09/28/2026
Great weekend with native plant lovers throughout Illinois as we came together for the 2026 Illinois Native Plant Society Annual Gathering. Special thanks to all of our field trip leaders, sponsors, and supporters.
Saturday field trip leaders:
1. High Quality Prairie Remnants Tour (Loda Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve, Prospect Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve, and Pellsville Cemetery Prairie) - Joey Piper (Grand Prairie Friends) and Paul Marcum
2. Rocky Branch Nature Preserve - Wilson Montgomery (Grand Prairie Friends), Abel Kinser, and Susan McIntyre
3. Warbler Ridge Conservation Area - Jeff Peyton (Grand Prairie Friends)
4. Busey Park/Meadowbrook Park - Connor Ross (Urbana Park District) and Gwendolyn Happ
5. Forest Glen Preserve - Greg Hayes and Matt Finzel
Sunday field trips:
1. Loda Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve - Joey Piper (Grand Prairie Friends) and Susan McIntyre
2. Prospect Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve - Jeff Peyton (Grand Prairie Friends)
3. Pellsville Cemetery Prairie - Paul Marcum
4. Buffalo Trace Prairie Reconstruction- Mike Daab (Champaign County Forest Preserves) and Matt Finzel
5. The Whiteside Garden - Kennedi Mullen (The Whiteside Garden)
Sponsors and Supporters:
Illinois Natural History Survey
Grand Prairie Friends
Urbana Park District
Champaign County Forest Preserves
The Whiteside Garden
Vermilion County Conservation District
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
