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a voice for the natural landscaping movement

N A T I V E P L A N T S , N A T U R A L L A N D S C A P E S JOURNAL NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 Neil Diboll’s State of the Lawn Address VOL. 21, NO. 6 On the last day of the Annual Meeting, a Sunday morning, the closing inside plenary thoughts were delivered by keynote speaker, and newly nomi- Notes from the President: nated Honorary Director Neil Diboll, with enthusiastic audience participa- Let’s stop to enjoy the tion, in what turned out to be a heady consciousness-raising meeting. accomplishments of the You should have been there. year. 2 Diboll’s entire 20,000-word address may be read on the Wild Ones Ecoscaper Certification web site. For purposes of brevity, and to save a couple of trees, the Program: Enhance your knowledge and Journal is pleased to give you the last 2,000 words, which summarize get credit for your accomplishments. 3 for you the substance of Diboll’s uplifting message. Wild Ones Helping With At this point Diboll had delivered his arguments and was launching Fox River PCB Cleanup. 3 Niel Diboll into his conclusions: Keynote Speaker Next Generation: Giving Thanks for Dung. 6 Which brings us to why oil and water will strongly influence the future of the American Landscape. Seeds for Education The four largest crops in America, not necessarily in order of total acreage, are: Corn, soybeans, Grant Program Application Date 7 wheat, and lawn. That’s a lot of lawn. And what does it require to maintain all this lawn? Energy Invasives on the Horizon: Burning Bush. 7 and water. SALT Meets Wild Ones in Connecticut. 8 Lawn and Energy It has been calculated that the average American lawn receives four times the volume of chemical Green Gables: Part 4 of applications as an average farm field. And where do these fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and the an American landscape designed with nature in like come from? Most pesticides are derived from petrochemicals. The production of nitrogen and mind. 10 phosphorus fertilizers is extremely energy intensive. Add to that the trucking costs for delivery around the country; and then there is the additional energy cost of hauling away the product of all Business members. 12 the fertilizing – the lawn clippings to the landfill or community compost pile. 2008 Photo Contest: Better Than Ever. 13 And of course, mowing all that lawn requires a lot of gasoline. People are beginning to balk at No Child Left Inside. 14 paying $4 a gallon to fill up their mowers. What’s New At the Wild Lawn and Air Pollution Ones Store. 15 It has been estimated that 25 percent of the air pollution in the state of California is generated The Meeting Place: by two-cycle engines, primarily lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and other lawn care machinery. The Chapter contact “Mow, Blow, and Go” landscape practices they support contribute significantly to the compro- information. 16 mised air quality that so characterizes many urban areas in the western United States where photo- Coming Events: Meetings, conferences, chemical smog is often a problem. etc. 17 The inescapable fact is that we simply will not be able to afford to maintain large expanses of lawn in More Chapter Notes. 18 the future, both economically and environmentally. Why the Preoccupation with Lawn in America? A Short History Wild Ones membership form. 23 Taking an anthropological viewpoint, it is likely that humans have long preferred an open land- scape around their dwellings. This allows us to readily determine who might be entering our terri- Thank you. Back cover. tory, be they friend or foe. The lawn serves this purpose nicely. You can’t hide in 2-inch tall turf. Mowed lawn can provide a sense of security, both tactically and socially. Lawn was also a status symbol in England in the 18th and 19th centuries. Only the wealthy owned land and could afford to pay the gardeners that were required to maintain a lawn. With the rise of the American middle class in the late 19th century, and the development of mechanized Working toward our next mowing machines, possessing a lawn became an economic reality for thousands of homeowners. 25 years restoring native plants Now, they too, could emulate the lifestyle of wealthy Europeans. and natural landscapes. It is easy to see how the great landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted conceived of the lawn as the “great democratizer” of the landscape. The fenced properties of CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 70257-WildOnes NovDec Journal:journalmayjune2006.qxd 10/20/08 2:58 PM Page 2

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT Let’s Stop to Enjoy the Accomplishments of the Year As November and December bring 2008 We’ve gone from a 9-inch x 12-inch post office to a close let’s stop to enjoy the accomplish- box to a new headquarters building. ments of the year. At the national level Wild Ones made Already they are bringing new energy, experience and ideas to great strides forward, from a 9-inch x the table. 12-inch post office box and file cabinets What will 2009 bring? On a large scale I certainly hope it brings in the basement of our executive director’s peace, economic stability, justice, and an end to poverty. One does home to a real street address at our new what one can on those issues, which unfortunately often seem too headquarters building, with acreage ripe for planting and educat- big to tackle. On the little postage stamp of Earth over which I have ing. Thank you again to all of you who have donated so much to most control, my yard, I hope to foster peace between humans and make this dream come true. nature by sharing the space freely with the other species. Construction to turn the home into the Wild Ones Institute for Justice I can promote by continuing Wild Ones’ message against Learning and Development (WILD) Center began this fall, and we unnecessary manufacture and overuse of toxic lawn chemicals, and hope to be officially open to the public soon. In August, members for beautiful, diverse landscapes that are alive and make a stand got a chance to take a peek at the building and enjoy the annual against the poverty of sterile, lawn-dominated landscapes that de- meeting and conference under the big top tent in the yard. As prive children of safe places to be with nature. As for economics – always, seeing old friends and meeting new ones was uplifting well, I have saved quite a bit of seeds this fall, so I do have some and inspiring. “savings.” During our third-quarter National Board meeting at the On the National Board we are working hard to make 2009 the WILD Center we welcomed four new board members. Kathy year that Wild Ones leaps forward in membership, influence, and Dame, of the Connecticut College Arboretum’s Mountain Laurel recognition. We feel Wild Ones is poised to take off – we have a real (CT) Chapter of Wild Ones, helps bring representation of our most HQ, all things green are popular, oil and water are getting scarce, easterly members, along with existing Director Janet Allen of the and we’re focusing on marketing. We’d be delighted to hear your Habitat Gardening Chapter of Central New York. Other new direc- ideas. E-mail me at [email protected]. tors include Chris McCullough from Greater Cincinnati (OH) Wishing you a peaceful and Green New Year. p Chapter, Karen Syverson from Fox Valley Area (WI) Chapter, and Carol Andrews, Wild Ones National President Carol Phelps of the relatively new Grand Rapids (MI) Chapter. [email protected]

Wild Ones Journal (ISSN 1551-9155) is published Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes promotes environmentally sound bimonthly by Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural landscaping practices to encourage biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, Landscapes. Views expressed are the opinions of and establishment of native plant communities. Wild Ones is a not-for-profit, the authors. Journal content may be reproduced environmental, educational, and advocacy organization. for non-profit educational purposes as long as the Journal is credited as the source. Individual articles that carry a copyright are the property of the author NATIONAL OFFICE and cannot be reproduced without the author’s Executive Director LIBRARIAN written permission. No artwork may be reproduced, Donna VanBuecken Robert Ryf • 920-361-0792 except to accompany its original companion text, P.O. Box 1274, Appleton, WI 54912-1274 [email protected] without written permission of the illustrator or pho- 877-FYI-WILD (394-9453) tographer. Contact editor if in doubt about use 920-730-3986 MEETING COORDINATOR rights. Manuscripts and illustrations are welcome; Fax: 920-730-3986 Mary Paquette • 920-994-2505 Wild Ones does not pay for articles, photos or illus- [email protected] [email protected] trations. For guidelines for submitting material, con- President tact editor or see Wild Ones web site. Advertisers: Carol Andrews • 218-730-9954 BOARD MEMBERS Contact National Office for rates and schedule. [email protected] Carol Andrews, Minnesota, 10 Patricia Armstrong, Illinois, 08 WILD ONES JOURNAL EDITOR Past President Portia Brown, Kentucky, 08 Maryann Whitman • 248-652-4004 Joe Powelka • 608-837-6308 Mark Charles, Michigan, 08 [email protected] [email protected] Teresa Gallion, Maryland, 08 (Please indicate topic in subject line.) Secretary Tim Lewis, Illinois, 08 Debi Wolterman • 513-934-3894 Steve Maassen, Wisconsin, 08 WILD ONES JOURNAL STAFF [email protected] Diane Powelka, Wisconsin, 10 Barbara Bray, Contributing Editor Treasurer Joe Powelka, Wisconsin, 10 Celia Larsen, Contributing Editor Marty Rice • 952-927-6531 Bret Rappaport, Illinois, 08 Mandy Ploch, Contributing Editor [email protected] Maryann Whitman, Michigan, 10 Janet Allen, Contributing Editor Communications Committee Chair Marty Rice, Minnesota, 10 Bret Rappaport Scott Woodbury, Missouri, 10 Wild Ones recommends that you patronize [email protected] Debi Wolterman, Ohio, 08 businesses that support our policies regarding Janet Allen, New York, 10 Seeds for Education Director species provenance and habitat preservation. The appearance of advertising in the Journal Steve Maassen • 920-233-5914 HONORARY DIRECTORS does not constitute an endorsement by Wild [email protected] Darrel Morrison, FASLA, New York Ones of any organization or product. Web Site Coordinator Lorrie Otto, Wisconsin Peter Chen • [email protected] Craig Tufts, Virginia Copyright © 2008 by Wild Ones. Andy & Sally Wasowski, New Mexico Printed on recycled paper.

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Writers Wild Ones Helping With & Artists Fox River PCB Cleanup Neil Diboll, owner of the Prairie Nursery, in Westfield, Wisconsin, and newly nominated Honorary Director of Wild Ones, was the keynote speaker at the Wild Ones Annual Meeting and Conference in August. Barbara Bray is a Journal Contributing Editor, and President of the Oakland Chapter (MI) of Wild Ones. Janet Allen is a Journal Contributing Editor and President of the Habitat Gardening in Central New York (NY) Chapter. Joan Rudolph works as the Adminis- trative Assistant at The WILD Center. Kathy Dame is the Assistant Director Helping GW Partners, LLC, with the cleanup, means a healthier environment, a way of the Connecticut College Arbore- for us to own The WILD Center debt free, and no PCBs will be stored on the property. tum, and a founding member of the Connecticut Mountain Laurel (CT) Wild Ones has signed a lease with GW Partners, LLC, to use 4 acres of upland, part of Chapter of Wild Ones. The WILD Center property, for the next two years. GW Partners will use this area to store the sand they use in conjunction with the capping function related to the PCB cleanup of the Fox River water system. There will be no PCBs stored on our property – and the mone- tary terms of this lease will allow Wild Ones to own the entire WILD Center site debt free. ECOSCAPER Also, upon completion of the project, GW Partners will work with Wild Ones to restore the site as an oak savanna. The Fox River is the site of one of the largest PCB-contamination clean-up projects in the world. Wild Ones is pleased to be able to play a small part in reverting this river to a healthier environment. Learn more about the PCB clean-up process. Also, check these web sites for more information about GW Partners and the PCB removal project: littlelakecleanup.com pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2001/oct/tech/rr_foxriver.html epa.gov/region5/sites/foxriver/ dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/foxriver/pcbhistory.htm dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/foxriver/ Somewhere between a prairie and a formal planting lies the fertile potential of native plnts in an ornamental design, the domain of the Ecoscaper – which is a brilliant synthesis in language of the two concepts, landscaper and ecologist. With this in mind, Wild Ones has developed the Ecoscaper Certification Program. Enhance your knowledge and get credit for your accomplish- ments. Visit www.ecoscaper.org for more information or to enroll.

The lease also provides for a driveway, constructed by GW Partners, which we will be able to continue to use as The WILD Center driveway/parking area, upon completion of the project.

