GARDENS OF THE DESERT: An Introduction to Illinois Prairie

7214 South Cass Avenue,Darien IL 60561

22 May, 2023

Description

“The Illinois country is undeniably the most beautiful that is known anywhere between the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and that of the Mississippi, which are a thousand leagues apart” wrote French explorer Pierre Deliette around 1721. Called “gardens of the desert…boundless and beautiful” by poet William Cullen Bryant in 1832, the Illinois prairie is all but gone and the word prairie has lost its meaning. We are still “the prairie state,” but today it is Silicon Prairie, not Silphium prairie. In this program we will explore the question of just what is an Illinois prairie and we will look at how the relationships of people to the prairie changed over time. We will look at prairie plants and their adaptations, prairie animals, and the role of fire. We will search for places that still contain scraps of prairie, and consider why we must save these precious remnants. The program includes “Prairie Reverie,” a humorous look at the (mis)use and misspelling of the word prairie. The presentation will be in the sanctuary, please enter the west facing doors from the parking lot. The presentation will also be live streamed on St. John Lutheran Church YouTube. There will be refreshments served following the presentation. Stay to mingle with others in the community. Members of local organizations such as the Darien Historical Society, Darien Woman’s Club, and Darien Garden Club will be in attendance. Learn more about the efforts of each of these organizations and how to help with restoration of St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery Prairie, a gem right here in Darien. NOTES: All are invited; the program is suitable for all audiences. Registration is not required but will help us plan for the evening. Tickets are FREE – and will ensure that you’ll receive reminders to attend so that you will not miss this event. This photo is from St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery Prairie at 67th and Clarendon Hills Road in Darien. Jack Shouba, is the leader of the St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery Prairie restoration here in Darien. St. John Lutheran Church and its cemetery dates to 1859! The cemetery still contains original, untilled prairie land and is a registered Illinois Natural Heritage Landmark. Our presenter Jack Shouba, leads community volunteers in seasonal maintenance and conservation of this original prairie at 67th and Clarendon Hills Road. The crew works to remove invasive plants and unwanted tree saplings. During the presentation Jack will give us a glimpse of the importance of keeping these lands in their original state. We will learn about the native plant species and visiting wildlife and insects that depend on such sites. Jack will explain how it serves to hold carbon and acts as a rainwater filtering site as well as a source of beauty for those that pass by and visit. Read more on the history of St. John Lutheran Church here. Donations will be accepted at the event to benefit the continuing conservation of this unique site. This photo is from St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery Prairie at 67th and Clarendon Hills Road in Darien. More on our presenter: Jack Shouba taught biology and chemistry at Lyons Twp. H.S. and served as president of Save the Prairie Society which led the effort to preserve Wolf Road Prairie in Westchester. He has taught 200 classes at the Morton Arboretum and served as the Open Space Development Coordinator for Campton Township in Kane County where he helped preserve over 1300 acres of parks and open space. His awards include the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Illinois, Dick Young Award for Lifetime Achievement in Conservation, and having the Jack Shouba Wetland and the Jack Shouba Savanna named in his honor.