Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

Gavin Warpinski, Batavia High School graduate was selected as the 2026 BPDG Scholarship recipient. Gavin will pursue a degree in Plant Bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners Scholarship Committee, comprised of Doris Trout and Rachel Guerrero (r), along with President Tim Westfall were honored to present Gavin the $2,000 scholarship in person at our June meeting. Gavin told us about his love of plants and his future aspirations in the field of Plant Bioengineering. We are excited to help him pursue his goals and offer our congratulations and best wishes to Gavin for his future accomplishments.

06/15/2026

The prairie is starting to pop at The Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary! The Common Milkweed is starting to bloom - if you can get close to one (there are several near the west kiosk), take a deep breath, oh they smell heavenly!

06/11/2026

Gentle reminder... https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1LWkoPAu1w/

06/11/2026

Dear Gardeners,

The weather will be gorgeous, so please join us for a clean-up day on Friday, June 12 at 9:00. The good news is that we will not need to water! We will be weeding and trimming on the west (prairie and boardwalk) side of the Riverwalk, so please bring drinking water, eye protection, gloves, clippers, loppers, etc.

Thank you to Rosie McVay for the Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium) plants! The ones she gave us were extras from a citizen science project studying seeds and grains of annual vs. perennial plants. Here is what they will look like when they bloom: (photo from Morton Arboretum)

Sarah

06/06/2026

Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) currently blooming at The Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary. The kayaker at the portage point on the other side of the Sanctuary didn't get to see it, but I hope he did well in the canoe race today!

06/06/2026

Hello Gardeners!

Mother Nature watered our plants for us today, but thank you Gaile, Jo, Melissa and Terri for keeping the new ones alive between rains. Thanks too to Terri and Melissa for braving the weather today to do some serious weeding!

Our rescheduled clean-up day will be on Friday, June 12 at 9:00. Please save the date, and watch for an email update about the meeting location and planned projects.

If you are available in the meantime, the staff and volunteers at Lake Run Forest Preserve could use a hand with planting on June 9th. (see below)

Happy Summer!
Sarah

Natural Areas Volunteers,

You are invited to join staff and volunteer leaders at the upcoming Lake Run F.P. workday for a special native plug planting workday! Next Tuesday, June 9th from 9 a.m. until Noon we will be planting an array of natives to help improve biodiversity and boost aesthetics of the hillside prairie near the parking lot. Tools, plants, and refreshments will be supplied, but make sure to dress for the weather - we will be out there getting our hands dirty come rain or shine!

WHO: All FPDKC Volunteers
WHERE: Lake Run Forest Preserve (40W255 Tanner Rd, Aurora) Parking is limited at this preserve so carpooling is encouraged.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th from 9 a.m. to Noon

If you plan on tagging along, please go ahead and shoot me an email so that we can prep snacks and supplies accordingly. We will have just about 1,200 plugs to install, so spread the word and feel free to invite your friends + family!

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions - I hope to see you there!
-Rachel Carlson
________________________________________________
Rachel Carlson | Stewardship Specialist
Forest Preserve District of Kane County
2N253 Brundige Road, Elburn, IL 60119
C: (630)-200-1290
E: [email protected]

06/03/2026

The Canada Geese were feasting on Serviceberries today at The Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary

06/02/2026

Lots to see at The Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary! First, maybe not too easy to see, but these are our native wetland Blue Flag Iris, near the Boardwalk. Also today, Serviceberry, Dogbane, Carolina Rose, Cup Plant (can you see the water in the cups?) and Joe Pye W**d

05/31/2026

And just like that, the river's low, no longer flowing over the dam by The Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary...In spite of that, there's a lot going on! A bird's nest tucked near the path - looks like the hatch has fledged and gone? Flowers blooming all over, Carron vine starting to grow - and another mushroom has popped up.