Meanderings | Spring 2021 by HeartLandsConservancy

Preparing for Spring

Meanderings Spring

2021

Meanderings 2021 Spring

Board of Directors E. William Reichert III Board Chair Mary Vandevord President Ronda Latina Vice Chair William Boardman Second Vice Chair Janet Haroian Treasurer Robert C. Nelson Secretary Brenda Chandler Gary Huelsmann Dawnesha Johnson Nancy Larson Jim Pauley Cliff Schuette Sandy Verduin Anne Werner

Team Michael Andreas Special Projects Shelli Bement Director of Finance & Administration Landon Brooks Communications & Engagement Manager Tyler Burk Project Manager Laura L. Lyon Director of Strategic Initiatives Belinda McAllister Community & Partnerships Coordinator Kim O’Bryan Director of Development & Events Katie Siech Environmental Programs Associate Mary Vandevord President & CEO Sarah Vogt Conservation Manager Ed Weilbacher Vice President Steve Widowski Wildlife Biologist

HeartLands Conservancy 3 N High Street Belleville, IL 62220 (618) 566-4451

info@HeartLandsConservancy.org www.HeartlandsConservancy.org HLC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax deductible and are graciously accepted throughout the year.

Let’s Get Ready for the Show As I write this, it is mid-February. We’re in the middle of a cold spell with a foot of snow on the ground. I like to think of snow, not as a burden, but as the curtain for an upcoming fantastic show. The seeds underground are in their dressing rooms, putting on their costumes and getting ready to burst out into the light. The groundhogs have peeked out to see if it’s time for the show to start. The birds start practicing their solos. I sit here looking out my window, eagerly waiting for the show to begin. This winter’s curtain has been heavy. We’ve been sitting in our seats waiting for the orchestra to start playing. This spring, I encourage you to help lift the curtain by helping your community. HeartLands Conservancy has many options to get involved - in groups or individually. You can help your home garden be more sustainable by purchasing native plants, composters, rain barrels, shrubs, and trees in our Conservation at Home & Garden Sale (see page 6-11). Your purchases will help fund more conservation programs throughout the coming year.

Get moving by joining the hiking club’s group hikes. The first hike this year is at The Nature Institute in Godfrey (see page 3). These hikes are typically easy to moderate difficulty and great for people who prefer to hike in a group setting. We also put together a list of our staff’s favorite hiking spots to see spring wildflowers (see pages 22-23). Share in a collective love of trees by participating in Metro East Tree Week. Between Earth Day and Arbor Day, a series of free virtual and outdoor events will celebrate trees’ many benefits, you can also exchange your invasive Bradford pear tree for a native, flowering tree (see pages 1417). Want to help our region and connect with other people? Become a volunteer! Multiple volunteer opportunities happen each month. No experience is needed to volunteer, but you will be outdoors! Most volunteer work involves pulling “weeds,” moving brush, mowing trails, cutting and removing plants that don’t belong in our area, and planting flowers, grasses, and trees.

Cover image: They call me Flower by Amy Huller 2

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Join us @ Our Upcoming Events March 1 - April 30 | Backyard Birding Blitz Citizen science in your backyard using iNaturalist.

Volunteers make it possible to take care of the thousands of acres of open spaces that we manage. Volunteering has positive benefits for you, too! Volunteering reduces stress, improves mental health, helps you meet other people (and sometimes results in friendships!), and gets you moving! Visit page 21 to learn about all the ways you can volunteer.

March 15 - April 22 | HeartLands’ Conservation at Home & Garden Spring Sale Native plants, trees, composters, rain barrels, and other items for your sustainable home garden. Order online through April 22 and pick up on May 8. See Below. March 18 | Gardening with Native Plants Webinar More information on page 24.

And if you like what you see, would you consider becoming a member or upgrading your membership in our May membership drive? Members provide continuing support for nature in southwestern Illinois. In return, you get discounts in the Conservation at Home & Garden Sale, special events, and receive special updates. New members and membership level upgrades in May will receive a nifty t-shirt (learn more on page 19).

April 8 | Creating a Rain Garden Webinar Learn about the benefits to our region’s water supply and practical steps of creating a rain garden in your yard. Chris Enroth, Extension Educator, joins us on this webinar to explain. More information on pages 24 & 25 April 22 - 30 | Metro East Tree Week We’re planning a series of tree-related events from Earth Day to Arbor Day 2021! More information on page 14.

The show goes on. Let’s lift the curtain together.

May 1 - 31 | Membership Drive Get a membership, upgrade your existing membership, or refer a new member in May and receive some HeartLands Conservancy swag! More information on page 19.

See you outside,

May 13 | Composting 101 Webinar More information on pages 24 & 25 May 15 | Volunteer Day at the Exploration Garden at Clinton Hills June 5 | Discover a Stream on Richland Creek Stream Monitoring Trek June 13 | Discover a River: Paddle Trek on the Kaskaskia River July 17 | Firefly Walk at Arlington Wetlands June 18 | Volunteer Day at Poag Sand Prairie June 19 | Discover a Pond: Fishing at St. Ellen Mine Park Aug 13 | Members-Only Gathering: Observing the Perseid Meteor Shower Sept 11 | Fairy & Gnome Home Tour A fundraiser for the Exploration Garden at Clinton Hills Conservation Park All events and dates are subject to change or modifications, please visit our website and social media for current information. Please scan our QR code above for latest dates. Our number one goal is to keep you safe and healthy. We follow local, state, and CDC guidelines to determine which events we can hold or modify.

