Oak saplings at MWRD Dear Readers, Over the past few months, I have heard from a number of folks asking when I would start posting again. This has been heartening: an interested (small) reading public! Soon, I’d say and then do, not much. The truth is, since last I posted, almost two years ago, my life has changed a great deal in ways both dramatic and subtle. It’s taken awhile to adapt. In early 2023, my husband and I decided to leave our old, loved house with its 35-year-old native plant garden, and move into a hundred-year-old two-flat with our grown daughter and her dog. We felt happy to be upholding that fine old Chicago tradition of multi-generational two-flat living. However, like anyone else who has left long-term, settled life in one place, we discovered that the phrase “we moved,” doesn’t even begin to do justice to the upheaval involved. And then there’s the starting over/settling in process requiring new adjustments and forming new habits of life, for much longer than you m...
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Great article. I can't agree more. I find when municipalities contract out plantings to the lowest bidder you get the worst outcomes. Only exotic species are planted - some are considered invasive in the State and do not support any kind of wildlife or biodiversity.
I find the more urban you are, the less bio-diversity and more grass, the exception being the largest parks that were preserved here long ago. In suburban areas though, we have some very proactive municipalities creating native plantings, raingardens and even doing extensive restorations.
Heather
You make good comments about contracting out plantings.
Sometimes the designer will specify certain species and then by the time all the committees have had a go, the list looks very different.
It would be wonderful if municipalities would understand you don't have to put in giant, expensive plants--you can start things a little smaller for less expense.
That urban/suburban pattern you describe is very common--though not quite so distinct here in the Chicago area.
Hi Jean, I hope the park district does pay attention.
That is an excellent question--and I'm not sure I have an answer. I'll have to go looking.
Wild Ones is a native plant landscaping society that has chapters in Illinois, though none in Oak Park. Their informative website is at
http://www.for-wild.org/
There's an idea: someone could start a local group.
Our parks are overrun with invasive species. Also keep in mind I live in an area (mid-atlantic) that was totally deforested by 1775, again by 1910, and paved over from 1945 to 1965. Quite a legacy of disturbance.
Another issue is that since there is no money to manage, improve, or police many parks, they are closed to the public (yet still called "county parks"). Which makes me want to punch a wall.
Do your parks have any conservation groups interested in them with names like "Friends of the Parks?" Is the Nature Conservancy active in your area? These kinds of volunteer groups can work wonders--I've seen it happen.
We gardeners can do our part in our own landscapes and in our communities. Kudos to you for speaking up. I hope you may have sparked something in your community with your OpEd.
I've been to some of the forest preserves you mention and they are good areas.
The idea, which you definitely get, is that there shouldn't be a sharp divide--urban and suburban parks can be part of a biodiversity continuum.
There is some conversation going on.
It is a city Park that is making a real effort to introduce nature to the city. I am impressed with the ambition.They have a blog and a facebook page documenting the effort.
Thanks for bringing up Washington Park. They have a strong organization and are indeed doing an admirable job. I think each park needs a dedicated group of people to take responsibility and to care for it. Park districts alone can't do the job.