Come explore a variety of habitats on our five-acre property. We have been working to restore our oak woods for over 30 years, adding additional native forbs and woody species every year. More recently, we have established three large prairie gardens, each with a different composition. The oldest of these […]
Anyone interested in the WPPC organization is welcome to attend the meeting. Only voting members may vote upon committee business.
Jim May & Nan Seidler residence Jim May (renown storyteller and author) and Nan Seidler (talented visual artist) live in Alden Township along 1300 feet of the Nippersink Creek headwaters. The land includes a restored prairie, a remnant shagbark hickory woods, and sustainable farmland and pasture. The restored prairie contains […]
All Members are to bring presents to Pat's house.
Walk #1: Judy Woodson residence I was so fortunate 5 years ago to find my new home next to a Land Conservancy natural wetland. However, I couldn't see into the wetland because of buckthorn and thistle. My yard also, contained three islands of non native shrubs and garden perennials--Stella de […]
Walk #2: McHenry County Planning & Development Administrative Center, host Scott Kuykendall, Water Specialist In 2011, McHenry County converted areas of conventional turf grass near the entrance of the McHenry County Administrative Building to native plant species as part of xeriscaping and rain garden demonstration projects. The intention of the […]
An evening program exclusively for NGYY Mentors, Mentees, and invited guests. The presentation will be about native bees.
Twin Creeks Conservation Area, host Ders Anderson The Twin Creeks tour will visit the protected conservation areas within the Twin Creeks development. Openlands purchased the development property which stalled during the 2008 recession, and immediately transferred strategic acreage to the McHenry County Conservation District so that it could connect separate […]
Annual Mentor Appreciation Picnic exclusively for current and former mentors, mentees, and their invitees. To be held at Pleasant Valley Conservation Area
Evening program kick-off exclusively for Mentors and Mentees matched up for 2020, and invited guests.
An evening program exclusively for NGYY Mentors, Mentees and WPPC members. Presenters will be Jack and Judy Speers.
Learn more.
EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Anyone interested in the WPPC organization is welcome to attend the meeting. Only voting members may vote upon committee business.
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE In the summer of 2019, a pair of endangered piping plovers raised two chicks at Montrose Beach in Chicago. "Monty and Rose" is a film about this noteworthy event, the first time piping plover chicks have successfully fledged in Chicago since 1955. Join us in […]
This event has been cancelled.
This event has been cancelled.
This event has been cancelled.
This event has been cancelled. Look for a virtual yard walk video shortly.
This meeting will be held via Zoom. Anyone interested in the WPPC organization is welcome to attend the meeting. Only voting members may vote upon committee business.
This event has been canceled.
This event has been canceled.
The property of Dorothy and Joe Robin This walk will take place observing social distancing guidelines. Masks are required to participate. You are invited to experience our "little piece of heaven". This 3 acre lovely yard has open space, forest walks, a pond, and a temporary river, "our Niagara Falls!". […]
Ken Williams, who has worked in horticulture for almost 30 years, will present his program "Covering Ground--Preventing Weeds with Living Mulch". Ken has developed native gardening techniques which he will share here. His program will feature both sun and shade plants presented using lovely photos. Time will be allowed […]
Linda Gurgone will give a presentation on documenting various aspects of your garden. There will be time allotted for questions at the end of the program. We hope you can join us for an informative evening. This program is open to all WPPC voting members and anyone who has participated […]
Anyone interested in the WPPC organization is welcome to attend the meeting. Only voting members may vote upon committee business.
As springtime carpets the woodlands with the blues of Virginia Bluebells and the yellows of Celandine Poppies, you are invited to walk our forest trails. Whether you're exploring the pine forest in the front yard or the oak-hickory forest in the back, there will be many species of spring ephemerals […]
Chris and Paul welcome you to our 5 acre plot to walk among the spring wildflowers, which include a variety of Trilliums, Bellwort, 3 kinds of Anemone, Solomons Seal, Miterwort, Foamflower, Wild Geranium, 3 kinds of orchids, ferns and sedges . We have been trying to transform our place from […]
Pat began restoring her woodland and savanna front yard in 1989 by doing all the "wrong" things! Today the shaded areas, and even some of the sunny areas, are almost 100% native. In 2009, Pat and Bob took on a new challenge: planting a small prairie in the "old field" […]
Chris and Paul welcome you to our 5 acre plot to walk among the spring wildflowers, which include a variety of Trilliums, Bellwort, 3 kinds of Anemone, Solomons Seal, Miterwort, Foamflower, Wild Geranium, 3 kinds of orchids, ferns and sedges . We have been trying to transform our place from […]
Lisa Maier and her husband, Christopher, have been working to naturalize their quarter acre lot since they moved in eight years ago. Lisa's passion for birds and fascination with the interconnected relationship between birds, insects, and plants has been the driving force behind her yard's design as she aims to […]
Jim and Sally moved to Woodstock 4 years ago from downstate Illinois where they participated in bi-weekly prairie walks. When they came to McHenry County and discovered the WPPC, they decided to upgrade their landscaping to a more native environment. Their home is located on a 1/2 acre lot with […]
The Westwood Elementary School Garden was created in 2018 to enhance the school's curriculum and serve as an outdoor classroom. It is a community effort led by the school staff and enhanced by help from Judy and Jack Speer of Smallwater Education, a grant from Illinois Clean Energy Foundation and […]
Our 1½ acre yard has several perennial flower gardens that attract butterflies, bees and humming birds. The highlight is the 50’x100’ plus wildflower garden with native wetland plants started with seed in 2009. In the center of it all is a 25’ Bald-Cypress Tree. We have several nesting bird boxes […]
My property is in a newer "conservation design" subdivision which has about 25 acres of well-managed prairie plantings. The non-turf areas of my 1/2 acre yard feature almost entirely native species arranged in planting beds, three rain gardens and a backyard prairie as well as a nice mix of native […]
Green Living Expo, Saturday, November 6th from 10 am to 5 pm The WPPC will be having a virtual booth at this year's Green Living Expo on Saturday, November 6th from 10 am to 5 pm. Registration is required, but free. This year's Expo is focusing on four areas of […]
We're back! The WPPC's 2022 Native Plant Sale will be Sunday, May 1 from 12pm to 3pm in the commons area of McHenry County College. We'll have a full selection of natives on hand for sunny, shady or moist areas of your property. There should be a selection of heirloom […]
