and shelter all year long. Picking native plants, trees, and shrubs that bloom and bear fruit at different times of the year will make your home a haven for wildlife, pollinators, and other beneficial insects. You will benefit too! You will have beautiful blooms to enjoy all spring , summer, and fall and plenty of bird, butterfly, and wildlife watching to do. If you would like help planning your native garden, feel free to contact our office for more information.
-Kate Van Sloten
By now, you are probably eager to start adding more natives to your yard. Before you pick up that shovel, watch this video to learn more about why it is important to consider when your plants will come into bloom. A well balanced yard is one that provides food and shelter all year long. Picking native plants, trees, and shrubs that bloom and bear fruit at different times of the year will make your home a haven for wildlife, pollinators, and other beneficial insects. You will benefit too! You will have beautiful blooms to enjoy all spring , summer, and fall and plenty of bird, butterfly, and wildlife watching to do. If you would like help planning your native garden, feel free to contact our office for more information.
6/3/2020
What's So Great About Grass?
-Kate Van Sloten
We have spent the last three weeks talking about native perennial flowers. If you missed it, those articles are below. This week we pay homage to native grass. Yes.. grass. I know it doesn’t sound as interesting as beautiful New England Aster or Lobelia, but hear me out. It is time we give native grasses their well deserved time in the spotlight. If you are a birder or love pollinators keep reading.
Did you know that butterflies and moths need a place to grow up? Their eggs, caterpillars, and pupa (chrysalis) all require a host plant to live on. This is what we refer to as larval host plants. Native grasses are excellent larval host plants. For example, Little Blue Stem is known for being a favorite among multiple species of skipper butterflies. In Illinois, the Cobweb and Ottoe Skipper are both endangered.
Birds also love and need native grasses. Expect to see native sparrows, doves, juncos and finches enjoy any native grasses you plant. Grass seeds provide food and stalks provide cover for nesting and foraging. Birds that nest in trees and shrubs use native grasses when weaving their nests together. I have watched many different birds break off spent grass left over from winter in my native garden to build their nests. It's quite entertaining! Make sure you DON’T cut down your native grasses in winter! Don’t lose that valuable wildlife food and shelter source. Wait until spring to cut back spent grasses and leave it as a mulch for your garden or bird nesting material.
Finally, let us think back to the original Illinois landscape. Illinois is affectionately referred to as the prairie state because of our native grassland habitats. Sadly less than 1% of the original tallgrass prairie exists today in our state. By planting native grasses in your yard, you can be part of the solution to restore the native prairie state’s original habitat.
We recommend the following three grasses to get you started: Prairie Drop Seed, Little Blue Stem, and Indian Grass. These three grasses will provide you with a variety of heights, textures, and color throughout the season. You will need an area of full sun, with well drained sand or loam soils. Heavy clay is not a great growing medium for these three varieties.
If you would like to learn more about native grasses and see different varieties, check out the article linked below written by Prairie Nursery.
http://nativeplantherald.prairienursery.com/2016/09/native-grasses-the-tall-and-short-of-it/
Did you know that butterflies and moths need a place to grow up? Their eggs, caterpillars, and pupa (chrysalis) all require a host plant to live on. This is what we refer to as larval host plants. Native grasses are excellent larval host plants. For example, Little Blue Stem is known for being a favorite among multiple species of skipper butterflies. In Illinois, the Cobweb and Ottoe Skipper are both endangered.
Birds also love and need native grasses. Expect to see native sparrows, doves, juncos and finches enjoy any native grasses you plant. Grass seeds provide food and stalks provide cover for nesting and foraging. Birds that nest in trees and shrubs use native grasses when weaving their nests together. I have watched many different birds break off spent grass left over from winter in my native garden to build their nests. It's quite entertaining! Make sure you DON’T cut down your native grasses in winter! Don’t lose that valuable wildlife food and shelter source. Wait until spring to cut back spent grasses and leave it as a mulch for your garden or bird nesting material.
