Heartland Prairie
Located northeast of Alton, Illinois, Heartland Prairie is a 27-acre reconstructed tallgrass prairie on the north side of Gordon F. Moore Park (Google map). The prairie was planted in 1977 by Sierra Club members, and is managed by The Nature Institute and the City of Alton. Boasting more than 150 native…
Fall wildflower sale – Sept. 7
August meeting
By Fran Glass At the University of Missouri-St. Louis our hostess was Jen Fruend of CHERP (Campus Honors Environmental Research Program). CHERP is an urban ecology honors college course studying natural ecosystems to restore wildness to the campus, local parks, and neighborhood. Jen is a CHERP Education and Ecology Instructor…
Native Landscaping video series – Part 3, Law
Many local governments have ordinances to define acceptable land use. However, proponents of manicured lawns and native plant enthusiasts may have very different perspectives on what sort of yard is desirable. In the final video in the series, Joy Buslaff provides suggestions for effective policies.
Native Landscaping video series – Part 2, Science
In the second video of her 3-part series, Joy Buslaff discusses a scientific evaluation of the risks and benefits of native landscaping and traditional lawn maintenance.
Native Landscaping video series – Part 1, Pride
Joy Buslaff, a Wild Ones member in Wisconsin, created a 3-part series of videos about landscaping with native plants and addressing local land-use ordinances. The first video covers the history of lawns, and motivations for native landscaping.
Drought doubts
New partnership with Bring Conservation Home
Many of us heard about the St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home (BCH) program at the March meeting. It encourages homeowners to provide quality habitat for birds and other animals by: Landscaping with native plants Removing invasive plant species Conserving water Implementing stewardship practices to support wildlife
Where do our native plants come from?
Are we inadvertently destroying the Missouri native plant Space-Time Continuum? (The last 3 words borrowed from Star Trek.) Seriously, I wonder if we are introducing plants into our local gene pool that may change the genetic make-up of our local species. To prevent this, the source of origin should be…



