SPRING 2020 • Journal • VOL. 33, NO. 1 Cover Photo: Adele Helmle

A voice for the natural landscaping movement. Working toward the next four decades of growing native and restoring natural landscapes. • 1 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT

Promoting environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve through the preservation, resto- ration and establishment of native communities NATIONAL OFFICE WILD CENTER 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Road Neenah, WI 54956 Phone: (920) 730-3986 Email: [email protected] NATIONAL STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION National Office Director Elaine Krizenesky • 920-730-3986 [email protected] Membership Manager Janet Rothe • 920-730-3986 [email protected] Office Specialist Jessica Buettner • 612-280-1825 Wild Ones President Rita Ulrich [email protected] BOARD OF DIRECTORS I was recently reminded of a question I was asked some time ago: Why President Rita Ulrich • 612-280-1825 would it be such a big deal if the monarch migration disappeared? I must [email protected] admit, I was a stunned by that question. This person clearly didn’t see the Vice President intrinsic value of saving one of the great wonders of the natural world. Never Denise Gehring • 419-705-1017 [email protected] mind, the bigger picture. Secretary As Wild Ones members, you know the issue is not just about one spe- Susan Hall • [email protected] cies. Or even all insects. It’s about preserving the biodiversity of the natural Treasurer world. It’s about native plants and the interactions with insects and other Rick Sanders • 406-219-4275 [email protected] fauna that are dependent on biodiversity. Seeds for Education Coordinator The popularity of monarch butterflies does gives them a special role. [email protected] Nothing conveys the importance of native plants to the survival of wildlife Website Coordinator quite like the monarch. It is recognized and loved around the world, and its [email protected] specialized requirement for milkweed is now widely understood. It’s a won- Board Members Marti Agler, Tennessee, 2022 derful illustration of just how essential native plants are to all insects. And it’s Ellen Folts, New York, 2022 a great segue to talk about how plants and insects are the basis for the entire Janice Hand, Montana, 2020 Matthew Ross, Pennsylvania, 2020 food web, including ours. Karen Syverson, Wisconsin, 2020 I visited monarch overwintering sites in Mexico a few weeks ago. It Pam Todd, Illinois, 2022 wasn’t my first trip to see them, but each time, I see, learn and experience Sally Wencel, Tennessee, 2022 new things. Honorary Directors Neil Diboll, Wisconsin, Lifetime Standing on a steep incline in the Sierra Madres Oriental mountains Lorrie Otto (Deceased), Lifetime of east central Mexico, I was closer to the roosting than I have been Doug Tallamy, Delaware, Lifetime Donna VanBuecken, Wisconsin, 2018-2022 in the past. I watched the monarch covered trees along with the rest of my small group. We shot photos, marveling at the extraordinary sight, quietly Established in 1977, Wild Ones is a national not-for-profit taking it in. organization of members who teach the benefits of grow- ing native plants and work together to grow and restore The perfect time to shoot video came when a break in the clouds al- natural landscapes. lowed the sun to warm the monarch roosts. Thousands of monarchs took Wild Ones’ definition of a native plant: flight. And that is when I heard it. A soft sound, the gentlest rustling, filling A native plant is a species that occurs naturally in a particular region, and/or and was the air. Everyone was watching the sky. I grinned. Finally! My pictures were present prior to European settlement. going to be blurry because my legs were wobbly and so was the tripod, but I didn’t care. I heard the monarchs flying! — Rita Ulrich

• 2 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org SPRING 2020 • VOL. 33, NO. 1

5 Seeds for Education 7 Member 14 Native Plant Strips 18 Good Bugs 23 Where Have All the Birds Gone? 25 Bringing Nature Home 30 Golf Course Plants 32 Student Memberships 33 Annual Appeal

Wild Ones Journal Wild Ones Journal is published regularly by Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes. Views — Editor — expressed are the opinions of the authors. Journal content may be reproduced for nonprofit Barbara A. Schmitz educational purposes as long as the Journal is credited as the source. Individual articles that [email protected] carry a copyright are the property of the author and cannot be reproduced without the author’s (Please indicate topic in subject line.) written permission. No artwork may be reproduced, except to accompany its original companion — Contributing Writers — text, without written permission of the illustrator or photographer. Contact editor if in doubt about Mike Fahle • Jessa Finch • Denise Gehring use rights. Manuscripts and illustrations are welcome; Wild Ones does not pay for articles, photos Andrew Pfisterer • Susie Van de Riet or illustrations. For guidelines for submitting material, contact editor or see Wild Ones website. Catherine Zimmerman Sponsors: Contact National Office for rates and schedule.

— Design/Layout — Copyright © 2020 by Wild Ones. Kevin Rau

Wild Ones Journal — Proofreader — Online version: ISSN 2472-5900 Denise Gehring Print version: ISSN 1551-9155

• 3 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org LaceWing

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• 4 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Wild Ones awards 9 Seeds for Education grants

By Denise Gehring Illinois We wish to thank the Seeds for The Wild Ones Lorrie Otto Seeds for Prairie and , Education judges who volunteered Education program awarded nine Douglas-Hart Nature Center and significant time and expertise to SFE grants out of 39 applications Charleston Middle School, Charles- evaluate this year’s SFE applications: from 25 states this year. Since it ton, Wild Ones Partner-at-Large Marti Alger, Tennessee; Elisabeth began in 1997, SFE has connected School , Eliza- Anderson, Ohio; Mike Brondino, thousands of children with nature beth Meyer School, Skokie, DuPage Wisconsin; Pat Brust, Wisconsin; close to home in educational native Chapter Melanie Coulter, Ohio; Wanda De- gardens and habitats. Waard, Tennessee; Diane DeYonker, Thank you, Wild Ones members Supporting Garden, Cris- Ohio; Cathy Downs, Texas; Ellen and chapters, who have given gen- to Rey St. Martin College Preparato- Folts, New York; Jamie Forbush, erously to this worthwhile outreach ry School, Waukegan Ohio; Denise Gehring, Chair, Ohio; program. Through 2020, Wild Ones Minnesota Susan Hall, Texas; Janice Hand, SFE has provided funding for 272 Garden Native Pollina- Montana; Amy Heilman, Michi- natural learning landscapes involv- tor Space, FAIR School at Pilgrim gan; Laura Klemm, Wisconsin; Rob ing preschool-12th graders. Winning Lane, Plymouth, Twin Cities Chapter Krain, Ohio; Lisa Lemza, Tennessee; SFE projects receive up to $500 for Missouri Michael LeValley, Michigan; Kate native plants and seeds. Student Led Native Pollinator Gar- Mason-Wolf, Ohio; Kevin M. Mow- Each SFE application is evalu- den, The Summit School, Springfield ery, Missouri; Joanne Overstreet, ated by three judges who score the Tennessee; Dan Parratt, Ohio; Matt proposal and provide comments New York Ross, Pennsylvania; Karen Syverson, to improve the landscape plan and Pollinator Learning Garden, Apala- Wisconsin; Kim Lowman Vollmer, native plant selections. To be fund- chin Elementary School, Apalachin Illinois; Tessa Wasserman, Missouri; ed, an educational project must Wisconsin and Sally Wencel, Tennessee. incorporate active learning by youth Chain Exploration Center Native If you are interested in becom- that includes ecological concepts, Plant Garden, Waupaca School Sys- ing an SFE judge for next year, email regional native plants/seeds, a tem, Waupaca, Central Wisconsin [email protected]. designated planting site, sustainable Chapter plan and community involvement. If within 30 miles from an SFE project, Wild Ones chapters and PALs may serve as advisers. Some larger Wild Ones chapters have their own SFE program to expand the reach of Wild Ones. Congratulations to the winning 2020 SFE projects: California Protecting Biodiversity in the Bay Delta Region, Mno Grant Elementa- ry School, Antioch Colorado Pollinator Paradise, Hotchkiss Ele- mentary and Middle School, Hotch- kiss Students help plant a native garden at Graham Elementary and Middle School in Columbus Ohio, which was awarded a SFE grant in 2018. • 5 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Students pose for a silly group photo in front of the newly planted butterfly garden at Graham Elementary and Middle School. Ohio students create butterfly garden Two second grade classes at Graham Elementary and The students are helping maintain the garden, pull- Middle School (GEM) created a butterfly garden at their ing weekly and watering as needed. She recom- Columbus, Ohio school in 2018, thanks to a Lorrie Otto mended you assign student groups tasks daily so they Seeds for Education grant. The native nursery partner know ahead of time what is expected of them. In addi- was Natives in Harmony and the Wild Ones Columbus tion, that allows students to complete a variety of tasks. chapter acted as a resource. Her other recommendation is to put down newspaper to In her year-end report, project coordinator Krsna-Jivani deter weeds from growing. Ziyard said the 22 students who planted the garden felt In addition, Ziyard said many teachers at the school like they were contributing to helping the butterflies. have begun considering how they can utilize the garden The students planted swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus in their classrooms. moscheutos), anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), Rid- dell’s goldenrod (Oligoneuron riddellii), showy goldenrod CHAPTER ANNIVERSARIES (Solidago speciosa), purple coneflower Echinacea( pur- purea), orange coneflower Rudbeckia( fulgida), New En- Green Bay, Wisconsin ...... 29 years gland aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), wild ber- Fox Valley Area, Wisconsin ...... 26 years gamot (Monarda fistulosa) and prairie blazing star (Liatris Lake-To-Prairie, Illinois ...... 24 years pycnostachya). Kalamazoo Area, Michigan ...... 21 years “Digging the weeds and putting down the mulch Mid-Missouri, Missouri ...... 20 years excited the kids the most,” she wrote. “They also really St. Croix Oak Savanna, Minnesota ...... 17 years enjoyed seeing butterflies attracted to the garden.” Northern Kane County, Illinois ...... 11 years Illinois Prairie, Illinois ...... 10 years North Oakland, Michigan ...... 10 years Wild Ones announces photo contest Prairie Edge, Minnesota ...... 6 years Share the beauty of native plants and scenery by Big River Big Woods, Minnesota ...... 5 years entering the Wild Ones 2020 Photo Contest. The contest, open to Wild Ones’ members, NEW LIFETIME MEMBERS includes five categories: flora, scenery, pollinators, Bonnie O’Leske, Partner At Large natural landscapes and Wild One’s mission-related projects. Our more youthful members under the age Glenn Teschendorf, Madison (Wisconsin) Chapter of 18 can submit photos in the youth division. Kickapoo Mud Creek Nature Conservancy, Rock Stay tuned for more information on entering the River Valley (Illinois) Chapter contest in our Summer Journal issue.

