tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4221319225216399552011-11-16T00:31:16.655-06:00Publication of the Washington Park ConservancyWashington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-56816726257571499342011-11-14T22:39:00.000-06:002011-11-14T22:39:53.834-06:00

Discovering the sweet and tangy taste of the serviceberry opened my eyes to the delights of the wild.   Birds benefit from the shelter and food they provide, and I was surprised by the fruit’s culinary potential. The foliage turns deep red in autumn reminding us that summer is gone.   It won’t be long before winter snow covers the bare branches as they await spring’s arrival. In July, friends

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-66402547565136466232011-11-12T22:21:00.022-06:002011-11-16T00:31:16.673-06:00

Bravo to Washington Park's community gardens.The Washington Park community is sprouting new gardens; they produce food, create jobs and teach stewardship for its' residents.  Once neglected land with weeds and trash, the community gardens are now beautiful open-spaces, they grow vegetables, fruits and native plants for pollinating insects.    Some of the gardens even offer recreation and

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-54687931031469715052011-06-28T23:52:00.026-05:002011-07-12T12:27:15.574-05:00

           Before Planting After overcoming timeline hurdles, the wildlife garden at Walter H Dyett High School is well on the way to completion. On June 11, 2011, fourteen volunteers installed more than one thousand indigenous plants in a garden that covers nearly 1000 square feet on the east side of the school near the corner of 51st & St Lawrence.

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-40600706572498344752011-06-13T22:25:00.000-05:002011-07-03T14:58:09.427-05:00

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-64477650017635466722011-06-12T21:30:00.001-05:002011-06-12T21:30:32.665-05:00

Washington Park Conservancy, Chicago, IL's photostream on Flickr.Frederick Law Olmsted designed Washington Park in 1871 and the design is still relevant today. It's nationally rated one of the TOP FIVE park designed by Olmsted. View the pictures and see why.

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-90367841885709576552011-04-17T22:02:00.016-05:002011-04-20T21:06:14.676-05:00

The lecture series kicked off the spring season with Garden Tool Sharpening and Seed Starting workshops.  After a powerpoint presentation the classes turned into a hands-on instructional networking event.  Read this wonderful write up about our seed starting lecture from a U of C Student: Award Winning Master Gardener, Don Nekrosuis started the series with the Tool Sharpening workshop, the

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-56936726186442400582011-04-17T13:47:00.004-05:002011-04-20T20:20:42.516-05:00

The first workday of the year, March 26 was filled with energy to spring clean and green the park. A record snowy winter left us with plenty to accomplish while trash pickup and pruning shrubs kelp us busy, the tree pruning outdoor workshop by Madiem Kawa brought everyone together. Our team welcomed newcomers, Chicago Cares led by Mary who will join us every workday through October. We also

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-34800679302179114492011-03-31T23:17:00.018-05:002011-04-17T14:06:24.280-05:00

Birds, Bees and Beets Lecture Series  Funded by the Southeast Chicago Commission Garden Tool Sharpening Workshop March 26, 2011, 10 to NoonDescription:  Save money and time by salvaging your dirty and dull tools by attending this wonderful workshop.  Bring your tools and leave with a brand new tool and prepare yourself to garden again. Seed Starting Workshop for BeginnersApril 2,

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-69302481897893204302011-01-24T23:27:00.000-06:002011-02-08T23:27:41.114-06:00

Counting the NumbersVolunteer Hours ==> 571Trash Picked up ==> 1,932 GalRecyclables Picked up ==> 210 GalTrees Mulched ==> 136Trees Pruned ==> 11Plants Installed ==> 750 Educational Fun for Adults & TeensBirds, Bees & Beets Lecture Series™==> Build an Ecosystem in Your Backyard==> Worm Composting==> Native Plant Identification ==> How to Grow Food in the Wintertime ==> Food PreservationTeen

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-51115385649184341172011-01-23T23:16:00.001-06:002011-02-08T23:23:09.380-06:00

In 2011, the Chicago Botanic Garden will work after school with students from Dyett HS at the Washington Park/Dyett High School Green Youth Farm (555 E. 51st St).  The students will learn about the business and entrepreneurship components to a productive urban garden.  With the assistance of QCDC, the students will meet with several local businesses within the historic Black Metropolis to

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-48495850170278150842010-11-24T11:22:00.009-06:002011-01-24T21:21:16.443-06:00

Dr. Margaret Burroughs, founder of the DuSable Museum of African American History and a celebrated artist in Chicago, died Nov. 21, 2010 at 93. The DuSable Museum reside in Washington Park. Dr. Margaret Burroughs rollerskating at 91.

