Programs and Events

The chapter holds one monthly meeting about various topics related to integrating native plants into your landscaping. The chapter also sponsors and organizes a variety of other events every month. These include volunteer opportunities and social events. For full details about all of the chapter's events, view the Programs & Events section below or visit the Calendar. The volunteer opportunities page lists the various events where we need help from members. Visit the past meeting and events page for a history of what the chapter has hosted and planned.

Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise designated. Specific locations, dates, and times are listed with each meeting or event.

Programs and Events

Monday, June 10, 5:00 pm (Members Only)
Topic: Getting the Shot: How to Photograph Native Flowers
Location: Sugar Grove Nature Center (Get Directions)
Speaker: Ken Robertson
Description: Bring your camera and join us for an outdoor workshop on photography, presented by Ken Robertson, who has taken thousands of photos of native plants in his lengthy career as a botanist at the University of Illinois.  Small groups will head out into the prairie and experiment different ways to shoot the same plant, and get feedback on their results.

Saturday, July 13, 9:00 am (Members Only)
Topic: Yard Tours
Location: Meet at Mennonite Church of Normal parking lot (Get Directions)
Tour Guides: various members
Description: Join us on a tour of in-town gardens, Children's Foundation Garden, the Audobon Garden, and a private garden, that are either brand-new examples of native landscaping, or are relatively new ones.  Members can get ideas on what plants might work to incorporate into their yards.

Monday, August 12, 7:00 pm
Topic: Insects aren’t the Enemy: Attracting Native Insects by Planting Natives
Location: U of I Extension Building, Auditorium (Get Directions)
Speaker: Phil Nixon
Description: University of Illinois Extension Entomologist Phil Nixon will present the role that native insects play in our local ecosystems and discuss the habitat needs of various groups of insects.  Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate insects, but we need to be bringing the good ones into our yards!

Monday, September 9, 7:00 pm
Topic: Tough Trees for your Landscape
Location: U of I Extension Building, Auditorium (Get Directions)
Speaker: Guy Sternberg
Description:

Saturday, September 14 (Members Only)
Topic: Field trip to Starhill Forest Arboretum
Location: Petersburg, IL (Get Directions)
Tour Guide: Guy Sternberg
Description: Watch for more information about car pooling.

Monday, October 14, 7:00 pm (Members Only)
Topic: Native Shrubs and Trees: Fall Planting Tips
Location: Niepagen Greenhouses, Bloomington, IL (Get Directions)
Speaker: Lee Niepagen
Description: Local nursery owner Lee Niepagen will host our group at his greenhouse where he will help us learn the best was to plant native trees and shrubs in the fall.  As a bonus, Lee will have a small selection of native trees and shrubs for our members to purchase that evening to plant this fall!

Monday, November 11, 7:00 pm (Members Only)
Topic: Annual Meeting, Member Potluck, Seed Exchange; “How did YOU bring Nature to YOUR Yard?”
Location:U of I Extension Building, Auditorium (Get Directions)
Moderators: Chapter Board Members
Description: Members are encouraged to bring small amounts of native seed for exchange, and share photos and/or stories of nature happenings in their yards (or elsewhere) during 2013.  Election of officers for 2014 and a brief overview of programs for the next year will be on the agenda for the annual meeting.

December: no meeting or program