Mary Vandevord President & CEO

May 8 | HeartLands’ Conservation at Home & Garden Spring Sale Pick-Up 1-4 PM Pick up your online purchases and browse a selection of other native plants for sale. More information on page 6-11.

www.HeartlandsConservancy.org

Meanderings 2021 Spring

Jingle Hikers 2021

Volunteers cleaning blue bird houses

Volunteers at Arlington Wetlands

Highlights of Recent Happenings Jingle Hike Challenge

Jingle Hikers 2021

HeartLands Conservancy kicked-off the year on a very high note, with 295 registered Jingle Hikers blazing the trails of southwestern Illinois to participate in this beloved family tradition from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day. In total, Jingle Hike Challenge participants visited local trails, open spaces, and nature preserves over 1,500 times. Many sent warm messages that this activity was one of the highlights of their 2020. One hiker, Vicki C., commented, “Thoroughly enjoyed it, especially this year [2020]. It saved a lot of people’s sanity. Thank you! We’re doing it again next year!.” Some highlights from this year’s challenge included a hiker that encountered an armadillo while exploring White Rock Nature Preserve and a neighborhood dog who led hikers to the tree tag at Knobeloch Woods Nature Preserve. In addition, HLC received a lot of corporate and community support from our partners. Property Peddlers, LLC and the REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI) sponsored tree tags, and many organizations donated a slew of prizes. The Grand Prize was a two-night lodging package at Camp Ondessonk, along with a three-hour guided tour by the Illinois Botanizer.

Jingle Hikers 2021 4

The Second Place Prize was a Nature Adventure Package for up to 15 people

at Touch of Nature Environmental Center. The prize winners were as follows: Grand Prize - Suzanna Phelps Second Place - Tiffany Hopkins $100 Sandy’s Back Porch gift card Charles Gerth $100 Alpine Shop gift card - Paula Birke $25 Alpine Shop gift card - Susan Stipeik Toolen’s Running Start hoodies - Ann Herzing, Marcia Wendland, Dan Idoux Socks and gloves from the Alpine Shop - Mary Wrigley

MLK Day of Service at Arlington Wetlands on January 18 Volunteers made a huge different at the MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 18th, at Arlington Wetlands in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. This volunteer day served as the kick-off activity for a Community Challenge Grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Volunteer hours spent at the site help us fulfill our commitment to accumulating 400 hours at the site, which will, in turn, provide $4,000 for site improvements! This property is one of our stewardship sites that we will host recurring volunteer days on the first Friday of every month throughout the year. Special thanks to Madison County Resource Management and Illinois American Water for helping with this wonderful day of service!

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Volunteers at Arlington Wetlands

Removing a wild Bradford Pear. Yay!

DJM seeding the Exploration Garden

New Webinar Series

Winter Seeding of the Exploration Garden’s Meadows

The Pen is Mightier than the Elm

In January, Scott Moss of Lewis and Clark Community College and Joann Fricke of Clifftop discussed the ecological importance of prescribed burns and why they are necessary for thriving lands and habitats. They shared their personal experiences with prescribed burns and gave viewers an in-depth perspective on the topic. In February, Sarah Ruth of the University of Illinois ExtensionMadison, Monroe, and St. Clair Unit, Lori Powell of the Belleville Heart Garden, and Ashley Stewart of the Caseyville Community Garden came together to educate participants on the process of starting a community garden. Sarah Ruth discussed the Illinois Master Gardener program as a way to learn more about gardening in general, while Lori and Ashley discussed their processes of creating their community gardens and what they have found to be the most effective way of attaining resources, volunteers, and community support.

The Exploration Garden at Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park was officially seeded on February 13, 2021! Last fall, we prepared four acres of grass for conversion into a native pollinator meadow thanks to the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation’s support. Why spread seeds in the winter? Winter seeding, especially when there is snow, gives plants a good start. As the snow melts, it helps seeds work into the ground and starts them off with a drink of water. Many types of seeds need cold temperatures to sprout at the right time, also called cold stratification. The flowers at the Exploration Garden should have no trouble growing this spring from the freezing temperatures we have experienced this winter!

Volunteer Deanna Deterding, created this pen, below, from invasive Siberian Elm tree wood collected at Poag Sand Prairie. Volunteers have been working to clear the Siberian Elm branches and logs from the prairie to create more suitable habitat for sand and sun loving native plants. This pen is a reminder that even invasive species can be repurposed into something useful and beautiful, as long as they are dead.

If you missed these, you can view the recordings on our Youtube channel. For a list of upcoming webinar topics, please visit pages 24 and 25.

Deanna Deterding’s invasive tree pen Meanderings 2021 Spring

Conservation @

Home & Garden Sale Plant This, Not That...Welcome Spring! For us, spring means getting back into that soil and thinking all about native plants. Native plant gardeners range from the hardcore naturalists restoring and recreating habitat to people just starting with a few plants around their home. The great news is, there is room for everyone on the native plant spectrum. Whether they are providing wildlife habitat, preventing erosion, or beautifying your yard, native plants are great for home gardens. The same can be said for our Conservation at Home & Garden Spring Sale. That’s right; we’re doing it again! You all loved the fall sale so much, we have decided to expand our offerings this spring to provide a wide array of perfectly suited plants for the many types of native plant gardeners. New to the spring sale are trees, shrubs, and plugs (small plants in trays).

