Description: The Blue Farm is an 80 acre conservation and agricultural easement owned by Kevin Yapp and Alisha Mowbray. Since purchasing the property in 2019, Kevin and Alisha have developed an ornamental garden to replace some of the lawn around the home featuring mainly native plants and have begun to reseed one of the 2 fields previously in a corn-soy rotation with local wildflowers and grasses. Along with the ornamental garden, the walk will cover oak forest, remnant prairie and a unique fen centered around 4 seeps that is currently being restored with the assistance of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. At this this time of year you’ll be able to see several species of aster, rudbeckia, sedges and liatris as well as (hopefully) cream, bottle and fringed gentian and many other exciting plants. Please wear sturdy shoes as the paths can be uneven. This is not an open house. Guided walks led by the homeowners will begin at 10:30am and 1pm. All WPPC Walks on the Wild Side are free of charge and no pre-registration is required.
Directions: Take 173 west from Alden, turn right (west) on Oak Grove Road, then turn right (north) on Reese Road. Property is on the west side of road and marked with a small sign. Proceed along driveway and follow signs to parking area. 9513 Reese Road, Harvard IL 60033.
