Dear Governor Pritzker,  We are writing to express our concern and opposition to the configuration of the planned airport expansion by the Greater Rockford Airport Authority in Winnebago County, Illinois. The scheduled construction, on pause only until November 1st, will destroy a significant portion of the Bell Bowl Prairie and cause an unacceptable loss of…
Read more

Join us for the 2021 Annual Gathering of the Illinois Native Plant Society. We will meet virtually on September 11 at 5 pm for a membership meeting, and we will have keynote presentations followed by a discussion about climate change impacts on Illinois plants on September 18 at 7 pm. Participate in a competition to identify the most Asteraceae species during the week of Sept 11-18. In addition, local chapters are planning in-person events.

Find the most plant species in Illinois in 2020 and rejoice in your victory! And the winner is… Abel Kinser (@abelkinser) with 978 species! As of 16 January 2021, @abelkinser had 1,301 Research Grade observations of 978 species for 2020. Congrats! 2020 Illinois Botanists Big Year Stats 5,930 observers75,280 Research Grade observations of plants – 33% by people who…
Read more

-Terri Treacy It takes 2 or 3 generations of monarch butterflies to migrate from the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico, to the prairies of Illinois in the spring months. By late summer, a ‘super generation’ emerges, equipped to travel an estimated 2,500 miles back to Mexico for overwintering. Unfortunately, over the past 20 years, the eastern…
Read more

Minutes ILLINOIS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY November 9, 2020, 6:00pm | Conference call Governing Board Meeting Attending: (13) Susanne Masi, Jean Sellar, Paul Marcum, Joe Armstrong, Floyd Catchpole, cassi saari, Emily Dangremond, Trish Quintenz, Courtney Cartney, Gretel Kiefer, Chris Benda, Anna Braum, Angela Kerber Meeting Begins: 6:03pm Review and approve the Minutes from the October governing…
Read more

April 3-5, 2020 Click here for more information and registration details.

2020 Illinois Indigenous Plant Symposium Has Been Cancelled In response to the emerging COVID-19 situation and in line with the advice of health officials to minimize exposure by limiting large gatherings, we have decided to cancel the 2020 Illinois Indigenous Species Symposium that was to be held at John A Logan college April 4th along…
Read more

Every five years, the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board’s (IESPB) Illinois Endangered Species Technical Advisory Committee (ESTAC) meets to discuss potential changes to the status of Illinois plants and makes recommendations for state listing, delisting, or status changes.

Students, citizen scientists, conservation groups and institutions are alerted to consider applying for a grant ranging from $500-$1500 to fund one-year projects. The grant is for research-focused studies on Illinois native plants such as life history, reproductive biology, demography, genetics, comparative site inventories, community ecology, as well as research on threats to native plants and…
Read more

June 26-28, 2020 Each year the members of the Illinois Native Plant Society come together for several days of exploring natural areas and learning about the native plants of the region, with food, fun, and fellowship. This year the Annual Gathering will be hosted by the Grand Prairie Chapter. Details to follow!