Do you need help selecting the best plants for your space? Here are some package options that make starting a garden easy. Mother’s Day Mother Earth Package - Prairie Garden The prairie garden is the quintessential prairie starter pack or can enhance a prairie you already have. These plants love sunny spaces. Some of these species can grow up to 6 ft tall, but most will be about 3 feet tall. With this combo, you’ll have something blooming all season long to feed those bees and butterflies. • 1 Joe Pye Weed • 1 Culver’s Root • 3 Wild Quinine • 2 Dwarf Ironweed • 3 Sweet Coneflower • 3 Pale Purple Coneflower • 3 Whorled Milkweed

All plant orders will be submitted on our website, with pick-up on Saturday, May 8, at Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park.

Finding attractive plants for shady areas can be a challenge. So, we found several options for your shady garden. Spring flowers like Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), and Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) provide a nice pop of color for your spring garden while remaining relatively small throughout their lives. This package includes one of the region’s two native hydrangeas, Oakleaf Hydrangea, which will make a big impact in any shade garden. Indian pink’s bright blooms complement the hydrangea, while celandine poppy ushers in the spring with its early blossoms. Ground covers are essential in shady areas; this package includes two: wild ginger for that lush coverage and palm sedge for some added texture interest. • • • • •

I’m so excited! How do I get plants?

You can check out the full selection of plants and submit your orders at www. heartlandsconservancy.org starting March 15. Ordering will close on April 22. So get your shopping list ready.

Mother’s Day Mother Earth Package - Shade Garden

1 Oakleaf Hydrangea 3 Indian Pink 3 Celandine Poppy 2 Palm Sedge ½ tray Wild Ginger

Natives will be packed & ready to pick up

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

• Acces • Ea yo • Pl em • Th • PLUS

Custom

This enha assistance

Cost: $50

This includ • • • •

Includ Projec Acces A cus buffer, list, in projec • Conse • PLUS,

Wide variety of native plants available at the HLC Fall Plant, Rain Barrel, & Composter Sale

Mother’s Day Mother Earth Package - Rain Garden Rain gardens are perfect for those low-lying areas of your yard where rain seems to puddle after every rain shower. These plants prefer a sunny to semi-shady spot. They love water but can also withstand periods of drought. There are some big impact plants in this bunch, like the Buttonbush shrub and Rose Mallow, a hibiscus plant native to Illinois. This pack has a variety of heights, colors, and textures that will make a beautiful combination and addition to your garden • • • • • •

1 Rose Mallow 3 Cardinal Flower 3 Rose Turtlehead 2 Prairie Dropseed 3 Copper Iris 1 Buttonbush

Extra! Extra! In addition to potted plants and plugs, we added a unique selection of trees and shrubs. These will come in 11-inch pots and be 2-4 feet tall. They are very healthy trees, and at this size, they should establish roots and grow strong and healthy in your property.

Rain Barrels & Compost Bins Rain Barrels & Composters again will be available for sale. Due to popular demand, we are also offering tumbling composters this spring! Rain Barrels and Compost bins are a great way to help your garden with water and added nutrients while reducing water use and food waste.

Conservation@Home Certification HeartLands will conduct an initial survey over the phone based on the Conservation@Home Certification Criteria Checklist. Participants with strong qualifications should set up a home visit with us. Once certified, homeowners can request a Conservation@Home yard sign that recognizes their property as an environmentally friendly landscape. The suggested donation is $25.00 for current HLC members and $50.00 for non-members. A $50.00 donation also includes a one-year membership to HeartLands Conservancy. If you are interested in participating in the Conservation@Home or @Work program, we can help you get started. Additionally, we offer online resources to help you get started: • Plant lists of native plants & trees. • The Criteria Checklist for becoming Conservation@Home certified. • Early Certification: If your property already meets the criteria, we can certify it during your home visit. Please contact Landon Brooks at landon.brooks@heartlandsconservancy. org or (618) 566-4451 ext 28.

Call us to certify your garden Meanderings 2021 Spring

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Meanderings 2021 Spring

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Meanderings 2021 Spring

Av a i l a b l e

Ser v i c e s

As s i s ta nc e

Conservation @Home or @Work HeartLands Conservancy provide a variety of conservation services for homeowners, schools, businesses, agencies, home owners’ associations, and many other organizations. If you are interested in participating in the Conservation@Home or Conservation@Work program, we can help you get started! If you need dedicated native landscape assistance and solutions for your property, we are here to provide guidance and resources as well. A sample of our services are included in this brochure. For further questions or information, please contact our conservation staff or visit our website at www.HeartLandsConservancy.org.

Initial Consultation HeartLands Conservancy (HLC) will conduct an initial interview and survey over the phone. If staff determine that the site is ready for a consultation, we will schedule a home visit. Cost: Residential: $50 for non-members or $25 for existing HLC members Businesses: $100 for Members/Sponsors or $250 for non-members Other features included are the following: • Site Consultation and home visit from HLC Conservation staff. • Conservation @Home or @Work certification sign upon completion. • Access to all of HLC Resources online: • Early Certification: If your property meets the criteria, it can be certified during your home visit; • Plant lists of native plants, trees, shrubs, forbs (perennial flowers), grasses, and emergents (for shoreline stabilization); and • The Criteria Checklist for Conservation@Home certification. • PLUS, receive a HeartLands Conservancy membership for one year!

Custom Projects & HLC Assistance This enhanced level of guidance includes services listed above, plus personalized assistance for custom native landscapes. Cost: $500 for non-members or existing HLC members This includes the following services: • • • •

Includes all services listed above in Initial Consultation. Project/Site Consultation and visit from HLC staff before and after project. Access to our resources and conservation staff. A customized planting plan for a project, such as a pollinator/perrenial border, buffer, turf replacement, native hedges, etc. This will also include custom plant list, installation guidelines, maintenance guidelines, expectations for completed project, potential vendors, and contractors.

• Conservation @Home or @work certification and sign, if applicable. • PLUS, receive a HeartLands Conservancy membership for one year!