• 6 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Member Garden The Fischer property came with a pond with native plants growing around the perimeter like southern Rich and Pat Fischer blue flag iris Iris( virginica shrevei). Fox Valley Area (Wisconsin) By Barbara A. Schmitz “We did observe interesting All photos courtesy Rich and Pat Fischer Rich and Pat Fischer say they got in- , trees, and plants growing terested in native plants by accident. in the undeveloped areas and our Editor’s Note: We’d like to feature But it’s been no accident on how first introduction to native — and native gardens, large or small, the two have become champions for invasive — plants was researching in upcoming issues. If you’re Wild Ones and the natural landscap- the plants we found already growing interested in sharing your native ing movement. on our land,” he says. garden, send four to six high- In 1997, the couple moved from Pat says they had goals in mind resolution photos, as well as a their tiny Appleton, Wisconsin lot when they decided to move to the brief description, to to a 10-acre property in the nearby country: to connect with nature, [email protected] or Town of Clayton. improve the quality and appearance [email protected]. Please “The property around the house of the property with landscaping, include your contact information was almost a blank slate, with very attract birds and butterflies, and so we can get in touch with you. little formal landscaping and just plant a vegetable garden and some a few trees,” Rich says. The area fruit trees. behind the house included a fenced But they were naïve, they admit, when they saw the Fox Valley Area horse pasture, open meadows, a and learned by trial and error. Many display booth at area garden shows. pond, a navigable waterway and a things didn’t grow well. Then in 2001, “We learned about the beauty cattail wetland. they learned about the Wild Ones of native plants and how beneficial • 7 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Member Garden Rich and Pat Fischer About the Yard Fox Valley Area (Wisconsin) • The Fischer’s home is located in the Town of Clayton, a short drive from the WILD Center. Their 10-acre property includes a fenced horse pasture, open meadows, a pond and navigable waterway and a cattail wetland. • A wild native area of about 1 acre already existed when they moved in, containing grasses and forbs and, unfortunately, some reed canary grass. They started adding native areas first around the house and garage, and from there added other larger areas, such as a 120-foot by 20-feet planting in the front. • About 50-100% of their plants are currently native, depending on location. • One of their favorite native plants is bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) due to the vibrant electric blue color and its rarity. The plant requires the native bumblebee for pol- lination as the bumblebee is the only insect strong enough to break into the enclosed blue bulb looking for nectar and pollen.

A eastern tiger swallowtail nectars on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) in the Fischer .

evergreens, oaks, , ash and elm. After hearing Doug Tallamy speak, they planted a black cherry, which is an important food source to many insects and birds. Their wetland area has many cot- tonwood, elm and green ash trees. They even have one large elm in the middle of the horse pasture that they they are to our environment,” Rich years were discouraging with little have been treating with trunk injec- says. “We also found there are many new growth, but a greater variety of tions every three years for the past native plants that can flourish in our new plants continued to emerge and nine years. problematic clay soil.” spread after those early years. “It looks very stately and healthy,” Intrigued, they attended the Since 2002, the Fischers have Rich says. “All the other elms grow WOFVA chapter annual conference, incorporated more native plants into to about 15-20 feet high and then and by 2002, were chapter mem- perennial gardens and foundation die of Dutch elm disease.” bers. plantings around the house and ga- He also fears for their green ash That same year, they dove into rage. These plantings contain a com- trees as the emerald ash borer is their first prairie planting, about a ¼ bination of native Wisconsin plants already in the county, as well as acre that they seeded with a mix of and nonnative plants, like hostas, adjoining counties. The entire state is native grasses and forbs, later adding daylilies, iris and peonies. part of the federal EAB quarantine. plugs. “It is a triangular section locat- They also have many native trees A number of years ago, Rich ed in the back of the property nes- and shrubs on the property, includ- stopped mowing a large section of tled between the horse pasture and ing dogwood, sumac, hawthorn, their front yard, about ¼ acre in the wetland,” Rich says. The first two highbush cranberry, and a variety of size. “It was my way of lessening the

• 8 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Member Garden Rich and Pat Fischer Fox Valley Area (Wisconsin)

Left: Rich and Pat Fischer’s windspinners help maintenance of mowing and wasting spring has arrived when they ap- provide beauty in their landscape, even during the fossil fuels, as well as wasting my pear,” Rich says. winter. Above: A windspinner created by Pat sticks time,” he says. The Fischers admit they made out among the colored wildflowers in their yard. They over-seeded that area with some mistakes along the way; one native seed collected from generous was putting in plants they liked, away or was eaten by birds. That WOFVA members in winter, and despite them not being right for their first spring, the only things that grew in spring they inserted native plug heavy clay soil. were the cover , Canadian rye, plants and mowed paths, which are “Do a soil test and find out if black-eyed Susans, and the few na- decorated with their hand-crafted your soil is alkaline or acidic be- tive plants that we plugged in.” welded metal sculptures that both cause plants favor one or the other,” If they were to do this planting have made over the years. Rich says. Look at where you get the over again, they said they would kill “After about eight years, it is most sun and shade, and then add the area for one growing season, not starting to look pretty good,” Rich plants that thrive in those conditions, do any tilling and seed the area on says. “It gets better looking every he adds. top of the first snow and let nature year.” “Try to focus on what grows in do its work. All the native plants mean their your area,” Pat says. “Take a long- In planting their perennial beds property is a haven for pollinators range view, focus on smaller efforts and gardens, they had the most and other animals. and try not to do it all at once. Use a success and least work with the fol- Pat says they have the usual vari- more measured approach.” lowing general approach: 1) Define ety of backyard birds — chickadees, For their first big planting, the the shape of the planting with a mourning doves, goldfinches, spar- ¼-acre triangle prairie, they tilled piece of rope; 2) Mow the turf grass rows, woodpeckers, cardinals and the soil several times and applied down as far as possible; 3) Spray so on — but they also regularly see several courses of glyphosate to kill in two week intervals to hawks and crows, and occasionally the weeds. kill all grass and weeds; 4) After the a turkey, eagle or turkey vulture. “At “We purchased a high-diversity grass is dead, lay down a thick layer night we hear owls hooting and this native grass and forb seed mix for of newspapers (6 layers) and weight summer and fall, we had a baby owl clay soil and mixed this seed with with rocks or mulch; 5) Plant plant screeching for food in our swamp wood shavings and seeded the area plugs; 6) Cover area with 4 inches almost every night,” she says. by hand in the fall,” Rich says. “We of mulch; and 7) Water regularly un- The killdeer is one of their had very little snow cover that year til plants became established. favorite visitors, though. “You know and we feared all of our seed blew For those who want to avoid

• 9 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Clockwise from top left: Rich walks to their back prairie with two granddaughters while teaching them to appreciate nature; The Fischer house looks like it is being eaten by a gigantic common milkweed; Pat watches to make sure a in their wetland area stays in control; Rich Fischer helps with spring cleanup at the WILD Center. He also serves as a team leader when high school students come to the Center to work on buckthorn eradication. He and Dave Edwards have also planted many trees on the Center property, which is also home to one of his metal sculptures; Pat and Rich Fischer volunteer at the May 2018 Wild Ones Fox Valley Area plant sale, sorting customer orders so their plants are all ready to go when the customers come to pick them up. chemicals, they recommend smoth- to work smarter, not harder. native plants growing around the pe- ering the area to be planted with The Town of Clayton has dis- rimeter like blue flag iris Iris( virgini- newspaper or cardboard for one cussed dredging the navigable water- ca shrevei) and queen of the prairie growing season. They also recom- way that runs through their property, (Filipendula rubra),” he says. “When mend joining a Wild Ones chapter, and the Fischers are doing their best we first moved in, I was so proud of participating in rescue digs and shar- to stay involved in discussions so myself for pulling out all the ‘purple ing seeds with other members. they can have a say in how the work loosestrife’ around the pond. That They learned a lot about na- is done. That means they attend town is until I showed Pat – she promptly tive plants by reading books, and board meetings and stay in touch reprimanded me for ripping out all Rich also went back to school to get with board supervisors. “Our goal is the native blue vervain. an associate’s degree in landscape to lessen the impact on the property “That is when I realized I need- management, then becoming an and the natives we have planted and ed more education on plant species Outagamie County master the wildlife it supports,” Pat says. and plant recognition,” he says. 19 years ago. Rich stresses that it’s not just im- “Belonging to Wild Ones has been And as they age, their motiva- portant to learn about native plants, a wonderful educational experience tion to reduce yard maintenance but invasives, too. “The property and has really helped us become increases, causing them to seek ways came with a pond … that had some better stewards of the land.”

