A voice for the March | April 2017 natural landscaping a movement. Vol. 30 | No. 2 Working toward COVER PHOTO: Ed Buchs the next four decades of Shooting Star. growing native plants and 2016 photo restoring natural landscapes. contest entry JOURNAL Saving our Bees6 No-burn Prairies16 Monarchs in Winter20 Garlic Mustard Control22 9 Spring Maintenance Tips 2 Notes from the President 3 Executive Director Notes 4 Member Garden 9 Chapter Notes 2 Notes from the President 3 Executive Director Notes 5 News 10 Member Garden 11 Plant of the Year 13 Book Review 14 News 13 Counterpoint: Lurie Gardens 15 Wild Geraniums 24 Chapter News 26 Meeting Place NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT Seek information to be more efficient, effective just finished reading a several years, which of Promoting environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through Ibook detailing the your local Wild Ones the preservation, restoration, and establishment amazing success of a spy presentations and of native plant communities. ring set up by George programs have gotten the Washington in 1775. highest attendance? What NATIONAL OFFICE WILD CENTER “George Washington’s are the results of each 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Road Secret Six” was written membership drive, both Neenah, WI 54956 by historians fascinated immediately and in the NATIONAL STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION by centuries of secrecy that protected following few months? Which plants sell Phone: (920) 730-3986 the six patriots who served in the Culper best at your plant sale and which need Email: [email protected] Spy Ring. Turns out Nathan Hale was more education provided so that the President the new nation’s first spy, known yet public recognizes their unique beauty? Janice Hand • 406-219-7766 today for saying, “I only regret that I Which Wild Ones educational materials [email protected] have but one life to give for my seem most valued by the public? Interim Executive Director country.” His 1776 hanging troubled Pam Wilcox I urge you to look for information on Washington greatly, but the general also 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Road what is making your chapter successful Neenah, WI 54956 recognized the Patriots’ critical need for 920-730-3986 — and do more of that. The same information on British plans. So, he tried [email protected] information will tell you what is less again, slowly gathering a group of six Vice President valued, so maybe that should be spies and protecting their identities to Sally Wencel • [email protected] changed or dropped. That’s what we (423) 847-8845 ensure their names were kept secret are doing at the national office, slowly through the war — and well beyond Secretary (and yes, at times painfully). As you Karen Syverson • [email protected] their deaths. In fact, the name of one can imagine, this isn’t a quick process Treasurer of the six still remains a mystery; it was because it must be very, very thorough Rick Sanders • [email protected] the sole female member, called “355.” (406) 219-4275 so we make the right decisions for the The network of six regular citizens, The Meeting Place Coordinator long term. Mary Paquette • 920-994-2505 among them a tavern owner, a [email protected] newspaper editor and a tailor, passed Once we have gathered and verified Seeds for Education Coordinator information in complex codes that key information on how we can run a [email protected] literally turned the tide of the war. more effective and efficient Wild Ones organization, the last piece of needed Website Coordinator My column this month isn’t really about [email protected] information will be chapters’ input. spying or American history. It’s about the In the next few months, expect to be Board Members importance of seeking information. After Janice Hand, Montana, 2020 invited to share your opinions and Sally Wencel, Tennessee, 2018 all, that’s the crux of what Washington wishes. In the meantime, please look Karen Syverson, Wisconsin, 2020 recognized 240-plus years ago and what Rick Sanders, Montana, 2020 at information at your local chapter I realized when I put down the book Nan Calvert, Wisconsin, 2020 level that you can use as background Denise Gehring, Ohio, 2020 and mulled over its contents. Jan Hunter, Ohio, 2018 for your input. Your national board is John Magee, Virginia, 2018 Over the past five months, I have been doing the same at the national level. Janis Soloman, Connecticut, 2018 startled by the number of times I’ve Laura Zigmanth, Michigan, 2018 And, speaking of information, my new made a 180-degree turn on a position Daniel Segal, New York, 2020 favorite source of chapter information is Tim Lewis, Immediate Past President, after digging out further information on the State of the Chapter Reports, all of Illinois, 2017 Wild Ones issues. Input from long-time which are now in and being compiled. Honorary Directors leaders and members, financial detail Neil