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Meanderings 2021 Spring

TREE

CELEBRATE TREES FROM EARTH DAY TO ARBOR DAY Trees are vital to life. As the biggest plants on the planet, they give us oxygen, store carbon and stormwater, and stabilize the soil. They also provide us with the materials for tools, shelter, and furniture. Trees provide a variety of habitats to support wildlife, insects and other pollinators, and even fungus. You likely walk or drive past hundreds of trees every day. But how often do you stop to recognize those trees and the services they provide? Do you think about the how they make our lives better just by existing? Last year, Heartlands Conservancy started a new celebration. We called it Metro East Tree Week, and we encouraged people to plant trees on their own property. We shared lots of information and how-to videos on tree benefits and tree planting. The effort was a success. You planted over 300 trees in a two-week period. Then, we matched each of those trees with a tree planted in a public park last fall. It was so successful and so fun, we are doing Metro East Tree Week again!

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

WEEK! From Earth Day to Arbor Day Heartlands Conservancy will be celebrating trees in a BIG way! Tree Week 2021 will provide tree celebration activities for all ages. Activities will include socially distant outdoor activities and virtual options. Follow along on facebook, instagram, and youtube for daily videos and activities about trees. The following Tree Week special events will require preregistration. Registration for each event can be found on the website, www. heartlandsconservancy.org/ treeplanting.php, or by calling 618-566-4451 ext 23.

April 22 Last Day to Purchase Tribute Trees Tribute Trees can been purchased in honor or memory of someone or something important to the buyer. To donate a tree in honor of someone special visit: www.heartlandsconservancy.org/ treeplanting.php. Tribute Trees are available for sale through April 22 or until they are sold out. Anyone is welcome to help plant these trees on Arbor Day, April 30th by joining HLC to help plant the Tribute Grove in the Exploration Garden in Swansea.

April 25 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM

April 28 | 6:00 PM

Healing Forest Walk

Ask an Arborist Webinar

Forest therapy walks take you away from your day to day stressors into a relationship with nature. In forest therapy, the forest is the therapist and the guide helps you slow down and connect with the forest. Also called Shinrin-Yoku or forest bathing, the benefits have been researched and shown to include lowered cortisol (the stress hormone), lowered blood pressure, and improved immune function. The enjoyable walk is about 1 mile and usually lasts about 3 hours. The walk will be guided by Keri Luly, who has been trained and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. Registration is required and limited.

Register on the website to attend via Zoom, or watch Live on Facebook or YouTube. See more information on page 16: the Tune In Webinar section.

April 27 | Noon

Anyone is welcome to come help plant the trees. Bring shovels, boots and gloves are recommended, and HLC will also have shovels available.

Storytime with Jennifer Ward “The Busy Tree” Metro-East resident, Jennifer Ward is the author of more than 25 awardwinning nonfiction and fiction books for children and adults. Tune in to listen to her read her book THE BUSY TREE, which chronicles the many ways a tree works as a habitat for a variety of species, from roots to tree top. Participants may register to attend via Zoom or watch live on Facebook or YouTube. For those who can not watch live, a recording of storytime will be shared afterward. Ap

April 30 | 4:00 - 6:00 PM Arbor Day Tribute Tree Planting at the Exploration Garden Celebrate Arbor Day by joining HLC at the Exploration Garden at Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park to help plant the Tribute Grove. Trees in this new woodland area have been purchased in honor or memory of someone or something.

More information on how to donate a Tribute Tree can be found on our website under What We Do> Urban Forestry > Metro East Tree Planting Week. Tribute Trees are available for sale through April 22 or until all 50 trees have been purchased.

Find out 3 ways to give trees on the next 2 pages. ---> Meanderings 2021 Spring

TREE WEEK continued... There are 3 ways Callery/Bradford Pear Exchange Form due by April 14 Pick up April 26th we are gifting One of the worst invasive species trees this year. in our region (and still sold in In addition to fun and educational activities, HeartLands Conservancy will give over 1,300 free trees to local communities and people during Tree Week 2021. To apply to receive any of these free trees listed here, please visit our website, https://www.

heartlandsconservancy.org/ treeplanting.php and complete the required form. Trees come in 11 inch pots and are about 3 feet tall. Forms are due by April 14th. Recipients will be notified by April 19th and sent detailed pick-up instructions.

Free Trees must be picked up on April 26 from 3:00 7:00 PM at the Collinsville Park & Recreation Dept., 10 Gateway Dr., IL 62234 16

nurseries!) is Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana). Also known as: ‘Bradford’, ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Autumn Blaze’, ‘Capital’, ‘Chanticleer’, Cleveland Select’, ‘New Bradford’, ‘Redspire’, and ‘Whitehouse’ Pear. Centers sell these trees because of their spring/fall appeal. Callery/ Bradford Pear trees are often planted in neighborhoods for their early spring blooms, short stature, and upright growth patterns. Initially sold as “infertile” trees, they are crosspollinated by other pear species and create voracious, mutant trees that are widely spread by birds who eat their berries. The seeds are distributed in our region’s forests and natural areas, causing harm to the plants and wildlife that live there. NOW IS THE TIME! Chop down those Callery pears, and we will give you a free native tree to replace it! Complete the online form, including photographic proof you killed that invasive tree, and you can get a brand new native tree for free. There are a variety of replacement trees to choose from, but supplies are limited.