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STATE OF THE LAWN ADDRESS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Europe were viewed by some landscape architects of that time as separating people from one another: neighbor from neighbor, American from fellow American. The lawn presented an opportu- nity to create free, unbroken expanses stretching across property lines and class lines in the fresh new suburbs of a rising nation. The very concept of “lawn” was associated with the closely held Ameri- can values of freedom and upward social mobility. So when your neighbors frown upon your “messy” and “weedy” natural landscape, they are probably not reacting solely from the standpoint of imposing their landscape taste upon their neighbor. Those of us who are so bold as to violate the unspoken “Social Covenant of the Lawn” are actually assailing the bedrock values that most Americans hold dear: Social class and assimilation into pesticides increases, the lawn begins to look like a luxury. When the greater society. The planting of a prairie in your front yard is not it hurts your pocketbook to fill up your riding mower, then more merely a landscaping sin – it is an affront to the greater group, their prairies may be on the horizon. shared values, and sense of propriety. In some suburban circles the We all know the compelling reasons for planting sustainable, planting of prairie is actually viewed as a serious social faux pas – native landscapes: Land and water conservation, wildlife habitat, it requires that action be taken by the authorities to restore the flood control, reduced chemicals in the environment, lower water proper landscape order. consumption, reduced costs, and dynamic, living ecosystems that Lawn is also the perfect example of our need to control and soothe the soul. But what single other factor may eventually trump dominate nature. Don’t let that grass grow up to its natural height. all of these benefits? Carbon. Keep those pesky weeds at bay. And by all means, don’t let those Consider the carbon footprint of the prairie versus the lawn. bugs find a home in your yard. The amount of energy required to maintain a lawn is astronomical. In Olmsted’s day, lawns were not maintained with a witch’s When you total up the energy required to mow the outdoor carpet brew of chemicals and loud, smoking machines. The environmen- weekly, fertilize it two to tal impact of the lawn of a hundred years ago was relatively light. four times a year, and de- We didn’t have the technological know-how to poison our back pestify, defungify and de- yards and water resources back then. The scream of the power weed it, it really adds up. mower was not yet available to shatter the sacred silence of a week- And the carbon foot- end morning. We had yet to progress to the sophisticated level of print of the prairie? Almost landscape maintenance that we enjoy today. negligible. No fertilizers, Despite our evolutionary attraction to a low-growing landscape no fungicides, perhaps an around our settlements and the allegedly egalitarian social aspect occasional spot application of the lawn, it is not the answer to every landscape situation. Out- of herbicide to control a side the “territorial safety zone” of our homes and buildings, we wayward weed, and an annual mowing or biennial burning. have the opportunity to create wilder, more diverse, and healthier The only carbon that comes off the prairie is the smoke from a landscapes. If these landscapes should conveniently require less spring burn. And that carbon is soon absorbed back by the plants maintenance and less money, we now have the answer to many a during the growing season and converted into new leaves, shoots, landscape dream. and roots. An ecologically sound, economically-attractive alternative to Prairies are actually net carbon sinks, since much of the carbon mowing the lawn would be welcomed by a host of home-owning dioxide they extract from the air goes into their roots. The average weekend warriors, not to mention the cost-conscious captains prairie plant has about two thirds of its living biomass under- of corporate America. And what native-plant community is best ground in its root systems. Approximately one third of the root suited to the wide open spaces presently claimed by the lawns of mass of the average prairie grass dies back every year, adding America? None other than the nearly-extirpated North American organic matter to the soil and sequestering carbon from the prairie. atmosphere. The Future All that rich, black soil in what is now the Corn Belt is the Do we dare to hope that people are finally coming to their accumulation of thousands of years of carbon dioxide, extracted senses? Now that the “Era of Cheap Energy” is over, will the citi- from the atmosphere by solar powered prairie plants. Even though zens of our land finally embrace the values of conservation and the above-ground biomass of prairie plant – the leaves and stems – stewardship? As with almost all human endeavors, change comes is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide through painfully and usually as a result of economic forces. The only thing prairie burns or by microbial breakdown, the net effect is that the that has gotten people to give up their gas guzzlers is the high price prairie sequesters more carbon than it releases from year to year, of gas. thanks to the exceptional root systems of its many flowers and The only force that will increasingly push people toward living grasses. more sustainable and ecological lifestyles is the increasing cost of And that may be one of the most compelling reasons to plant pushing nature around. As the price of gasoline, fertilizers, and prairies and other native plant communities that we will ever have.

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Wild Ones Legacy Program Get Involved Involved

Get Involved, Stay Involved, With Wild Ones But ultimately, the decision as to how to landscape our homes, There are many ways to help Wild Ones promote environ- offices, and parks will come down largely to economics. When it simply becomes too expensive to pay for the fuel and water mentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity required to maintain the energy-intensive luxury lawn – (ever through the preservation, restoration and establishment of notice that the turf fertilizer advertisers always refer to a luxurious native plant communities. lawn?) – then new alternatives will be implemented. Annual Support: Wild Ones Champions provide dependable We are slowly starting to see more and more people opting for income for Wild Ones programs by making their annual gifts a native landscape with greatly reduced life-cycle costs, compared through convenient monthly deductions via credit card or to more expensive lawns. The average annual cost of a manicured direct debit from a designated financial account. lawn over a 20-year period is between three and 20 times that of a prairie (depending upon whether the lawn is established by seed or Bur Oak Circle: Donors who make annual gifts of $1,000 sod, the level of annual maintenance, and whether an irrigation or more. system was installed). As the cost to support this two-dimensional Oak Savanna Circle: Members who have loyally supported ecological desert continues to increase, simple economics will Wild Ones for at least 15 years or more. dictate that viable alternatives must be found. However, prairie is not the answer to every landscape Employee Matching Gift Program: Many companies and application. organizations will match employee contributions. One obviously would not want to plant a prairie right up to the Special Gifts and Heritage: The Wild Ones Legacy Program house, especially if burning is the preferred method of manage- provides the opportunity to gift appreciated stock, real prop- ment. There are other solutions for areas where lawn is preferable, due to the proximity to buildings, shaded conditions, or alternative erty, in-kind gifts, IRA-rollover gifts (option through December uses. (It’s pretty tough to play croquet in the prairie.) 2007 per the Pension Protection Act of 2006) and multi-year For these situations, many people are seeding a “No Mow” commitments. Bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts and fescue lawn mix. This blend of slow-growing turf varieties is derived other planned giving vehicles provide significant support to from native fescue grasses. It requires little or no fertilizing, is more Wild Ones while also benefiting the donors and their families. drought resistant than bluegrass, and has an innate ability to crowd Volunteer: More than 4,000 people annually volunteer their out many weeds. It also has the ability to grow in shady conditions, time and energy for land conservation, and community garden and tolerates higher salt levels than most other turf grasses. For plantings and for the Wild Ones EcoCenter. situations that do not call for the planting of a prairie, this is an excellent alternative to the high-maintenance, costly lawns that Lifetime Members: Long-term commitment to Wild Ones consume our precious energy and water resources. mission and its goals. As we come to terms with the new realities of limited oil, For more information on supporting Wild Ones through water, and other resources, it is inevitable that ecologically the Get Wild Stay Wild Program, please contact Donna sustainable landscapes will replace the old, high-maintenance lawns of the past. Perhaps our future status symbols will be based VanBuecken, Executive Director, Wild Ones, not on how much we consume, but on how little impact we each P.O. Box 1274, Appleton, Wisconsin 54912 have on our planet. Instead of measuring success by how large a 877-394-9453 house we own, or how big a vehicle we drive, social status will be execdirector@ awarded based upon how little of the Earth’s bounty we consume. for-wild.org, Maybe, just maybe, we will someday be measured in terms of how or check us much of the world’s resources and natural beauty we preserve for out at our future generations. Now that’s a horizon I can look forward to web site: p seeing. www.for-wild.org/ legacy/. Photos by Karen Syverson, Kay Lettau, and Eileen Herrling.

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NEXT GENERATION Giving Thanks for Dung

By Barbara Bray

Is It Possible to Have Too Many Books? Nahhh..we don’t think so, either. That’s why we My quest began with an eastern box turtle. Box turtles are forest-dwelling turtles with make the Wild Ones Amazon-Associate patterned shells resembling the dappled sunlit forest floor. In captivity box turtles eat straw- Bookstore our favorite place to shop for berries, carrots, cantaloupe, and other fruits and vegetables. In their natural habitat they eat books. And more. Books, computers, insects, worms, and various fruits, including the egg-shaped fruits of the colony-forming software, cameras. Whatever it is, there’s May apple (Podophyllum peltatum). As with all living creatures, the food is digested and the a good chance you can find it in our animal excretes the by-products of this process as well as indigestible matter such as certain Amazon-Associate Bookstore. The store seeds. May apple seeds passing through a box turtle’s body not only are unharmed, but is open 24 hours a day, the prices are actually will germinate better. This is because the digestive process reduces the thickness of competitive, and the selection is amaz- the seed coat. Eastern box turtles significantly improve the germination of May apple seeds, ing – plus Amazon pays Wild Ones a and they are a primary dispersal agent of this woodland wildflower. Are they perhaps nice commission for almost every pur- responsible for my small colony of May apples? I wish they were, but my main dung chase. www.for-wild.org/store/bookstore. depositor is much larger. I have a love-hate relationship with deer. Although the deer are beautiful to watch, I hate when they eat my precious few trilliums or all the buds off my columbine as they did this year. They also eat fruits from the forest and backyards. These efficient eaters have a special Seeds for Education four-chambered stomach permitting them to eat quickly and then settle down to digest it Grant Program later. After about 20 hours the food is completely digested and converted into fuel for the Application Date deer. Anything leftover – ends up in my back yard. Thanks to these constant and sometimes messy deposits, I have noticed small areas of organically fertilized lawn and new seedlings Coming Up Soon sprouting here and there. Although deer dung is rumored to carry trillium seeds, I usually Now is the time to be thinking about get a bunch of wild black cherry seedlings or a bunch of buckthorn. your local school, church, But the fun doesn’t stop here. If you look closely at a day-old dung pat, you might notice or other non-profit a few holes in it. If your stomach doesn’t turn over, use a stick to flip the dung pat and look organization that is for signs of life. I found three different kinds of beetles on the deer dung in my yard. One of developing an outdoor them was about 1/4-inch long, with spiny legs perfect for crawling in and around a pile of learning center that dung. Why should you care about dung beetles? Dung beetles are an important group of the Lorrie Otto insects that help to decompose animal detritus. There are over 90 species in the United Seeds for Education States, and they range in size from 0.1-inch to 2.5-inches long. With adequate populations, Grant Program dung beetle larvae can completely remove a pile in 24 hours. Isn’t that amazing? Dung applications are beetles were also an important component of prairies. Their tunneling behavior helped due November to improve nutrient recycling, soil structure, and plant growth. Visit the web site of the 15, 2008. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service and you can learn how to build a dung beetle “farm.” Their research into the importance of dung beetles in cattle pastures is To learn more about the Seeds for also very interesting. Education Program (SFE), go to I hope that you have stuck with me this far because now I must burst that rosy- www.for-wild.org/seededuc.html – colored bubble involving our beautiful friends, the butterflies. We all know that butterflies or to download the grant application, sip nectar from flowers, but did you know that they also are attracted to bird droppings and go to www.for-wild.org/sfecvr.html. other feces? Bird droppings and dung contain nutrients like sodium and proteins that You might also check with your local apparently help butterflies’ reproductive success. Some people even suggest that dung piles Wild Ones chapter to see if they are a good place to find butterflies. I have seen slugs, flies, and beetles enjoying a dung feast, provide grant programs locally for but no butterflies yet. I will keep looking, though, for now I know that dung has a place in SFE projects. nature too. I hope you will join me. p

