Stop by annual native plant sale May 7 in Elgin
The Northern Kane County Wild Ones will have its fourth annual native plant sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at the Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive in Elgin.
Not only will native plants be on sale, but also a selection of native trees and shrubs from Ohana Farms from Marengo.
Native plants refer to hardy perennials, trees and shrubs that are indigenous to northern Illinois. They differ from ornamental plants, trees and shrubs because they developed here in the Midwest 12,000 years ago after the last Ice Age. They are particularly hardy because they developed to withstand our very changeable weather with often hot, dry summers and cold, windy winters. Not only do their roots go very deep - sometimes up to 15 feet - they are also the food that much of the native wildlife and insects eat. Native birds, whose numbers have dwindled, eat the native insects that are attracted to native plants. Even though birds eat seeds, 95 percent of the local birds need to feed insects to their babies. Ornamental plants, though lovely, do not attract the numbers of insects needed to keep our bird population strong. In addition, Monarch butterflies, who have become endangered, lay their eggs only on milkweed plants, a native plant.
The deep root systems of native plants absorb rain prevent runoff, erosion and flooding. Their deep roots enrich the soil and sequester carbon, which can mitigate global climate change. Once established, native plants do not need watering, pesticides or herbicides. Every native plant supports a community of plants, animals and insects which supports biodiversity and sustainability of the natural world.