Prairie-Pollinator Garden
Prairie-Pollinator Garden
The purpose of the garden is to provide a close up look at the native prairie plants that are found in our area and educate our students and staff of the type of plants, their growth, and their importance.
The prairie-pollinator garden was started in 2016 as a project about pollinators with Phi Theta Kappa under advisors Lori Anton and James Chisholm. Stepping stones, which are still in the garden today, were made by PTK members as a fundraiser for the garden in the spring of 2017.
The first native prairie plants added to the garden were donated by Tim and Carolyn
Keller from the Whiteside County Natural Area Guardians. Tim Keller was instrumental
in starting the prairie along Route 2 in front of the college. Some plants were purchased
from local businesses and companies that specialize in prairie plants, and some plants
came from the SVCC prairie itself.
From 2016 to 2023 the garden was maintained by PTK, Science Club, and volunteers from biology classes and SVCC staff. For several years extra plants were sold at plant sales and the proceeds were donated to various SVCC programs.
In 2023 SVCC entered into a partnership with the University of Illinois Extension that included the Master Gardeners of Lee, Whiteside, and Carroll counties. Each year since then the Master Gardeners have worked with professor Lori Anton to shape and care for the garden. Master Gardeners Darla Emmert and Karen Stenzel have been devoted caretakers of the garden during this time. The work with the U of I Extension and Master Gardeners included the addition of many spring bulbs, supports for tall plants such as the cup plants and compass plants, and plant labels.
If you are interested in more information about the garden, please contact Lori Anton at lori.h.anton@svcc.edu or (815) 835-6402. We offer talks from the Master Gardeners or biology and horticulture faculty, tours of the garden, or a peaceful place to enjoy the beauty of the flowers. Volunteers wishing to help with garden maintenance are always welcome.
Many thanks to the following for planning, garden care, and support:
- University of Illinois Whiteside, Lee, and Carroll County Extension - Marilyn Kemmerer, Bruce Black, and Katie Abell
- Master Gardeners Darla, Karen, Nancy, Mary Kathryn, Tanya, John, and many others
- Friends of the SVCC Prairie, especially Tim and Carolyn Keller, Rae Brunner
- SVCC administration and SVCC facilities and grounds
- SVCC Science Club and Phi Theta Kappa students and advisors
Want to know more?
The Illinois Wild Flowers website boasts a wonderful index to help interested parties to find out more about prairie flowers. You can visit this website at www.illinoiswildflowers.info.
The Locals Found in our Prairie
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Common Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca |
| Golden Alexander | Zizia aureus |
| Rattlesnake Master | Eryngium yuccifolium |
| Spiderwort | Tradescantia ohiensis |
| Thimbleweed | Anemone cylindrica |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa |
| Blue-eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium angustifolium |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta |
| Wild Bergamot | Monarda fistulosa |
| Yucca | Yucca spp. |
| Little Bluestem | Andropogon scoparius |
| Pale Purple Coneflower | Echinacea pallida |
| Purple coneflower | Echinacea purpurea |
| Stiff Goldenrod | Solidago rigida |
| Gray-headed coneflower | Ratibida pinnata |
| Wild Quinine | Parthenium integrifolium |
| Prairie Blazingstar | Liatris pyscnostahcya |
| Compass Plant | Silphium laciniatum |
| Rosinweed | Silphium integrifolium |
| Prairie Smoke | Geum triflorum |
| Bottle Gentian | Gentiana andrewsii |
| Prairie Dropseed? | Sporobolus heterolepsis |
| Nodding Onion | Allium cernuum |
| White Trout Lily | Erythronium albidum |
| Queen of the Prairie | Filipendula rubra |
| Showy Goldenrod | Solidago speciosa |
| Red Bud | Cercis canadensis |