Community Trees Form due by April 14 Pick up April 26th

Did you know that communities in the Metro East have only 24% tree cover on average? However, our region has the ability to increase tree canopy to 48%. HeartLands Conservancy has been working for the past several years to reach that canopy goal! To do this, we are providing free trees to communities and community/ non-profit organizations to plant in public places. Qualifying planting areas include parks, public rights-of-way, schools, libraries, community gardens/ centers, churches, other institutions, and public services. The form is available on our website and supplies are limited.

Nominate a Giving Tree Recipient Form due by April 14 Pick up April 26th

Do you know someone who deserves or would enjoy planting and caring for a tree, but maybe can’t afford one? Nominate them (or yourself!) to receive a giving tree, with materials and planting support. To nominate yourself or a Giving Tree recipient, please complete the required form on the website. There are a limited number of Giving Trees.

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Welcome Tree Stewards!

This spring HeartLands Conservancy launched a new volunteer program where volunteers will help look after and take care of new trees in our communities. Our inaugural class of 20 Tree Stewards is currently being trained through Forest ReLeaf of Missouri’s TreeKeepers Training Program, where they are learning about trees, their benefits and care, and practical skills in: • Tree identification • Planting • Pruning • Insects & diseases identification Tree Stewards provide 24 hours of volunteer service throughout the year in community forests, parks, and HLC projects, such as at the Exploration Garden in Swansea. Tree Stewards play a vital role in carrying out the activities of Tree Week. Throughout the week they will share knowledge, tips, and experiences with everyone. The capstone event, planting Tribute Trees in the Tribute Grove at the Exploration Garden in Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park on Arbor Day, will be led by our Tree Stewards. Anyone is welcome to come learn and help plant trees with the Tree Stewards.

If you are interested in becoming a Tree Steward, contact Sarah Powell to be added to the notification list for the fall class at sarah.powell@ heartlandsconservancy.org or 618566-4451 ex 23. Metro East Tree Week is generously funded in part by the US Forest Service and their Landscape Scale Restoration Grant. The Size of the Trees

More Information All information regarding Tree Week events, free trees, and volunteer opportunities can be found on the website: https:// www.heartlandsconservancy.org/ treeplanting.php. For questions, help registering, or general information, contact Sarah (Vogt) Powell, sarah.powell@ heartlandsconservancy.org or 618566-4451 ext 23.

Learning to Care for New Trees

Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Trees Meanderings 2021 Spring

Establish Roots & Grow Your Love for Conservation Help us reach a goal of 50 new or You have roots in upgraded members in May. southwestern Illinois. You The benefits of becoming a member live here or you grew up are numerous. When you make a taxhere, your family’s heritage deductible donation to HeartLands is here, or you just really love Conservancy, becoming a member for one year, you receive the following: this place. Because of this, you already know how important it is to preserve our region’s special places, to protect wildlife and farmland, and to improve or create places for nature to thrive and for people to enjoy. Members of HeartLands Conservancy make a deep impact on southwestern Illinois. Members support planting and care of trees in communities, outdoor adventures, conservation of rivers and wildlife habitat, sustainable improvements in communities, and so much more. If you are already a member - thank you! If you would like to deepen your impact, there are many options available. In May, for example, current members that upgrade their giving level or refer a new member will receive a t-shirt and registration to win a Tesla for 24 hours. Not a member yet? Join the movement! New members are welcome to join at any time of the year, but May is our Membership Drive month. Become a new member in May and receive a t-shirt. Join at the $100 level or above and be registered to win a Tesla for 24 hours. 18

• Our quarterly magazine, Meanderings • Special invitations to hikes, treks, trail and preserve openings, and other events • Discounts on classes, webinars, and special events • Discounts on Conservation@ Home Certification • Early and discounted access to the Conservation at Home & Garden Sales in Spring and Fall • Ability to borrow tools from our conservation tool library • Opportunities to meet with others in southwestern Illinois who share a passion for conservation Members at the $500 level or above are a part of the White Oak Society and receive additional unique benefits and invitations to White Oak Society gatherings. Most importantly, you'll become part of a diverse community of people, businesses, and organizations who treasure southwestern Illinois and who are working together so that our region will always be a place of beauty and natural life.

Become a member or upgrade your membership using the enclosed envelope or join on our website under Support > Membership Other ways to grow your roots with HLC: Corporate Giving: Organizations can choose to support HeartLands Conservancy in a variety of ways. Become a sponsor or contribute a major gift for a special purpose. Your organization can also tailor your donation to support specific programs or projects. Company Matches: Many employers will match your donation - making your support even more impactful! Legacy Giving: Making a planned gift is a great way to show your support for nature and special places in southwestern Illinois. A planned gift to HeartLands Conservancy will help secure our future while meeting your own personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. For more information or to discuss options above, please contact: Kim O’Bryan Director of Development and Events 618566-4451 ext 10 or kim.obryan@heartlandsconservancy.org.

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

50 in MAY MEMBERS

Meanderings 2021 Spring

In the end... we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.

- Baba Dioum Senegalese Conservationist

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

VOLUNTEER HOURS

TO DATE:

2421/2 1750

VOLUNTEER HOURS

2021 GOAL

Volunteering is even easier! New Volunteer Portal

We appreciate all of your time spent helping nature. Our volunteer program is growing because of you. To make volunteering easier, HLC is using a new volunteer portal. Find the portal on our website under Get Involved>Volunteer. To use the portal and sign up for volunteering, you’ll create an account. You’ll also be able to sign in, to help track volunteer hours, and receive text alerts (e.g., cancellations or road closures). Logging your time helps raise even more support for conservation programs in our region. If you need help creating an account, please contact Landon at landon. brooks@heartlandsconservancy.org or (618) 566-4451 ext 28.

