Events

Sharon Geil lives on a 5 acre property that features both prairie and woodland habitats. Though more than sixty percent of the acreage had been stripped of its topsoil, Sharon has developed the property into a pollinator and wildlife haven.  Over the last 22 years she restored a 1/3 acre prairie, created a 2.5 acre woodland as well as developed many other pollinator plots and planted a host of native shrubs and trees to create the true harbor for wildlife. 
    The prairie restoration began in 2002 as part of the Illinois Acres for Wildlife program and includes tall grasses. The prairie and the other large pollinator plots feature a wide array of native forb species. The woodland creation began with the planting of 1000 mast producing trees and shrubs. Today the woodland includes, among other things, several species of oak, multiple species of dogwoods, persimmon, pawpaw, black haws, black chokeberry, and spicebush.  In recent years the woodland has produced a volunteer patch of swamp wood betony (a parasitic species uncommon in southern Illinois).  Additionally, the property comprises a hazelnut grove, a small orchard, a large patch of cultivated buffalo grass, a variety of native tree and shrub species (tupelo/black gum, hophornbeam, witchhazel, elderberry, sand cherry, red buckeye, eastern wahoo, American plum, cockspur hawthorn, fringe tree and more), vegetable garden and assorted flower beds (sun and shade) with natives and nativars.  
    Attendees are invited to "dig their own" natives from designated areas and take home species such as gray headed coneflower, blue lobelia, black and brown-eyed susans, hairy and narrow leaf mountain mints, golden alexander and more. (Please bring your own bags/containers and trowels.)