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 hat do you do if you're in the market for a new vehicle, but your present one has many miles and some rust on it even though it still runs well? If you are Ruth Green, longtime Grand Prairie Friends supporter, you realize a dealer or private buyer will not give you much for the vehicle and you donate it to GPF! The vehicle is a 1988 Toyota pickup, which has seen much use as her personal truck on workdays at Windsor Road, hauling plant waste and tools, and moving plants for the annual plant sale, among other things. So it made sense to Ruth to make a gift of the truck, which, after all, already knows the way to most of our sites. This way, her new vehicle will stay nice longer, the truck becomes available to all GPF members with a need to haul tools and materials either too bulky or too messy for their personal cars, and she gets a tax deduction for the fair market value of the truck. Pretty smart, eh? Thanks, Ruth!
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r. James Sternburg and John Bouseman, authors of the recently published "Field Guide to Butterflies of Illinois," spoke on Illinois butterflies at the GPF annual meeting on Friday, Sept. 28 at the Anita Purves Nature Center in Urbana. The program was preceded by a review of GPF activities during the past year and the election of new board members. A drawing was held, with prizes that included the butterfly field guide, two subscriptions to "Illinois Steward" magazine, a set of "Good Guys" insect cards from the Illinois Natural History Survey, and a gift certificate for a flat of prairie plants from GPF. John Bouseman, an entomologist at the Natural History Survey, began with a discussion of the geographic and ecological distribution of butterflies in the state. Then University of Illinois Emeritus Professor of Entomology Jim Sternburg, who has spent many years photographing butterflies, showed slides of numerous Illinois species and described aspects of their natural history. In addition to the interesting and informative program, the 50 people who attended the meeting were able to enjoy a variety of tasty desserts. It was also fortunate that the meeting was held in the room at the nature center where the GPF quilt was on display so that some people were able to see it for the first time (see story below).
he Grand Prairie Friends quilt has been displayed in several places since its debut at the Early American Museum in Mahomet during May 2001. In early June it was shown at Lincoln Days in Springfield. From mid-June to mid-July it was on display at the Philo Public Library and from mid-July to early September at the Tolono Public Library. The Anita Purves Nature Center in Urbana hosted the quilt from mid-September through November. People who have viewed the quilt have commented on its "beautiful workmanship that really tells a story" and called it "inspiring," "a treasure," "a masterpiece of God's prairie," and "an honor to our natural world." Others have remarked on its "beautiful quilting and design" and "wonderful textures." Check the GPF website to learn where the quilt will be next. Anyone with suggestions for locations where the quilt could be exhibited should contact Sharon Dorsey (217-344-3016 or ayuda@prairienet.org).
rand Prairie Friends and Prairie Grove Volunteers (as well as individuals) have donated bur oaks to the Vermilion County Conservation District Foundation in memory of Robert Westfall, husband of Doris Westfall. The trees will be planted in the Forest Glen Savanna. Doris, a pioneer in prairie restoration in east-central Illinois, is a greatly respected member of the conservation community. Considering her amazing accomplishment of creating a prairie at Forest Glen that has been dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve, native oaks adjacent to that site seem a fitting memorial for Bob.
n average, the number of volunteers turning out for workdays this year was greater than in the past several of years! I received detailed reports for about twelve of this years workdays. The average number of people attending these workdays was 9. There were several workdays where the number of volunteers reached into the double digits. Fifteen people turned out to help steward Connie Carroll cut sandbar willow, gray dogwood, and smooth sumac out at Paxton Railroad Prairie. Thirteen people met up with steward Rick Larimore for a hike through Horseshoe Bottoms and twelve people, including six girl scouts, helped steward Dan Busemeyer pull garlic mustard at Middle Fork Bluffs. Thanks to everyone who turned out to help! Check out the calendar in this newsletter for a few more opportunities to volunteer this year. Bundle up and join us to cut brush at Busey Woods, Loda, or Middle Fork Bluffs. Or if you prefer to stay warm, come to the Survey greenhouse and help us transplant seedlings.