The Land Conservancy welcomes author, celebrates local pioneers
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County will host its 2026 Celebration on Sunday, April 12, from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Reserve at Black Oak, 19517 Lembcke Road in Harvard.
Guest speaker Paula Whyman is the author of “Bad Naturalist” and a finalist for the Philip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award.
Whyman will speak about her experience of finding an empty-nester home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and how her plans for a tidy backyard ecology project quickly morphed into a massive endeavor, discovering how little she knows about hands-on conservation work.
In “Bad Naturalist,” Whyman struggles with conflicting advice from experts, an influx of invasive species, delayed plans, and the occasional rattlesnake — but none of it dampens her passion for protecting the land surrounding her home.
The event begins at 2 p.m. with socializing and a silent auction.
A high tea, including sandwiches, pastries and desserts will be served at 2:30 p.m. The silent auction will include a variety of exciting items up for bid including artwork, artisan items, local experiences, gift baskets and much more.
At the event, The Land Conservancy will present Bill Howenstine and George Johnson as Conservation Legends posthumously. Both men passed away at age 100 earlier this year.
Bill Howenstine was one of its first board members, and served as board president in the early 2000s. Bill and his wife Alice also helped establish the Environmental Defenders and McHenry County Conservation District in the 1970s. More recently, Bill helped MCCD establish Pioneer Fen Conservation Area in Johnsburg.
George Johnson, longtime resident of Alden Township, started Seed Sharing Day in 1993 to help his neighbors collect and share seed from native plants on their properties — an event that The Land Conservancy continues on the third Saturday of October.
Johnson’s foresight also led to the preservation of High Point Conservation Area by MCCD in 2008, and several The Land Conservancy-held conservation easements on private land in the High Point Area.
His curiosity elevated the profile of the High Point Area’s many vernal pools as critical habitat for amphibians.
Early bird tickets are available at ConserveMC.org/Annual-Celebration until Saturday, Feb. 28, at $65 for TLC members and $75 for nonmembers. On Sunday, March 1, tickets will increase to $75 for TLC members and $85 for nonmembers.
The annual celebration is a great opportunity for people with an interest in conservation in McHenry County to gather and learn more about the work The Land Conservancy and its many volunteers have accomplished over the past year.
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land.