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News from Garfield Farm |
CAMPTON HILLS, IL Reservations for Garfield
Farm Museum's 26th annual Prairie, Woodlands, and Wetlands Management
Seminar to be held on Saturday, February 18, from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm are
now being taken. From backyard gardeners, home owner associations to
owners of natural area acreage, this seminar covers all the key methods
and techniques of preserving and using the best adapted plants for the
Illinois environment. Experts Jack Pizzo, John Engstrom, Conner Shaw
and Jerome Johnson will help explain the best techniques and methods to
increase and maintain native plants communities. There is a $50
donation for the all day seminar which includes lunch and refreshments.
Attending two presentations without lunch is $25.
The day's outline will consist of
researching property history, identifying native plants, identifying
invasive species and the use of fire, herbicides, cutting and brush
stacking equipment. Special topics include, managing ponds and common
areas and the use of native trees and shrubs.
As modern development has occurred in
urban and rural areas, the impact and scale of that change calls for
affordable solutions. The 1990s flooding of suburban neighborhoods
called for new development policies. Storm water management programs
required water to be held back on site and so retention ponds became a
new feature in growing neighborhoods. Yet digging a hole to collect
excess run off begs the question of how does a neighborhood take
responsibility for its long term care. Common area mowing, bank
erosion, herbicide run off into the pooled water, safety issues, and an
unexpected consequence, over wintering Canada geese, have made these
suburban oases into aquatic nightmares. For the homeowner lucky enough
to own a pond with several acres of clipped grass, the problems can
loom just as large. Jack Pizzo of Pizzo & Associates, Ltd. of
Leland, IL will speak on “Managing Natural Areas and Ponds: A
Primer for the Landowner and Homeowners Association”. His firm is
one of the few that can deal with small to large scale management and
restoration issues.
All wild plants and animals are not equal
when it comes to the natural world. A plant or insect from half way
around the world might be a bigger threat in its new location than
where it originated. Non-native species can suddenly thrive in a new
locale where none of its predators, pathogens (diseases)or competition
exists. In addition, native insects will typically not eat plants from
other parts of the world, so the nonnative plant decreases food
availability which in turn means less food for birds. This is no
new story to residents of northern Illinois as the Asian emerald ash
borer is killing all ash trees in towns and forests. The long term
picture is problematic but Conner Shaw knows what trees and shrubs can
thrive here and provide a food source for animals. Shaw is one of the
few people who collects seed from the wild and can grow native Illinois
trees and shrubs like few others. Since 1978, his Possibilities Place
Nursery in Monee, IL is one of a kind. For homeowners in town who want
just the right tree for their backyard, Shaw knows what will grow in
such suburban conditions. For larger properties, his combinations of
native shrubs like the viburnums and deciduous oaks or Kentucky coffee
trees makes one's landscaping truly grand scale.
For property owners who are looking to turn the
backyard in to a natural area to large acreage owners, Johnson and
Engstrom will bring their years of experience to the table. Jerome
Johnson, executive director and museum biologist grew up walking the
fields, woods, and streams around Garfield Farm. Recalling woods full
of spring flowers little did he realize how rare such features would
become with habitat loss, invasive plants, and over grazing by deer
which were once rarely seen. Housing developments certainly caused loss
but without management, Johnson quickly learned at Garfield Farm, its
prairie and woods were struggling to survive. With the addition of John
Engstrom as natural area manager to the museum's staff, Engstrom's
knowledge of chemical control methods has complemented Johnson's
increase use of mechanical means to aid the classic use of controlled
burns. Their combined management experience will offer the property
owners or aspiring volunteer restorationists the necessary tools to be
successful and avoid re-inventing the wheel.
This seminar has both a history and
method unlike any others. It offers information that can be directly
taken to the field and put in place. Participants are welcome to return
in March to gain hands on experience in the museum's controlled burns.
Garfield Farm Museum is located five miles west of
Geneva, IL off ILL Rt. 38 on Garfield Road. For reservations call 630
584-8485 or email info@garfieldfarm.org