• 10 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org CREATING RESILIENT PLANTINGS

A dramatic shift in is underway as we move Izel Plants is a unique, away from the practice of planting lone specimens isolated user friendly e-commerce by seas of mulch. A more resilient approach takes into solution to the challenge of sourcing native plants. By account that plants do not combining the inventories grow in isolation and that their of wholesale growers interactions help them thrive. across multiple regions, Nature abhors a void and will we can offer over 400 try to fill in empty spaces. species, mainly as plugs, throughout the growing By being proactive in the seasonseason.. process, combining species that have coevolved together and layering them, we create more resilient plantings that reduce overall maintenance and pressure. This will inherently produce more

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• 11 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Photo: Wikimedia Colorado may become COLORADO the first state to rein- troduce an endangered Voters will decide at the ballot box in November if the species, gray wolves, state should capture and release wolves in western Col- at the ballot box. orado by 2024, National Public Radio reported. According to the coalition backing the plan, it’d be GEORGIA the first time that voters — in any state — would decide Georgia’s roadside wildflower program has been up- whether to reintroduce an endangered species. dated to require that all trees and other plants used to Sportsmen’s groups and wildlife managers see the beautify Georgia’s roadways be native to Georgia and plan as an assault on a tradition of North American grown in a Georgia nursery, the Native Plant Conserva- conservation, which has long let bureaucrats manage tion Campaign reported. wild animals based on science and public input. Propo- The Georgia roadside wildflower program is sup- nents believe that the same model can’t be trusted to ported in part by the Georgia Department of Transporta- help predators like wolves, which are often seen as a tion sale of native plant license plates. threat to hunters. Federal plans to delist gray wolves as an endan- NORTH CAROLINA gered species have added an urgency for initiative The North Carolina legislature adopted legislation (SB backers. The Trump administration proposed the rule 606) last summer prioritizing native plant species in change last March. If it goes forward, states would Department of Transportation roadside plantings. The make their own decisions about how to manage the bill passed unanimously showing overwhelming bipar- predators. Gray wolves have already been delisted in tisan support, the Native Plant Conservation Campaign the Northern Rocky Mountain states. reported. In passing the law, the North Carolina legislature rec- FLORIDA ognized the critical ecosystem services that native plants A new study from the University of Florida has found deliver to human societies and economies. The bill also that planting native wildflowers on golf courses not reflects understanding that “[g]ardens and landscapes only benefits pollinating insects, but also supports composed of native plants require little or no , natural pest control and therefore saves time, chemicals soil amendments or and use less water, and and resources, the Native Plant Conservation Campaign planting, cultivation and preservation of the state’s native reported. plants provide a natural link to wild land while present- Researchers established wildflower plots on three ing beauty and benefit and instilling a greater apprecia- golf courses in northcentral Florida. They then com- tion for North Carolina’s natural heritage.” pared the number and diversity of pollinators and other This is not the first such initiative in the U.S. A 2017 flying beneficial insects in flowering plots with that of New Jersey law requires that native plants be used to turfgrass plots. Compared with turf, wildflower plots landscape roadways. In addition, the Federal High- increased the number of pollinators and beneficial way Administration and the U.S. Forest Service recently insects, including those that act as natural biocontrol by developed the Ecoregional Revegetation Application to consuming pest insects. Also, greater native wildflower guide the selection of locally adapted native plants for diversity led to increased natural biocontrol services, federal roadside revegetation. allowing for reduced use.

• 12 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Restoring the native landscape

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• 13 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Photo © Omar de Kok-Mercado

Integrating native plant strips into field generates multiple benefits

A STRIPS project in Tama County, Iowa. The Science-based Trails of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie The “Science-based Trials of Row- or STRIPS team has been conducting research on prairie strips for more than 10 years and have shown crops Integrated with Prairie Strips” that integrating small amounts of prairie into strategic locations within corn and soybean fields — in the (STRIPS) program was conceived form of in-field contour buffer strips and edge-of-field filter strips — can yield great benefits for soil, in 2003 by Iowa State University water and biodiversity. scientists to study the effects of native prairie on soil, water and biodiversity substantially improves water quality organisms that cycle nutrients, in- on farms. and nutrient retention, reduces ero- crease soil fertility, and provide pest Strips of native prairie of varying sion and generates other benefits. control and pollination services. sizes have been planted on experi- For example, in farmed water- Fields with prairie strips host twice mental and commercial farms. The sheds, the addition of only10% prai- as many birds and bird species than strips are often employed in concert rie reduced sediment export by 95%, those with 100% row crops. with other “regenerative ” phosphorous export by 90% and As of 2019, prairie strips have techniques such as cover crops and nitrogen export by nearly 85% in been established in Iowa, Minneso- no-till practices. Regenerative agri- water when compared ta, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin culture seeks to capture carbon in to 100% row crop watersheds. and Illinois. If you are a landowner soil and aboveground to Further, after seven years, an interested in implementing prairie reduce gas accumulation average of 51 native plant species strips, learn more by exploring the and support soil health, water quality were found in prairie strips, resources on the STRIPS Practice Es- and native wildlife. compared to 13 species found tablishment and Management page After several years of data within the row crop areas. These or email [email protected]. collection, the STRIPS team native plants provide habitat for Reprinted with permission from the found that including even a small birds, small mammals, bees and Nov. 12, 2019, Native Plant Conser- amount of native prairie on a farm butterflies, and other beneficial vation Campaign News.

• 14 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Save on Custom Kits!

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• 15 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Get to know your Honorary Director

Q: What’s the most interesting thing about you that we STEPHEN PACKARD wouldn’t learn from your resume alone? In other words, Honorary Director what is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? Q: Of what specific work or book are you the most A: When I was a boy, probably in fourth or fifth grade, proud and why? I asked my parents if I could make a garden of wild A: I suppose most of the time I feel most rewarded by my flowers, trees and shrubs at the back end of our property. work to facilitate the growth of conservation communities I have no idea what inspired me to do that. They said like the North Branch Restoration Project, Deer Grove “yes,” and I did it, and cherished it. Then my dad decid- Volunteers, or Friends of Nachusa Grassland. The richness ed he should educate me by buying some superior “hor- of the prairies, savannas and woodlands blends with the ticulturally improved” plants from a nursery. I bitterly spirits of the generous people. It’s a pleasure to visit these opposed the idea. Somehow it violated my vision. In the “societies” or “kinship groups” and catch up. Sometimes it end, he insisted on planting a nursery . I dis- seems like an honor greater than I had the right to expect liked it. It grew impressively fast, but developed an ugly, to spend my days among such fine people. Communities disfiguring disease and declined. The local I had of plants and animals that include people who treat each planted, however, just grew bigger and healthier. The ex- other and the planet with affection and respect represent perience may have helped launch me on a life of being an ideal worth dedicating lives to. dubious of whether those in authority always know best. I remind myself of that from time to time, particularly on days when some people look at me as an authority. Q: If your personality was encapsulated into a plant, what plant would it be? And why? A: Perhaps the bur oak or Leiberg’s panic grass. If the Q: What is the best advice you’ve been given? By whom? oak, I’d note that it loves fire (and depends on it as much A: For best advice, I’d have to go with Dr. Robert Betz, as I do), and it’s rooted there for the long haul. Dappled the original “prairie prophet” of this region. He worked oak shade is welcome to people, other animals and to save remnants, like convincing cemetery boards that plants. It’s a tree of high quality that I can only aspire to. the rare surviving in some old settler cem- Then again, out in the sunny open, there’s Leiberg’s pan- eteries deserved good stewardship. He offered to care ic grass with its delicately hairy leaves and tiny purple for and restore them, pull the weeds, and do controlled flowers - so gorgeous, and yet hardly anybody notices burns from time to time. Most such boards (made up of them. It’s a bit player, a supporter, but a valuable com- local undertakers, barbers, doctors and whoever else was ponent of what promotes diversity and richness of the willing) said no when first asked. But he returned again community as a whole. and again. He described his approach this way: “Steve, do you know those beach toys, the blow-up clowns or whatever, that are weighted on the bottom, and when Q: What advice do you have how Wild Ones members you push them over, they stand up again? That’s what I can make a difference in 2020? am. I beg these boards to care for the prairie – so rare A: Wild Ones members are ambassadors. Nature and and needy. And they don’t hear me at first. I smile and the planet both need our help badly. Friendly, posi- plead, and they respond by punching me over. But I tive, big-hearted people with open minds have the best always just stand up again with a big friendly smile and chance to make positive inroads with our neighbors and ask again. It may take months or years. Many board larger communities. I pull dandelions from my lawn members gradually understand what I’m trying to say. (even though I kind of like them) to not offend some In other cases, their arms get tired of throwing punches. neighbors. At least nine other families on our street now But ultimately, in response to honesty, persistence and plant milkweeds and other wild plants that I’m eager to friendliness, they usually say yes.” share. Today, the neighborhood. Tomorrow, the planet.

• 16 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Nursery-grown NATIVE PLANTS OF THE MIDWEST www.wildones.org for prairie, woodland or natural garden.

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• 17 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Gardening for good bugs By Susie Van de Riet Don’t want to use pesticides to stop bugs from devouring your crops or other garden plants? You don’t have to. A holistic method described by the Xerces Society known as Conser- vation Biological Control promotes supporting naturally occurring, native beneficial insects and ar- thropods through the use of locally native plants and certain landscap- ing methods. Providing habitat they desire will encourage them to come and live in your yard. Then, they can help to address some pest problems, becoming your most important gar- den allies.

Meet Your Partners in Crime Beneficial insects and arthropods, “beneficials” for simplicity, are labeled as such in part because they help to provide people with the best arsenal to keep garden pests in check. Many beneficials are helpful predators and parasitoids of agri- cultural and garden “pests.” These predatory beneficials include wasps, mantises, true bugs, lacewings, spi- Flower fly adults spend much of their time nectaring on flowers, but their larvae are carnivorous and can ders, predatory mites, and harvest- eat up to 50 aphids per day. men or daddy long-legs. Yes, wasps and spiders are beneficial to us and day for 5+ years, and I know these balance. A wasp’s ability to keep are often given minimal credit for creatures appear largely uninterested pest populations in check can mean keeping ecosystems in balance. in us. That said, if you are allergic to the difference between successful Since the mention of spiders and stings, always have a back-up plan if crop production, or a damaged crop wasps usually elicits fear and disdain you get stung. Let’s get down to more that goes to waste. This predator-prey from people, I offer perspective re- specifics about these biocontrol relationship is important to agricul- garding these awesome little beings agents and what they target. ture, but also for native plants and so we can start to dismantle their Beneficials eat, or feed their even non-native ornamentals. mostly unjustified reputation. young with many pest arthropods in In the garden, the following There are 18,000 species of our landscapes, keeping invertebrate groups of beneficials provide bio- wasps and 3,400 species of spi- populations in check. For example, control: ders in , according many caterpillars eat crops, but this • True bugs (Order: Hemiptera) to insectidentification.org. Many can be a problem if there is nothing include minute pirate bugs, assassin/ go unnoticed by us, and yet, they to keep the caterpillars from getting ambush bugs, and predatory stink have a bad reputation despite all of out of control. However, beneficials bugs. These may target thrips, mites, the biocontrol and pollination (by like wasps, come to the rescue – scales, aphids, plant lice, small wasps) services they render. I worked many feed caterpillars to their young caterpillars, various insect eggs and outdoors near flowers almost every and keep caterpillar populations in sometimes beneficials. • 18 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Clockwise from left: A yellow jacket preparing its kill (a 2-lined spittlebug) for its young. This yellow jacket was so preoccupied with its activity it let people get close up to take photos. Spittlebugs feed on plants and therefore could be considered a problem if not kept in check; Mantis’ are general- ist predators, feeding on “pests” and beneficial insects alike. This one was seen among the bee habitat and woodpile, possibly seeking shelter or stalking its next meal; Scoliid wasps like this one are parasitoids of subterranean beetles. So they lay their eggs on (and ultimately kill) pests like Japanese beetles in their grub form.

