Citizens for Conservation

Citizens for Conservation "Saving Living Space for Living Things" - CFC is a volunteer group that serves the greater Barrington area of NE Illinois.
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We rely on volunteers for prairie restoration, education & conservation of natural resources.

We had the pleasure of hosting the Justin Benjamin Foundation at our volunteer workday last Saturday, held at our Hill n...
05/31/2026

We had the pleasure of hosting the Justin Benjamin Foundation at our volunteer workday last Saturday, held at our Hill n Dale preserve. Over 40 volunteers took part in planting plugs! In one day, we finished important work on this site that will drive conservation for years to come as these plants grow and continue to provide habitat. We are truly honored to be a part of this foundation’s impactful mission.

Thank you to the Justin Benjamin Foundation for partnering with us and making a difference! Visit their website for more details about this special organization: https://justinbenjaminfoundation.org/.

Photographs by Rob Neff.

🎓🎈Reminder as graduation and summer parties approach - enjoy your celebration but PLEASE do not release your ballons! Th...
05/26/2026

🎓🎈Reminder as graduation and summer parties approach - enjoy your celebration but PLEASE do not release your ballons! They can travel long distances and frequently land in our preserves. 🦋 These ballons can do serious harm for DECADES to wildlife and the land. Mylar balloons are non-biodegradable and a serious contributor to habitat degradation, pollution and can kill wildlife.

🐢🦉🦝 Balloon ribbons can tangle up turtles, birds, and mammals causing injury and death. The balloon material breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces over time which animals can accidentally eat or mistake for food causing digestive blockages, starvation, and death. Those material pieces break down further into smaller microplastic pieces that move into the water systems and food chain causing harm.

Mylar balloons are made of metallic plastic and can last for hundreds of years. Even “biodegradable” rubber (latex) balloons are treated with plastic and chemicals that can take up to 4 years to decompose and pose the same threats to wildlife and land. Helium, used to fill the balloons, is a non-renewable resource.

So PLEASE – do not release your balloons. Better yet, use pom-poms, streamers, or other decorations for celebrating.
Nature thanks you!

05/25/2026

These shooting stars (Primula meadia) at Bakers Lake were truly stunning! What have you spotted this year? Comment below! ⬇️

Become a Member of Citizens for Conservation! 🌿💚When you join CFC, you become part of a community dedicated to saving li...
05/23/2026

Become a Member of Citizens for Conservation! 🌿💚

When you join CFC, you become part of a community dedicated to saving living space for living things.

Your membership helps protect and restore more than 732 acres of prairie, savanna, wetland, and woodland across 14 preserves in the Barrington area.

Together, we are preserving vital habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife for generations to come.

As a member, you’ll enjoy:
🌱 Free admission to many educational programs
🌳 Discounts at our spring and fall native plant sales
🦋 Opportunities to connect with nature and like-minded conservation supporters

Whether you volunteer, attend programs, or simply care about the natural beauty of our region, your membership makes a real difference.

Join or renew today: bit.ly/CFCMembers

Thank you for helping protect the land, water, and wildlife that make our community so special. 💛

Photos by Wendy Paulson.

Not like the sweet or sour cherries you know from the grocery store, the native black cherry tree (Prunus serotina) offe...
05/22/2026

Not like the sweet or sour cherries you know from the grocery store, the native black cherry tree (Prunus serotina) offers dark, pea-sized cherries in late summer—a crowd-pleaser for multiple local species of birds and mammals. In early spring, the trees are covered in fragrant, pendulous clusters of white flowers that provide nectar and pollen. Black cherry is a larval host for hundreds of species of moths and butterflies, which in turn support a multitude of baby birds.

Black cherry wood is excellent for construction of fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring and even musical instruments. The rich reddish brown color darkens over time.

Indigenous peoples used the inner bark for medicinal purposes. It is used commercially as a flavoring, though often blended with artificial flavoring today.

The bark of black cherry is dark, scaly and striking. Some say it looks like burnt potato chips. These trees grow quickly and up to 80 feet tall. Black cherries grow best in rich soil and full sunlight but can adapt well. This species is incredibly beneficial for local wildlife and people alike. 🌸

🐝Today is World Bee Day - a global focus on preserving bees and all pollinators that are critical in providing for our f...
05/20/2026

🐝Today is World Bee Day - a global focus on preserving bees and all pollinators that are critical in providing for our food chain. Every native plant flower we add helps provide nectar for these pollinators and we benefit! CFC has high quality habitats and is proud to be the home of 10 species of native bumblebees including the endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee.

Fun facts:
🐝No bees’ knees - Though bees have jointed legs, they do not possess anything like a kneecap and therefore do not have knees.
🍯Bees must gather nectar from two million flowers to make one pound of honey.
🍯One bee has to fly about 90,000 miles – three times around the globe – to make one pound of honey.
🐝Bees communicate by dancing.
Happy World Bee Day. Photos: Stephen Barten, CFC bee monitor

Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana) is a native perennial herb. The common name refers to the way its seeds seem to literal...
05/18/2026

Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana) is a native perennial herb. The common name refers to the way its seeds seem to literally jump from the plant! It is a good choice for naturalizing in a cottage-style garden or woodland setting. The 2–3-foot-tall plants have attractive spikes of tiny white to greenish flowers. Jumpseed grows well in rich, moist to wet soil but can also tolerate less ideal conditions. It thrives in part sun to part shade.

The minuscule flowers attract many types of pollinators. Often found along lakes and streams, the seeds are eaten by ducks and small birds.

Jumpseed is a wonderful native alternative to non-native hostas. Its graceful flower spikes add movement and texture to the garden. The plants can form attractive colonies that help support beneficial insects and add to your garden’s ecological value. Jumpseed is also generally resistant to deer and rabbits.

05/17/2026

Send this to someone who would appreciate this moment of peace and serenity. 🐝

Address

Barrington, IL

Telephone

+18473827283

Website

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