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-45929535559064632272010-11-02T07:54:00.000-05:002010-11-13T08:26:03.533-06:00

CLOSER TO NATUREI want to breathe the freshest airTake off my shoes and feel the grass,Hear birds sing without a careSmell sweet flowers before I pass, I want to help protect the earthKeep it clean and plant a seed,I want to feel my life has worthDo what I can to take the lead, To save the gift God gave for freepreserving life on the planet,Do my part with the best in meand not take this earth

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-20504267083100210012010-10-21T21:29:00.099-05:002010-11-24T11:32:40.567-06:00

On August 7th 2010, Conservation Ecologist, Field Museum, Becky Schillo led a plant identification tour of Washington Park’s lagoon wildlife. To make identification easier, Becky created a native plant key that took viewers along a step-by-step process describing each plant’s morphology.   Through this walk, tour participants learned to closely examine specific plant structure, leaf arrangement, 

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-35578040080431407292010-10-20T13:17:00.017-05:002010-11-14T19:57:36.158-06:00

On September 11th, 2010, WPC birders headed to the lagoon for the fall migratory bird walk, led by Bird and ConservationistMarianne Hahn. While the rain hindered bird travel, volunteers were able to spot a unique grouping of northernflickers that came out in large numbers in spite the badweather. Similarly, volunteers saw a hairy woodpecker working hard at collecting food on top one of the

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-63894609566793894812010-10-19T13:42:00.031-05:002010-11-15T02:03:34.290-06:00

In October 2010, Madiem Kawa, President of the Washington Park Conservancy was honored by the Washington Park Chamber of Commerce with an Outstanding Community Service Award. The founder of the Washington Park Conservancy, Madiem Kawa, hosted one of President Obama's environmental teams on its America's Great Outdoors visit to Washington Park. Although the team spent only five minutes in the

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-66993877313141808032010-10-18T22:37:00.011-05:002010-11-14T19:55:44.049-06:00

On August 21st, 2010, Chicago Park District, District Forester, Jerome Scott held a master pole pruning class for WPC volunteers. Assisting him was Treekeeper coordinator Jim DeHorn. Jerome and Jim went through the basics of tree pruning by first having participants check the plant for structural damage, crossed branches, and diseased limbs. Participants were then able to put Jerome’s advice

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-46698775691779492822010-10-16T23:05:00.007-05:002010-11-12T23:25:36.101-06:00

Bronzeville Community Garden located at the southeast corner of 51st and Calumet celebrated its grand opening with approximately 150 friends and neighbors on Thursday, August 19, 2010. Throughout the evening the garden was filled with visitors enjoying the fruits of many months of planning and planting. The patio, butterfly sanctuary, and of course the 12 beds of vegetables, herbs, plants and

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-58332771191800516912010-08-05T23:53:00.006-05:002010-11-11T21:17:35.745-06:00

Upcoming LecturesAugust 7, 2010 @ 10:30am – Ecologist Becky Schillo will lead a Native Plant Identification class. Becky is a long-timefriend of WPC, and she will give us the training we need tobecome expert plant detectives in order to best understand thePark’s variety of plant wildlife. Becky will also be lecturing about the complex process of insect-pollinated flowers, and the troublesthat may

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-22369416881461499722010-08-05T23:28:00.007-05:002010-11-11T21:17:35.745-06:00

Upcoming Bird WalksSeptember 11, 2010 - Bird expert Marianne Hahn will head the Fall Migrating Walks for observing warblers and other songbirds. The walk will commence at 7:00am atWashington Park’s Refectory parking lot.October 16, 2010 - Marianne Hahn will lead a second bird walk for observing ducks and geese.Previous Bird WalksMay 1, 2010 - Judy Pollock of the Audubon Society and the