• Spiders (Order: Araneae) include wolf spiders, jumping spiders, orb weavers and sheet weavers that hunt aphids, beetles, caterpillars, leafhop- pers, bees, wasps, butterflies and moths, etc. • Predatory mites (Order: Acari) target aphids, lace bugs, pine-tip moths, scales and mealybugs, white- flies, leafhoppers, spider mites, small caterpillars, fungus gnats, insect eggs, thrips, plant lice, bark lice, springtails and other small insects. • Harvestmen, a.k.a. daddy-long legs, (Order: Opiliones) feed on a number of slow-moving insects including true bugs, beetles, moth eggs, caterpillars, earthworms, plant lice, snails and slugs. • Wasps (Order: Hymenoptera): Adult wasps typically feed on nectar/ sap, but some species will feed on insects and arthropods. Female predatory wasps collect prey to bring back to their larvae including aphids, • Mantises (Order: Mantodea) are Beetles also include lady beetle stink bugs, caterpillars, beetles, flies, generalist predators that will eat larvae and adults that specialize true bugs, grasshoppers, bagworms, many different beneficials and pests on aphids, scales/mealybugs and a lace bugs, emerald ash borers, spi- alike. variety of others. Even more, in this ders, etc. The above information and more • Lacewings (Order: Neuroptera) group are ground beetles and tiger beetles that target elm-leaf beetles, detail can be found in the Xerces So- include green and brown lacewings; ciety’s Habitat Planning for Beneficial lacewing larvae travel up to 100 feet other small insects, fly and beetle larva, caterpillars, aphids and snails/ Insects, which can be downloaded in search of prey and can consume free as a PDF. up to 400 aphids each week. slugs. • Beetles (Order: Coleoptera) in- • Flies (Order: Diptera) include flow- Be an Accomplice: Provide Habitat clude firefly beetles. The adults feed er flies, larvae feed on aphids (some- There are several strategies we can on nectar/pollen and the larvae feed times 50/day), scale, mealybugs, implement to support beneficials on snails/slugs, caterpillars, worms spider mites and thrips. The adults in gardens, farms and native plant and other small soft-bodied insects. feed on nectar. areas. Habitat is key. For our ben-

• 19 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org eficials, habitat requirements are similar to what we need: food, shelter, space and a pesticide-free (poison-free) zone. Many beneficials need a constant source of nectar throughout the growing season. Na- tive plants with extrafloral nectaries (glands on leaves and petioles that secrete nectar) are excellent sourc- es. Plant families with extrafloral nectaries include Rose, Bean, Aster, Willow and Dogbane. Maximum benefit will come from having 25% or more of your yard planted with nectar sources, according to Xerces Society’s Farming with Native Bene- ficial Insects: Ecological Pest Control Solutions. Many adult and larvae predato- ry beneficials prefer a diet of your “pests” including aphids, spiders, beetles and other invertebrates. You most likely have your bases covered Left: Six-spotted tiger beetles will hang out in their burrow waiting for prey to wander by. Their long thin with food for all if you have insects legs are built for sprinting (which makes for a big accomplishment to capture a decent photo of them). and spiders in your garden, and Right: Bold jumping spiders seem to be the polar opposite of their common name in how they behave. ample nectar sources throughout the They are robust spiders that want nothing to do with people. growing season. In conjunction with making sure Locate the berms adjacent to culti- area in one year, so that each zone beneficials have food, there are land- vated fields or gardens to provide un- in an area is only disturbed every 3-5 scaping practices to help you create disturbed winter cover so beetles can years. Doing so will ensure there is ideal habitat. Beneficials need shelter return more readily to the plots during enough undisturbed shelter and food as well as nesting sites and materials. the growing season. Larger berms for beneficials. This is where you get to do less work. can be 1-foot high by 2-feet wide by Be informed about insecticides Leave the leaves and spent plant de- 6-feet long, and smaller berms can be and avoid them whenever possible. bris. Retain at least one-third height of 1-foot high by 2-feet wide by 2-feet Take time to research alternative dormant growth standing until spring long. These provide refuge from areas solutions if you need a more im- green up. Try to leave standing hollow that are tilled, but try to limit tilling mediate result than what Biological stems, rotting wood, nesting blocks of gardens and fields to minimize Conservation methods afford. As you and patches of bare soil where adults disruption to ground nesters, dwellers are purchasing plants, be sure you and/or larvae will take shelter, over- and microbes. are getting plants that are not treated winter, and also use as a nesting site While prescribed burning is with neonicotinoids or other sys- (beetles, wasps and bees). important for native plant growth temic pesticides as these will hinder Low-growing vegetation and and flowering, and both burning and your efforts at supporting beneficial such as little bluestem mowing are helpful for controlling insects and arthropods. (Schizachyrium scoparium) can some invasive plants, these should provide well-needed shelter from the be limited or put on a rotation Outsmarting the Enemy elements. Brush piles serve as fantas- schedule. Beneficial populations can Other helpful strategies to outsmart tic hunting grounds and shelter for survive in plant materials as a refuge, pests include providing a trap crop beneficials like beetles and lace- allowing for their rebound since their to attract the pests away from your wings. Create beetle banks, or smaller population is not wiped out. Other primary crop or ornamental and beetle bumps. These raised habitats important considerations are to avoid placing it among native plant habitat of soil or berms planted with native burning and mowing during critical where you hope to attract the natural grasses and wildflowers will be of nesting seasons (usually spring and enemies of pests. Intersperse crops special interest to predaceous ground summer), and to limit this mainte- and ornamentals with native plants beetles and other beneficial insects. nance to no more than 30% of an that are nectar sources, such as rows

• 20 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org or hedgerows of flowering natives. From large-scale agriculture to small- scale vegetable gardens, annual What to plant to attract ‘good’ bugs? crop/plant rotation helps keep pest populations in control. Make sure (for Midwest) you have adequate plant diversity WILDFLOWERS to guard against complete losses. Groundcover/Short Research the exceptions where cer- • Robin’s plantain, Erigeron pulchellus (lt/med shade) mid-late spring tain native plants may not be helpful • pussytoes, Antennaria spp. (sun/med shade) mid spring - early summer because they are alternate hosts. In • purple poppy mallow, Callirhoe involucrata (sun) early-mid summer the case of the apple maggot, haw- thorn and wild plum are alternate Mid hosts and should not be planted near • golden alexanders, Zizia spp. (sun/med shade) mid spring – early sum- mer apples and pears. Lastly, always be • lanceleaf coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata, (sun/lt shade) late spring – cautious when purchasing native early summer plants and generally refrain from • mountain mint, Pycnanthemum spp. (sun/lt shade) mid-summer – early getting as these may not fall provide the same nectar benefit as • partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata (sun) early – late summer the . • boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum (sun/lt shade) mid-summer – early fall • asters, Symphyotrichum spp. (sun/med shade) late summer – mid fall Conclusion Beneficial insects and arthropodsMid-Tall can be our best offense and defense • bee balm, Monarda bradburiana (sun/shade) late spring – early sum- to pests in our gardens. They are on mer the frontlines to keep ecosystems in • milkweeds, Asclepias spp. (sun/med shade) late spring – early fall balance and can do this best where • common yarrow, (sun/lt shade) late spring – mid we offer them ideal habitat. Do what summer you can to support these creatures. • , Coreopsis tinctoria (sun) mid – late summer The more people put these simple • rattlesnake master, Eryngium yuccifolium (sun/lt shade) mid–late summer practices into place, the more we • goldenrod, Solidago spp. (sun/shade) late summer – mid fall Scrophularia marilandica will support these beings, and every- • late figwort, (part sun/med shade) late sum- mer – mid fall one will benefit. • yellow sweet coneflower,Rudbeckia subtomentosa (sun/med shade) Finally, take time to be still and late summer – early fall curious, and observe their behav- • prairie dock, Silphium terebinthinaceum (sun/lt shade) late summer – iors when they show up. Enjoy their early fall presence in the space you share with them. As Albert Einstein said, SHRUBS/TREES “Look deep into nature, and you will Short shrubs understand everything better.” • prairie red root, Ceanothus herbaceus (sun/lt shade) late spring This article is adapted from Wasps: • New Jersey tea, Ceanothus americanus (sun/lt shade) early summer Allies in the Garden, which Susie Van • leadplant, Amorpha canescens (sun/lt shade) early summer de Riet wrote for the Missouri Prairie • wild hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens (shade/part sun) early-mid Journal, Volume 40(2): 25–29. Sum- summer mer 2019. • shrubby St. John’s wort, Hypericum prolificum (sun/med shade) ear- Susie Van de Riet, a St. Louis Wild ly-late summer Ones business member, is owner/ Taller shrubs & trees designer/educator of St. Louis Native • ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius (sun/shade) early summer Plants LLC. She has a formal educa- • elderberry, Sambucus canadensis (sun/shade) early-mid summer tion in along with much • wild plum, Prunus spp. (sun/lt shade) early-mid spring experience working with a variety • serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea (sun/med shade) mid-spring of plants while specializing in native • redbud, Cercis canadensis (sun/med shade) early-mid spring plants to Missouri. It is her work • hawthorn, Crataegus viridis (sun/lt shade) late spring and passion to connect people with • sassafras, Sassafras albidum (sun/lt shade) mid-spring native plants and wildlife. • basswood, Tilia americana (sun/lt shade) early summer

• 21 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Northeast Pollinator Plants northeastpollinator.com

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• 22 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Where have all the birds gone?

