Wild Ones to host Native Plant Sale May 2
Northern Kane County Wild Ones will hold its third annual native plant sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive in Elgin.
Native flowers and grasses will be offered for sale. In addition, Ohana Farms in Marengo will be selling a selection of their native shrubs and trees.
What is a native plant? Why plant native plants? Native plants refer to hardy perennials, trees and shrubs that are indigenous to the area and were present prior to European settlement. Native plants evolved to be grown in local conditions. One-third of the dense root systems of prairie grasses and sedges decompose every year, enriching the soil with organic matter and increasing its water-holding capacity. The longer roots of forbs (some as deep as 15 feet) draw water deep into the earth, replenishing the shallow aquifer. This water infiltration and holding capacity prevents runoff, erosion, and flooding. In addition, deep-rooted plants sequester carbon, that is, they draw in carbon from the atmosphere and store it in their leaves and deep roots. Excess carbon in the atmosphere is a contributor to global climate change.
Native plants are sustainable. They are well-suited to the climate and soil conditions of the area where they are found naturally - they are grown successfully with little effort. They are adapted to extreme temperatures, blustery winds, and intense sunlight. They are drought-resistant. Once established, after 2-3 years, they need no supplementary water - ever. They do not require chemical pesticides or fertilizers which can run off into public water supplies, often causing pollution and contamination. The maintenance of a native landscape costs far less than maintaining a traditional landscape because it essentially takes care of itself. It saves both time and money.
Native plants support biodiversity by providing food for native insects, that in turn are eaten by native birds - 96 percent of birds eat insects. Even birds that feed at feeders in the winter require insects to feed their young. With few exceptions, native birds can only eat native insects and native insects are only attracted to native plants. Native insects provide the protein upon which our entire ecosystem is based. Native landscapes and gardens provide habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, grasshoppers, crickets, and other insects; frogs, toads, and salamanders. They also offer fascinating places for children to play. Most of the nonnative plants and trees do not attract native insects. Although this gives the appearance of a healthy plant, as there are no insect holes, in actuality, it is a sterile plant that does not support native life.
Wild Ones was founded in 1977 in Milwaukee, Wis., by Lorrie Otto and has spread to chapters throughout the country. The mission is to promote environmentally sound landscaping practices through preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities as well as to educate and share information with members and community at the roots level. Wild Ones serves as a resource for private individuals, schools, commercial property owners, and community decision-makers as they move toward ethical choices in land use and in the redefinition of current guidelines and ordinances affecting our landscape. Because it is a "plants-roots" organization, organizational goals are accomplished through local chapters and their individual members. The local chapter, Northern Kane County Wild Ones, was founded six years ago by three local native plant landscapers: Pat Hill, June Keibler and Trish Beckjord.
They invite you to come to meetings to learn about native plants, and to join with a community of native plant enthusiasts as they strive to plant natives and restore land. Visit www.northernkanecounty.wildones.org and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NKWildones.