Diboll, Wisconsin, Lifetime I’m personally looking forward to and program statistics have never Glenn D. Dreyer, Connecticut, 2019 reading 2016 chapter happenings and Bob Grese, Michigan, 2017 seemed so important. That’s one of the am anxious for a summary to share Karen Oberhauser, Minnesota, 2019 reasons that I value members’ messages Stephen Packard, Illinois, 2019 widely among all chapters. I cannot and ideas – more information. Lynn Steiner, Minnesota, 2017 wait to start bragging! Patricia Sutton, New Jersey 2017 Doug Tallamy, Delaware, 2017 On the chapter level, information is just Orley “Chip” Taylor, Kansas, 2019 as critical to local success. Over the past Catherine Zimmerman, Maryland, 2019 Established in 1977, Wild Ones is a national not-for-profit organization Wild Ones’ definition of a native plant: of members who teach the benefits of growing native plants A native plant is a species that occurs naturally in a particular region, and work together to grow and restore natural landscapes. ecosystem and/or habitat and was present prior to European settlement. 2 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOTES Your membership with improved chapter communication dues and coordination. are Throughout January and mid-February, we’ve had a few interesting and unusual tax deductible obstacles thrown our way. Our “last if you itemize woman standing” on staff, Kim Walbrun, slipped on the ice in January deductions on and fractured her leg, resulting in six your tax return. Pam Wilcox weeks recovery time and the necessity It’s true. Interim Executive Director to work remotely. And, we’ve suffered through “freaky Tuesdays” – five Since Wild Ones esilience. It’s the word that runs straight weeks of terrible weather on is a national Rthrough my mind as the Wild Ones Tuesdays, be it snow, sleet, ice or fog, not-for-profit natural national office regains strength after the which made just getting to the Neenah landscaping organization challenges of last year. Resilience. It’s a office a win. We are definitely looking created solely for the concept that celebrates the efforts and forward to spring! purpose of educating the public, patience of our national and chapter On the plus side, we now have a great part- its donors can deduct their leaders and members as they work time contract staff person, Administrative contributions including through the inevitable challenges facing Assistant Elaine Krizenesky, who is helping nonprofits today. Just like native plants that membership dues. keep our office running smoothly. Be sure are knocked for a loop by bad weather, our to welcome her the next time you contact Learn more about internal strengths coupled with favorable the national office. Not sure who to contact your dues conditions allow us to reemerge shining at the national headquarters for your deductibility here. brightly, sometimes in unanticipated ways. questions? See our handy chart below. Wild Ones is resilient – the major web OURNAL is full of and email problems that have plagued us Like all issues, this J since last fall and made computer usage interesting thoughts and ideas as we such an adventure are under control. wait for spring. Included is a special WILD ONES JOURNAL section that honors the names of some The move to a larger capacity server along — Editor — with added safety features means that the very special people. On behalf of our Barbara A. Schmitz Wild Ones website is more stable with board, members and staff, Janice and I [email protected] (Please indicate topic in subject line.) much faster response times. The national give deep thanks to each and every one office is back to the normal weekly of you who donated to the 2016 Annual — Contributing Writers — Appeal. The success of Wild Ones is Charlotte Adelman • Bill Bartodziej • Neil Diboll updates that refresh and keep chapter Denise Gehring • Heather Holm • Kelly Kearns member databases current. We are now only as big as the hearts and efforts of its members. By that measure, Wild Ones Tracy Lawler • Candy Sarikonda turning our attention to new member Donna VanBuecken• Maryann Whitman is blessed! and member renewal processes – how to — Design/Layout — make them more efficient and effective Deb Muraro NAME TOPICS CONTACT INFORMATION — Proofreader — Pam Denise Gehring Kim Walbrun Chapter event insurance, startups and (920) 730-3986 seedlings, JOURNAL advertisements, photo [email protected] WILD ONES JOURNAL is published regularly by Wild contest information, butterfly garden Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes. Views recognition, Seeds for Education grants, expressed are the opinions of the authors. Journal State of the Chapter reports, “What’s going content may be reproduced for non-profit educational purposes as long as the JOURNAL is credited as the on” section of the website and chapter source. Individual articles that carry a copyright are the closings property of the author and cannot be reproduced without the author’s written permission.