Prairie
Restoring Prairie Lands to their Native Beauty
Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, is also known as The Prairie State as much of it was once covered in this diverse mosaic of plant life. Plants including big bluestem grass, black-eyed Susan, milkweed and rattlesnake master are common in this type of prairie. These native plants have very deep roots that store water and nutrients making them more resilient in times of drought.
CLC’s prairie restoration began in the 1980s as a living laboratory for environmental biology classes. Visit our website to learn more about prairie restoration projects throughout Lake County.
Monarch Watch has certified the CLC campus as an official Monarch Waystation because of the abundance of prairie plants that provide nourishment and habitat to these vital pollinators.
人们常把黄花斥为花粉热的罪魁祸首，但实际上与此同时开花的豚草才是罪魁祸首。豚草花粉很轻，可以通过空气传播，而黄花楸花粉很重，必须由鸟类和蜜蜂传播。
Benefits of Prairie Lands
At the College
This lovely prairie supports wildlife, absorbs stormwater and provides a training ground for successful careers in conservation land management. CLC’s Horticulture program prepares students for jobs such as managers of natural areas and sustainable farms, landscape designers and arborists.
In the Community
成群的野牛在伊利诺斯州的大草原上游荡，直到19世纪晚期，过度捕猎减少了它们的数量，开发破坏了它们的大部分栖息地。在威尔县的米德温国家高草草原，你可以看到野牛在它们的自然栖息地，并了解更多关于草原恢复的知识。
Around the World
In Brazil, Instituto Terra is working to restore the Atlantic Forest which has been degraded by deforestation and invasive species. This habitat is home to five percent of all vertebrates on the planet, including 200 unique bird species and 26 species of primates. Nurseries now raise trees and plants from local sources, and educational programs engage residents and farmers.