Adler Center, Lake County Audubon announce collaboration
The Lake County Audubon Society and the David Adler Music & Arts Center have announced a new restoration initiative.
The two organizations have planned a multiyear series of activities and events around the theme "Art and Nature: Integrating Nature with Art." The initiative will provide a model for local homeowners for restoration practices in their own yards with a focus on native plants for beauty and longevity.
"We're thrilled to be participating with the Lake County Audubon Society in this first-time collaboration that we believe will showcase the potential beauty of our grounds," said Amy Williams, executive director of the David Adler Music and Arts Center.
"There's a buzz of excitement around this project that shows it's generated a lot of interest in members of the public."
The Adler Estate will be part of the Birdscaping/Plants for Birds program that Audubon has been conducting in Central Lake County for seven years. Volunteers will complete a long-term restoration of the land on the Adler Estate, which includes removal of the invasive buckthorn trees and shrubs and replacing them with native trees and shrubs for the benefit of birds and other small animals.
This supports Morton Arboretum's Chicago Region Trees Initiative's mission to replace the large numbers of local trees destroyed by the Emerald Ash borer and other scourges.
From 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 14, the Adler Center and Audubon Society celebrate Earth Day with a day of activities, scavenger hunts, an art exhibition, and an opportunity for volunteers to help clean up and beautify the grounds of the Adler Estate.
Audubon will give away a potted red oak to the first 25 families who visit their display table there. To RSVP, email damac@adlercenter.org or call (847) 367-0707.
Part of the educational aspect of this initiative will be free classes offered at the Adler Center for adults 18 and older. Kelly Cartwright, professor of biology at the College of Lake County, will offer "Planting Small Native Gardens" from 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28.
Anyone who wants to get rid of invasive plants and replace them with the right native plants can take Rory Klick's class, "Kicking Out Invasive Plants and Planting Good Guys," from 10-11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 5. Klick is an associate professor/department chair in the Horticulture Department at CLC. Each class will be an hour and a half long.
Dr. Ken Weik, plant biologist and emeritus associate professor at Lake Forest College, will offer a free, two-hour workshop on leaf identification titled "Creative Prints of the Forest." Participants will use artistic media to portray the differences in leaf structure as a way to identify various Lake County trees.
The Adler Center will offer summer classes in conjunction with the theme Art and Nature: Integrating Nature with Art, "Drawing and Painting Birds in Watercolor and Pencil" and "Clay-Mazing Flyers."
More on activities and events may be found at Lake County Audubon's new blog, creativebirdscaping.wordpress.com.
"It's quite an inspiration to work with such a cooperative group as the Adler Center staff and to involve members of the community in restoring the beauty of this heritage-rich property," project developer Paul Geiselhart said.
The David Adler Music & Arts Center is at 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. For information, visit www.adlercenter.org.
For information about the Lake County Audubon Society, visit www.lakecountyaudubon.org.
• To submit Your news, go to dailyherald.com/share.