commonfields i spring 2016

Spring has sprung in southwestern Illinois, and things seem to be greening up early this year. My 4-year-old recently pointed out the wildflowers popping up in our yard, and then promptly picked me a bouquet of Spring Beauties, Violets… and Dandelions. She is a lover of all things flowering, which makes it so much more difficult to explain why not all flowers are “good” flowers. “Yes, honey,”

I said. “That pretty white tree is called a Bradford Pear, and although it makes pretty flowers, it also kills the pretty flowers you gave me in this bouquet.” Invasive species continue threaten our natural areas and wildlife in southwestern Illinois. As I write this, honeysuckle is leafing out and making it impossible to see and walk through my favorite patch of forest, and it is out-competing my favorite wildflowers, too. It seems like the list of invasive species is getting longer and longer each year. In this season’s newsletter, we’ve provided some good alternatives to invasive plants commonly found in your nursery. While I’m on the topic of wildflowers, be sure to pencil in our free, family-friendly Wildflower Trek on April 30 at the Henry White Experimental Farm. I’m hoping to spot my favorite native wildflower—the Mayapple—also shown below! Spring also signals the beginning of peak event season for HeartLands Conservancy. Our Annual Dinner, featuring the Green Leaf Achievement Awards, is coming up mid-April, and our Field to Fork fundraiser for land conservation is slated for July 23. Also, keep your eyes open for GiveSTL Day on May 3, and consider referring your fellow eco-minded friends to support us with a donation that day! These events are so important to us because they help us keep our programs, such as invasive species removal and protection of natural areas, running at full capacity. We thank you for your support at these events and throughout the year, and my daughter thanks you for enabling her flower-picking habit!

Robert J. Hilgenbrink, Chair IL Green Economy Network

Bill Reichert, Vice Chair EWR Architects

Bill Armstrong, Treasurer Retired, International Banking

Robert Nelson, Secretary Nelson & Nelson Attorneys at Law William BoardmanFirehouse Contracting, LLC

Brenda ChandlerBuy A Farm Land & Auction Co. Ronald J. Foster, Jr. Schoen, Walton, Telken & Foster Dennis (Denny) KirkhamLand Owner Robert Knobeloch St. Louis Prompters LLC

Nancy LarsonHarter, Larson & Dodd

Ronda Latina Environmental Operations, Inc. Charles Meier Illinois State Representative

Cliff Schuette Schuette Seed Company Justin SiegelDeli Star Corporation

Dawnesha TomlinIllinois American Water

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org A Quarterly Publication of HeartLands Conservancy April 2016

What’s InsideAnnual Dinner Info .................... 2

Plant this, not that!.....................3

Event Highlights ..................... 4-5

Flood Survey Results.................6

Field to Fork Raffle Tickets ....... 7

Wildflower Hike ....................... BC

Directors

Spring has sprung!- Mary Vandevord, Interim Executive Director

Commonfields Spring 2016 www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

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You’re Invited!

Lagers & Leaves2016 Annual Dinner &

Green Leaf Achievement Awards

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 Four Points by Sheraton, Fairview Heights, IL

5:00 p.m. Networking Reception and Beer Tasting

6:15 p.m. Dinner & Program$40 members/$45 non-members

Purchase tickets online or contact Kim, [email protected]; 618-566-4451, ext. 10

Gateway FS Inc.

Randolph County Soil & Water District

Sponsors:

www.HeartLandsConservancy.org Commonfields Spring 2016

Plant this, not that! Spring EditionBy: Sarah Vogt, Environmental Programs Technician

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Bradford Pear trees, also known as Callery Pear or Pyrus calleryana, have been planted along every suburban street in America. These pear trees are loved because of their picturesque shape and bountiful white spring blossoms. Our request: PLEASE STOP PLANTING THEM. Their weak branch structure make them terrible trees to plant around houses–they break easily in storms and only live to be about 20 years old. Additionally, Bradford Pears are sweeping over the landscape, popping up in forest edges, rights-of-way, and savannas where they were never intended to grow. They are even beginning to establish in forest understories. Furthermore, these invasive Bradford Pear offspring become more pyramidal shaped bushes with thorns. They have adapted to grow in almost every soil and moisture condition. Because they are an introduced species, the fruits of Bradford Pear hold little nutritional value for our native bird species. Our native caterpillars, moths and butterflies don’t even like feeding on them. Like the spring blooms? Try flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), eastern redbud (Cersis canadensis), or serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea). These three species are native to Illinois. Serviceberry flowers at the same time as Bradford Pear. Redbud and Dogwood flower about two weeks later.Want a sturdy tree to provide shade for your home and family for decades to come? Try an oak tree or tulip poplar.For more information see:http://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2012/05/callerypearinvasive.pdfhttp://www.invasive.org/illinois/speciesofconcern.html

NavNet Update:May is Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month!

