Think of a seed as “a self-contained baby with a lunchbox.”

Each seed contains unique DNA, unique genes, slightly different from other members of the same species. Genes give an individual plant its traits, no different than how human genes code for height, hair color, eye color and so on.

Habitat restoration projects, which the Lake County Forest Preserves specializes in, tend to spread a lot of seeds. It’s one of the least labor-intensive ways to reintroduce native plants to an area, boost existing populations and increase biodiversity.

The Forest Preserves typically buys seed from within a 250-mile radius of Lake County. But as Illinois’ climate gets warmer and wetter, it’s possible seed from farther away—say, from Missouri or Kentucky—might do better in Lake County than seed from Minnesota.

Dr. Pati Vitt, director of natural resources, is testing this idea with a groundbreaking research project called Growing Through Change at Grant Woods Forest Preserve in Ingleside, Illinois. 

Guests:

• Gary Glowacki, manager of conservation ecology, Lake County Forest Preserves
• Pati Vitt, director of natural resources, Lake County Forest Preserves

Forest Preserves Mentioned:

• Grant Woods Forest Preserve (Ingleside)
• Spring Bluff Forest Preserve (Winthrop Harbor)

Selected Links and Sources:

• Common Buckthorn
• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
• Drain Tiles
• “Drought Continues in Northern Illinois,” Dr. Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist Blog
• Growing Through Change
• Horizons (Spring–Summer 2022)
• Illinois Department of Agriculture
• Invasive Species Removal
• Lake County Division of Transportation
• Lake County Nature Blog
• “Lake County Restoration Project aims to revitalize increasingly dry land,” Marcella Raymond, WGN-TV
• “Much of Suburban Area Experiencing Severe Drought: What That Means to Lawns, Crops, Water,” Russell Lissau, Daily Herald
• National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Weather Service, Chicago-O’Hare International Airport Recording Site
• Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves
• “Seed sourcing strategies for ecological restoration under climate change: A review of the current literature,” Frontiers in Conservation Science
• Society for Ecological Restoration
• The Nature Conservancy
• United Nations
• U.S. Drought Monitor
• U.S. Geological Survey
• “Use of Tile, 2017 US Census of Agriculture,” Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois
• Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Adaptation Fund

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If you like what the forest preserves do for you, please consider donating to the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves’ endowment campaign. Your gift will help provide a perpetual, dependable funding source and ensure every acre of habitat we restore remains ecologically healthy. Learn more and give at LCFPD.org/donate.

Have questions or comments? Send them to WordsOfTheWoods@LCFPD.org.

This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, Environmental Communications Specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Dr. Trent Ford, Gary Glowacki, Ken Klick, Matt Ueltzen and Dr. Pati Vitt. Script editing by Trent Ford, Gary Glowacki, Kevin Kleinjan, Ken Klick, Ty Kovach, Jeanna Martinucci, Kim Mikus, Rebekah Snyder, Matt Ueltzen and Pati Vitt. Music and sound effects from Storyblocks. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.