Start Date
10/03/2023
End Date
10/03/2023
Description
Successful Restoration? Compared to What? (6 hrs)
Larry Weaner & Gerould Wilhelm
Walk 1 | The Morton Arboretum: First we will observe a managed and unmanaged woodland site, compare their respective vegetative compositions, and discuss potential management approaches for their respective future enhancement. The session will continue by comparing two restored prairies of highly contrasting ages. At a young restoration we will discuss design, planting, and management protocols, as well as some common early stage hurdles. We will continue our investigation with a deep dive into the venerable Schulenberg Prairie. This 60-year-old, 100-acre planting stands as one of the premier restoration sites in North America. We will be led through the Prairie by Gerould Wilhelm, one of its leading experts and an early participant in its development.
Walk 2 | Illinois Beach State Park: Our trip will continue at a high-quality remnant prairie in the park’s Nature Preserve. The Preserve is a natural national landmark and contains the last vegetative remnant lake shore in Illinois. Here we will study the intricate relationships between flora, fauna, the physical environment, and human activity in a remnant prairie system. By better understanding the complex ecology of the “real deal,” landscape practitioners can only become better stewards of the “restored version.” Finally, participants will leave understanding that the full biotic diversity of a remnant prairie cannot be duplicated by humans, revealing the importance of identifying and preserving these landscapes wherever they exist.
Location
Lisle, IL
Distance Learning
No
Course Equivalency
No
Subjects
Horticulture / Plants
Residential Design
Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Hours
6.0
Learning Outcomes
1. Observe a managed and unmanaged woodland site in Illinois, compare their respective vegetative compositions, and discuss potential management approaches for their respective future enhancement.
2. Learn about design, planting, and management protocols for Tallgrass Prairie restoration, as well as common early stage hurdles.
3. Understand that the full biotic diversity of a remnant prairie cannot be duplicated by humans, revealing the importance of identifying and preserving these landscapes wherever they exist.
Instructors
Larry Weaner, FAPLD & Gerould Wilhelm, PhD
Course Codes
Provider
New Directions in the American Landscape