Join us to remove honey suckle & winter creeper from Swansea’s Centennial Park at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 14. Want to hold an invasive species removal day or clean-up event in a park near you?

Contact HeartLands Conservancy–we can help organize and recruit volunteers.

Avoid This: Bradford Pear!!!

(Photo from Illinois Extension Forestry)

Plant this: Dogwood!!!

(Photo from H & M Ling)

(Photo from S Keitch)

Plant this: Redbud!!!

Plant this: Serviceberry!!!

www.HeartLandsConservancy.orgCommonfields Spring 2016

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Highlights of Recent Events and ActivitiesLate Winter in Arlington WetlandsSarah Vogt, our Environmental Programs Technician, visited Arlington Wetlands earlier this year. Arlington Wetlands is just one of many valuable places HeartLands Conservancy has saved. You can visit Arlington Wetlands to learn more about how it serves to provide stormwater storage, clean water, and wildlife habitat for many surrounding communities.

Arlington Wetlands84 Arlington Drive

Pontoon Beach, Illinois

Receiving this newsletter in print? Help HeartLands Conservancy

protect the natural resoures that matter to you! Email [email protected] if you would like

to help us save paper and receive the electronic verson!

Rain Gardens, Trees, and French Toast, oh my!All of this, and more were part of our Southwestern Illinois Communities Conference on March 17.Here, one of the Tree City USA award winners representing Carlinville poses with speakers from the event.

Field Day!Our resident expert on environmental planning and policy, Janet Buchanan, participated in the Nutrient Stewardship Field Day presented by the Clinton County Farm Bureau. Here, attendees observed up-close how cover crops impact soil structure.We encourages our members to take part in all opportunities to learn more about our natural resources. Be sure to check out our Treks too, featured in this section and on the back cover!


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Upcoming Events

Wildflower HikeApril 30, 2016 - 9:00 a.m. Henry White Experimental Farm

Farm TourJune 18, 2016

Star Trek August 12, 2016

Jingle Hike Challege November 25, 2016 - January 2, 2017

Follow HeartLands Conservancy on Facebook or see our website for more details on the upcoming treks! Contact [email protected] for more information or to attend!

Treks Sponsored by:

Earth Day: April 22Arbor Day: April 29

Stay tuned to HeartLands Conservancy on

Facebook and Twitter for local activities and ways

to celebrate! Be sure to download

our celebrate earth day coloring page, too!

HeartLands Conservancy is participating in Give STL Day on May 3!

We are so grateful to those who support us and our members! We hope that you will help to advocate for our organization by encouraging your family and friends to consider making a donation on May 3!

You can also help by connecting with us on social media, by sharing your favorite ways we are helping you to engage with nature and why #investinginnature is so important.

Watch for more information on how to help or email [email protected] if you’re interested in more ways to help!

Saturday, July 23, 2016Bellecourt Manor - Belleville, IL

www.HeartLandsConservancy.orgCommonfields Spring 2016

NavNET Results are in on the Cahokia Creek Watersheds Survey Last fall, HeartLands Conservancy and Madison County mailed out 4,000 Flood Surveys to addresses in two Cahokia Creek watersheds. These watersheds cover a large swath of Madison County, and include Edwardsville, Maryville, Collinsville, and several other communities. Almost 750 people completed the survey–a response rate of almost 18%. We thank those who shared their flooding experiences with us.The results are in! Most responses were received from the Edwardsville and Collinsville zip codes. Over 90% of the flooding reported took place outside the 100-year floodplain. 16% of respondents reported flooding on their property in the last 10 years. Of those that were flooded, 24% said that the flooding had damaged their primary home or business. The Flood Survey data will be used to identify and address flooding issues in Madison County’s watershed planning efforts for the Cahokia Creek watersheds. See www.heartlandsconservancy.org/cahokiacreek for more information.

Has this property been flooded in the past 10 years?

How far did the floodwater penetrate into your home or business (furthest extent)?

406 East Main StreetMascoutah, IL 62258(618) 566-4451www.HeartLandsConservancy.org

Address service requested:

PRSRT STDNONPROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE PAIDZIP CODE 62258

PERMIT NO 7

Spring Trek: Wildflower Hike April 30 - 9:00 a.m.

Henry White Experimental Farm Contact [email protected]

to attend!

Treks sponsored by:

commonfields i spring 2016

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