Seasons of the Serengeti: Wildflowers and Wildebeests

Many tourists have traveled to view the wildlife migration during the dry season, but few have seen the wildflowers that bloom in the wet season.  Presenter John Schwegman has visited the fabled Serengeti National Park in both seasons and will give us rarely seen glimpses of this African preserve. 

John Schwegman is a nature conservationist who is retired from a career with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  He is the former State Botanist and developed the agency’s Natural Areas program.  Later he implemented a native plant conservation program for Illinois.  John and his wife Martha reside near Metropolis.

The program will be held at the REAR entrance of 217 East Main Street in Carbondale on Thursday, June 12 at 7:00 pm.  It is FREE and open to the public.  Parking and entrance are at the rear, across from Rock Hill Baptist Church (Monroe and Marion Streets.)

Thanks to the organizers, volunteers, customers, and our supplier, Missouri Wildflower Nursery who all contributed to making the first annual Native Plant Sale, sponsored by the Sierra Club in Carbondale, a wildly successful event. Missouri Wildflower Nursery arrived with a pickup truck and trailer full of plants - enough to fill eleven six foot tables. We opened at 8 am, and by 1 pm we were just about sold out. Duncan loaded his truck with six unsold plants and a lot of empty flats. Ruth Kelley Program Chair, Shawnee Group

Sierra Club Native Plant Sale! Saturday, May 17 8 am til 3 pm Town Square Pavillion 100 North Illinois (near intersection of US 51 North and Hwy 13 West) Carbondale, Illinois Large selection of plants native to southern Illinois – hardy, beautiful, pollinator friendly, and low maintenance. Most plants priced at $3 and $6. We will have around 1000 plants of many species, including perennial wildflowers, grasses trees, shrubs, and vines for shade and sun. There will also be plants for rain gardens (moist to wet soil).