Finally, let us think back to the original Illinois landscape. Illinois is affectionately referred to as the prairie state because of our native grassland habitats. Sadly less than 1% of the original tallgrass prairie exists today in our state. By planting native grasses in your yard, you can be part of the solution to restore the native prairie state’s original habitat.
We recommend the following three grasses to get you started: Prairie Drop Seed, Little Blue Stem, and Indian Grass. These three grasses will provide you with a variety of heights, textures, and color throughout the season. You will need an area of full sun, with well drained sand or loam soils. Heavy clay is not a great growing medium for these three varieties.
If you would like to learn more about native grasses and see different varieties, check out the article linked below written by Prairie Nursery.
http://nativeplantherald.prairienursery.com/2016/09/native-grasses-the-tall-and-short-of-it/
5/27/20
Embrace Your Shade
-Kate Van Sloten
Is your backyard throwing shade? Are you jealous of people with full sun yards and their beautiful flowers? Can’t stand the thought of another hosta or impatient? Never fear...Wild Columbine is here.
Those of us with majestic trees gracing our yards face a common conundrum because the selection of flowers for shade at the local big box store can seem limited and boring. If your supplier doesn't specialize in native plants, this can be true. Before learning about native plants and native plant suppliers, I spent a lot of time bemoaning shady spots. Little did I know that native shade plants abound and are quite interesting, colorful, and varied.
This week, I present to you Wild Columbine. Wild Columbine laughs in the face of adversity and will surprise you with its tenacity. It looks quite delicate but can grow in dry rocky ground just as well as it does in fertile loam soils. It doesn’t mind a hot sunny day and can bloom in very shady spots with ease. Isn’t flexibility a wonderful thing to have in a plant? Columbine is also a long bloomer. Flowers emerge at the beginning of May and last through July. All these factors make Wild Columbine a great choice for any landscape.
Besides being easy to grow, this perennial, like many other native plants, has a host of benefits for the insects and wildlife in your area. Do you love hummingbirds? Plant columbine. Do you love bees? Plant Columbine. Do you want to provide habitat for butterfly larvae? Plant Columbine. Do you want to plant something deer find distasteful and won’t bother eating? Plant Columbine. Are you sensing a pattern? Planting this beautiful native is a no-brainer in my book!
Interested in learning more?
Books
Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm (2014)
Website
The Gardening Channel https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-grow-columbine-flowers/
Embrace Your Shade
-Kate Van Sloten
Is your backyard throwing shade? Are you jealous of people with full sun yards and their beautiful flowers? Can’t stand the thought of another hosta or impatient? Never fear...Wild Columbine is here.
Those of us with majestic trees gracing our yards face a common conundrum because the selection of flowers for shade at the local big box store can seem limited and boring. If your supplier doesn't specialize in native plants, this can be true. Before learning about native plants and native plant suppliers, I spent a lot of time bemoaning shady spots. Little did I know that native shade plants abound and are quite interesting, colorful, and varied.
This week, I present to you Wild Columbine. Wild Columbine laughs in the face of adversity and will surprise you with its tenacity. It looks quite delicate but can grow in dry rocky ground just as well as it does in fertile loam soils. It doesn’t mind a hot sunny day and can bloom in very shady spots with ease. Isn’t flexibility a wonderful thing to have in a plant? Columbine is also a long bloomer. Flowers emerge at the beginning of May and last through July. All these factors make Wild Columbine a great choice for any landscape.
Besides being easy to grow, this perennial, like many other native plants, has a host of benefits for the insects and wildlife in your area. Do you love hummingbirds? Plant columbine. Do you love bees? Plant Columbine. Do you want to provide habitat for butterfly larvae? Plant Columbine. Do you want to plant something deer find distasteful and won’t bother eating? Plant Columbine. Are you sensing a pattern? Planting this beautiful native is a no-brainer in my book!
Interested in learning more?