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BURNING BUSH By Janet Allen

By Janet Allen

The Northeast is renowned for its fall color reported in Montana. Because of its expan- Those still not convinced of burning – the reds and golds of maples, the yellows sion, it has earned a place on the Red Alert bush’s ecological dangers might neverthe- of clethra and spicebush, the ruby glow of list compiled by The Nature Conservancy’s less be lured away from the plant by discov- blueberry and chokeberry bushes. And, Global Invasive Species Team. ering the many beautiful native alternatives since its introduction to the United States, But – suggest that burning bush may (see box below). Burning bush in the fall from Asia in the 1860s, the gaudy red of not be a good landscape choice, and you may be eye-catching, but even devotees burning bush (Euonymus alata), also known may encounter resistance – even hostility. have to admit that it’s downright plain the as winged euonymus, winged wahoo, People love the fall color. Unlike other rest of the year. On the other hand, many winged spindle-tree, or Japanese spindle- invasives, like garlic mustard or Japanese native shrubs not only provide vibrant fall tree, has established itself as part of our fall knotweed, they are not likely to have color, but have other good qualities color. As a young homeowner, I, too, craved noticed it invading nearby natural areas. throughout the year: More attractive foliage, that fall color, and it was one of the first As anyone who has tried to control a plant flowers, and berries. Further, you’ll have a shrubs I planted. But when I learned about invasion will tell you, the time to manage it distinctive landscape: The only one on your the threats to ecosystems posed by invasive is before it becomes an obvious problem, block without a burning bush. p plants like burning bush, it was one of the not after. first I yanked out. To eradicate burning bushes, you can Some Native Burning bush is ubiquitous in my part hand-pull seedlings that may have sprouted Alternatives to of the country, found in yards, commercial nearby and dig up the parent plant if it’s Burning Bush areas, and public places – sometimes just a not too big. For the larger specimen, this Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), can be 18-feet tall and wide – just keep cut- bush or two, but often in long hedges. Liter- Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), mapleleaf ally hundreds outline a nearby public park. ting it to the ground until it gives up. For viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), highbush I’ve even seen it planted in the landscaped large infestations, you’ll probably need to blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), silky areas of our state parks – places that should resort to systemic herbicides, carefully fol- dogwood (Cornus amomum), and fragrant or shining sumac (Rhus aromatica or instead be showcasing our own indigenous lowing directions for either cut-stump or R. copallina). plants that support our wildlife. foliar treatment. Like many non-native plants, it has no serious pests, and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, including full shade. This adaptability is one of the reasons for its popularity and, by the same token, for its invasive potential. Unfortunately, its popularity also makes its escape into natural areas all the more possible. The bush spreads in its immediate vicinity by means of the “seed shadow,” the blanket of seedlings that germinate right below the parent plant. Berry-eating birds also dis- perse the seeds to new areas through their droppings. Dense thickets of burning bush shade and crowd out native plants, threat- ening woodlands, fields, prairies, and coastal scrubland. So far, its movement into natural areas has been most notable in Connecticut, Vir- ginia, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, but it’s found throughout New England, south to northern Florida and the Gulf Coast, and Winged Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus). west to Iowa and Missouri. It has even been Photo by James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.

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SALT Meets Wild Ones in Connecticut natives, eventually the grass will be shaded The concept of naturalistic landscaping By becoming an environmental model in energy out. In the meantime, the homeowner can was far from new to Bill Niering. Energy conservation, recyling, and preserving biodiversity, continue to mow around the plantings, we mimic those self-perpetuting natural eco- add leaves or wood chips to smother the Dr. Niering felt that even the noise systems – forests, meadows, and wetlands – that have survived for many thousands of years. grass, or begin to plant ground covers. pollution from using a power mower – William A. Niering Niering suggested that homeowners con- was an insult that neighbors should vert a portion of their current lawn to a By Kathy T. Dame not have to tolerate. meadow by simply stopping mowing it. On June 6th of 1997, at a Connecticut It is amazing the diversity of plants that are Conservation on the Home Grounds: The Role College Arboretum gathering, Dr. William just sitting there waiting to flower, espe- of Naturalistic Landscaping, written by A. Niering, a Professor of Botany at the col- cially if the owner has not been using weed Niering, was published by the Connecticut lege, announced his latest initiative – the killers or fertilizers. Colorful native peren- College Arboretum in 1976. At this point SALT movement – which he hoped would nials can also be added to the meadow. in 1997, however, he felt urgently com- spread nationwide. SALT is an acronym for And every piece of property should have pelled to bring it to the American home- Smaller American Lawns Today. It was, and a vegetable garden and a small orchard owners, and to provide them with sugges- is, aimed at reversing the lawn mania in with fruit trees. Oh, the joy of growing tions to help them begin to make the America. In his lecture that evening, titled fresh fruits and vegetables right on your transition toward more ecologically sound “Environmentally Designing Your Lawn,” own home ground. home grounds. Dr. Niering set forth some of the principles Perennial and annual flower borders SALT was an immediate hit with involved in the new movement. Americans, lend diversity and require much less main- homeowners, many of whom wanted he said, could become the “salt of the tenance than lawns. Ground covers are a to get started on this transition. As word earth” by cutting back on the size of their must, especially on steep slopes where of SALT spread, people from throughout lawns, and having home grounds that are mowing is difficult. Evergreen ground the country called or wrote to the Arbore- in harmony with nature. covers are especially attractive throughout tum expressing interest and wanting to He asked: the year. Planting the borders of the prop- “join SALT.” But, there has never been Why redesign the American lawn? erty with trees and shrubs will give the a formal SALT membership. There are a myriad of reasons. Cutting back homeowner greater privacy, and permit the Enter Wild Ones on the size of the lawn means cutting back naturalistic landscaping to develop with Small wonder that I was excited when I on the use of pesticides. Pesticides not only minimal interference from neighbors. discovered Wild Ones, an organization that can be harmful to people and their pets, Above all, keep the front of the property promotes concepts similar to those pro- but also can destroy species diversity and and paths mowed so that your yard will moted by the Arboretum – concepts that create monocultures, going against nature’s not be considered simply unkempt. were the focus of the SALT movement. own tendency towards biodiversity. The use of synthetic fertilizers used on the typi- cal American lawn can also pose real prob- lems, since fertilized lawns have far more nitrogen runoff than non-fertilized lawns. Runoff is a serious pollution problem for wetlands and aquatic systems. All power equipment, especially riding mowers, are fossil-fuel demanding, and they require more energy in their initial construction, maintenance, and operation than hand- operated reel mowers, not to mention the high level of air pollution they generate. Dr. Niering felt that even the noise pol- lution from using a power mower was an insult that neighbors should not have to tolerate. Furthermore, why waste time mowing a large lawn when you could be enjoying other activities? These are just a few of the reasons that Dr. Niering out- lined that memorable evening. Niering gave tips to the audience on how they might use land that is not lawn. Setting aside an area for planting shrubs and trees will begin to decrease the size of the lawn, and will also attract wildlife. By planting native bushes such as viburnum, Wild Ones member Allen Gauthier’s yard in Ledyard, Connecticut. A “SALTish” lawn with primarily natives, bayberry, and shadbush, along with other but some exotics – just enough turf to accentuate the garden beds. Photo: Khoi Ton. NorwichBulletin.com.

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While Wild Ones champions the use of WILDCENTER mostly native species, SALT is tolerant of some non-invasive exotics – the two groups Could your gift be meet in the common goal of “Less Lawn.” My own yard has always been a Wild the one that saves WishListMany of you have been asking about things Ones/SALT paradise. we might need at the The WILD Center – In 2006, Donna VanBuecken, knowing the Earth? besides money for the remodeling – so that I had a keen interest in starting a Wild we’ve put together a list for you. Ones chapter in Connecticut, told me that First aid kit • Gardening tools (trowels, Nancy Livensparger from Wild Ones of shovels, pruners, pruning saw(s), etc.) Ohio had moved to our state. Nancy and I • Garden tractor and small trailer • Benches met and began planning for our public an- for outdoor seating • Ladder (16-foot exten- nouncement of the first meeting of Wild sion and five-rung step) • Trailer for haul- Ones in Connecticut, now proudly known ing debris with car • Heavy-duty shredder as the Connecticut Mountain Laurel Chap- or chipper • Rain barrels • Conference-type ter of Wild Ones. The area was ripe and the table(s) • Conference-type stackable chairs A Wild Ones Gift Membership ground was fertile for the new chapter, and • Floor pads for desk chairs • Double bed or many people with an interest in SALT If you’re tired of handing out loud twin bed or better yet, one set of bunk beds joined forces with our newly formed chap- neckties, plaid socks, and wooly • Dressers (two each) • Lighting fixtures ter. Earth Day and the annual SALT all-day underwear, why not give something (energy efficient). seminar (which started in November of fun that also shows how much you 2002), are two times when the two groups Next spring we’ll be looking for small care about the future of our planet? walk hand in hand. maple and oak trees. Can’t think of anyone who would Recently our Wild Ones chapter Contact the National Office (execdirector@ enjoy a Wild Ones membership? adopted the Arboretum’s Native Wild- for-wild.org) or by phone at 877-394-9453 How about those new neighbors flower Garden as a community project. if you have these or other items which may While the Arboretum itself must focus its be suitable for use at The WILD Center. down the street who aren’t sure what to do with their yard? Or maybe attention on many aspects of the natural We now have someone at The WILD Center those relatives who keep borrowing world, Wild Ones presents an exciting and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Fri- your lawnmower. And what about well-developed movement that provides day. Or, you can call for an appointment not only membership, but also a forum for 877-394-9453. the local “weed inspector” who keeps members to share information and solve eyeing your prairie? Better yet, just problems regarding their individual home think what a Wild Ones membership grounds. The Mountain Laurel Chapter is Want to Read the Journal will do for the kids at your neighbor- also a group from whom the public can get Online? hood school. help with their own yards. Would you like to save some postage and Those neckties and socks will just In many respects, Dr. Niering’s paper costs for Wild Ones? end up in the back of a drawer, and dream that the SALT movement be Members have been asking for some spread throughout the country, has been those underwear – well, we don’t time if we could make the Journal available fostered through SALT’s partnership with even want to know. But your gift of via the Internet. So this is what we’re think- Wild Ones. SALT/Wild Ones are frequently a Wild Ones membership might be ing about doing, if you feel this would be a mentioned together in local newspapers the start of a journey that leads worthwhile endeavor. and beyond. Recently one of our Wild someone to saving the Earth, or Receiving the Wild Ones Journal will Ones member’s yard was featured in a at least a small part of it. continue to be a benefit of membership, local newspaper, and Wild Ones and we can make the Journal available through Three levels of membership are SALT have been spoken of in the New the members only web pages. Those of you available, and each new gift mem- York Times and, more recently, in The who would prefer not to get a mailed hard bership gets one or more Wild Ones New Yorker. copy can receive notification via e-mail promotional items along with the By joining together with other like- when the copy is available. Those who standard benefits and a subscription minded homeowners, Americans can, and would prefer a hard copy can continue to will, have biodiverse lawns that are in har- to the Journal. We’ll even send them receive a mailed copy as usual. mony with nature. p a holiday gift card so they’ll know Please let us know if you find this it’s from you. Dr. William A. Niering (1924-1999) was not only arrangement appealing and whether or not a beloved teacher and colleague at Connecticut you want to receive only an electronic copy Helping to save the Earth, and your College, but was also an internationally renowned favorite Wild organization, has never environmentalist. He was not an armchair environ- of the Wild Ones Journal by either e-mailing mentalist, but rather walked the walk in every [email protected] or calling 877- been so easy. The journey starts at aspect of his life. His career and accomplishments 394-9453. This endeavor will not save us www.for-wild.org/joining.html. were very much linked with the Arboretum as he any money in the long run, but it may re- Go there now. served as the Arboretum Director from 1965 to 1988. duce our carbon footprint.

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A friend with a small tractor that has a three-point hitch enjoyed breaking the The view from the lake side toward the house is a seasonally changing mass sod and repeatedly tilling in the newly germinated weeds. of color, uninterrupted by paths.