Bird populations in the United States species. But for the first time, the New research shows and Canada have plummeted 29% results also showed pervasive losses since 1970. That’s almost 3 billion among common birds across all hab- bird populations birds — from iconic songsters such itats, including backyard birds.” as meadowlarks, to long-distance The study notes that birds are migrants such as swallows and indicators of environmental health, down 3 billion backyard birds including sparrows, signaling that natural systems across according to a 2019 study published the U.S. and Canada are now being from 1970 in the journal Science. so severely impacted by human “Multiple, independent lines of activities that they no longer support evidence show a massive reduction the same robust wildlife populations. in the abundance of birds,” said Ken The findings showed that of Rosenberg, the study’s lead author nearly 3 billion birds lost, 90 percent and a senior scientist at the Cornell belong to 12 bird families, includ- Lab of Ornithology and American ing sparrows, warblers, finches and Bird Conservancy. “We expected to swallows — all common, wide- see continuing declines of threatened spread species that play influential

• 23 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org roles in food webs and ecosystem functioning, from seed dispersal to insect control. Among the steep declines noted: • Grassland birds are especially hard hit, with a 53% reduction in popula- tion — more than 720 million birds What are you doing? • Shorebirds, most of which fre- quent sensitive coastal habitats, were already at dangerously low numbers and have lost more than one-third of their population. Over the next year, the Wild Ones Journal will be highlighting the • The volume of spring migration, plight of North American birds and what we as Wild Ones mem- measured by radar in the night bers can do about it. But we want to know what you’re doing to skies, has dropped by 14% in just help birds in your yards or properties. Email your stories and pho- the past decade. “These data are consistent with tos to [email protected] for inclusion in a future story. what we’re seeing elsewhere with other taxa showing massive declines, including insects and amphibians,” said coauthor Peter Marra, senior scientist emeritus and former head ordinated by the USGS and the Ca- “The story is not over,” said of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird nadian Wildlife Service — the main coauthor Michael Parr, president of Center and now director of the sources of long-term, large-scale American Bird Conservancy. “There Georgetown Environment Initia- population data for North American are so many ways to help save birds. tive at Georgetown University. “It’s birds — the Audubon Christmas Bird Some require policy decisions such imperative to address immediate and Count, and Manomet’s International as strengthening the Migratory Bird ongoing threats, both because the Shorebird Survey. Treaty Act. We can also work to ban domino effects can lead to the decay Although the study did not ana- harmful pesticides and properly fund of ecosystems that humans depend lyze the causes of declines, it noted effective bird conservation programs. on for our own health and liveli- that the steep drop in North Ameri- Each of us can make a difference hoods — and because people all can birds parallels the losses of birds with everyday actions that together over the world cherish birds in their elsewhere in the world, suggesting can save the lives of millions of birds own right. Can you imagine a world multiple interacting causes that re- — actions like making windows without birdsong?” duce breeding success and increase safer for birds, keeping cats indoors Evidence for the declines mortality. It noted that the largest fac- and protecting habitat.” emerged from detection of migra- tor driving these declines is likely the “It’s a wake-up call that we’ve tory birds in the air from 143 NEX- widespread loss and degradation of lost more than a quarter of our birds RAD weather radar stations across habitat, especially due to agricultural in the U.S. and Canada,” said coau- the continent in a period spanning intensification and urbanization. thor Adam Smith from Environment over 10 years, as well as from Other studies have document- and Change Canada. “But nearly 50 years of data collected ed mortality from predation by the crisis reaches far beyond our through multiple monitoring efforts free-roaming domestic cats; colli- individual borders. Many of the birds on the ground. sions with glass, buildings and other that breed in Canadian backyards “Citizen-science participants structures; and pervasive use of pes- migrate through or spend the winter contributed critical scientific data ticides associated with widespread in the U.S. and places farther south to show the international scale of declines in insects, an essential food — from Mexico and the Caribbean losses of birds,” said coauthor John source for birds. Climate change to Central and South America. What Sauer of the U.S. Geological Survey. is expected to compound these our birds need now is an historic, “Our results also provide insights challenges by altering habitats and hemispheric effort that unites people into actions we can take to reverse threatening plant communities that and organizations with one common the declines.” The analysis included birds need to survive. More research goal: bringing our birds back.” citizen-science data from the North is needed to pinpoint primary causes Reprinted with permission from American Breeding Bird Survey co- for declines in individual species. ScienceDaily.

• 24 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Working to Bring Nature Home The author’s native garden wraps around her cottage in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where 27 species include By Catherine Zimmerman trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses and sedges. Back in the ’90s, as I was fully beetles? No match for my clouds of and pesticides. I was in control. engaged in my filmmaking career, pesticides! One of my favorite and One particularly slow film work my focus was all about control. Tight prized perennials was purple loose- winter I contracted to shoot 72 control of the images, from timing, to strife. I remember being quite irritated episodes of Home & Garden TV, set up, to lighting was my over-arch- when it was banned for sale because which was not my usual type of film ing goal. Each job presented its own it was deemed invasive to wetlands. work. Typically, I was hired to shoot set of challenges. No two days were It was staying put in my yard. issue-oriented pieces or profiles of alike. The one constant was this need And then there was my great, interesting people, which aired on to control the outcome and possibly green lawn. It stretched grandly from shows like 60 Minutes and CNN get a shout out, “job well done!” the plethora of pink, salmon and Presents. I thought this H&G con- This need to control didn’t stop magenta impatiens surrounding my tract was a piece of cake; there were when I hung up the camera for a house (which were gigantic, thanks no moving targets, just a bunch of weekend in the garden. I was busy to Miracle Grow) all the way to the inanimate objects. Oh, was I wrong! neatly trimming hedges of yews and street. I had a corner lot so there I quickly realized the streaming sun- boxwoods. Lush rose bushes with was quite a lot of lawn to behold. I light bouncing off the walls, counters pristine blossoms were set prom- became Queen of the Lawn. When and cabinets destroyed my ability inently against a sparkling white asked how I managed this splendor, to control the images. I was fighting fence. Black spot? Never! Japanese I heralded the wonders of chemicals the color temperature battle, tung-

• 25 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org sten-light typically found indoors vs. Oak Openings Region Wild Ones chapter founder Todd Crail and his student army of Habitat Heroes remove daylight. I always shuttered daylight buckthorn at Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve. by covering windows. No can do when you need to include windows work of microbial and fungal life, plants. Pretty amazing! Nature has it for H&G TV! providing nutrients to plants above all worked out. Then I had an epiphany. Stop ground and, in return, plants deliver I started to see an evolving role trying to control nature. Let the sugars to the underground dwellers. for myself as a messenger, comb- light in. Start working with nature. And above ground, the symbiotic ing my expertise in photography, This might seem like a no-brainer, relationships continue as native storytelling, environmental issues, but this was my 23rd year of shoot- plants host native pollinators and horticulture and organic practices ing and I was comfortable with my provide food and shelter for wildlife. to help convince folks to work with techniques and control. A strange, In return, wildlife helps pollinate nature. Collaborating with experts little, wild idea was creeping into and spread seeds for reproduction of Neil Diboll, Larry Weaner and Mike my brain. This idea of working with nature could become central to the Plants show off their beauty with gold, red, bronze and tawny colors against a winter sky. way I lived my whole life, starting with doing no harm. I made the connection between my use of pesticides and the complete oblit- eration of the fireflies in my yard. I started to wonder how many other species I had destroyed that weren’t so noticeable. That was the day I stopped using pesticides and started to truly work with nature. First steps were trying to learn as much about soil and plants as I could. I went back to school in horticulture and landscape design. The soils class really blew me away! Who knew so much action was going on underground between billions of soil organisms and plant root zones? There is a thriving net-

• 26 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Catherine and soundman Rick Patterson film at Prairie Crossing with ecologist Steve Apfelbaum and Prairie Crossing developers George and Vicky Ranney. Nadeau, I launched into a film about I met Douglas Tallamy. Tallamy is to providing a call to action to change meadowscaping as an alternative native plants what Al Gore is to cli- our garden choices to include native to lawn. No need to bombard your mate change. He is a man traveling plants. Tallamy provides the narrative property with fertilizers, pesticides, the continent spreading the mes- thread that challenges the notion weekly doses of water and constant sage that native plants are crucial to that humans are here and nature mowing. Meadow and prairie plants saving insect species and building is someplace else. Doug says, “It do just fine with deep root systems, wildlife habitat. I asked him to work doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t be all the under and above ground with me to explain how that applies that way.” Inspiring stories of habitat symbiotic action and just once a to meadow and prairie planting in heroes and community commitment year mowing. Bonus! Meadows and a section in the book and film,Why to conservation landscaping illustrate prairies are full of life, teaming with Native Plants? Tallamy’s vision by showing how pollinators, birds and butterflies. That collaboration led to a new humans and nature can co-exist with As it turns out, there was a lot to film, Hometown Habitat, Stories mutual benefits. know about making meadows and of Bringing Nature Home, which is With the financial help of many prairies. I felt it was imperative to based on Tallamy’s research, books individuals and organizations, espe- write a companion book, to create and lectures. Hometown Habitat is cially Wild Ones chapters, Home- a comprehensive guide for organic a 90-minute environmental docu- town Habitat, Stories of Bringing creation of these beautiful, natural mentary focused on educating how Nature Home was completed in landscapes. and why native plants are critical May 2016. To date, the film has been While developing Urban and to the survival and vitality of lo- viewed thousands of times across the Suburban Meadows, Bringing Mead- cal ecosystems with a goal to in- country, telling eight compelling sto- owscaping to Big and Small Spaces, spire people to plant native plants, ries about the power of native plants:

• 27 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org • Douglas Tallamy, Ph.D., Entomol- between native insects and native the habitat heroes that make planting ogist, teacher, author and environ- plants. This is a very inspiring and in- 1 million trees in New York City in mental activist. Tallamy leads the formative segment that provides the 10 years feasible. charge to inform and inspire audi- framework for the documentary. • Be A Habitat Hero Program (Water ences all over the country as he el- • Million Trees NYC (Ecosystem conservation) Teaching about oquently speaks about diversity and Services) Hometown Habitat focuses restoring habitats with little water the critical, ecological connections in on the partnerships formed and resources in the Colorado water