Upcoming Volunteer Dates Each month regular recurring volunteer days are held at the following sites from 9:00 am to 11:00 am: Arlington Wetlands 1st Friday of the month Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom 3rd Friday of the month Poag Sand Prairie 4th Friday of the month You are welcome to join these dates without using the portal, but the portal helps us prepare.

HLC STAFF PICKS FOR SPRING WILDFLOWER HIKES One of the best things about hiking in the spring in southwestern Illinois is the fantastic display of wildflowers.

Some people refer to these flowers as “spring ephemerals”. Ephemeral means short-lived; so, lace up those boots or sturdy shoes and get hiking while the display is still around! The best time to see spring wildflowers is mid-April through May (though you may find some as early as late-March). HLC STAFF’s TOP 5 PLACES TO SEE SPRING WILDFLOWERS 5. Knobeloch Woods Nature Preserve 3018 Rentchler Road, Belleville Hike this 0.75-mile loop through a wetland forest and an upland forest to enjoy populations of Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) and trout lily (Erythronium albidum). 4. Bohm Woods Nature Preserve 4207 Bohm School Road, Edwardsville Here you can take a stroll through an old-growth forest to discover beautiful flowers such as the large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) and cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata). 3. Fults Hill Prairie 2482 Bluff Road, Prairie du Rocher Take a walk through a National Natural Landmark to see diverse habitats. This trail loop includes 1.4 miles of moderate to extreme hiking and spring woodland flowers such as bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) and mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum).

2. Patriots Park 1367 IL-140, Greeneville

Follow the path that crosses the pond, and enjoy a walk along a 1.7-mile trail with views of a lake and woodland wildflowers, such as dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne) and blue phlox (Phlox divaricata). 1. White Rock Nature Preserve 6438 Bluff Road, Valmeyer For a more challenging hike, visit these trails through unfragmented bluff forests, hill prairies, and glades. Springtime offers vistas of unique flowers like starry campion (Silene stellata) and wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). ...AND ONE MORE BECAUSE WE CAN’T HELP OURSELVES: Salt Lick Point Land & Water Reserve located off Bluff Rd, Valmeyer This trail is a 3-mile moderate hike through bluff land forests, featuring hill prairies and glades. Spring wildflowers are plentiful and include Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). For additional resources to assist you on your nature trek, try using the free iNaturalist App to help identify flowers using your smartphone.

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum)

cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)

dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne)

bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis)

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

trout lily (Erythronium albidum)

large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)

blue phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

Hiking Gear - What do you need? Our friends and long-time supporters at the Alpine Shop in Kirkwood, MO, offered up some gear recommendations for heading out onto the trails. Visit www.alpineshop.com to search these products.

Footwear: Trekking Poles: For those who will mainly be on-trail Good for muddy or steep trails • Salomon Outline GTX and Outline Mid GTX hiking shoes Footwear for rugged or off-trail exploring: • Oboz Bridger Mid BDry Boot Socks • Smartwool PhD hiking sock • Fits Light Hiker Day hike packs: IF you plan to hike for 4 hours or more • Osprey Daylite • Osprey Talon (men’s) or tempest (women’s)

visit www.alpineshop.com to search these products

• Mountainsmith Basalt 7075 Trekking Poles • Mountainsmith Rhyolite 6061 Trekking Poles • Leki Legacy Lite Cor-Tec Trekking Poles Hydration: • Nalgene 32 Oz Wide-Mouth • Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32 oz • Hydro Flask Standard Mouth 21 oz

Meanderings 2021 Spring

TUNE Webinar

Webinar

Gardening with Natives

Creating a Rain Garden

Elizabeth Wahle, University of Illinois Extension & Ned Siegel, Illinois Master Gardener

Christopher Enroth, University of Illinois Extension

March 18, 2021 | 6:00pm

Rain gardens are vegetated basins near the lowest point of a small drainage area or downspout that temporarily store and infiltrate rainwater. They can significantly slow the flow of water from a residential lot and help improve water quality. A rain garden is not a water garden, wetland, or pond. They are designed to drain within 12-48 hours to prevent erosion and the breeding of mosquitoes.

Join HeartLands Conservancy, along with two of the area’s most passionate gardeners, for an inside look at some of the plants in our Conservation at Home & Garden Spring Sale! Elizabeth Wahle is an avid gardener with many years of experience, “Helping others learn to Grow,” through her work with the Illinois Master Gardener program. Ned Siegel is passionate about pollinators and is also Conservation@Home Certified through HeartLands Conservancy. He actively watches his garden each year for pollinators, documents them through his photography, and keeps detailed information about the plants in his garden. Hear insider perspectives on the plants, trees, and shrubs that will be available in the spring sale!

April 8, 2021 | 6:00pm

Join HeartLands Conservancy, along with Christopher Enroth, University of Illinois Extension Educator, for an informative webinar about how rain gardens can provide excellent solutions to some of your landscape problems. Mr. Enroth is responsible for horticulture programming in Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties, whose area of expertise emphasizes working with home gardeners, landscape maintenance personnel, and commercial landscapers.

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

in Webinar

Webinar

Ask an Arborist

Composting 101

Meurer Brothers Tree Care

Crystal Stevens, FLOURISH

April 28, 2021 | 6:00pm

May 13, 2021 | 6:00pm

Does that tree in your yard look funny? Are you wondering if it’s time for a good prune? Are bugs bad? Which trees are the best? Tune into this webinar to ask a local, certified arborist from Meurer Brothers Tree Care all your tree related questions. Register on the website to attend via Zoom, or watch Live or Facebook or YouTube.