As I sit in the shade of 60-foot I did receive a notice in the willow trees, on the shore of mail one time, no doubt Trippe Lake, at the south end of a Green Gables prompted by a complaint from bit of land I call Green Gables, it my lawn-obsessed neighbor to is a sunny Labor Day, 2008. In An american the east who has a $12,000 trac- spite of the 86-degree tempera- tor with a three-point-hitch ture, a cool breeze off the lake landscape designed mowing deck for the large areas makes it an ideal setting for writ- of his lawn, a $2,500 riding ing about our prairie garden. mower for tighter areas, and a With the steady wind at my back, with nature in mind: $350 push mower for working blowing away any mosquitoes in around trees. The official com- the area, I am looking at the A Prairie Garden munication stated I must remove golden glow of the blooming all weeds in my yard or the city meadow in the center of our By Richard J. Ehrenberg would do so and charge me for back yard. Part 4 of a series. the cost. Since the notice was in I have called it “our prairie no way specific as to which garden”: A brief discussion of semantics may be in order. plants were in question, I replied in writing that the exotic “Perennial prairie planting” has a poetic rhythmic sound which weeds growing along the edge of my property were actually is appealing to one’s ears. Pragmatically speaking, it points out on city land and then indicated a willingness to pull them. to a gardener reading this article that this is a planting of peren- No reply from the city ever materialized. nials, not annuals – and in fact an intended planting, not a Now for a brief discussion of Pragmatics: The term “prairie natural occurrence. One of my fears while planning the yard, garden” is most appropriate when used for small prairie plant- envisioned a city zoning officer responding to a neighbor’s ings in yards. Early on, I once referred to “my back yard prairie” complaint of my yard being full of weeds, to which my – and a professional, who collects seed from prairie remnants, planned response would be, “This is a flower garden of peren- told me in no uncertain terms it was only a “prairie garden.” nial plants, no different from any other flower garden.” Then Feeling like I had been told, “You’re no Jack Kennedy,” I I would let the city employee try to figure out how to discredit humbly apologized for the error of my exaggeration. Of course my choice of perennials in comparison to another citizen who he was correct. Real prairies are thousands of square miles in might choose all European or Asian perennials. An additional size, and have many more naturally growing species of forbs comment about patriotism in purchasing American-made and grasses than any yard can accommodate. Or they may even plants might also be in order. be tiny “prairie remnants” of an acre or two of unbroken land, The confrontation, fortunately never took place. Actually, land that has never experienced a plow. And mine is neither. I talked to the zoning officer during the planning phase and Mine is an intentional planting, on severely modified soil, of asked if there were any planting restrictions and was informed species of plants that may, long ago, have grown on a prairie. that people can plant whatever they like. The only regulation Speaking as an insecure male, I prefer the term “prairie requires that lawns be limited to a certain height. planting” to “prairie garden”. It just sounds more masculine.

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November/December, 2008

N ATIVE P LANTS ,N ATURAL L ANDSCAPES Members Support Wild Ones Mission with Generous Gifts & Contributions

Wild Ones is deeply grateful to the hundreds of individuals, corporations, foundations, and other organizations that made contributions in 2008 – and we are committed to being a good steward of all financial resources entrusted to the organization. While every contribution is so important, we want to take special note of a $275,000 gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. Without this one major donation, it’s unlikely that we would have been able to fulfill our dream of purchasing The WILD Center. So we are pleased to send our thanks to all the members and friends who have supported us financially and otherwise this year. Your generosity has made this a very exciting year for us, and we thank you all so much for your support. While continuing the development of our existing educational and advocacy HQ & WILD Center HQ & WILD Center promotional programs, we have also begun to develop the Wild Ones Institute Site Remodeling of Learning and Development (The WILD Center), which should be the most effective $275,000 $21,161 - $20,000 piece in our promotional arsenal. Anonymous Anonymous Please watch our progress on the Wild Ones web site by clicking on The WILD Center link. Fox Valley Area Chapter $10,000 Every effort has been made to assure the donor lists are accurate and reflect gifts made Anonymous $2,000 - $1000 from October 3, 2007 to October 10, 2008. However, should there be an error or omission, John C. Bock Foundation Elaine Hutchcroft please contact: Donna VanBuecken • Executive Director • Phone (toll free) 877-394-9453 Root River Chapter E-mail [email protected]. $5,000 Mandy & Ken Ploch Ducks Unlimited, Fran Lowman Great Lakes/Atlantic Holly & Jack Bartholmai Regional Office Doug & Carla Salmon $200 - $100 Foundation John Arthur Liz Frautschi Joann Bossenbroek Greater Cincinnati Chapter Kris & Jim Martinka $900 - $500 $50 - $5 Patricia R. Gallagher Victoria Graham Christian Nelson, Ms. Pamela Petajan Paragraphics Alan & Marilyn Cable Columbus Chapter Sharon Duerkop Central Wisconsin Chapter Jacquie Branchford Gibson Woods Chapter Glenn L. Green Addison & Deborah David K. West Igleheart Terri Brehm Kerwin Foundation Dick & Tink Linhart Ken Lukow Madison Chapter Eileen Metress Thank you to all whose gifts are planting the seeds for native landscaping! Continued next page. 70257-WildOnes ThankYou InsertsJP:insert.qxd 10/24/08 7:57 AM Page 2

Members Support Wild Ones Mission with Generous Gifts and Contributions (continued)

Patricia Robertson $75 - $50 Clarke M. & Therese Poad Debi Wolterman Martha & Ray Bright Tom Schneider Tom Glawe & Esther Meyer Michael & Cynthia Sevilla $425 - $200 Dr. & Mrs William S. Bill Staton, Staton Financial John Arthur Knowles Advisors, LLC Kathleen Ernst Mary Loper Pete Bradshaw & Scott Meeker Mail List Processing, Inc. Bob Bultman Detroit Metro Chapter Melodie Feeley Todd & Susan Close Green Bay Chapter Zaiga Freivalds Marjorie Gillies Ann & Charles Heide Savannah Furman Suzanne D. & Kris Johnson Douglas & Janet Gebler Raymond F. Goodrich Lake-to-Prairie Chapter Mary G. Hanlon Mary Ellen Hagel Stephen Windsor Michael S. & Reva A. Marilyn C. Hansotia Joyce Torresani Holmes Jill & Doug Hiroskey Janet Carlson Joan Rudolph St. Croix Oak Savanna Mary L. Johnston Tim & Janaan Lewis Richard J. Carlson Curt Solberg Chapter Thomas R. Judd Marcia McLaughlin & Lissa Field, Silton, Stifel, Nicolaus & Ray Darling Kristin Kauth Dr. William E. Nettleman Seifert, Carlson & Gamble Company, Inc. Savannah Furman Alden Kendall Phil & Hen Rada SC, Attorneys at Law Nancy T. L. Stoll Gail Kursel & Evelyn Timm Gary & Judy Rembacki Ney Collier Karen Syverson Steve J. & Lee A. Marsha & Dick Krueger Pamela Rups Cramer, Inc. Mike Syverson Macrander Wayne Lovelace Elizabeth Thornton George W .Curtis, Kolb Syverson Peggy Stevens & Hugh Stevenson, William L. Walz Curtis Law Office Lisa Thompson $150 - $100 Forrest Keeling Nursery Cathy Wegner Ann Drzewiecki Donna & John VanBuecken Ann Arbor Chapter Jack Marcum Margaret Westphal Dave Edwards Donna VanBuecken, Mary Lewis James Mary Ann Menck Barb Wolter Federal Security Accent on Natural & Michael Head Mountain Laurel Chapter Bob Kehres, First Choice Sanitation Landscaping, Inc. Elisabeth A. Raleigh Catherine Niessink Ohio Prairie Nursery Fox River Valley Academy Bob VanZeeland Anonymous Mike & Sue Nordin Randy Kursinsky students, parents & Jim Weiss Arrowhead Chapter Steve & Joan Petznick Rita M. Olle teachers Dave Wherry Central Upper Peninsula River City Chapter Mike Anderson, Terry Gant, G&H of Neenah David K. West Chapter Carol J. Scott BioLogic Environmental Doug Grant Rich Winter Nan & Bob Douglas Jim & Karen Timble Consulting, LLC Linda K. Grishaber David & Karen Edwards Roger & Lynn Van Vreede Mike & Nancy Boyce Victoria Grundy, General Operating James & Sally Finzel Joanne & Bob Wanasek Cy & Daphne Carney RR Donnelley Fund Ginnie Watson Jane Cornelius GW Partners, Inc. Friends of High Cliff $50 Carol Weir Linda A. Dolan Pat & Ceci Kiefer, Stone Silo State Park Catherine M. Davis Kate Gill Erich Zinser Michael & Jean Maloney Prairie Gardens, LLP Gail M. Michael Mike Kohl Remodeling $20 - $5 Norman & Daryl Grier $45 - $5 Meghan Schrammel Katie Larabell Jonathan Green Margo Hickman Gail Walter John & Ruth Todt Fran Lowman & Joy Schochet & Joseph Gilmartin David & Louise Petering Fredericka Veikley Marta Manildi Cathy Wegner Larry & Joan Hummel Patricia J. Stephenson Joyce Vincent Terry Marvel, Becky & Todd Chirhart Rosemary & Lee Jones Barbara & Robert Boyer Nada S. Bevic Terraforma, LLC Lucille M. Rutkowski Peter & Wendy Juneau (in memory of Mary Lou Gretchen Neering John & Esther Mosher Jill C. or Robert Lintelman Kramer's sister, Doris) Carol & Bob Niendorf Matching Gifts Annie C. McNitt on behalf Carol L. Buxton HQ & WILD Center Prairie Nursery of Donna VanBuecken Ingeborg Humphrey Gardens Diane Olson-Schmidt, $425 Mid-Missouri Chapter Marilyn Ann Logue Lacewing Gardening John Arthur from Anita Zipperer Vicki L. Behrens $5000 & Consulting Services Ameriprise & Patrick O’Hearn Kay A. Caskey Environmental Stewardship Lorrie Otto (in memory of Ken Juedes) Maria G. Cattell Fund, Community $100 Outagamie Conservation Jeanne & Dr. Les Rose Peggy Dankert Foundation for the Joseph Gilmartin & Margo Club Sally & John St. Peter Ron Endres Fox Valley Region Hickman from HSBC Jamie Peabody Wolf River Chapter Phyllis Fitzgerald $10 & Les Van Dalen $50 - $30 Laurie M. Young Lynne Haley & Ben Johnson Joan Otter Dave & Sue Peck Richard S. Kontora & Christy Mary Ann Kniep Steve Petznick L. Johnson from IBM Marylou & Bob Kramer WILD Center In-Kind Lisa Picconi & Friend Erich Zinser from Pfizer Celia Duke Larsen Contributions Ken & Mandy Ploch Foundation Joy Lawrence Don Borsos Joe & Diane Powelka, Sharon Duerkop from Chan Mahanta Dan Bouchette, One-Plus, Inc. Thrivent Financial for Pat Mayerl Bouchette Electronics, Inc. Bret Rappaport, Hardt, Lutherans Joyce Michelstetter Gordon Braun Stern & Kayne, P.C. Pennyellen Oszak from Diane S. O’Connell Ron Bullock, Video Trend Jess Rose, Environmental Freddie Mac Foundation Elizabeth Perry Associates Services Plus Wild Ones Page 2 70257-WildOnes ThankYou InsertsJP:insert.qxd 10/24/08 7:57 AM Page 3

