When yardwork pits people versus nature, neither wins. But working in concert with nature to turn a yard into a natural habitat not only helps bees and butterflies, but it also makes gardening easier for the homeowner, according to a program offered last weekend at Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher.

Called Conservation@Home, the event is part of an ongoing program organized through the Forest Preserve District of Will County in conjunction with the Conservation Foundation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said Lynn Kurczewski, director of visitor services at the forest preserve.

Native plants can be just as beautiful in a home's manicured landscaping as the exotic annuals and perennials more commonly found at big-box stores, Kurczewski said.

Guest speaker Kelsay Shaw owns Possibility Place Nursery, 7548 W. Manhattan-Monee Road, Monee, which specializes in native plants and trees.

“The importance for planting natives goes beyond landscaping,” he said.

A bur oak tree, for example, is home to more than 300 species of butterflies and moths, Shaw said. If a homeowner can plant only one thing, consider a bur oak, he said.

“An oak tree does far more work for rearing the young in these species than anything else,” Shaw said.

Native plants offer vital benefits to endangered bees and butterflies that other plants cannot provide, Kurczewski said. When healthy, they become building blocks for a habitat for not only insects, but birds and small animals, which add interest to the garden. The best way to create a place for bluebirds and song birds is to begin with native plants, he said.

“All of these things feed into one another,” Shaw said.

Another example is that native prairie grasses provide insulation for bird nests, he said. Shaw offers consultation to customers at the Possibility Place only by appointment. However, the best advice, he said, is to develop a plant list that matches the yard site. Native plants can be far more tolerant to Illinois conditions, which makes gardening much easier for the homeowner, Kurczewski said. The key is to match shade plants to shady sites, for example, Shaw said.

Don't pick plants because you heard a name, he said. It is best to work with a local expert to select what is right for the area where it will be planted.

The forest preserve will continue to have speakers, including Shaw, at events posted on www.reconnectwithnature.org. There are brochures about selecting native plants for the backyard at the Plum Creek Nature Center, 27064 Goodenow Road, Beecher. The forest preserve will host its annual Bringing Nature Home Native Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 20 at the Sugar Creek Administration Center, 17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet. More than 100 species of perennials, shrubs and trees grown by Possibility Place will be sold, with proceeds benefiting Friends of the Forest Preserve District, which furthers nature education, Kurczewski said. Forest preserve and Possibility Place staff will be available at the sale to help chose the right plants.

For more information call 708-534-3988 or visit www.possibilityplace.com.

Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.