Olympia Fields Country Club informs members of its environmental programs through a monthly newsletter and through informal conversations that highlight specific features. We want them to understand the reasons behind our landscaping choices. Prairie Crossing provides environmental information to home owners at the time of purchase and also offers ongoing educational programs. The Chicago Park District has worked with neighborhood and environmental groups as part of the restoration process at Gompers Park, while Wheaton Warrenville South High School includes students and staff in an effort to make their landscape part of a living laboratory for hands-on environmental education. At the Nature Museum, the landscape functions as another dimension of the museum itself.
Home owners can incorporate native plants into their landscapes in a variety of ways.
Re-creating an actual natural habitat is only one option. Designing a space that minimizes the use of turf grass and maximizes the use of trees, shrubs, perennial plants, and groundcover is another alternative. Indigenous plants can also be incorporated into existing beds and borders. Native trees and shrubs offer the same benefits as other native plants and, when sited appropriately, can be used in nearly every setting. They are at their best, however, when left to their natural growth habits rather than being tortured into manicured shapes.