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-89251371672774766832010-08-05T22:46:00.008-05:002010-11-11T21:17:35.745-06:00

Upcoming Workday EventsAugust 21, 2010 – Master Pole Pruning Class with CPD District Forester &Master Treekeeper Jerome Scott (9:00am – 10:30am)Habitat Restoration Workday (10:30am-12:00pm)September 18, 2010 – Fall Seed Collection (9:00am -12:00pm)October 2, 2010 - Fall Seed Collection (2pm-4pm), UofC Wrestling team and anyone is welcome.October 16, 2010 - Fall Seed Collection (9-Noon), One Brick

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-32121120657149380542010-08-05T00:19:00.026-05:002010-11-11T21:17:35.746-06:00

Summer interns became an active part of the WPC’s green initiative on July 9th’s Teen Ecological Adventure.To begin the day, teen interns from the Center for New Horizonscame to Washington Park through their partnership with the Urban Juncture (www.urban-juncture.com), initiated by its' President, Bernard Loyd. Also joining the group was Zachary Price, a University of Chicago student working

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-34513400126469886022010-08-04T23:36:00.018-05:002010-11-11T21:17:35.746-06:00

Washington Park Advisory CouncilAt the 2009 Chicago Park District Advisory Council Appreciation Day, Ms. Mary Galloway was the recipent of the planting of two trees at the park of her choice and she turned this opportunity over to the Washington Park Advisory Council.The Urban Juncture Foundation and several partners are developing the Bronzeville Community Garden at the southeast corner of

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-76249312242846020142010-04-13T20:39:00.002-05:002010-11-11T21:18:31.700-06:00

The last week of March was an eventful one for the Washington Park Conservancy and its partners. On the 29th, we undertook a prescribed burn in one of Washington Park's nature areas. This activity mimics the process of regeneration that would take place after wildfires in the past. New growth quickly emerges from the scorched remains because the roots of many native plants extend deep into the

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-44187293609166912712010-04-13T20:38:00.002-05:002010-11-11T21:18:31.700-06:00

Openlands chose Washington Park as the location for its 2010 spring Treekeeper classes. The classes met for seven consecutive Saturdays from February to April. The sessions drew in tree lovers, Master Gardeners and plenty of locals like V. Coleman as shown below.

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-29131656126842587262010-04-13T20:37:00.002-05:002010-11-11T21:18:31.700-06:00

The Chicago Botanic Garden's Green Youth Farm program offers students the opportunity to learn all aspects of organic farming from planting seeds and starts, cooking with the food they grow and selling produce at farmstands and markets.Students are paid a stipend for working four hours per week in the spring and fall and 20 hours per week in the summer. However, the benefits of the program aren't

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-1069170429661674362010-04-13T20:35:00.003-05:002010-11-11T21:18:31.701-06:00

The Washington Park Conservancy will conduct a number of outings and workdays in the spring and summer. There is no cost to participate. Join others who value the natural space and the contact with wildlife that the park offers. Our habitat restoration workdays are every third Saturday (March to October) from 9am to Noon, meet at the Fountain of Time. • 40th Anniversary Earth Day Cleanup

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-36410484713375434862010-04-13T20:34:00.003-05:002010-11-11T21:18:31.701-06:00

On March 20, the Washington Park Conservancy organized a habitat restoration workday. Key activities included spreading seeds for native plants and removing weeds.The Conservancy's workdays take place from 9 a.m. to noon on every third Saturday between March and October. The next workday will be held on April 17 at 9 a.m. Meet at the Washington park fieldhouse at 5531 South Martin Luther King

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422131922521639955.post-49353354702058003332010-04-13T20:33:00.000-05:002010-11-11T21:18:31.701-06:00

The Washington Park Conservancy can list the following achievements because of the support it received from its members and partners:• Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's 2009 Environmental Hero Award.• Stewardship of the Year Award in 2008 from Friends of the Parks.• 250 volunteers worked 2200 hours.• 7000 gallons of trash were removed from the park.• 350 trees were mulched.• 2700 native wetland

Washington Park Conservancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16257727081593072636noreply@blogger.com