Janet Stiefel $89 - $50 $150 - $70 Memorial Nancy M. Aten Steve & Diana Maassen Jean M. Hancock James Havel Get Involved $300 Donna & John VanBuecken Marilyn & Ron Stroud Door County Chapter Dan Fromm Stay Involved Donna M. Gager In-Kind Donations $100 - $75 Annie C. McNitt Janet Carlson Donna & John VanBuecken Martha & John Lunz George Fickau Mary Ann Crayton Sarah Weltzien Fox Cities Convention & James Wellman Visitor’s Bureau Volunteers $45 - $3 Frame Workshop $25 - $20 Annie C. McNitt Eileen Herrling Judy & Gary Jolin Mariette & Dave Nowak Sally Hiott Jan & Dick Koel Betty & Lowell Edwards Dave & Jean Horst Rose Meinholz King Elementary School Kris Kauth Lorrie Otto Seeds Sue Reindollar Kay Lettau for Education Laurie Yahr & Richard Kahl Helen McKean There are many ways to help Wild Ones Endowment Fund Pamela L. Mott Carol & Bob Niendorf promote environmentally sound landscaping Janet Sternfeld Steve Petznick practices to preserve biodiversity through the $500 Jane Cornelius Mandy Ploch preservation, restoration and establishment of Citizens Natural Resources Kathy Brehm Joan Rudolph native plant communities. Association Education Melanie Costello Greg Saulnier Grant Program in Linda A. Dolan Stifel, Nicolaus Annual Support: Wild Ones Champions appreciation for Lorrie’s Mary L. Johnston & Company, Inc. provide dependable income for Wild Ones past efforts on behalf of David Kostka Karen Syverson programs by making their annual gifts through environmental education Terry Laman Lucy Valitchka convenient monthly deductions via credit card Michael & Jean Maloney Donna VanBuecken or direct debit from a designated financial Lorrie Otto Seeds Cathy Reglin Maryann Whitman account. for Education Ken & Donna Schenk Bur Oak Circle: Donors who make annual gifts Program Meghan Schrammel Silent Auction of $1,000 or more Patti Schulz Donations $352 - $200 Cathy Wood Richard Barloga Oak Savanna Circle: Members who have Rock River Valley Chapter Mary Berve Dan De Koch loyally supported Wild Ones for at least 15 Ann Arbor Chapter Kay Blair Ducks Unlimited years or more. Maryann Whitman Peter Fruncek Heather Holm & Sally Hiott Employee Matching Gift Program: Many com- & Ginger Georger Troy Landwehr, Fox Valley Area Chapter panies and organizations will match employee Gretchen Neering Kerrigan Brothers Winery Detroit Metro Chapter contributions Kate Neils Dave Kopitzke Gardening Group of Candace Ridlbauer Milwaukee-Southwest/ Special Gifts and Heritage: The Wild Ones St. Claire Shores, Michigan Catherine Skocir-Stehr Wehr Chapter Legacy Program provides the opportunity to Woman’s National Farm Mosquito Hill Nature Center gift appreciated stock, real property, in-kind & Garden Assoc., Annual Meeting Lorrie Otto gifts, IRA-rollover gifts (option through Decem- Michigan Division & Conference Mandy Ploch ber, 2007 per the Pension Protection Act of Clifford Orsted, Donations R. J. Marx 2006) and multi-year commitments. Bequests, Door Landscape Jan Smith charitable gift annuities, trusts and other $1000 $150 - $100 Nancy Stoll planned giving vehicles provide significant Wisconsin Energy St. Louis Chapter Julia Vanatta support to Wild Ones while also benefiting Corporation Foundation, Mark & Terri Chelmowski Bonnie & Harold Vastag the donors and their families. Inc. Wings Over Wisconsin Lorraine Johnson Volunteer: More than 4,000 people annually $350 - $250 Wisconsin Wildlife Federation volunteer their time and energy for land conser- Carol & Bob Niendorf vation, and community garden plantings and Wisconsin Wildlife for the Wild Ones EcoCenter. Federation Lifetime Members: Long term commitment to Wild Ones mission and its goals. For more information on supporting Wild Ones through the Get Wild Stay Wild Program, please contact Donna VanBuecken, Executive Director, Wild Ones, P.O. Box 1274, Appleton, Wiscon- In addition to financial support for the various Wild Ones project funds, this year we sin 54912-1274, 877-394-9453 (toll free), also received the benefit of many volunteer hours not only toward the development of [email protected], or visit our web site The WILD Center, but also this year’s annual meeting/conference, which was held at www.for-wild.org/legacy/. at The WILD Center.

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Wilder and Wildest Members Give Extra Support Through Higher Levels of Membership

Bur Oak Circle Jane E. Foulser This will be the first year we Margot M. Fuchs What Does It Mean to Be More than Wild? are honoring our Bur Oak Donna M. Gager Circle of Donors – donors Patty Gerner This year we’ve again received wonderful financial support of the Wild that contribute $1,000 or Olive E. Giese Ones mission through members joining and renewing at the higher more annually to Wild Ones Barb Gore membership levels. Thank you all for being so generous – for being more efforts. Kathleen Graff than wild! Fox Valley Area Chapter Carolyn & Bob Haglund John C. Bock Foundation Nancy D. Hamann Thank you all for being more than wild! Sue & Bob Kinde Deborah Hamilton Root River Chapter & David Meilbeck Pat Miller Michael T. Van Alstine Mandy & Ken Ploch Doug & Carla Salmon Jean M. Hancock Chuck & Judy Hanlon Rachel Millin Donna & John VanBuecken Bret & Jina Rappaport Oak Savanna Circle Doug & Kathy Hartman Patrick Murphy Harold & Bonnie Vastag Marty & Jeff Rice & Marie Murphy-Spors Linda Walker Karin Trenkenschu Members who have loyally Carol J. Hehn Mary Norman Christine M. Walters Steven Ulrich supported Wild Ones for Raymond H. Peg O’Harrow Joanne & Bob Wanasek 15 years or more. Unfortu- & Loretta M. Hernday Rita M. Olle Elizabeth M. Warner Wilder Business nately we don’t have every- Barbara J. Holschbach Lorrie Otto Cathy Wegner Memberships one’s join date from the Wynn Hopkins Jan Parrott Annette E. Weissbach Kent & Kathy Lawrence, very early years, so if your Joan & David Horsefield Bill & Sally Ann Peck Rochelle & Paul Whiteman Kickapoo Mud Creek – name has been missed, Patricia L. Hubbs David & Louise Petering Rich & Liz Whitney Nature Conservancy please let the National Joanne Jarocki Laurie Pevnick Anne Witty Olmsted Office know ASAP. Jim & Jane Jerzak Family Wildest Household Shirley A. Pflederer Kit Woessner Sandy Adams Karen Kersten Memberships Claire S. Pfleger Bette B. Arey Jack & Edith Kimber Flushing Township Teddy Porada Lifetime Memberships Patricia & Chuck Armstrong Karen Knack Nature Park Jane Porath Carol Andrews Nancy M. Aten Mary Ann Kniep Lucky Find Salvage Louise R. Quigley Susan L. & Darrell Borger Neil Diboll, Prairie Nursery Ray & Kathy Knoeppel Company Patti L Ratkowski Kathy E. Carter Richard Barloga Jan & Dick Koel Paula L. Accola Patricia F. Rieselbach & Mack T. Ruffin Nancy Y. & Todd Behnke Randy Kohlhase Sandy Adams Annette Robertson Pamela Marie Deerwood Janet Beimborn Judy A. Kosky David & Sharon Anghilante Paul Ryan Steven D. Nada S. Bevic Gail & Tom Koss Connie Bank Wayne & Jean Schaefer & Keiko Kojima Hall Maureen Birk Marylou & Bob Kramer & David Dugger Lucy Schumann Laura Hedien Sandy Boves Marsha & Dick Krueger Kimberly A. Barnes Janet K. Smith Pam Holy Dorothy & Paul Boyer Cynthia Lepkowski Carole J. Bass Peter J. Stamm Elaine Hutchcroft Pete Bradshaw Bernice M. Linchester Janet Beimborn & Jaqueline E. Rice Corie Kase Martha & Ray Bright Dick & Tink Linhart Sharon Bloomgarden Sherman & Sally Stock Hope Kuniholm Melissa Bruder Ted R. Lowe Denise Borsheim Rae & Steve Sweet William & Nellie Lannin Pat & Carl Brust Ken Lukow Amy S. Bowers Jack & Margie Swelstad Fran Lowman (deceased) Anna J. Campbell Kay MacNeil Kathy Brehm Carol Tennessen John & Kim Lowman Cy & Daphne Carney Marilyn Manke Pat & Carl Brust Sam & Candace Thomas Vollmer Nancy Carpenter Jean Mano Nan & Jeff Calvert Lu Anne Thompson Kay MacNeil Mark & Terri Chelmowski Marion Marsh Carolyn Carr Kathie Tilot Karen Matz Carol & Dan Chew Rose Mason & Jonathan Sellman Joyce Torresani & John Skowronski Pat Clancy Janet M. Matuszak William Carroll Karin Trenkenschu Ruth Ann Cloonan Annie C. McNitt Ann Case Steven Ulrich Colleen Conway Judy Milewski Clarissa H. Chandler Melissa Cook Marea Chase Barbara DeLap Virginia W. Chatfield, Judy & Wooly Dimmick Earth Art Landscape Jean Dunkerley Designers Ike Eckstein Peter Chen Mary Lou M. Findley Ruth Ann Cloonan Carolyn J. Finzer & Family Russell Columbus Roberta Forman Jane Cornelius

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Mary Ann Crayton Ronald L. & Marti Martin, Barbara Vass Maureen Carbery Gary Feest Robert J. & Betsy Cutler Midwest Prairies, LLC Ann Wallace & Hans Evers Cy & Daphne Carney Sandy Fejt Bob Cutshall Kris & Jim Martinka Becky Wardell-Gaertner Roberta & Preston Carter Frank & Karen Finch John Daily Nancy Mathias Rud & Timmy Wasson Family Mary Lou M. Findley Dorothy Danak Judith McCandless Joe & Janet Williamson Kate B. Carus Newton & Nada Finn Toni Daniels Randy & Jessie Mermel Susan Winecki Kay A. Caskey Steve Fluett Peggy Dankert Bill & Cheryl Merrick Karin & Klaus Wisiol Nancy Castle Don Fonda Ron Endres Joyce Michelstetter Rod Wooten The Cepa Family Roberta Forman Kathleen Ernst Mary & Todd Miller John A. Zeinert T. R. Chaney Helen Caine Franklin & Scott Meeker Roger Miller Don & Benia Zouras Carl, Kathy & Conr Gina Frasson-Hudson Helen Etkin Rachel Millin Chapman & Patrick Hudson Melodie Feeley David Mitchell Wilder Household Carol Chapman Carla Freeman, Rachel E. Finger James E. Monagan Memberships Kristi Chapman Cupstone Farm James K. Fitton Ron Monson & Kara Pezzi Boone County Conservation Lucy Chargot Cindy French Vicki Flier Wanda Moon District Margaret & Ralph Chatham Peter Fruncek Sandra Ford David Moore Edison Elementary School Mark & Terri Chelmowski & Ginger Georger Lee & Dolly Foster Kelly M. Mundt Arden Aanestad Marilyn Chryst Gaye Fugate Liz Frautschi Todd & Tira Naze Garrett Adams Susan R. Clapp Savannah Furman John Frey & Phyllis Croce Gretchen Neering Martha Agnew Harold L. Clark Donna M. Gager Leeann Fu Joyce Nessler Mrs. Diane Ahrens Susan Clark Judy Gibbs Patricia R. Gallagher Sharon L. Ostrowski Mike Anderson, John & Dorothy Collins Florence R. & Frank F. Cinda Gallitz Margaret Ovitt BioLogic Environmental Mary Ida Compton Gibson Jane Gamble Connie Palmer Smalley Consulting. LLC Carlos Contreras Gary & Lillian Giessow Donna L. Goodyear-Haskins Jeannine Palms Budd & Marguerite Janice Cook, Wiring Inc. Kris Gilbert Kathy Greenholdt John Pastor & Mary Dragich Andrews Michael Covault Carol & Jack Gittinger Karen Grycewicz Elizabeth Perry Robert & Carolyn Arevalo Susan Cox Fran Glass Jerry Gunderson Jim & Joy Perry Pat Armbruster Claudia Crawford Arlene Golembiewski Chuck & Judy Hanlon Roger Petry Suzanne Armour B. F. Croucher Suzanne D. & Joan E. Hansen Clarke M. & Therese Poad Barry & Barbara Atkins Carolyn Cullen Raymond F. Goodrich Rick Harned Michelle Prieditis Peter & Mary Bach Venkat Davarapalli Kathleen Gorski Barb Hazlewood-Miller & Joseph Zarr Peter Bades Catherine M. Davis Kathleen Graff David & Dee Ann Helm Alex Rakowski Bruce & Diana Baldi Mitchell DeDona Victoria Graham Carolyn Henne Midge & William Kenneth Balk Linda DeLorm Larry Grannis & Julia Karnes Nancy Hennessy Ratzburg Jr. Curtis C. Baltz Bill Demmer Dianne Granthen Alan W. Hopefl Sue Reed Connie Bank Ann Demorest Glenn L. Green Dave & Jean Horst Keith A. Reinke & David Dugger Jackie Diehl Bob & Susan Grese Elaine Hutchcroft Jewel Richardson, Francie Barnes Dean Doering Linda K. & Philip L. Dorothy Jachim Wetlands Nursery Scott Barnes & Lisa Scribner Grishaber Deborah O. Javurek Christina Roberge Caroline M. Bartholf Linda A. Dolan Eileen M. Guthrie Ron & Francys Johnson Patricia Robertson Betty J. Baxter Randy & Sylvia Downing Kevin Haight Rosemary & Lee Jones Sally Rutzky Ruth & Glenn Beach Dennis Dreher & Melinda Russell-Haight Alden Kendall Jan Scalpone Mary-Jean Becker Lynn Driessen Kuki T. C. Haines & Evelyn Timm Sara Schlenker Tom & Louise Beckett Bill Dunwiddie, Lynne Haley & Ben Johnson Lucy F. Klug Tom Schneider Brook Beebee, Evergreen Retirement Susan Hallett Vic Knowlton Joy Schochet The Native Plant Center Community Anne Hanley Marsha & Dick Krueger & Jonathan Green Nancy Y. & Todd Behnke Nancy Duran Mary G. Hanlon Sandy Laedtke Roger & Pat Schroder Vicki L. Behrens Donald C. Ebbers Kathryn Hanratty, Celia Duke Larsen Bill Schwank Bill & Linda Bennett Betty & Lowell Edwards Enviroscapes Landscape Sara Larsen Carol J. Scott Todd I. & Betty J. Berens Gordon & Georganne Design Ann Lighthiser Thomas H. Seiler Deb & Dave Berndt Eggers Debbie Hansen Dick & Tink Linhart Guy Smith Corey & Terese Bertcher Richard J. Ehrenberg, Thomas J. & Muriel Harabes Janis Londe Bill Staton, Staton Financial Barbara Birmingham Design With Nature Lee Ann Harling Linda Lou Lopez, Advisors, LLC Sharon Bordeau In Mind Tom & Cindy Harvey Wyola Farms Randy & Joyce Stephens Donna T. Borthwick Chris & Bill Eisenreich Deborah Harwell Tamara Lundeen Suzette Stewart Megan C. Bowes Libby & Roys Ellinas Jane Hayes Richard & Diane Mary & William Su Barb Boyd Maxine Ellis Ann & Charles Heide Madlon-Kay Tim Sundquist Betty M. Braun Sarah Elmiger James A. Henderson Chan Mahanta Susan Swierk Raechel Bricker Daniel Elvira Roberta Herschleb Laurie Maher John Tarasewicz Kristen J. Brown & Cecilia Gerber Cindy Hetzell Sharon B. Maiman David & Judy Thayer Mary Buckley Carole Engel Margo Hickman Carl & Judi Manning Keith M. Tomaszewsky Mr & Mrs Russell T. Bullitt Rebecca Eyer & Joseph Gilmartin Jack Marcum Laurel Toussaint Bob Bultman Bill & Judy Eyring Bernita Hile Ruth E. Marshall Eileen M. Udry & Tom Fitton William P. & Lynn Buri Jim & Jane Fava Mark & Crystal Hindermeier Alan & Marilyn Cable Ruth Vail Hildy Feen Continued next page. Wild Ones Page 5 70257-WildOnes ThankYou InsertsJP:insert.qxd 10/22/08 9:27 AM Page 6