Quality soil is the most vital aspect of growing organically! Healthy, living soil is the key to vigorous and healthy plants. Compost, vermicompost, and other organic soil additions can add nutrients to your soil, improving plant vitality.

This webinar is part of our 2021 Metro East Tree Week from Earth Day to Arbor Day. Learn more about the week’s activities on pages 14 through 17.

As an organic farmer, Crystal Stevens knows the composting ins and outs and has a strong affinity for the subject. “In my 18 years of natural gardening and farming, there has always been a compost pile in the back corner somewhere. From the beginning of my adventures in gardening, I remember the exciting realization that over half of my waste can simply be thrown into a bin in a corner of my yard and over time would break down into the most nutrient-rich soil.” Join HeartLands Conservancy, along with Crystal Stevens for Composting 101! The key to next year’s successful garden is this year’s compost pile.

under Get Involved>Webinars...See you all online! Meanderings 2021 Spring

Henry Eilers... If you have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Henry Eilers, it is an experience you will not soon forget. He is full of knowledge and passion about Illinois ecosystems, stewardship, and botany. Henry’s love of nature started at a young age, where even in the first grade, in his hometown in Germany, his nickname was ‘Naturforscher’ which means ‘naturalist’. As a young man, Henry immigrated to the United States and settled in Litchfield, IL. It is there he met his wife, Ursula. They started a family and a thriving nursery business, HE Nursery, which his family ran for many years. Many native plant enthusiasts may recognize Henry’s name, attributed to a popular variety of sweet coneflower. Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ was discovered by Henry in a high diversity roadside prairie remnant near Witt, IL. HE Nursery grew it as a selection called ‘Montgomery Co.’ Henry began sharing it with friends, including a fellow vendor at a Shaw Nature Reserve native plant sale. This vendor partnered with a North Carolina firm, and it got its name changed. Henry had “no clue about that’’ happening and was quite surprised.

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Friend of Nature in Southwestern Illinois The ‘Henry Eilers’ variety generally has a similar appearance to sweet coneflower, except the yellow petals are rolled instead of flat, giving the flower a quilled effect, as pictured in the background here. These days, Henry spends his time as a Natural Lands Steward, volunteering at Shoal Creek Conservation Area and Route 66 Prairie, both in Litchfield. Route 66 Prairie is a small sliver of remnant prairie owned by IDOT, tucked between I-55 and Old Route 66. In 2008, IDOT agreed to let the Montgomery County Natural Area Guardians (NAGs for short), an organization Henry is involved with, be stewards of the area. Henry has been collecting seeds from this area for years. He said, “it took us decades to become fully aware of what the resource out [there] is, learning every day.” Now Henry would consider Route 66 Prairie “one of the very best prairie remnants in southern Illinois.” The seasonally wet, alkaline soils support over 300 plant species, insects, reptiles, and even a crustacean species, the prairie crayfish. Last year a parking lot and paved trail were added to make the prairie easily accessible so that all visitors may experience a glimpse of the type of habitat that used to cover 22 million acres of Illinois.

Another place Henry has made a lasting impression is at Shoal Creek Conservation Area. In 1990, the City of Litchfield set aside 266 acres around Lake Lou Yeager to be a permanent nature preserve and made Henry the lead steward. More recently, this natural area was renamed the Henry Eilers Shoal Creek Conservation Area. Henry describes the unique and varied habitats there as “primarily a Southern Till-plain woodland. Due to its often rugged terrain, the 260 acres have a great number of microhabitats, such as abandoned fields, barrens, flat-woods, floodplain forest, seeps, sandstone cliffs, and more.” The landscape holds over 700 species of plants, ranging from common spring bluebells and fragrant summer phlox to the rare white-flowered buffalo clover and purple savanna blazing star. There have been over 70 species of butterflies, such as the ashy azure and the swamp metalmark. Several statelisted endangered species have been found at Shoal Creek Conservation Area.

garden with HeartLands Conservancy to plant at Poag Sand Prairie. Royal Catchfly is available in many nurseries and retailers but quite rare to find in the wild. This prompted us to ask, “what other things are Mr. Eilers growing in his garden?” Right now, his favorite garden plants are buffalo clover and pink and white selections of Skullcap (Scutellaria incana). He enjoys new or challenging plants. Buffalo clover, for example, was believed to be extinct. Eilers also believes that if you grow rare plants, they should be local natives to reintroduce them into their proper habitat.

So, what will you try in your garden this year? Perhaps, Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’, in honor of our lovely friend.

Henry’s love of native plants and rescuing and restoring native habitats runs deep. It is a joy to listen to him share his expertise and experiences. A couple of years ago, Henry shared some Royal Catchfly seeds from his

Meanderings 20202021 December Meanderings Spring

Winner of Bucks, Ducks, & Trophies Photo Contest “Bucky” by Joann Fricke

PHOTO CHALLENGE: Signs of Spring April 1st - May 15th

It’s been a long winter in southwestern Illinois and we want to see what’s blooming, zooming, and fruiting in your yard! Let’s celebrate the season with a Signs of Spring photo contest from April 1st through May 15th! Show us your best pictures of flower buds, spring flowers, animals soaking in the sun and more by submitting your photos to photo@heartlandsconservancy.org. The winner of this photo contest will be chosen by our Facebook followers during the week of May 19th.

to photo@heartlandsconservancy.org with the subject Signs of Spring. Photos must be of southern Illinois. Please include your name, title of photograph, company name (if applicable), address, and phone number. If your photography business is on Facebook, please include the link so we can tag your page.* Send up to 10 images per theme, per person. Watermarks (along the bottom edge) are allowed and photo credit will be given. Please send digital images at 300dpi. *By entering, you allow HeartLands Conservancy to use your images in presentations, exhibits, and digital and print media with proper credit and attribution.

