Meeting Minutes | Field Trips | Plant Sales | Local Resources | Photos
The Kankakee Torrent Chapter welcomes you! We aim to host presentations, take field trips, promote native flora, and encourage restoration of our natural areas. Join us on our Mission!
Blooming Botanist Grant
2022 Grant Awarded to Andrew Fleisleber
The Illinois Native Plant Society’s Kankakee Torrent Chapter is pleased to announce the award of the Blooming Botanist Grant to Andrew Fleisleber. Andrew will be working with the Forest Preserve District of Will County, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and Plants of Concern to develop his botanical skills and understanding of native plants & their conservation and ecosystems. The summer Blooming Botanist grant is targeted at students in either their junior or senior year of high school or the first two years of college who live in Will County, Illinois or adjacent counties.
For complete information about the grant and how to apply, click HERE.
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To see 2022 Presentations, Click Here
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The Kankakee Mallow T-shirt: Short Sleeve; Long Sleeve; or Hoody
In 2014, the Annual Gathering of the Illinois Native Plant Society held a field trip to Langham Island to see the only wild home of the indigenous Kankakee Mallow (Iliamna remota). To our dismay, not a single plant could be found. Members, led by Trevor Edmonson, rallied the troops to clear invasive trees and shrubs from the island and applied prescribed fire to stimulate the seedbank, if any remained. Experts suggested that a roasty fire, hot, but not too hot, would help germinate the seed. Members came up with the idea of the rolling burn pile. We laid small trunks and branches parallel to each other in a pile, lit it and rolled the burning pile across the landscape using cut poles.
To our delight, it worked. In some areas where we rolled brush piles, we had hundreds of Kankakee Mallow seedlings sprouting. Now, rising from the ashes, the Kankakee Mallow blooms once more in its wild home. To celebrate this achievement, we have created this T-shirt, with a nod and a wink to JRR Tolkien. All profits from the sale of these shirts go to the Friends of Langham Island, who continue to manage and restore this remarkable place that was also home to the Federally Endangered Leafy Prairie Clover (Dalea foliosa).
Limited Supply Remaining
Hoodie: XL (4 Remaining)
Short Sleeve T-Shirt: L (5 Remaining)
Long Sleeve T-Short: (Large 10 & XL 1)
Meetings are the first Monday of every month at the Frankfort Public Library starting at 6:30. Except for July, where we are meeting on July 11 to avoid the holiday. Come see Ryan Sorrels, our 2021 Blooming Botanist Grant recipient presenting on the flora of Langham Island at our July meeting. Langham Island is the only natural home of the Kankakee Mallow and our chapter namesake.
See Calendar or call 815-603-5190
Program, 6:30 p.m.
Business Meeting, 7:15 p.m. or after program
President – Floyd Catchpole
fcatchpole@comcast.net
Vice President – Andy Neill
ajneill63@gmail.com
Past-President – Trevor Edmonson
trevoredmonson@gmail.com
Treasurer – John Sullivan
Membership Chair – Sally Wieclaw
Secretary – Janine Catchpole
j9-catchpole@comcast.net