Higher Levels of Membership Give Extra Support (continued)

Rick & Jane Hoffman Judy A. Kolosso Brian Meyer Susannah Roesselet Margaret & Gene Szedenits Brent & Heather Holm, Cheryl Konkol Sue & Steve Meyer Beverly & John Ross Kris Talley Heather Holm Toni Kovach Susan P. & Charles Millar Rich & Barb Rudebeck Rebecca Teckam Photography Barbara & Richard Kraft Pat Miller Una Ryan William A. Thomas Michael S. & Reva A. Holmes John & Kaye Kreutzfeldt Linda J. Moore Janet Rychlak Wayne & Kim Thorson, Sandy Holt Mary Alyce Krohnke Jane & Jack Moran Grace I. & Richard W. Rymer Todd Valley Farms, Inc. Kris Holt Greg & Joan L Kuhns James & Carol Mundy Margaret Sabo David & Sara Thronsedt Esther Hope Mary Kuller Amy J. Myers Paul E. Sampson Jim & Karen Timble David Hopkinson Gail Kursel Anne M. Myers Harley S. Sampson, Jr. Peggy Timmerman & Carla Guggenheim Robin Labancz Jean A. Neal Caroline Sant Jerry Trombly David Hopson Angela Lampe Betsey Ney Gail & Tom Santner Russ Turpin Susan Horvath Lee & Pamela Larson Walter Nielsen Ellyn M. Satter Darlene Tymn Anne M. Houle Marian G. & Paul Laughlin Jim Niewenhuis Gail Saxton Michele Vaillancourt Chris & Kathy Hoving Erin Lavender Sarah M. & Larry D. Nooden Dale & Penny Schaber Julia Vanatta Jen Howell Peg Lawton Mike & Sue Nordin Tim Schellinger & Scott & Kay Vany Patricia L. Hubbs Diane L. LeBoeuf Mary Norman Laurel Kenney-Schellinger Barbara Vass Laura Huber & Mark Rowe Dick Noser, Timothy & Jill Schmidt Amy Vickers, Amy Vickers Mary Elizabeth Huey Martha Lee Noser Consulting Services Carol Schneider & Associates, Inc. & Dan Hadley Carla A. Leppert Mariette & Dave Nowak Mike Schneider, Mr. & Mrs. Victor R. Kristin & Chad Hughson & Joseph Giles Sandra T. Nussbaum The Clearing Volkman Marianne Hunt, Tim & Janaan Lewis Pete & Sanny Oberhauser Joy Schochet Will Wagner Shooting Star Nursery Pamela Lincoln Doreen O’Brien & Jonathan Green Ann K. Wakeman Peter Huntington Jill C. or Robert Lintelman Randy & Lyn O’Connell Meghan Schrammel Gail Walder Elaine Hutchcroft Marilyn Ann Logue Bonnie O’Leske Nancy Schumacher Thomas E Walder Richard Hyams Christine & Clyde Long Julia Olsen & Jim Sipe C. Glen Walter Lynn Hyndman Julie & Daniel Long Clayton Oslund, Bob & Sally Schwarz Christine M. Walters Helen & Joe Jacobs Julianne Loomis Plant Pics’ Perennials Michelle Serreyn Joanne & Bob Wanasek Joan Jardin Anne E. Lubbers Lorrie Otto Michael & Cynthia Sevilla Keith Ward & Pat Deering Judy Jeanblanc Ellen Luhman Patricia M. Otto Carol M. Shaffer Caroline & John Webber M. L. Jelachich, PhD Martha & John Lunz Stuart Owen Greg Shirley David & Kathy Wege Andrea & Lowell A. Johnson Ruth Lunz Mary P. & John D. Paquette Peter Sigmann Carol Weir LaVerne & Marcia Johnson Donna L. Maahs Eugenia E. Parker Miriam Simmons Michelle & Mike Weis Jr. Lynda & Lee Johnson Steve & Diana Maassen Jim Parker Peggy Simonsen James Wellman Phil Johnson & Mary Weeks C. Diane Macaulay Jan Parrott Anne M. Skalmoski Vickie Wellman Scott Joling Steve J. & Lee A. Macrander Sam & Kerry Pathy Phil Skultety, Gene Wells Sue & Bob Jordan Jack & Mary Louise Mary B. Pattison Schaumburg Park District Ginny Wells Thomas R. Judd Magnuson Sally Paul Linda Slagter Joe & Bonnie Welty Peter & Wendy Juneau Pamela Magyar Jerry Paulson Mary Slingluff, Rebecca J. Wertime Peter T. Jung Paul & Marilyn Mahlberg Bill & Sally Ann Peck Avalon Gardens Nursery Olive E. White & Noemi Barabas Tomme R. Maile Dave & Sue Peck Sue Ann Slotterback Patricia White Hansen Judy Kay Marta Manildi Ms. Pamela Petajan Ruth Smith Beth M. Wichterman Jerry Kazmer Marilyn Manke Judy & Ron Peters Susan Smith Dan Wilcox Larry Keassa, Maple Hill Connie Manley Glenn & Ellen Peterson Jeremy Sobczak Jim & Betsy Williamson Nursery & Landscaping Franklin A. Marfia John R. & Judi Peterson Brook C. Soltvedt Ward G. Wilson Joyce Kells Ruth E. Marshall Phil Peterson Phil & Paula Sorensen Stephen Windsor Melville Kennedy Julie Martens Laurie Pevnick Janice Sparks Robert Wingert Patti Kile & Glen Bullick Linda Masters Jack Pfaffmann Frank Spina John Witham Jack & Edith Kimber & Stephen Packard Elaine Pitt, MD Mary F. Stacey Kit Woessner Nancy & Michael Kind Dottie Mathews Cathy N. Podeszwa Linda Stafford Jeff W. Wohlfahrt Don Kleinhenz & Rosie Geiser Connie Ramthun, Patricia J. Stephenson Barb Wolter Bill & Carol Klug Andrea L. Matthies Kettle Moraine Guy & Edie Sternberg, Debi Wolterman Margaret M. Knight Kay McClelland Natural Landscaping Starhill Forest Carolyn R. & Foster R. Gillian B. Kohler Colleen McDonald, Donald Rantala Peggy Stevens Woodward Unitarian Universalist Pam & Rawls & Mark Bavetz Sherman & Sally Stock Michael & Karin A. Church Shirley Ann Reiter Bert Stocker Wuenscher Nancy F. McDonald David Resch Nancy Stoll Laurie J. Yahr Heidi McGrew Candice Richards Thomas W. Stram Dorothy Yenni Paul & Elizabeth McKenney Linda S. Ridley Judi Stuck & Laura Woolley Eugene & Jackie McLeod Rebecca Riley Jim Stuhlmacher J. David Yount Kim & Thomas Medin Kathy & Javier Rincon Tom, Sue & Ben Sturm Tom Zagar, City of Muskego Richard Menn Neil & Marilynn Ringquist Mary & William Su Gary Zamzow & Sally Edwards Dave Roberts G. Timothy Karen Zastrow & Nancy Hill John & Beth Mentink Carol & Tim Robinson & Geraldine Surratt Corey Zetts Jerrie Metz Debra Roe Doris Sutherland Erich Zinser

