SPRING BIRD WALK
May 11, 2012 By
STPS bird monitor Linda Padera will guide a bird walk at Wolf Road Prairie at 8 am 
Wednesday, May 16. Meet at the south end of the Prairie. Park in one of the three parking bays on the north side of 31st Street ~ west of Wolf Rd. Meet near the middle parking bay at the kiosk. Long pants advised. Call 708-354-5512 for more information. (Photos by Mike Roque)
Spring Walk
May 3, 2012 By
John Banaszak will be leading an evening spring walk through the savanna and the Prairie to see the spring flowers and hear the evening birdsongs on Friday, May 11, at 6:30 pm (weather permitting). Meet near the middle parking bay just off 31st Street west of Wof Road. Wear long pants and bring binoculars if you have them. Call 708-354-5512 for more information. (Photo by Beth Edwards)Now Showing: The Wild Hyacinth
May 1, 2012 By
The wild hyacinth is now carpeting Wolf Road Prairie’s savanna floor with their blossoms, and when there is a breeze their perfume fills the air. Look also for white starry Solomon seal and pink wild geraniums. On the prairie, you will find little islands of yellow wood betony, as well as the delicate blue-eyed grass, which sometimes appears blue, but at other times is white tinged with blue, scattered throughout the prairie. Enjoy the stronger colors of the butter-scotch colored hoary puccoon, and the golden Alexanders. And for the observant, the white flowers of the wild strawberries are blooming close to the ground. (Photo by Barbara A. Schreiber)
Dating Old Photographs
April 23, 2012 By
Please join us on Sunday, May 6, at 2 pm for an informative afternoon with presenter Patricia Reaves, who will help us date old photographs. By looking for clues in old photos, you can learn to connect photographs to certain time periods. Bring your own old photos and try your hand at playing history detective. This free event will be held at the Riverside Library ( 1 Burlington Road ). Call 708-354-5512 for more information. Earth Day – Sunday, April 22
April 3, 2012 By
For Earth Day we have planned a birdwalk, a workday, a raffle, and tentatively, a sing-along with the Prairie Porch singers.Schedule:
Birdwalk – 8 am. Meet at the south end of the Prairie. Park in one of the parking bays on the northside of 31st Street just west of Wolf Road.
Workday – 10 am to 1 pm. Wear old clothes and rugged shoes. Shorts not advised. We will supply the tools and the refreshments. Come for an hour or work the entire time. All help is appreciated. Everyone welcome!
Sing-a-long (Tentative) We hope to have the Prairie porch singers performing from 1:30 – 2:30. Everyone welcome to join in or to just listen.
April Work Days…
April 2, 2012 By
Weather permitting, there will be two Saturday workdays on April 21, and on April 28, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteer for an hour or for the entire tim
e. Meet at the Prairie House, located at 11225 Constitution Drive in Westchester. We will be cutting and hauling buckthorn. Our prairie plants are more likely to bloom in the Spring if they are not overshadowed by this aggressive invasive. Hot coffee will be available. Call 708-562-3280 for more information.
Woodcock Courtship Flight
March 22, 2012 By
STPS is hosting two nights of Woodcock viewing this March. Please join us to see the after-dusk-courtship flight of the male woodcock as he does his best to attract a mate. Come also to hear the serenade of the male chorus frogs.Friday, March 23 at 6:30 pm, Saturday, March 31 at 6:45 pm, and Friday, April 6 at 7:00 pm. Meet on the deck of the Prairie House, 11225 Constitution Drive, Westchester.
Celebrate Earth Hour!
March 21, 2012 By
Join fellow environmentalists from around the world in a show of solidarity. Participate in Earth Hour on Saturday, Marc
h 31 by turning off all lights between 8:30 and 9:30 pm. For at least this one hour we can lower our carbon footprint in unison with the rest of the world. For more information, visit www.earthhour.org. Please help spread the word by sharing this message with friends.
h 31 by turning off all lights between 8:30 and 9:30 pm. For at least this one hour we can lower our carbon footprint in unison with the rest of the world. For more information, visit www.earthhour.org. Please help spread the word by sharing this message with friends.The Use of Trees and Shrubs in a Sustainable Landscape
March 14, 2012 By
Please join us on Sunday, March 18, at 2 pm at the Westchester Library, located at 10700 Canterbury (West of LaGrange Rd. and East of Wolf Rd) to learn how to create natural spaces that are both beautiful and earth friendly. Landscaper Jeff Swano will provide advice about choosing trees and shrubs that are appropriate for our area, and by giving tips for their best placement, he will help us plan a landscape that is both sustainable and easier to maintain. This free event is sponsored by Save The Prairie Society and the Westchester Library. For more information, call 708-354-5512.
About the Presenter: Jeff Swano has a degree in environmental studies. He has a deep understanding of natural earth processes and has studied and assessed local soils, geology, and hydrology. Jeff helped form the Salt Creek Watershed Network, and is a lecturer for the horticlulture programs at College of Du Page.
America’s Lost Landscape: The Tall Grass Prairie
February 24, 2012 By
Spend an afternoon viewing a beautifully crafted and inspiring DVD on the history, science, and poetry that is the tall grass 
prairie. Learn why so many people devote themselves to preserving and expanding this invaluable ecosystem. Exploited for generations, we are now beginning to appreciate its complexity and sustainability in a time of monocultures and over-dependence upon chemicals. Enjoy a lively discussion and a hot cup of coffee following the 60 min. film, which will be shown at 2 pm on Friday, March 9, at the historic Riverside Library, located at 1 Burlington Road. Call 708-354-5512 for more information. A three-dollar donation is suggested.
prairie. Learn why so many people devote themselves to preserving and expanding this invaluable ecosystem. Exploited for generations, we are now beginning to appreciate its complexity and sustainability in a time of monocultures and over-dependence upon chemicals. Enjoy a lively discussion and a hot cup of coffee following the 60 min. film, which will be shown at 2 pm on Friday, March 9, at the historic Riverside Library, located at 1 Burlington Road. Call 708-354-5512 for more information. A three-dollar donation is suggested.