CHAPTER TITLE/TIME SUBJECT POTENTIAL AUDIENCES The Basics –Douglas Tallamy Intro to the concepts All 0-15:55 Ecosystem Services – Million Trees NYC Urban reforesting Urban settings 15:55 – 27:01 Engaging communities and children Civic associations Students – Colorado Anyone in time of drought or who has Habitat Hero Program high water bills 27:01 – 38:00 Landscaping in housing developments Homeowners associations Landscape designers Retirement communities Environmental Art Solutions – EcoArtists Florida Artists 38:00 – 48:08 Creating living art Museum staff Schools Educators Museums Developers Designed landscapes Landscapers Sustainable Practices – Redefining the Chesapeake Bay Garden centers Horticulture Industry Capitol Hill Landscape designers 48:08 – 56:05 Horticulture industry Anyone in the horticulture trade Landscape design Urban settings Homeowners Developers Homeowners Associations Restoration and Conservation Rebuilding degraded land Developers Development – Steven Apfelbaum Housing developments Landscape designers 56:05 – 1:05:45 Storm water treatment train Military Government Retirement communities Interfaith Environmental Movement – Montgomery County, MD Stewardship of Faith Communities Sacred Grounds creation Cemeteries 1:05:45 – 1:14:43 Using properties of faith communities for Politicians rain gardens; National Wildlife Federation program Environmental Activism – Wild Ones Volunteers, activism Activists 1:14:43 – 1:27:54 Wisconsin Environmentalists Working with governing bodies and Government politicians Politicians College students Political groups Older students Educators

• 28 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org basin is the mission of Susan Tweit and founder Connie Holsinger. We follow their lengthy treks and efforts to set up workshops with water districts and citizens, giving hands- on experience to “wildscape” yards to “grow a network of habitat for songbirds and pollinators across the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. • Eco-artists, South Florida (Environmental Art Solutions) Artists are finding ways to use their art to help solve environmental problems in their hometowns. We follow two unique artists as they identify eco-issues, collaborate with experts to solve the issue, and involve the Left: In 2018, Urban & Suburban Meadows was revised with new pictures and resources. Right: Home- community in the eco-art solution. town Habitat, Stories of Bringing Nature Home, is a 90-minute environmental documentary focused on • Sustainable Practices (Redefining educating about how and why native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local ecosystems with a goal to inspire people -habitat heroes- to plant native plants, providing a call to action to change the Horticulture Industry) We look at our garden choices to include native plants. the role the horticulture community can play in helping to educate activist Ned Dorff is a teacher, Some organizations hosting a homeowners about conservation husband, father, city council activist film screening don’t have 90 minutes landscapes. and naturalist. Ned represents an up- for the film or they want to target a • Steven Apfelbaum (Restoration and-coming crowd of young people certain group. With inspiration from and Conservation Development) actively and politically engaged Plant NOVA Natives, on the previ- “Once we recognize the important in making environmental change, ous page is a chart to help in utiliz- ecological roles that plants play, for the better, in their hometowns. ing Hometown Habitat segments to we can incorporate those roles Todd Crail, Wild Ones Oak Open- reach your target audience. into existing developments or new ings Region founder in Toledo, is an Twelve years ago, while creating developments. We can design them environmental science lecturer for Urban & Suburban Meadows, it was so they are functional ecosystems. University of Toledo. Crail advocates a struggle to find good visual exam- And we are beginning to do this.”- with UT for a service-based learn- ples of natural landscapes in urban Doug Tallamy. ing experience, where his students and suburban settings. Since then, are fully engaged in actively solving the natural landscaping movement Since the ’70s, ecologist Steve environmental, community issues. has really taken off! I didn’t realize Apfelbaum has been doing just that. I am an honorary director for Wild that until my crew and I started to We visit Prairie Crossing, a collabo- Ones. I accepted this appointment travel the country in search of habitat ration between developers George because I believe in the Wild Ones’ heroes for Hometown Habitat. The and Vicky Ranney and Steve Apfel- mission to promote native plants and stories we tell touch on all aspects of baum, which turns the development natural landscapes. It was a good fit the benefits of native plants. What we paradigm upside down. with my work. Advocating for native discovered and bring to light is that a • Sacred Grounds (Interfaith plants is central to success in ecosys- sense of community is at the core of Environmental Movement) An tem regeneration. It’s all about educa- successful projects and what makes initiative of the Garden for Wildlife tion and so I decided to close the film conservation landscaping possible. program of the National Wildlife with the Wild Ones’ very important Remember, all of us have the Federation, it taps into the natural native plant advocacy message. power to support habitat for wildlife partnership between religion and We are constantly looking for and bring natural beauty to our patch the notion that we should preserve ways to broaden the outreach pos- of the earth. To that goal, plant natives! “God’s Green Earth.” sibilities with Hometown Habitat, in- Catherine Zimmerman is an award- • Wild Ones (Grassroots, service- cluding providing shortened versions winning director of photography, and based, environmental activism). for different venues. Email me at author/director of The Meadow Proj- Hometown Habitat visits two Wild [email protected] ect. She was an honorary director of Ones chapters in the Great Lakes for a list of shortened versions. Wild Ones from 2015 through 2019. watershed. Wild Ones Green Bay • 29 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Why prairie plants fit a golf course

By Mike Fahle construction, the soil was saved and prairie plants that support the many Cantigny Golf Course, in Wheaton, reused because of its high organic species of birds in the golf course. Illinois, is a member of Audubon matter that recycled rich nutrients Prairie plants provide open hab- International, which makes this golf over time of decomposing flora and itats and food sources. Raptors hunt course different from most other golf fauna. these areas for mice, voles, squirrels courses in that it is host to a multi- But this golf course is also excep- and rabbits. This mixed habitat is tude of diverse bird species. tional in that it is landscaped with attractive to other species of rap- Cantigny was constructed prairie grasses and forbs. People may tors, such as the Great Horned Owl through a wooded property that call these “weeds” because most (Bubo virgianus), including one pair consisted mostly of oak trees. During people do not know the benefits of that nested in the oak trees for three years. Smaller birds also benefit from the prairie habitat. The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) searches out seed and down for its nests from thistle (Cirsium sp.) and seeds from purple coneflower and sunflower. The eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) also benefits from the plantings that attract insects such as cicadas, bee- tles and crickets. The bluebird is also attracted to the fruits of Sumac (Rhus sp.) and wild grapes (Vitis riparia), especially throughout the winter months. There are also plants on the course that attract one of the smallest birds, hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). Hummingbirds navigate through the prairies and edges of the woods searching for nectar in the Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), wild columbine (Aquilegia canaden- sis), coneflower and jewelweed (Impatiens sp.). Not only does the prairie provide food, but it also pro- vides winter protection for wildlife, which is particularly important since the winter wind in the Chicagoland is bone chilling. The prairie grasses serve as cover for ground-nesting birds such as wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Although adult wild turkeys roost All photos courtesy Mike Fahle in trees at night for protection from predators, they nest in the taller grasses of the prairie.

Native plants, such as Echinacea purpurea add color to the Cantigny Golf Course landscaped with prairie grasses and forbs. It is home to many birds, pollinators and other wildlife. • 30 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Top: A spicebush swallowtail butterfly is just one of many visitors to the Illinois golf course. Bottom left: A monarch nectars on milkweed in the Cantigny Golf Course prairie. Bottom right: Little bluestem and sumac seedlings add color and texture to the golf course landscape, complete with a stream in the background.

Cantigny Golf Course has two water streams. Prairie plants can improve the water quality through their extensive root systems. The stream on the north part of the property is lined with prairie grasses and forbs such as purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans). Using prairie plants in this manner reduces erosion. They also filter water before entering the groundwater reservoirs, reducing contaminates. So in es- sence, water entering the golf course property exits cleaner. Prairie plant roots also retain water, which bene- fits the soil’s holding power. Prairie plants lose a portion of their root system every year as the roots decay and add organic matter to the soil, which improves the soil by increasing the absorption by soils nearby. Plants are a natural buffer against flooding, and add beauty to the course. Another way to look at the prai- rie is that it is a natural “war zone.” Conflicts occur between “good” insects and “bad” insects in a con- tinuing battle. Everything has a pred- ator. By using prairie forbs instead of only acres of greens, more birds are attracted. They are predators of bagworms as a natural method of control. A prairie community adds biodiversity, thus reducing the need for pesticide use. A golf course is a beneficial green space. Just like parks and forest pre- serves, a golf course can be a place to experience and learn from nature. So take a walk. You may learn some- thing. Michael Fahle is the only naturalist at Cantigny Golf Course and a mem- ber of the Greater DuPage (Illinois) Chapter of the Wild Ones.

• 31 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org 2 awarded Wild Ones student memberships; recipients provide inspiration in their work with native plants

By Andrew Pfisterer planted more than 11,000 native nectar-consuming pollinators within The Oak Openings Region (Ohio) plants at the university alone. The oak savanna habitats.” Chapter of Wild Ones recently remaining 1,000 plants were planted She has studied nearly two named students from the University in local roundabouts. dozen different flowering species for of Toledo and Bowling Green State As of press deadline, the GUTS nectar sugar per flower and deter- University as recipients of the Denise team was overwintering 100 trays mined that three of the 22 native Gehring Student Award Scholarship, of plants. They were also trying to plants she tested had the most nectar each receiving a one-year student determine the number of seeds that sugar per : New Jersey tea (134 membership to Wild Ones. It’s clear germinate from the weight of a cer- mg/shrub), dotted horsemint (41mg/ that we can learn a thing or two tain plant species to more efficiently shrub) and wild bergamot (36mg/ through our youthful local talent. grow natives for their planting proj- shrub). Kelsey Childers works with ects based upon the space that they “Preliminary results suggest that GreeningUT through Service Learn- are given for the respective project. sites relevant to (the federally endan- ing or GUTS. Through the Green Meigan Day, of Bowling Green gered) Karner blue butterfly occu- Fund, Childers and other students University, is researching “Nectar Re- pancy rely on a greater availability of from the University of Toledo (UT) source Quality of Oak Savanna Pol- nectar sugar in the spring (May – ear- were able to plant more than 12,000 linator Habitats.” Day said her work ly June) than the summer,” she said. natives in the area in 2019. She is “to better understand how nectar The research that Day is performing and previous students were able to resource availability can impact hab- will be important when determining get the “buy in” from UT and have itat quality for Lepidoptera and other oak savanna habitat management efforts to provide conservation of our native pollinators. Congratulations to both Childers and Day on their Student Awards. We thank them for spreading the message about native plants through their work. Andrew Pfisterer is a member of the Youth Initiative Committee and is the vice president of the Wild Ones Oak Openings Region (Ohio) Chapter.

