Pre-order native plants for May 7 pickup at McDonald Farm in Naperville
Homeowners can beautify their yards by planting native plants available from the McDonald Farm Plant Sale offered by The Conservation Foundation, The Green Earth Institute, and The Resiliency Institute. Trees, shrubs, native grasses, and perennials can be ordered now by downloading order forms from theconservationfoundation.org under "Events" for pickup on Saturday, May 7, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knock Knolls Road, Naperville. All orders must be received no later than May 3.
Some species of plants will be available for walk-up purchase, but supplies will be limited and preordering is strongly encouraged. Vegetable plants provided by The Green Earth Institute also will be available. These native species are available thanks to a partnership with Possibility Place Nursery of Monee, Natural Community Native Plants of Batavia, and The Conservation Foundation.
Homeowners can replace lost habitats in their yards by planting native plants rather than traditional home landscaping, to give native birds and butterflies what they need in the way of food. The very best birds in our region need insects and berries every day to survive. Native plants have deep roots, which help infiltrate rain where it falls and carry the moisture into the ground, cleaning it as it goes, rather than running off the surface. Loss of open space and wildlife habitat and rainwater runoff are the leading causes of environmental degradation in developed areas. For some direction on how to transform your little patch of earth, contact Land Preservation Specialist Jim Kleinwachter at (630) 428-4500, ext. 115 or email jkleinwachter@theconservationfoundation.org.
Both The Green Earth Institute and The Resiliency Institute are nonprofit organizations located at McDonald Farm. The Conservation Foundation is one of the region's oldest and largest not-for-profit land and watershed conservation organizations. Since it was founded in 1972, it has helped preserve nearly 33,000 acres of open space, restored and cleaned miles of rivers and streams, and educated thousands of kids by engaging them in nature and the outdoors. Work is focused in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties to preserve and restore nature in your neighborhood. Find out more at theconservationfoundation.org.