If you have an irritating wet area in your yard or are trying to disconnect your downspouts, you won't want to miss Jeff Swano, owner of Dig Right In Landscaping, Inc., at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, at LaGrange Park Public Library, 555 N. LaGrange Rd. He will describe what causes drainage problems and present solutions in his presentation, "Yard Drainage Problems," sponsored by Salt Creek Watershed Network.
We've all heard of capital. It's king, right? Plus, there's venture capital: wealth that creates new businesses. Human capital? Yep, we know that by the sweat on our brow.
And then there's natural capital. Ever heard of it? Paddy Woodworth, author of Our "Once and Future Planet," will come to Oak Park to help us understand the concept of restoring natural capital and how this idea is transforming the way the world values and uses nature.
The Village of Oak Park has been flooded with requests for rain barrels since announcing a new give-away program. Already, Environmental Services Manager Karen Rozmus has ordered 536 rain barrels from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago, the partner and financial backer for the project. Up to four 55-gallon rain barrels (in blue, gray, terra cotta or black) are available for each qualified household. The Village of River Forest also has a program that offers discounted rain barrels. Read on for more details. There are several benefits to using rain barrels.
Oak Park might become the second town in the country, and the first in Illinois, to be certified as an arboretum. Oak Park Village Forester, Robert Sproule, made this announcement on Sunday, March 22, at the meeting of The Learning Gardens of Oak Park. The Village of Oak Park in cooperation with the Park District of Oak Park submitted an application on March 13, to the Morton Arboretum to have the trees in the parks and on the parkways of Oak Park certified as an arboretum and are awaiting final approval.
The Learning Gardens of Oak Park will host a meeting on trees, plants and gardens on Sunday, March 22, 2015 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield Place, in Oak Park. Rob Sproule, Oak Park’s Village Forester, will discuss plans for an Oak Park Arboretum. We will also present information on plans for walking tours of front yard gardens in Oak Park, and on Hatch School’s organic vegetable garden and orchard and on OPRFHS’s work to create a student hydroponic research center.
We benefit tremendously from having trees in our yards, parks and along our greenways. They save energy, reduce heating bills and increase the value of our homes. Because they give so much, we should give back to them. How can we? It all starts with the soil, said arborist Dan Krug, who gave a two-hour talk, “Caring for Trees by Caring for the Soil: Good Dirt,” hosted by West Cook Wild Ones on Sept. 21 at Dominican University. Krug covered soil composition and chemistry and the importance of mulching.
Meet Kathryn Jonas, a long time Oak Park, IL, resident, tree expert and advocate. In addition to her many other credentials Kathryn was trained and has served as a “treekeeper” through the Treekeepers program at Openlands.
“Woodpecker Hollow” Nature Play Area:
Balance on logs and build with sticks as you experience unstructured playtime in our nature play area. Every day
Bone Appétit
Join us at feeding time to learn about Trailside’s outdoor resident animals: Monday, September 1; Sunday, September 13; Sunday, October 12; Sundays, November 8 & 22; Tuesday, November 11; Saturday, November 30 • 1 pm
Nature Story Time
Nature-inspired stories followed by a craft. Ages 3-6 with adult. $1 per child.: Thursdays, September 4 & 18; October 2 & 16; November 6 & 20 • 10:30 am
Dog Days Walks
Bring your well-mannered, leashed dog on a one-hour guided hike on our trails. Call to register by 2 days prior. Saturdays, September 20, October 18, November 15 • 10 am
Autumn Walks
Explore the changing seasons on a guided walk along our trails and around the pond. Call to register by 2 days prior. Sundays, September 28, October 5 & 19, November 2 & Monday, October 13 • 1 pm
Weekday Nature Walk
Join us as we explore our local trails near Trailside Museum: Tuesdays, September 30, October 28, November 25 • 1 pm
Join other homeschoolers to learn about local nature. Limited space available; register at least 2 days prior to each session. Must be accompanied by adult.
Tree Ecology Learn about trees many important roles in our ecosystems, and learn to identify some of our local trees. Children ages 8 & up; Wednesday, September 24 • 2 – 3:30 pm
Migration Beyond Borders
Learn the migration stories of birds, insects and reptiles connecting to habitat preservation. Children ages 8 and up. Wednesday, October 22 • 2 – 3:30 pm
Ready for Winter
Learn about different animals’ strategies for surviving seasonal changes in order to prepare for winter. Children ages 8 and up. Wednesday, November 19 • 2 – 3:30 pm
Join interested adults and teens to learn about our leaders in conservation. Limited space available; register at least 2 days prior to each session.