What is your chapter doing? We’d like to know and feature your chapter activities in future issues. Email Editor Barbara A. Schmitz at barbara.a.benish@ gmail.com the details; be sure to include high-resolution photos. Photo by Jan Dixon

Left, Kelsey Childers of the University of Toledo, and Meigan Day of Bowling Green University, each received the Denise Gehring Student Award Schol- arship from the Oak Openings Region chapter. • 32 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Members support Annual Appeal Wild Ones thrives only and reflect gifts made through the heart and during the Annual Cam- dedication of its amazing paign period from Nov. members. We deeply ap- 1, 2019, through Jan. 31, preciate your efforts and 2020. Should there be an extend our most heartfelt error or omission, please

thanks to all who contrib- accept our deepest apolo- Photo by David Powell uted so generously to the gies; contact the national Wild Ones 2019 Annual office at (920) 730-3986 Appeal Campaign. We or [email protected] so proudly share your names we can correct the mis- here. take. Every effort has been Again, our thanks for Getting the next generation involved in nature will help Wild Ones grow in the made to ensure that our your generous gifts and future. donor lists are accurate contributions!

GENERAL OPERATING FUND — Susan Oberhauser, Wolf River Julie Harms, St. Louis MEMBER SUPPORT Rita Ulrich, Twin Cities Pam Holy, Root River Area Sally Wencel, Tennessee Valley Dean Huisingh, Rock River Valley OVER $1,000 Candice Jacobsen, Lake-To-Prairie Janice Hand and Rick Sanders, Part- $249 TO $100 JP Morgan Chase & Co., Workplace ner At Large Ann Avery, Madison Giving Employee Funds Richard Madlon-Kay, Twin Cities Carol Biesemeyer, Habitat Garden- Deborah Kern, Milwaukee-North Roger Miller and Mary Zweber, St. ing in Central New York Audrie Kirk, River City-Grand Rap- Croix Oak Savanna Barbara Brain, St. Louis ids Karen Syverson, Fox Valley Area Michael Brondino, Milwau- Carol Kopolow, St. Louis kee-North Sandy Lentz, West Cook $1,000 TO $500 Rich Carlson, Fox Valley Area Chris Leodler, Red Cedar John Kreutzfeldt, Partner At Large William Carroll, North Park Village Diana Lundquist, Kalamazoo Area Tim Lewis, Rock River Valley Nature Center Lynn MacDonald, Partner At Large Mariette Nowak, Kettle Moraine Kelly Cartwright, Lake-To-Prairie Ruth E. Marshall, Milwaukee-South- Mandy Ploch, Menomonee River Barb Cattani, Fox Valley Area west-Wehr Area Molly Clark, Mountain Laurel James Mosley, Illinois Prairie Ted Ross, Rock River Valley Stirling Cousins, Habitat Gardening Diana Oleskevich, St. Louis Mack T. Ruffin, Ann Arbor in Central New York Kathy Packard, Illinois Prairie Bill Snyder, Illinois Prairie Cathy Delfosse, Kettle Moraine Nancy Parmenter, Red Cedar Cindy Torrisi, Rock River Valley Charles Delman, Partner At Large Kathleen B. Pecis, West Cook Neil Diboll, Central Wisconsin Joy Perry, Fox Valley Area $499 TO $250 Catherine Donovan, Greater DuP- Louise Petering, Milwaukee-North Marti Agler, Smoky Mountains age Jack Pfaffmann, Illinois Prairie Sue Detienne, Fox Valley Area Laura Elsinger, Driftless Area Beate Popkin, Lexinigton Jon J. Duerr, Northern Kane County Charlotte Estabrook, Tennessee Elisabeth A. Raleigh, Partner At Dave Edwards, Fox Valley Area Valley Large Sally Finzel, St. Cloud Kathryn Freese, St. Louis Matthew Ross, Southeastern Penn- Ellen Folts, Habitat Gardening in Fran Fulton, St. Louis sylvania (Seedling) Central New York Barbara Gaffron, Illinois Prairie David Sapp, Tennessee Valley Savannah Furman, St. Louis Frances Geier, Tennessee Valley Dale Schaber, Fox Valley Area Denise Gehring, Oak Openings Kathleen (Kate) Gill, St. Cloud Jim Schultz, Green Bay Region Lynn Gilles, Menomonee River Area Carol M. Shaffer, Lake-To-Prairie Debbie Gerken, Northern Kane Norman Grier, Menomonee River Greg Shirley, St. Cloud County Area Miriam Simmons, St. Croix Oak Susan Hall, Partner At Large Jan Gundy, Illinois Prairie Savanna Jan Koel, Menomonee River Area Mary G. Hanlon

• 33 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Cindy Skrukrud, Northern Kane Vicky Follansbee, Northfield Prairie County Partners Judith L. Specht, Fox Valley Area Alice Fox, Rock River Valley Lorraine Steuck, Fox Valley Area Eric Fuselier, Ozark (Seedling) Wayne Svoboda, West Cook Leigh Gaines, Greater Cincinnati Tori S. Trauscht, Lake-To-Prairie Kara Gallup, Rock River Valley Cindy Vough, Lexington Lydia Garvey, Partner At Large Karen Wachs, Partner At Large Inez George Tom Walder, Partner At Large Katy Gillispie, Northfield Prairie

Joanne Wanasek, Milwaukee-South- Photo by Bob Hulse Partners west-Wehr Norma Gonzalez, Menomonee Nancy Ward, Twin Cities River Area Becky Wardell Gaertner, Twin Cities Anne Graham, Central Wisconsin Virginia Watson, Rock River Valley Diana Green, Habitat Gardening in Jean Weedman, Kettle Moraine Central New York Rich Whitney, Greater DuPage A female ruby-throated hummingbird and fire Diane Gregory, North Oakland Pamela Wilcox, Menomonee River pink took People’s Choice honors in the 2016 Wild Jan Gricus, Greater DuPage Area Ones photo contest. Janeen Grohsmeyer, SoKY (Seedling) Carolyn Woodward, Kalamazoo Patricia Grose, Partner At Large Area Melinda Chamberlain, Greater Katharina Grossi, Lake-To-Prairie Brian Zimmerman, Grand Traverse Cincinnati Kris A. Hall, Lake-To-Prairie Kristi Chapman, Kalamazoo Area Kathleen Hallett, Fox River Valley UNDER $100 Ann Cicarella, Northeast Ohio Kelly Hamilton, Wolf River Mary Jo Adams, Illinois Prairie (Seedling) Anne Hanley, Prairie Ridge Ken Arnold, Oak Openings Region Berle Clay, Lexington Julia Hart, Lake-To-Prairie Mary Austin, Habitat Gardening in Mark Coleman, River City-Grand Dave Hecht, Root River Area Central New York Rapids Area John Henning, Greater DuPage Donna Baron, Chesapeake Dorothy Collins, West Cook James Hinton, Northern Kane County Christopher Barrett, West Cook Peggy Coon, West Cook Carolyn Hofman, Menomonee Holly Bartholmai, Fox Valley Area Mr. & Mrs. Harry Cotterill, Kalama- River Area Ken Baumann, Greater DuPage Area Donald Horak, Greater Cincinnati Lawrence Becker, Greater Cincin- Linda Crawford, Tennessee Valley Mike Horst, Oak Openings Region nati Audrey Cullen, Big River Big Woods Jerome Hossli, West Cook Michelle Beloskur, Red Cedar Meredith Cullen, Menomonee River Eileen V. Hudack, Habitat Garden- Gae Bergmann Area ing in Central New York Richard Bergstrom, Root River Area Toni Daniels, Greater Cincinnati Patrick Hudson, Kalamazoo Area Alan Bernard, Oak Openings Re- Tala Davidson, Kalamazoo Area Sally D. Hunt, Tennessee Valley gion Catherine M. Davis, Red Cedar Chris Jacobs, Fox Valley Area Corey Bertcher, Ann Arbor Ann Demorest, Milwaukee-North Laura Jaquish, Grand Traverse Deborah Betz, Kalamazoo Area Connie DeRosia, Partner At Large Cecilia Johnson, Columbus Lloyd Borer, Oak Openings Region Pamela Dewey, Kalamazoo Area Sandra Johnson, Kalamazoo Area Yung Borodkin, Lake-To-Prairie Andrea DiOrio, Greater DuPage Robert Kahl, Fox Valley Area Dorothy Boyer, Milwaukee-North Arlene Doran, Lake-To-Prairie Robert A. Kincses, Dayton Area Merrily Brandt, St. Croix Oak Sa- Maddie Dumas, Madison Glynis Kinnan, West Cook vanna Ingrid K. Eckersberg, Greater DuP- Debbie Kitchell, Illinois Prairie Kathy Brehm, River City-Grand age Arlene Kjar, Northfield Prairie Part- Rapids Area Joyce Eckes, Prairie Edge ners Gary Britton, Menomonee River Karen Eckman, Big River Big Woods Gloria Ann Klimek, Northern Kane Area Rod Eggert, Menomonee River Area County Bob Brown, Kalamazoo Area Marylou Enneking, North Oakland Janice Kooiker, Loess Hills Pat Brust, Milwaukee-South- Kathryn Farniok, Big River Big Barbara Korbel, Illinois Prairie west-Wehr Woods Gordon Korthals, Fox Valley Area Mary Bryan, Tennessee Valley Diane Fell, Fox Valley Area Janet Kortuem, St. Croix Oak Sa- Don Byrne, Chesapeake Shelley Fentress, Gibson Woods vanna Susan Carpenter, Madison Cathy Ferrari, Columbus Tina Kramer, Greater Cincinnati Nancy Cassano, Kettle Moraine John Fetters, Madison Ken Kuester, Wolf River

• 34 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Elsie Lackey, Greater Cincinnati Laurie Lawlor, Kettle Moraine Martha Lee, Central Wisconsin Karen A. Leopold, Oak Openings Region Dr. Ray Leppik, River City-Grand Rapids Area Ruth Little, Rock River Valley Jerilyn Long, Northfield Prairie Part- ners Ellen Luhman, Milwaukee-North Kathleen Mallen, Greater DuPage Sandy Mantel, Gibson Woods John Marcum, Partner At Large Larry Margolis, Twin Cities

