Native Plant Demonstration Garden

The Illinois Parks & Recreation Association awarded its
2006 Conservation Program Award to the Park District
for the Native Plant Demonstration Garden.

Only small remnants of native Illinois vegetation survive today. Many native species are unfamiliar to Illinois residents and are considered noxious weeds. These plants are often destroyed instead of being cherished and enjoyed. Native plants thrive on little care and do not require large quantities of water or fertilizer. They are not susceptible to the extreme heat of summer or the rigors of cold winters in Northern Illinois. They show their beauty year round. The use of native plants should be encouraged, not discouraged. For these reasons, the St. Charles Park District has developed and nurtured its Fox River Native Plant Demonstration Garden, which is located along the shores of the Fox River.

The Park District's Fox River Native Plant Demonstration Garden is unique in that it features the exclusive use of native plants in landscaping. In addition, interpretive signs and a novel interactive interpretive center add an educational component that is unique and highly unusual. Another important aspect of this project is that it reaches thousands of individuals who visit Pottawatomie Community Center annually, many of whom would not normally be drawn to environmental displays.

There are many native plant community restorations in the Chicagoland area, as well as large and small arboretums and botanic gardens, but there are not many places where people can see only native trees, shrubs, wild flowers, grasses, ferns, groundcovers and sedges as they might look in a more formal, landscaped setting. This project offers that opportunity. The garden is set up so that there are some areas, which are clearly well maintained, and others that are less so. People may view the various areas and then make determination about how they wish to introduce native plants in their own backyards.