Books
Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm (2014)
Website
The Gardening Channel https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-grow-columbine-flowers/
5/20/2020
Pollinator Powerhouse
Are you serious about helping native bees? Plant some Wild Bergamot in your yard and become an instant bee hero! According to Heather Holm, author of Pollinators of Native Plants, Wild Bergamot is “one of the best forage plants for bumble bees as its flowers open continuously throughout the day, providing ongoing nectar rewards as older flowers are depleted and replaced by newly opened flowers” (p.94).
This flower knows how to attract many varieties of pollinators with its double food source of both nectar and pollen. Plant Wild Bergamot and you could see many species of bees, butterflies, moths, beneficial beetles that eat aphids, and even hummingbirds. In addition to providing food for these species, it also serves as a host plant for moth larva.
Wild Bergamot is a perennial and long bloomer! Flowers emerge around July and re-bloom through September. Plants range from 2 to 4 feet in height. Each year it will come back as a larger patch as it is a spreading plant. Being from the mint family, it’s aroma adds a pleasant sensory experience while lilac blossoms bring a pop of color to the garden. This native plant is also used by natural medicine practitioners for treatment for common health concerns and is a very popular ingredient in herbal teas.
Wild Bergamot prefers full sun but isn’t too picky about soil type. However, if your yard is primarily composed of heavy clay, it might not do as well. Excessive moisture can be problematic as this plant does get powdery mildew. To avoid powdery mildew, keep plants in an open area with full sun where air can circulate around the leaves well. If it is cramped among other plants, air flow will become restricted.
Wild Bergamot will look great when paired with last week’s native plant, Purple Prairie Clover. It also pairs well with Butterfly Milkweed, Purple Coneflower, Smooth Penstemon, and Black-Eyed Susans. Stay tuned for next week’s nature brief to learn more about one of these awesome natives!
Want to Learn More? We recommend:
Books
Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm (2014)
Website
The Gardening Channel
https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-grow-wild-bergamot/
5/12/2020
The Power of Purple
If you have a yard with steep slopes and erosion issues, this would be an excellent plant to consider adding to your landscape. Its deep root systems are excellent for erosion prevention. Purple Prairie Clover is often mixed with prairie grasses like Little Bluestem and Prairie Dropseed to create a varied visual aesthetic while providing soil stabilization.
No erosion issues? No problem. This prairie plant has a host of other benefits. Because it has such a deep root system, it is extremely heat and drought tolerant making it perfect for hot areas like rock gardens, or full sun sections of your yard. It is adaptable to almost any soil type as well as it will grow in sand, loam, and clay.
The texture and visual beauty of Purple Prairie Clover can add an interesting pop of color to your flower gardens and is sure to draw some of your favorite wildlife and insects. This plant serves as an extremely beneficial food source to butterflies, birds, bees, and small mammals. It has even been used as grazing forage for livestock because of its nutritional benefits. Being part of the legume family, Purple Prairie Clover also provides a natural soil fertilizer when spent plants are left to decompose.
With all this beauty, soil stabilizing abilities, and food provision, it is no wonder this plant is used in our restorations on our reserves and preserves. The prairie isn't the only place it can be used though! Bring it to your backyard! Mother nature will thank you.
No erosion issues? No problem. This prairie plant has a host of other benefits. Because it has such a deep root system, it is extremely heat and drought tolerant making it perfect for hot areas like rock gardens, or full sun sections of your yard. It is adaptable to almost any soil type as well as it will grow in sand, loam, and clay.
The texture and visual beauty of Purple Prairie Clover can add an interesting pop of color to your flower gardens and is sure to draw some of your favorite wildlife and insects. This plant serves as an extremely beneficial food source to butterflies, birds, bees, and small mammals. It has even been used as grazing forage for livestock because of its nutritional benefits. Being part of the legume family, Purple Prairie Clover also provides a natural soil fertilizer when spent plants are left to decompose.
With all this beauty, soil stabilizing abilities, and food provision, it is no wonder this plant is used in our restorations on our reserves and preserves. The prairie isn't the only place it can be used though! Bring it to your backyard! Mother nature will thank you.