David Mason, Red Cedar Photo by Janet Allen Doug McCarty, Illinois Prairie Kathy McDonald, Greater Cincinnati Janet McKenzie Rosemary McLeod, Red Cedar Mary Ann Menck, Kalamazoo Area Mary L. Mercier, Illinois Prairie Janet Allen says she was surprised to read that pollinators like thistle, so she purchased pasture thistle Maureen Mertens, Milwaukee-North (Cirsium discolor) and found that bees do like it. Anne D. Meyer, Rock River Valley Linda Mihel, Lake-To-Prairie Bonnie Miller, Partner At Large Marilyn Rees, Habitat Gardening in Laura Strehlow, Kalamazoo Area James Miller, Habitat Gardening in Central New York Sue Styer, Northern Kane County Central New York Linda Rehorst, St. Croix Oak Sa- Anna Lisa Swartz, Twin Cities John Miller, Tennessee Valley vanna Regi Teasley, Habitat Gardening in JoAnn Monge, Greater DuPage David Reilly, Habitat Gardening in Central New York Donald Nekrosius, West Cook Central New York Maria Terres-Sandgren, Milwau- Mary Norman, Milwaukee North Martha Rice, Twin Cities kee-North Emily Oaks, Habitat Gardening in Stephen Rice, Northern Kane County Karen Thomas, Lake-To-Prairie Central New York Beverly Ringsak Janine Trede, Menomonee River Sandy O’Brien, Gibson Woods Louise Russell, Tennessee Valley Area Diane S. O’Connell, Gibson Woods Andrea Sanford, Smoky Mountains Sharon Tuthill, Habitat Gardening in Bonnie O’Leske, Partner At Large Rose Schulte, St. Louis Central New York Diane M. Olson-Schmidt, Linda Schwartz, Arrowhead Fredericka Veikley, Partner At Large Menomonee River Ara Laura Shaddak, Habitat Gardening in Marguerite Waddell, Lexington Jeanne Ortega, St. Louis Central New York John Waldman, Madison Linda Sue Ortman, River City-Grand Kristina Shaneyfelt, Tennessee Valley Margaret Walker, West Cook Rapids Area Rachel Shaw, Ann Arbor Mary Weeks, Twin Cities Shirley Paris, Red Cedar Jessica Shiffler, Partner At Large Cathy Wegner, Milwaukee-South- Edie Parnum, Partner At Large Laura Shimkus, Greater DuPage west-Wehr Mary Peranteau, West Cook Donna Sibilsky, Kettle Moraine Bonnie Weisel, Madison Ann Petric, West Cook Donna Smith, Central Wisconsin Michelle Wenisch, Chesapeake Robert Pfeil, Lake-To-Prairie Kathy Smith, Twin Cities Kevin Willbond, Oak Openings Sarah Pick, Partner At Large Nancy Sobczak, Menomonee River Region Leslie Pilgrim, Twin Cities Area Bernice Williams, St. Louis John Piston, Habitat Gardening in Susan Spalding, Lexington Deborah Wolterman, Greater Cin- Central New York Randi Starmer, Habitat Gardening in cinnati Karin Preus, Big River Big Woods Central New York David Wrede, Lexington Marybeth Pritschet, Kalamazoo Area Serena Stephenson, Greater Cincin- Brenda Young, Partner At Large Greg Rajsky, Rock River Valley nati Katherine Zens, Milwaukee-North Ray Ziarno, Red Cedar

• 35 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Please support our business members who support our organization

COLORADO Red Stem Native Landscapes MINNESOTA Pawnee Buttes Seed Co. 1255 W. Winona St. Ecoscapes Sustainable Landscaping 605 25th St. Chicago, IL 60640 and Native Nursery Greeley, CO 80631 [email protected] 25755 Zachary Ave. [email protected] https://www.redstemlandscapes. Elko, MN 55020 https://pawneebuttesseed.com/ com/ [email protected] http://www.ecoscapes1.com/ ILLINOIS The Growing Place Midwest LLC & 25W471 Plank Road Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens Natural Garden Natives Naperville, IL 60563 7555 Cty. Rd. 116 6N800 IL Route 25, P.O. Box 748 [email protected] Corcoran, MN 55340 St. Charles, IL 60174 https://www.thegrowingplace. [email protected] [email protected] com/ https://www.growhausmn.com/ https://www.midwestgroundcov- ers.com/ MICHIGAN Minnesota Native Landscapes, Inc. Creating Sustainable Landscapes 8740 77th St. NE Natural Communities LLC Otsego, MN 55362 19 Circle Dr. 24291 Homestead Court [email protected] Algonquin, IL 60449 Novi, MI 48374 https://mnnativelandscapes.com/ [email protected] drew@creatingsustainableland- https://naturalcommunities.net/ scapes.com Prairie Moon Nursery https://www.creatingsustainable- 32115 Prairie Lane Possibility Place Nursery landscapes.com/ Winona, MN 55987 7548 W Monee Manhattan Road [email protected] Monee, IL 60449 Four Season Nursery https://www.prairiemoon.com/ [email protected] 7557 Harry’s Road https://www.possibilityplace.com/ Traverse City, MI 49684 Shooting Star Native Seeds [email protected] P.O. Box 648 Red Buffalo Nursery http://fourseasonnursery.biz/ Spring Grove, MN 55974 5515 Hill Road [email protected] Richmond, IL 60071 WILDTYPE Native Plant Nursery, https://www.shootingstarnative- [email protected] Ltd. seed.com/ http://redbuffalonursery.com/ 900 N. Every Road Mason, MI 48854 MISSOURI [email protected] St. Louis Native Plants, LLC https://www.wildtypeplants.com/ 3910 Connecticut St. St. Louis, MO 63116 [email protected] http://stlouisnativeplants.com/

• 36 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Please support our business members who support our organization

NEW MEXICO GroWild Inc. Lacewing Gardening & Consulting Waterwise Gardening, LLC 7190 Hill Hughes Road Services 2902 Rufina St., Unit A Fairview, TN 37062 6087 N. Denmark St. Santa Fe, NM 87507 [email protected] Milwaukee, WI 53225 [email protected] http://www.growildinc.com/ [email protected] https://www.waterwisegardening. com/ Hutton Lakeshore Cleaners Inc. Chattanooga, Tennessee 4623 N. Richmond St. NEW YORK [email protected] Appleton, WI 54913 Amanda’s Garden http://hutton.build/ [email protected] 8030 Story Road http://www.lakeshorecleanersinc. Danville, NY 14437 Supply com/home.aspx [email protected] 3009 Wood Ave. https://www.amandasnativeplants. Chattanooga, TN 37406 NES Ecological Services com/ [email protected] 1250 Centennial Centre Blvd. https://urbanhorticulturesupply. Hobart, WI 54155 OHIO com/ [email protected] Indigenous Landscapes http://neswi.com/ 7995 Oakbridge Way Walter G. George Soil Consul- Cincinnati, OH 45248 tants Northern Native Plantscapes [email protected] 23 Tee Pee Trail 25350 S. Garden Ave. https://indigescapes.com/ Blue Ridge, TN 37708 Cable, WI 54821 [email protected] [email protected] PENNSYLVANIA https://www.waltgeorgesoils.com/ Ernst Conservation Seeds Quercus Land Stewardship 8884 Mercer Pike WISCONSIN 4681 County Rd. JJ Meadville, PA 16335 Cason & Associates LLC Black Earth, WI 53515 [email protected] https://www.ernstseed.com/ P.O. Box 230 [email protected] Berlin, WI 54923 https://quercuslandstewardship. TENNESSEE [email protected] com/ Bleeding Hearts Landscaping https://casonassociates.com/ 1316 McChesey Ave. Wild Birds Unlimited Nashville, TN 37216 Formecology LLC 2285 S. Oneida St. Ste D [email protected] 210 Cemetery Road Green Bay, WI 54304 https://bleedinghearthome.com/ Evansville, WI 53536 [email protected] [email protected] https://www.wbu.com/ Grassland Aquatics https://formecology.com/ 2164 Hillsboro Road Franklin, TN 37069 Hickory Road Gardens [email protected] 140271 Saturn Road https://shop.grasslandaquatics. Mosinee, WI 54455 com/ [email protected]

• 37 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org Thank you for your contributions

GENERAL OPERATING FUND - Heckrodt Wetland Reserve AFFILIATE NEW CHAPTER SUPPORT 1605 Plank Road 1000 Edwards Lane Tennessee Valley Chapter Menasha, WI 54952 Clarksville, TN 37043 Lexington Chapter https://www.heckrodtnaturecenter. [email protected] Wolf River Chapter org/ Amanda Blount [email protected] GENERAL OPERATING FUND – Tracey Koenig Pollinator Friendly Alliance MATCHING DONATIONS P.O. Box 934 Lake Katherine Nature Center Stillwater, MN 55082 Laura Strehlow and Pfizer Foun- 7402 W. Lake Katherine Drive www.pollinatorfriendly.org dation, Kalamazoo Area Palos Heights, IL 60463 [email protected] GENERAL OPERATING FUND – www.lakekatherine.org Laurie Schneider SPECIFIC FUND [email protected] Sara Barnas University of Arkansas Fay Jones Janice Hand, Partner At Large School of Architecture Lloyd Library PHOTO CONTEST FUND 10771 Wooton Road 917 Plum St. Westfork, AR 72774 Denise Gehring, Oak Openings Cincinnati, OH 45202 [email protected] Region www.lloydlibrary.org Scott Biehle Matthew Ross, Southeastern Penn- [email protected] sylvania Seedling Severson Dells Nature Center AFFILIATE RENEWAL 8786 Montague Road Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Rockford, IL 61102 2025 Fulton St,. E www.seversondells.org Grand Rapids, MI 45503 [email protected] www.grdominicans.org Ann Wasser [email protected] Lucille Janowiak

Join Wild Ones… Prefer to send a check? Go to www.wildones.org Mail your membership fee to: Pick the membership level that’s right for you. Wild Ones 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Rd. Neenah, WI 54956 Whether you’re joining for the first time, or renewing for the umpteenth time… it’s easy to do.

• 38 • Wild Ones Journal • Spring 2020 • Vol. 33, No. 1 • wildones.org