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 […]

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 […]

Description:  You are invited to take a stroll through rolling oak savanna and open prairie area on 3+ acres in the Pine Ridge subdivision in Bull Valley. Linda and Terry began restoring natives to the landscape in 1991 by adding plant diversity to their property hoping to transform it into […]

Description:  You are invited to take a stroll through rolling oak savanna and open prairie area on 3+ acres in the Pine Ridge subdivision in Bull Valley. Linda and Terry began restoring natives to the landscape in 1991 by adding plant diversity to their property hoping to transform it into […]

Description:  Barb and Mike moved to Crystal Lake in the summer of 2006.  At that time, there were large portions of the 1 1/2 acre corner property that were simply manicured lawn.  Starting in 2009, with H.M. Hepperlen as mentor, prairie plants were introduced and the yard has continued to […]

Property Description: Explore a 1.25-acre yard in a residential neighborhood that has been converted from traditional non-native landscaping to majority native species. Sarah and Scott have lived at the property for 10 years with their two children and dog and have been removing invasive species and adding native trees, shrubs, […]

Description: On a whim about twenty years ago, Dave Zieger and John Shiel agreed that they might as well start working to restore a portion of the church property in Wonder Lake that was right across the street from Dave's living room window. Dave brought it up, since its neglected […]

Description:  Scattered islands of natural landscaping--all developed over a thirty-year period and placed within the confines of a 1/4 acre city lot. The yard is planted with a delightful combination of native plants, various grasses, native shrubs and trees. John will discuss "his dilemma" of what to do about shade […]