Prairie Preservation Society of Ogle County

11/29/2024

Hi Friends, the holidays are here! Our group will be selling Christmas Trees at Sand Ridge Prairie beginning Friday, November 29th. U-Cut tree sales will run from 10 AM to 4 PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday (November 29, 30, and December 1) and the following weekend 10 AM - 4 PM (December 7 and 8). We can possibly meet a customer at a different time or a different date by appointment only, please message us. We are a non-profit organization and our tree sales are run by volunteers. All income from tree sales helps the Prairie Society manage and restore Sand Ridge Prairie and associated conservation events and efforts. Prices this year are $55 for White Pine and Spruce, $65 for Fir under 9', and $95 for Fir over 9'. Sand Ridge Prairie is located at 2879 S. Daysville Rd, Oregon IL. Cash or check only please.

05/07/2024

Mark your calendar now for PPSOC’s annual spring banquet Sunday, May 19, at the Lorado Taft Campus, 1414 N. River Rd., Oregon.

A social hour with book and native plant sales and silent auction from 5:00 – 6:00 will be followed by a delicious meal (either a mouthwatering vegetarian Moroccan Stew, or a tasty, traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings at 6:00 and the program at 7:00.

Chandrwyee Mitra, biology Professor at North Central College, will present a program on butterflies and crickets which includes what butterflies we are likely to find, how climate changing is affecting butterfly populations, and their unusual mating behavior which includes males giving gifts to females by taking salt from the environment and presenting it to the female of their choice. Maybe we can observe some of that behavior. Of course, photos will be presented.

Books on First, the Sauk Valley’s premier independent book store and coffee house, will once again bring an excellent selection of some of the books they have to offer! If there is a book you don’t see Carolyn will be happy to locate it for you.

Caron Wenzel from McHenry County will be selling native prairie plants and seeds containing species for dry, mesic, wet mesic, wet, and emergent planting sites.

Children are welcome in the presence of an adult. Tickets are $25 each; children under 12 are half price. It is open to members and to the general public. To make dinner reservations or to donate to the auction, email [email protected] or phone 815-973-4926.

11/16/2023

Hi Friends, the holidays are here! Our group will be selling Christmas Trees at Sand Ridge Prairie beginning Friday, November 24th. U-Cut tree sales will run from 10 AM to 4 PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday (November 24, 25, and 26) and the following weekend 10 AM - 4 PM (December 2 and 3). We can possibly meet a customer at a different time or a different date by appointment only, please message us. We are a non-profit organization and our tree sales are run by volunteers. All income from tree sales helps the Prairie Society manage and restore Sand Ridge Prairie and associated conservation events and efforts. Prices this year are $55 for White Pine and Spruce, $75 for Fir 12' and under, and $95 for Fir over 12'. Sand Ridge Prairie is located at 2879 S. Daysville Rd, Oregon IL. Cash or check only please.

11/12/2023

Join us today (Sunday 11/12) at 2 pm for a Free public program presented by Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education featuring live birds of prey. Candy Ridlbauer, Executive Director of the Raptor Center, will bring seven live birds of prey, including a hawk, owl and falcons to illustrate their habits and rehabilitating them. There will also be displays for the audience to examine.

Join PPSOC for a close-up look at these exciting birds and learn how they are helped to return to their natural lives in the wild at this delightful program. Displays will enrich the experience.

This program will be held at the Kickapoo Center at 1919 N Limekiln Rd, Oregon IL. All ages are welcome, this program is great for children and all nature lovers!

09/30/2023

09/29/2023

You are welcome to join us Saturday morning (9/30) from 9 to 11 at Sand Ridge Prairie for some land stewardship fun. We will have a few backpack sprayers ready for treating invasive Black Locust trees (they are small sprouts currently). We will also be harvesting native seeds from several of the preserve's native grasses and wildflowers. We have removed more brush and trees from part of the preserve and our hand collected seed will be used to help reestablish prairie in that area. Sand Ridge is at 2879 S Daysville rd. Meet at the top of the hill, follow the gravel lane. Long pants, leather boots, and gloves recommended. All needed tools will be provided. Thanks! (Photo 1: Prairie Gentian, Photo 2: Hand Collected Seed Mix)

04/19/2023

Mark your calendar now for PPSOC’s annual spring dinner program on Sunday, May 7, at the Lorado Taft Campus, 1414 N. River Rd., Oregon.

A social hour with book and native plant sales and silent auction from 5:00 – 6:00 will be followed by a delicious meal (either a mouthwatering vegetarian Moroccan Stew, or a tasty, traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings at 6:00 and the program at 7:00.

Chris Benda, back by popular demand, will present a program on “Rare and Showy Plants of Illinois” with a selection of beautiful and/or rare plants from different regions of Illinois. Photos are sure to raise “Oohs” and “Ahs” from the audience! Of course, humor will be mixed in!

Benda is one of five botanists who worked with the Illinois Natural History Survey update from 2008 through 2015. He explained that this is the most important work being done in the state, quoting George Fell, founder of the Nature Conservancy and the Natural Land Institute, “If we do not save what we have now, there will never be another chance.” He teaches the Flora of Southern Illinois at Southern Illinois University in the summer and a variety of classes at The Morton Arboretum. He is an accomplished photographer and author of several publications about natural areas in Illinois. He is also known as Illinois Botanizer and can be reached by email at [email protected].

Children are welcome in the presence of an adult. Tickets are $25 each; children under 12 are half price. It is open to members and to the general public. For more information on the program and to reserve tickets, or to donate to the auction, email [email protected] or by phone at 815-973-4926.

11/22/2022

Christmas Tree sales will start this Friday at Sand Ridge Prairie! U-Cut tree sales will run from 10 AM to 4 PM this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (November 25, 26, and 27) and the following weekend 10-4 (December 3 and 4). We can possibly meet a customer at a different time or a different date by appointment only, please message us. We are a non-profit organization and our tree sales are run by volunteers. All income from tree sales helps the Prairie Society manage and restore Sand Ridge Prairie and associated conservation events and efforts. Prices this year are $50 for White Pine and Spruce, $65 for Fir 12' and under, and $80 for Fir over 12'. Sand Ridge Prairie is located at 2879 S. Daysville Rd, Oregon IL. Cash or check only please.

06/25/2022

You are welcome to join us Saturday morning (6/25) from 10 to noon at Sand Ridge Prairie for some stewardship fun. We will be harvesting native seeds from several of the preserve's native grasses and wildflowers and removing invasive species with w**d spades. We have removed more brush and trees from part of the preserve and our hand collected seed will be used to reestablish prairie in that area. Sand Ridge is at 2879 S Daysville rd. Meet at the top of the hill, follow the gravel lane. Long pants, leather boots, and gloves recommended. If raining, we will postpone to a future Saturday morning. Thanks! (Photo: Pale Purple Coneflowers in bloom at Sand Ridge Prairie)