Conservation in America: Explore the ideas and practice of conservation from before Thoreau to 21st century conservation biology. Wednesday, September 17 • 7 pm
Origins of the Forest Preserves: Learn how the nation’s first forest preserves were created in a time of great social change. Wednesday, October 1 • 7 pm
Leaders in Conservation: Aldo Leopold, Learn about the man many believe to be the father of the conservation ethic.Wednesday, November 19 • 7 pm
Start Your Nature Journal
Learn and practice tips for starting or enhancing your journal, from pen and paper as well as your favorite smartphone apps. For adults and interested teens; bring your favorite technology if you like. Registration required by 9/4, $15.00/person includes take-home materials. Saturday September 6 • 1 pm
What Leaf Is That? Tree ID for Young People: Enjoy a short nature walk and learn easy ways to identify some trees by leaf, bud, bark and fruit. Children ages 7 – 14, w/adult. Registration required by 9/5. Sunday, September 7 • 1 pm
Killer Plants and Murderous Mushrooms: Learn how some plants and fungi defend themselves, and then follow a naturalist in search of examples in our preserves. For adults and youth 12 and up; registration required by 9/12. Sunday, September 14 • 1 pm
Animal Olympics: Can you leap as far as a frog, or spear fish like a heron? Test your human abilities against amazing animal adaptations. Drop-in family program. Sunday, September 21 • 1 – 2:30 pm
The Endless Garden - Seed Saving: Learn how and when to save and store seeds from your garden plants for next year’s growing season. For adults; register by 9/25. Saturday, September 27 • 1 pm
Fungus Among Us Learn about some common autumn mushrooms then enjoy a short hunt for local examples. For adults & interested teens. Registration required by 10/2. Saturday October 4 • 1 pm
Tree Identification Workshop: In this indoor/outdoor workshop we will discuss features of local trees used for tree identification, such as bud and leaf shape, habitat and bark. Adults & interested teens. Registration required by 10/9. Saturday, October 11 • 1 pm
An Evening at Trailside
Get up close and personal with your neighborhood nature center. Sample a variety of educational programs and crafts, chat with your local naturalists and get an up close view of our entire mammal furs & skulls collection. A rare “behind-the-scenes” program will show you how we prepare food for our display animals.
Friday, October 24 • 5 – 8 pm
Photo Meet-Up at Trailside: Photographers of all skill levels are welcome to enjoy a one-hour tour of Trailside Museum and Thatcher Woods, highlighting the autumn color, scenic vistas and locations frequented by wildlife. During and after, photographers are free to get their best nature shots! Saturday, October 25 • 10 am
The Eyes Have It Drop-In Learn how other animals see: from snake eyes that never close to the compound eyes of insects. Drop-in family program. Sunday, October 26 • 1 – 2:30 pm
What Does the Coyote Say? Bark, howl or yip…discover what the coyote really says and visit with Trailside’s resident coyote. Saturday, November 1 • 1 pm
On the Trail of the White-tailed Deer The white-tailed deer is the largest mammal in Illinois. Join us as we explore the natural history of this native animal. Drop-in family program. Sunday, November 9 • 1 – 2:30 pm
Nature Sketching Explore line, value, shading and form as we practice sketching plants and animals from life. Register by 11/13. $15 materials fee includes take-home artist’s tools. Sunday, November 16 • 1 pm
Skull Detectives - The Mystery of the Missing Lunch Use the clues from real skulls to figure out which animal stole the missing lunch. Drop-in family program. Sunday, November 23 • 1 – 2:30 pm
Turkey Trot Hike Walk off that turkey dinner on a special post-holiday guided hike of the trails around Trailside Museum. Registration required by 11/26. Friday, November 28 • 1 pm
The Flying Meat-eaters: Hawks, Owls, Falcons & Vultures Drop in to learn about the life history of the carnivorous birds of our area. Family drop-in program. Saturday, November 29 • 1 - 2:30 pm
Trailside Museum, Forest Preserves of Cook County, 738 Thatcher Ave, River Forest, IL 60305, (708) 366-6530
If you missed the showing of Jens Jensen the Living Green during the One Earth Film Festival you won't want to miss this. And even if you saw it in March you may want to see it again and bring some friends. The film will be making it's official Chicago debut with showings at Pritzger Pavilion in Millennium Park and on WTTW TV simultaneously on Thursday, June 19, 2014, at 8:00pm.
Today four out of five Americans live in cities. Yet the connection between the urban experience and the physical and emotional need for city and national parks is only just beginning to be made.
Jensen was a conflicted man, his Prairie Style revolutionized park design with 600 democratic and naturalistic landscapes for the workers of Chicago as well as the titans of industry. He predicted the devastating effects of the automobile on the environment, yet he worked for Henry and Edsel Ford. His story dramatizes an environmental battle that lasted five decades culminating in the creation of the nation’s first urban national park. A true conservation hero who used his art as activism, his philosophy and tactics on behalf of saving the land could not be more prescient.
A century ago, a rebellious Dane, JENS JENSEN (1860 - 1951), rose from street sweeper to 'dean of landscape architects’ to pioneering conservationist when he risked his career to stand-up to Andrew Carnegie and JP Morgan whose steel mills threatened to industrialize the entire Indiana shoreline. Jensen staged the “Dunes Pageant” that drew an estimated 40,000 - 70,000 to the dunes. It was Earth Day, Woodstock and Lawrence of Arabia all rolled into one. His pageant whipped-up a conservation fervor that effectively stopped industrial expansion.