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Women do gardening – men plant things like crops, trees, while, Roundup was judiciously used in spots to eliminate per- shrubs, and such. sistent weeds. Finally a prairie mix of seed was scattered and In any case, our household’s prairie garden at Green Gables raked into the soil. Volunteers like daisy fleabane quickly ap- was designed to fill the whole center portion of the back yard. peared. Over the years rooted plants and additional seeds have The landscape envisioned was one of a cohesive natural been added. When common milkweed and goldenrod spread environment, one in which a person moves from a woodland excessively they were uprooted around the edges of each setting to a prairie/savannah-like opening, and back to a wood- colony, and other prairie seed spread in the place they had land, while walking the length of the yard. I wanted to live occupied. Each year Virginia creeper (Parthenicissus quinque- within a nature preserve – a natural setting where plant com- folia), spreads from the woodland planting at the front of the munities come together. I wanted to create “ecotones.” Hence, house, and needs to be removed each fall. the whole back yard lawn was replaced with intermingling A total of 30 species have been incorporated. Grasses were prairie species that have been allowed to reseed themselves and not included, as I had read they tend to dominate over time; I thereby move around while interacting with each other, the may like to rethink this. The focus is on color rather than repli- soil, the moisture, and the dynamics imposed by the adjacent cation of a true prairie. [Ed. Note: Grasses in a prairie garden set- woodland. ting not only add to the diversity of the planting, both above the soil The only path through the back yard is curved around the and in the root zone, but also lend structural support to the flowering very edge of the prairie garden in order to have as little impact plants and habitat.] on it as possible. There is no arrangement of flower beds irregu- Just prior to Thanksgiving, but after the birds have emptied larly placed in the lawn or arranged with paths encircling them. the seed heads, we cut down the dry, dead forb stems instead of Small planting beds have more edges than one large planting. burning. Being in the city and having many evergreen trees sur- More edges translate into less wildlife habitat and more main- rounding the prairie garden discourages the use of fire. This tenance. Lawn weeds migrate into planting beds. This is not year I will be trying a new approach in order to avoid the inten- what I wanted to create. sive labor of cutting and hauling to the city compost site. To Friends and family frequently comment on the bright colors chop the biomass a weed whacker will be used, starting at the and the masses of bloom that traditional, exotic gardens nor- top of the still-standing plants and working down the stems. mally cannot match. The seasonally changing height adds to This upper growth will be left to compost or reseed on site. the interest, starting with thousands of blue, white, and purple A foot or two of standing stalks will provide continued habitat 6-inch-tall violets, which start to bloom in late March. By mid- through the winter for both furry creatures and insects. July the color has risen to an average height of 5 feet, and to The prairie garden has required more time and effort than the towering 7-foot cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum), scattered the forest plantings in other parts of our yard – especially to get about. Daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus), a volunteer native bi- started. Incursion by sun-loving alien weeds is the primary ennial, blooms for the longest period, from May to the end of cause of all the problems related to planting a meadow. August. Some years they appear in large masses, and in other Of course a traditional exotic-flower garden requires the years in the odd scattered cluster. Spotted touch-me-not (Impa- same amount of effort and for the same reason. In a natural tiens capensis), another annual volunteer, has migrated from the meadow planting, however, the native perennials, in time and shady, moist lakeside, where it first appeared as soon as we with help, become dominant and begin to outgrow the weeds. stopped mowing the lawn, into the prairie garden, and has Intervention and continual long-term maintenance will always freely become part of the colorfest. When dry weather comes, be required by both. However, the continuous color and the a sprinkler is sometimes used to assist their survival – their wildlife activity in the prairie garden are worth the extra effort. vase-shaped, dangling flowers provide nectar for the humming- At least it doesn’t have to be done behind or on the seat of a birds and butterflies. loud lawnmower. The work can be accomplished while listen- The attraction of our wildflowers is not limited to daylight ing to the sounds of nature. Even while we work in the yard, hours. The constant movement and lightning flashes of fireflies the prairie provides an ambience we prefer to the machine- at dusk and into the evening, from June to the middle of intensive maintenance required by a lawnscape. p August, adds to our back yard activity and visual interest. Fire- flies do not appear in my neighbor’s lawnscapes until the end of July, two months after having become very active at Green Gables. They apparently spill over after dry weather reduces my Definitions Lodging occurs when the upper portion of plant growth, neighbor’s mowing schedule. typically the seed head, becomes too heavy to be supported by the When we moved into Green Gables 14 years ago, the back stem, and the plant bends toward the ground. In a prairie planting, yard open space was all lawn, for which I had very definite in- tall grasses and forbs with substantial stems assist in preventing tentions. A friend, Mark Kuhnke, with his Ford tractor and a lodging. three-point hitch cultivator turned over the thick sod and con- Ecotone: A transitional zone between two communities containing the characteristic species of each. tinued to cultivate the soil throughout the growing season of 1994, each time a new crop of weeds germinated. For a brief

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Missing the Mysteries? Griping About the Grapevine? Because we had so much important content for this issue, we had to leave out Maryann Whitman’s ever-popular “Grapevine” column and her interesting “Mysteries Explored” article. But don’t worry. Both features will be back next time. Meanwhile Is there anything you’d like to write about? Something on your mind? Please contact our editor, Maryann Whitman, and let her know you’re interested. Getting your thoughts into the Journal may be easier than you think. Contact: [email protected]. Got Questions About Natural Landscaping? BUSINESSMEMBERS I What is it? I Why is it beneficial? RENEWINGBUSINESSMEMBERS I What kinds of plants? Door Landscape I How do I do it? 6329 State Highway 42 I Where do I find seeds and Egg Harbor WI 54209-9138 plants? (920) 495-3138 [email protected] Produced by Wild Ones, this www.doorlandscape.com book has the answers to these Door County Chapter questions and a lot more. Just Kalamazoo Nature Center $10 at the Wild Ones Store 7000 N Westnedge Ave (includes shipping and handling. Kalamazoo MI 49009-6309 www.for-wild.org/store. (269) 381-1574x17 [email protected] www.naturecenter.org Kalamazoo Area Chapter Lacewing Gardening & Consulting Services 6087 N Denmark St Milwaukee WI 53225-1673 (414) 358-2562 [email protected] Menomonee River Area Chapter Marshland Transplant Aquatic Nursery PO Box 1 Berlin, WI 54923-0001 (800) 208-2842 [email protected] Fox Valley Area Chapter Prairie Nursery PO Box 306, Dept WO Westfield WI 53964-0306 (800) 476-9453 [email protected] prairienursery.com Central Wisconsin Chapter Taylor Creek Nurseries – Applied Ecological Services 17921 Smith Rd, PO Box 256 Brodhead WI 53520-0256 (608) 897-8641 [email protected] www.appliedeco.com Rock River Valley Chapter Wildtype Native Plant Nursery 900 N Every Rd Mason MI 48854-9306 (517) 244-1140 [email protected] www.wildtypeplants.com Red Cedar Chapter

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2008 Photo Contest: Better Than Ever By Joan Rudolph This year’s annual photo contest exceeded site (www.for-wild.org). Wild Ones also last year’s total of 82 with a grand total of will use some of the photos in promo- 99 entries. The photos taken by Kids’ cate- tional materials. gory were down, with only eight entries by The photo contest was judged at the three children. The Flora category had the new WILD Center overlooking the wood- most entries again this year with 35, and land behind the center. We thank Eileen the Scenery category was next with 20 Herrling for her invaluable help in critiqu- entries. ing and judging this year’s contest. Eileen Herrling, who judged the The Winners contest, gave a wonderful critique with The winning entrants received ribbons and many tips for improving our photos. An prizes. Photos were judged on: Appleton, Wisconsin, resident, Eileen has 1. Technical merit (composition, sharp- over 30 years experience in photography, 1. ness, exposure, color). for which she has won awards. Her phi- Lotus on the Mississippi 2. Appropriateness to category. John Arthur losophy is to show nature’s beauty to en- 3. Presentation (mounting neatness). courage appreciation and protection of People’s Choice Award our fragile environment. Linda Winstead for “Bur Oak Surprise” When it came to voting for the People’s Choice Award, there were many excellent Flora Heather Holm for “Geum triflorum – competitors. Linda Winstead’s photo titled Prairie Smoke” “Burr Oak Surprise” was selected by vote of Clayton Oslund for “Lupinus arcticus – those attending the conference. Honorable Arctic Lupine” Mentions went to Harold Vastag, Laura Harold Vastag for “Moccasin Flower Hedien, and John Arthur. (Cypripedium acaule – Pink Lady Slippers)” This contest shows us the variety of Scenery nature through multiple photographic John Arthur for “Lotus on the Mississippi” eyes. From individual insects and flowers, Ron Johnson for “Oregon Rain Forest” to prairies, forests, and Wild Ones activi- Michael Nordin for “South Dakota ties, it tells us what Wild Ones is all about. Inspecting a Mason Bee Box Badlands” at Peterson’s Prairie Photos will be put on the Wild Ones web Lenae Weichel

Pollinators, Insects or Bugs Heather Holm for “Monarch Butterflies Congratulations to Our & Stiff Goldenrod” Newest Lifetime Members Vicki Bonk for “Bee Balm” Vicki Bonk for “Autumn Monarch” Child or Children Mary Kuller for “Enjoying the Wild Grasses at Sunset” Kay Lettau for “Starting ’em Young” Michael Nordin for “Anna in Tall Grass” Landscaping – Residential Marty and Jeff Rice Linda Winstead for “Bur Oak Surprise” Twin Cities (MN) Chapter Karen Schulz for “Down at the Cabin” Thank you for your support and your Tony Hilscher for “Prairie Renewal” dedication to Wild Ones. Wild Ones Activities Lenae Weichel for “Inspecting a Mason Bee Box in Peterson’s Prairie” You Can Be a Lifetime Member Tim Lewis for “Show Me Help Me at John The Wild Ones National Board Peterson’s” is pleased to be able to offer this Heather Carter for “Digging for Buried special way to show your support of Treasure” Wild Ones and its mission. Landscaping – Non-Residential $1,200 per household, payable Clayton Oslund for “Pagoda Dogwood, over three years. Not inheritable. Maidenhair Fern & Woodland Geranium” Applies to household, which includes Linda Winstead for “Wild & Wooly” children under 18 years of age. Kid’s Photos Local chapters will still receive Erin Vastag for “Prairie Flowers their annual dues reimbursement (Agastache foeniculum and Aster Furcatus)” for lifetime members. One address per membership. Erik Vastag for “Searching for Honey” Erin Vastag for “Lots of Green” Contact the National Office, toll-free at 877-3944-9453 for details. See all contest winners on our web site: www.for-wild.org

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No Child Left Inside We are pleased to report that environmental education won a major boost on Friday, September 19th when the U.S. House of Representatives approved the No Child Left Inside Act of 2008. The bill received bipartisan support, and was approved by a vote of 294 to 108. (www.nclicoalition.org) This is only one step in the process, but it is a major one, and gives the NCLI Coalition enormous momentum to keep working to pass the bill in the months ahead. The vote rep- resents a victory for everyone who cares about environmen- tal education. The grassroots interest and energy of coalition members across the country – your calls, visits, e-mails, and letters – made an enormous difference. Thank you.

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At The Wild Ones Store Long-Sleeve Roots T-Shirts The roots of native plants grow deep, and here’s a great way to show off that important fact. Show off your “wildness” with “Roots” on front, and the Wild Ones logo on the back. Cool and unique. Several colors available. $14

Wild Ones Denim Shirts Spread the word about Wild Ones with this eye- catching shirt. Professionally embroidered with the Wild Ones logo $44 With the famous “Yesterday’s Lawn, Tomorrow’s Habitat” $55 Die, Buckthorn Scum T-Shirts Back by popular demand! Want everyone to know your true feelings about buck- thorn? Don't hold back! This shirt, with artwork designed especially for Wild Ones by cartoonist and Wild Ones member John Klossner – along with the Wild Ones logo, tells it all. Guaranteed to clear up any questions. $17 WILD Center Mug In connection with the opening of our new headquarters, this 14-ounce mug has a drawing of the building on one side, and the Wild Ones logo on the other. Color is white with green screen print. $10 Celebration of Nature Tote Made from 100% recycled fabric, this waterproof tote has Joan Rudolph’s graphic, along with “In Celebration of Nature” silkscreened on both sides. Colors are red/black, blue/ black, and white/black. $8

Order Online For more information, contact the National Office at 877-394-9453. Checks payable to Wild Ones at: Wild Ones Merchandise, P.O. Box 1274, Appleton, Wisconsin 54912. Prices include shipping and handling. For maximum convenience, order online at www.for-wild.org/store/.