Participants should email their photos/stories 28

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, September 11, 2021 Calling all fairies, gnomes, pixies, elves, and other mythical creatures! The mystical kingdom needs your help building homes for our resident fairies and gnomes! Join the socially distanced fun and build a nature-inspired house for our magical residents. Costumes of your favorite mythical creatures are highly encouraged. Participants will receive a house construction kit, snacks, crafts, and an optional picnic lunch. More details to come in the summer issue of Meanderings and on our social media. Magical creatures will be roaming the meadows and woodlands to inspect your work. Afterwards you can stroll the Exploration Garden to see what others have built. This event is open to all ages. Children (accompanied by an adult), scout troops, adults, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to participate. Proceeds will support the development of the Exploration Garden at Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park - a living, outdoor classroom for all to enjoy. Join our email list or follow us on social media to stay updated on how to participate in this event. Interested in volunteering to help with this event? Please contact Landon at landon.brooks@heartlandsconservancy. org or (618) 566-4451 ext 28.

Fairy & Gnome Home Tour 09.11.21 Meanderings 2021 Spring

Board Member Sandy Verduin

Board Member Jim Pauley

Belinda New Team McAllister Member: Belinda McAllister

Welcome! Our Newest Board Members Sandy Verduin

Jim Pauley

Sandy has dedicated much of her life to volunteerism. Before relocating to southwestern Illinois from Ohio in 2019, she served on many committees and boards related to environmentalism, conservation, animal welfare, and building healthy communities. She has also spent a significant amount of time on missions to Africa, which she looks forward to continuing once the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Jim has a vast amount of experience managing wildlife habitat on his family farm in Mascoutah, Illinois. For many years, Jim has worked to improve the portion of Silver Creek that runs through his property from Lebanon to Mascoutah. It is a subject that is very near to his heart and one of the issues that he is most passionate about. HeartLands Conservancy’s watershed plans along the upper and lower reaches of Silver Creek are what attracted him to our organization.

Shortly after moving to the area to enjoy life with her grandchildren and family, Sandy began searching for organizations aligned with her values. That’s when she discovered HeartLands Conservancy and the Jingle Hike Challenge. Sandy credits the Jingle Hike Challenge for introducing her to Illinois parks and open spaces, which has now become one of her family’s favorite fall activities. “I really like the way HLC encourages people to get out in nature, and I look forward to helping improve the region’s natural resources through my board commitment.” Sandy is also very passionate about trees and serves on HLC’s Green Communities Committee, where she is playing an active role in our organization’s Tree Stewards program. HeartLands Conservancy is very excited about the energy Sandy brings to the Board of Directors, and we wish her a very warm welcome.

“We are drastically losing hardwoods at both locations due to continuous flooding. The creek is blocked with heavy debris in various areas. It needs to be cleaned to rectify the problem. This will not be an easy task and will require much involvement from landowners who are affected by the continuous high water.” Besides being passionate about wildlife habitat and Silver Creek, Jim is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys waterfowl and whitetail deer hunting. He serves on our organization’s Land ConservationCommittee, where he will apply his passions to help protect some of our region’s most at-risk areas through conservation. He also serves on our Internal Committee, where he uses his expertise in the insurance industry to protect our organization from risk. Welcome aboard, Jim!

Our Newest Team Member We are excited to announce that

Belinda McAllister is joining the

HLC team as our new Community & Partnerships Coordinator. Belinda will be working with community groups and others in the region to increase collaboration on environmental issues facing southwestern Illinois. Belinda has a BA in sociology and an MSM in organizational development with extensive experience. In all aspects of her life, Belinda models and teaches human citizenship behaviors, sustainable development, servant leadership, and social responsibility. Belinda also serves as the President of Friends of McAllister Park, a volunteer group working to improve the recreational resources and quality of life in of SE Quadrant of Lebanon, IL. Please give Belinda a warm welcome!

Working with HLC communities and partnerships promoting environmental equity is an honor - B. McAllister

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Poison Plant identification in Silver Creek

Welcome New Members! 2021 HLC Board Committees Board committees are where the work happens at HeartLands Conservancy! Our mission wouldn’t happen without our amazing board of directors who volunteer their time and skills to support nature in southwestern Illinois.

Executive E. William Reichert III Ronda Latina Bill Boardman Janet Haroian Anne Werner External Dawnesha Johnson, Chair Gary Huelsmann, Vice Chair Ronda Latina Cliff Schuette Robert C. Nelson Governance E. William Reichert, III, Chair Dawnesha Johnson Nancy Larson Anne Werner

Green Communities Sandy Verduin Robert C. Nelson Nancy Larson Internal Janet Haroian, Chair Gary Huelsmann Jim Pauley Land Conservation Bill Boardman Brenda Chandler Ronda Latina Jim Pauley Nancy Larson

Thank You to our Sponsors to Date Bur Oak

Red Oak

Pin Oak continued

Pufalt-Pauley Insurance Agency, Inc. Walker and Williams, P.C. Volkert, Inc.

Sapling Post Oak

Pin Oak

Belleville Optometry, Ltd. Clinton County SWCD Farm Credit Illinois J. F. Electric, Inc. Madison County SWCD

Madison Co Planning & Development Memorial Hospitals Belleville -Shiloh Randolph County SWCD St. Clair County Farm Bureau Utilitra Village of Swansea

Meanderings 2021 Spring

3 N. High Street Belleville,IL 62220 (618) 566-4451

Meanderings | Spring 2021

Articles inside

Metro East Tree Week • April 22-30