Annual Mentor Appreciation Picnic exclusively for current and former mentors, mentees, and their invitees. To be held at Pleasant Valley Conservation Area
Evening program kick-off exclusively for Mentors and Mentees matched up for 2020, and invited guests.
An evening program exclusively for NGYY Mentors, Mentees and WPPC members. Presenters will be Jack and Judy Speers.
Learn more.
EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Anyone interested in the WPPC organization is welcome to attend the meeting. Only voting members may vote upon committee business.
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE In the summer of 2019, a pair of endangered piping plovers raised two chicks at Montrose Beach in Chicago. "Monty and Rose" is a film about this noteworthy event, the first time piping plover chicks have successfully fledged in Chicago since 1955. Join us in […]
This event has been cancelled.
This event has been cancelled.
This event has been cancelled.
This event has been cancelled. Look for a virtual yard walk video shortly.
This meeting will be held via Zoom. Anyone interested in the WPPC organization is welcome to attend the meeting. Only voting members may vote upon committee business.
This event has been canceled.
This event has been canceled.
The property of Dorothy and Joe Robin This walk will take place observing social distancing guidelines. Masks are required to participate. You are invited to experience our "little piece of heaven". This 3 acre lovely yard has open space, forest walks, a pond, and a temporary river, "our Niagara Falls!". […]
Ken Williams, who has worked in horticulture for almost 30 years, will present his program "Covering Ground--Preventing Weeds with Living Mulch". Ken has developed native gardening techniques which he will share here. His program will feature both sun and shade plants presented using lovely photos. Time will be allowed […]
Linda Gurgone will give a presentation on documenting various aspects of your garden. There will be time allotted for questions at the end of the program. We hope you can join us for an informative evening. This program is open to all WPPC voting members and anyone who has participated […]
Anyone interested in the WPPC organization is welcome to attend the meeting. Only voting members may vote upon committee business.
As springtime carpets the woodlands with the blues of Virginia Bluebells and the yellows of Celandine Poppies, you are invited to walk our forest trails. Whether you're exploring the pine forest in the front yard or the oak-hickory forest in the back, there will be many species of spring ephemerals […]
Chris and Paul welcome you to our 5 acre plot to walk among the spring wildflowers, which include a variety of Trilliums, Bellwort, 3 kinds of Anemone, Solomons Seal, Miterwort, Foamflower, Wild Geranium, 3 kinds of orchids, ferns and sedges . We have been trying to transform our place from […]
Pat began restoring her woodland and savanna front yard in 1989 by doing all the "wrong" things! Today the shaded areas, and even some of the sunny areas, are almost 100% native. In 2009, Pat and Bob took on a new challenge: planting a small prairie in the "old field" […]
Chris and Paul welcome you to our 5 acre plot to walk among the spring wildflowers, which include a variety of Trilliums, Bellwort, 3 kinds of Anemone, Solomons Seal, Miterwort, Foamflower, Wild Geranium, 3 kinds of orchids, ferns and sedges . We have been trying to transform our place from […]
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 […]
Green Living Expo, Saturday, November 6th from 10 am to 5 pm The WPPC will be having a virtual booth at this year's Green Living Expo on Saturday, November 6th from 10 am to 5 pm. Registration is required, but free. This year's Expo is focusing on four areas of […]
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 […]
Description: As you walk along the paths, you’ll meander through oak forests (with bottle brush and other natives on the forest floor), a restored pond, prairie fields on gently rolling hills with wide vistas of sky and edged by oaks. Many species of birds are attracted to this beautiful parcel […]
The next WPPC Business Meeting will be Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 7pm in the McHenry County College Commons area. The major topic of discussion will be the upcoming seminar. The public is welcome, but only WPPC voting members may vote on proposals.