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The Meeting Place Chapters, please send your chapter contact information to: Meeting Place Coordinator Mary Paquette N2026 Cedar Road • Adell, Wisconsin 53001 920-994-2505 • [email protected] Chapter ID numbers are listed after names. Meet us online at www.for-wild.org/calendar.html

CONNECTICUT Oakland Chapter #34 PENNSYLVANIA Barbara Bray 248-601-6405 Mountain Laurel Chapter #78 [email protected] Habitat Resource Network of Kathy T. Dame 860-439-2144 Southeast Pennsylvania Chapter #79 [email protected] Red Cedar Chapter #41 Maureen Carbery 484-678-6200 Sue Millar 517-675-5665 [email protected] [email protected] ILLINOIS River City Chapter #83 Carol Phelps 616-233-0833 Greater DuPage Chapter #9 WISCONSIN Pat Clancy 630-964-0448 [email protected] Central Wisconsin Chapter #50 MINNESOTA Dan Dieterich 715-346-2849 Lake-To-Prairie Chapter #11 [email protected] Karen Wisiol 847-548-1650 [email protected] Arrowhead Chapter #48 Carol Andrews 218-529-8204 Door County Chapter #59 Macomb Chapter #42 (Seedling) [email protected] Peter Sigman 920-824-5193 [email protected] Margaret Ovitt 309-836-6231 [email protected] Otter Tail Chapter #25 Fox Valley Area Chapter #8 North Park Chapter #27 Brad Ehlers 218-998-3590 [email protected] Kris Kauth 920-766-2292 [email protected] Wilma McCallister Kay Lettau 920-836-3330 [email protected] [email protected] St. Cloud Chapter #29 Brian Johnson 320-356-9462 [email protected] Green Bay Chapter #10 Rock River Valley Chapter #21 James Havel [email protected] Constance McCarthy 815-282-0316 St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter #71 Veronique VanGheem [email protected] [email protected] Diane Hilscher 651-436-3836 [email protected] Lake Woods Chapter #72 INDIANA Roger Miller [email protected] Gladwyn Doughman 920-684-9483 Twin Cities Chapter #56 Gibson Woods Chapter #38 Madison Chapter #13 Marty Rice 952-927-6531 [email protected] Joy Bower 219-844-3188 [email protected] Laurie J. Yahr 608-274-6539 [email protected] Barb Glassel 608-819-0087 [email protected] KENTUCKY MISSOURI Menomonee River Area Chapter #16 Mid-Missouri Chapter #49 Jan Koel 262-251-7175 Lexington Chapter #64 Scott Hamilton 573-882-9909 x3257 Diane Holmes 262-628-2825 [email protected] Linda Porter 859-936-1927 [email protected] [email protected] Milwaukee North Chapter #18 Louisville Metrowild Chapter #26 St. Louis Chapter #31 Message Center: 414-299-9888x1 Rick Harned 502-897-2485 [email protected] Marilyn Chryst 314-845-2497 [email protected] [email protected] Milwaukee Southwest-Wehr Chapter #23 Message Center: 414-299-9888x2 NEW YORK MICHIGAN Root River Area Chapter #43 Habitat Gardening in Central New York #76 Nan Calvert 262-681-4899 [email protected] Ann Arbor Chapter #3 Janet Allen 315-487-5742 Sheboygan Area Tension Zone Chapter #43 Susan Bryan 734-622-9997 [email protected] [email protected] Sarah M. Johnson 920-627-3183 Niagara Frontier Wildlife Habitat Council [email protected] Calhoun County Chapter #39 Chapter #82 Wolf River Chapter #74 Carol Spanninga 517-857-3766 Michelle Vanstrom 716-745-7625 Mary Kuester 715-526-3401 [email protected] [email protected] Sue Templeman [email protected] Central Upper Peninsula Chapter #61 Jeanne Rose 906-789-1442 [email protected] OHIO For meeting and activity information, call the Tom Tauzer 906-428-3203 [email protected] Greater Cincinnati Chapter #62 chapter contact person or check the chapter Flint River Chapter #32 Chris McCullough 513-860-4959 [email protected] web site. Thomas Enright [email protected] Columbus Chapter #4 Detroit Metro Chapter #47 Jann Offutt [email protected] Accessing the Wild Ones Journal Connie Manley 248-538-0654 Sam Pathy [email protected] Via the Internet [email protected] Toledo Chapter #77 If you live in Georgia or Ohio,you may now be able Houghton-Hancock Chapter #60 (Seedling) Erika Buri 419-882-8313x29 access many of our Wild Ones Journal articles elec- Kristine Bradof 906-482-0446 [email protected] [email protected] tronically beginning with the January/February 2008 Kalamazoo Area Chapter #37 Western Reserve Chapter #73 issue.Ask your local librarian how to use the Garden, Dave Wendling 269-624-6946 [email protected] Barb Holtz 440-473-3370 Landscape & Horticulture Index.Tell them you want Tom Small 269-381-4946 [email protected] [email protected] to access Wild Ones Journal articles. Or contact Michigan’s Thumb Area (Seedling) Matthew Reames at [email protected] for Diane Santhany [email protected] more assistance. Matthew would also like to hear Mid-Mitten Chapter #80 from our Georgia and Ohio members who have tried Judy Packard 989-686-1231 to access the Journal in this way to learn about your [email protected] experience using the database.

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P.O. Box 83, North Lake WILD ONES NATIONAL deadline April 22, 2008. For details visit Wisconsin 53064-0083 QUARTERLY BOARD MEETINGS www.naturalarea.org/08Conference. All members are invited and encouraged to Fox Valley Area (WI) Chapter’s 13th Annual attend the quarterly meetings of the National Toward Harmony with Nature Conference Over 170 species from southeastern Board of Directors. If you’d like to participate in January 24, 2009 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wisconsin prairies the meeting by conference call, please contact Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Keynote speaker will be the National Office (toll-free) at 877-394-9453 Professor Robert J. Jeske, Professor of Anthro- for instructions. pology and Director of the Archaeological Re- search Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin- Second Biennial Native Plant Symposium Milwaukee. The focus of his presentation will be September 27, at The Center, Purdue University- “There was no Wilderness: The Oak Savanna/ Calumet, 2300 173rd Street, Hammond, Indiana. Prairie as a Cultural Landscape.” There will nine Doors open at 7 a.m. for a day of education, PLEASE other speakers in three concurrent sessions cover- camaraderie, and fun. Sponsored by the Gibson ing such topics as landscape design, woodlands, SEND Woods (IN) Chapter. Call Joy at 219-844-3188 or prairie, stormwater management, and habitat $1 FOR Pat at 219-865-2679. development for the birds. Registration begins at SEED 35th Natural Areas Conference October 14- 7:45 a.m. There will be exhibits, a silent auction, CATALOG 17, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in Nashville, vendors, and concessions. For more informa- Bob Ahrenhoerster, Tennessee. Sponsored by the Natural Areas tion e-mail [email protected] or go to Prairie Restoration Association and the National Association of Ex- www.for-wild.org/chapters/foxvalley/. otic Pest Plant Councils. The conference will Stewardship Network January 23, 24 2009, Specialist focus on ecological management themes with an Kellogg Center at MSU, East Lansing, Michigan. emphasis on invasive exotic species and the “Science, Practice, & Art of Restoring Native effects of climate change. The NAEPPC will bring Ecosystems.” For registration information please its invasive species expertise to the conference go to www.stewardshipnetwork.org and find and the two organizations will provide synergy in “Conference 2009.” organizing an outstanding event. Sessions will address the conference theme, “Tuning into a Wildflower Association of Michigan Changing Climate and Biological Invasion.” Field March 8, 9, 2009, Kellogg Center at MSU, East trips and workshops will provide training oppor- Lansing, Michigan. For registration information go VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT http://www. tunities for participants. Join us for an informative to www.wildflowersmich.org and find “Wildflower Ameritech.net/users/rasillon/Seed.html and rewarding experience. Call for papers Conference.”

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Wild Ones Sweatshirts and Long-Sleeve T-Shirts Look Great, Keep You Warm, Are Fun to Wear, and Make Great Gifts

Great selection, including Wood Lilies, Yellow Star Grass, and Grass Pink Orchids. Local genotype. Competitive prices. For those cool nights, we recommend these Wild Ones Sweatshirts or Long- Potted plants ready to go. Sleeve T-Shirts. Available in Hunter Come and see us at the Green, White, Copper, and Ivy, and Dane County Farmers’ Market with different graphic designs and in Madison. several sizes, you’ll always be cozy and No mail order sales! warm in these eye-catching shirts. Prices start at just $18, which includes Farm visits by appointment only, shipping and handling. please. To place an order, and for full details, S5920 Lehman Road check out the Wild Ones Store at Baraboo, WI 53913 www.for-wild.org/store. 608-356-0179

Join Wild Ones Get Something Free Prairie Directory of North America This fabulous directory of North American prairies is yours free when you join or renew your Wild Ones membership at the $75 level or higher. Normally retailing for $25 (including shipping and handling), this directory not only locates prairies for you, but also gives you quick facts about each one. Former Journal Editor-in-Chief, Mariette Nowak, said, “Prairie lovers every- where, this is the book for you!” The Prairie Directory of North America is a must-have for your travel reference collection. Join or renew now! Wild About Wildflowers Are you wild about wildflowers? When you join or renew your Wild Ones membership at the $50 level or higher, you will receive, at no extra charge, this highly acclaimed video. Covering everything from how to choose, plant, grow, and enjoy native American wildflowers and grasses in your own yard, this item sells in the Wild Ones Store for $30, but now you can get it almost for free. Join Wild Ones or renew your membership today!

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Wild Ones Membership Form Landscaping Name ______Address______With Nature City______Specializing in State/ZIP______natural landscaping Phone ______using native species, E-Mail ______we do consulting and design, installation, Annual Dues: Wild Wilder Wildest and maintenance for Household $30 $50 $75+ prairie, woodland, and Business $200 $500 $1,000+ wetland environments, Limited income/full-time student household: $20/year including rain gardens. Lifetime $1200 (Or payable in three annual $400 installments.) I am joining/renewing at the $50 or higher level. Send Membership Premium Video. 4615 N. Richmond St. $75 or higher level. Send Membership Premium Book. Appleton, Wisconsin Please check: new renewal new contact info Amount enclosed $ ______for ______years. Phone: 920-749-7807 Chapter preference ______Fax: 920-830-2822 Chapters listed in “The Meeting Place.” If this is a Gift Membership: My Name ______Occasion for Gift ______Lake Shore Cleaners Entire Membership Fee Is Tax-Deductible. Wild Ones • P.O. Box 1274 • Appleton, WI • 54912-1274

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NONPROFITORG. US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 90 N ATIVE P LANTS ,N ATURAL L ANDSCAPES OSHKOSH,WI P.O. Box 1274 Appleton, WI 54912-1274 www.for-wild.org

ADDRESSSERVICEREQUESTED DATED MATERIAL

Is your membership OK? How about your address? If the imprint above is dated 1/1/09 or 2/1/09 or before, your membership is about to expire. Money Going Down the Drain! If you are moving, either How You Can Help. When planning a long vacation, or a temporarily or permanently, please let the National Office move, please mail your address information to Wild Ones, know as soon as your new address is official. Returned and P.O. Box 1274, Appleton, Wisconsin 54912, call toll-free at forwarded mail costs Wild Ones anywhere from $.77 to 877-394-9453, or go to the Wild Ones members-only pages $3.77 per piece. Each issue this adds up to a lot of money at www.for-wild.org. Click on item 2 (Update Personal Mem- that could be used to support our mission. bership Info) and enter the appropriate changes. Thanks!

THANK YOU

Matching Donations Sharon Duerkop of the Fox Valley Area (WI) Chapter received a 1:1 match from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans matching gift program.

Seeds for Education in Honor of Lorrie 89th Birthday In September, Lorrie Otto, naturalist and Wild Ones’ inspira- tional leader, a pioneer in the natural landscaping movement in the United States, celebrated her 89th birthday. Over the past several years, we have encouraged chapters and members to honor this very special lady with their donation to the SFE Fox Valley Area (WI) Chapter Grant Program. So far this year we have received $816 from WILD Center Challenge several members and one chapter. A huge thank you to the Fox Valley Area (WI) Chapter for their generous donation of the entire $20,000 that Dave & Mariette Nowak and Jean Hancock, Milwaukee- had been offered as a 2:1 grant challenge to the rest of the Southwest/Wehr (WI) Chapter chapters. The Fox Valley Area Chapter is one of our oldest Donna & John VanBuecken, Fox Valley Area (WI) Chapter and largest, and they are much appreciated for stepping up. Annie C. McNitt and Nancy Aten, Milwaukee-North (WI) This $28,219 donation from the chapters will give a Chapter generous boost to the funds we will need to complete Cliff Orsted of Door Landscape Door County (WI) Chapter the development of our WILD Center. Maryann Whitman, Oakland (MI) Chapter Fox Valley Area (WI) Chapter Amazon Commissions General Donations to Seeds for Education Amazon commissions for the past two months total $134.55. Thanks to Janet Sternfeld, Toledo (OH) Chapter everyone who goes through the Catherine Skocir-Stehr and Donna Gager, Milwaukee- Wild Ones bookstore to get to Southwest/Wehr (WI) Chapter Amazon.com. Martha & John Lunz, Milwaukee-North (WI) Chapter Mary L. Johnston, Partner at Large from Iowa Hildy Feen and Linda Dolan, Madison (WI) Chapter