Natural garden mentors offer help

The Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee of McHenry County is now taking applications for the Natural Gardens program.

The group is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting native species through preservation, propagation, and education.

More and more people are looking for ways to "go green." Replacing lawn or conventional garden space with native plants is a great way to have a positive environmental impact in your own yard. Native plants eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, require little additional watering and need no regular mowing with highly polluting lawn equipment. In addition, native plants provide valuable habitat for birds and beneficial insects.

If you are ready to get started, the Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee can help. The group has been assisting homeowners with native plant gardens for more than 30 years.

Program participants will receive advice from an experienced native-plant gardener, resource materials, a discount at the plant sale in the spring and opportunities to learn interactively with other program participants

Applicants should have conventional-sized yards and be willing to maintain their garden for at least three years.

There is no fee for this program. Once you get started, you will fall in love with your new, beautiful, environmentally friendly garden and be anxious for more.

For more information and program application, visit Web site http://thewppc.org.

The deadline for application submission is Sept. 20.

If you are unable to access the Internet and would like an application, call Carol Rice at (847) 382-1181.