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Save the date!

2026 Native Garden Tour

Saturday, July 11, 12-4pm,

Rain Date Sunday, July 12

Do you have a native plant garden?

Is your yard pesticide free with native and non-native plants?

Would you like to share these accomplishments with your Highland Park neighbors in the 2026 Native Garden Tour?

Contact gghpinfo@gmail.com to learn more about being a host site or volunteering at a host site. We’ll provide all of the supplies and information so you can focus on the good stuff, the plants!

It’s fun way to connect with your neighbors while doing something good for yourself, your neighborhood and the planet. Who doesn’t love flowers, right?

Native Garden Tour Team

After many highly successful Native Garden Tours we are committed to offering this popular event annually, but we need your help! We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to help us;

  • identify new yards and contact potential hosts(4-5 per year), showcasing a variety of gardening styles
  • coordinate day-of volunteers
  • promote event through social media and other outlets
  • take photos of host sites before and during the event
  • welcome guests to host sites
  • and many more opportunities

If you are interested in learning more please contact: Candice Dalrymple

Here are some New Year’s resolutions for your 2026 garden —

  • Convert an area of turf grass into a native garden bed
  • Resolve to minimize pesticide use and make your garden healthier
  • Switch from gas powered to electric or hand-powered tools
  • Provide a water source for your back yard’s feathered and furry friends
  • Take a garden inventory and aim for 70% native plants
  • Celebrate your efforts by getting your garden certified as a wildlife habitat.

Read more here https://blog.nwf.org/2024/12/5-new-years-resolutions-for-your-garden/

Highland Park Certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat by National Wildlife Federation

What does this honor mean? It signifies that Highland Park has established a network of pollinator-friendly gardens throughout the town and earned over 400 “points” from NWF acknowledging that local gardeners have developed native plant gardens to protect bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and a wealth of other important species. NWF wildlife garden habitats share the following characteristics:  

*Native plants and seeds are present and provide food eaten by a variety of wildlife

*Water is available, either through streams or ponds or through birdbaths

*Places to shelter are available in or near the certified gardens  

*Safe places to raise young are available in or near the gardens  

*Sustainable gardening is practiced by maintaining gardens in natural ways to ensure soil, air, and water stay healthy and clean 

Thanks to two grants from the Rotary Club of Highland Park and through collaboration of the Park District of Highland Park, the City of Highland Park, Go Green Highland Park, and the League of Women Voters of Highland Park-Highwood, a grassroots initiative called Habitat Highland Park was born. The group was founded in 2022 to pursue NWF certification. 

Participants in the Community Wildlife Habitat initiative landscape and garden with wildlife in mind. They promote the use of native trees and plants, work to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and chemicals, conserve water, and integrate wildlife-friendly practices into sustainability plans and park master plans. Through the NWF program, communities enhance and restore corridors of wildlife habitat in urban and suburban areas nationwide. At the same time, they can connect to existing local work around climate resiliency, biodiversity, community resiliency, urban forestry, water conservation, and beautification. 

Habitat Highland Park will announce an early spring event to celebrate this National Wildlife Federation award. Features will be free native plant seeds, access to experts on native plant landscape design practices, information on the benefits of pollinator-friendly native plant gardening, opportunities for environmental projects in schools and scout troops, and more. The next Highland Park Native Plant Garden Tour — which attracted over 300 visitors in 2024 — will also be announced.

The City of Highland Park officially acknowledged NWF’s certification of HP as a Community Wildlife Habitat through a Mayoral Proclamation presented during the City Council meeting on January 27, 2025.

Highland Park Certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat by National Wildlife Federation

Habitat HP Proud to be named City’s 2025 Environmental Award Recipient
Habitat HP was selected by the Mayor and City Council to receive the City’s 2025 Environmental Award, which recognizes people and organizations that have made outstanding positive contributions to the environment in our city. Our group was praised for “their ability to collaborate with a diverse group of organizations and their active presence in advancing sustainability recognition opportunities for residents in the city.” 

  • Stupey Cabin grounds before garden installation
  • Stupey garden progress

With the blessing of the Highland Park Historical Society, assistance from the Park District of Highland Park, generous funding support from the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood, the Stupey Cabin site was cleared by volunteers starting on May 1, 2022 (Arbor Day Rain Date).  Planting one “woodland/shade” and two “sunny” demonstration gardens took place in the weeks following.  Thanks to Habitat HP Steering Committee member Chris Wren and Sue Becker for the designs and plant selections you see at left.  Pictured: “before” clearing (photo by Anne Loshbough), HP Historical Society President Rob Rotering and Chris Wren (designs by Wren and Becker; photo by Bryna Gamson). (Click on desired image to stop rotation and enlarge.)

Habitat HP Blog

04 Jul 2024 In GoGreen, Habitat HP

“Northern Illinois Trees” July 10

Learn more about the value of various types of trees and planting a diverse set of trees in your landscape.  Extension Master Gardeners will review alternatives to invasive or non-native trees and shrubs suitable to our northern Illinois conditions.  They will share best practices about how to care for and …

Get Involved-Certify Your Yard

Interested in learning more? Find information on the community certification program and its benefits at this site. Most properties in our town are capable of meeting the 4 basic elements required for habitat registration. Habitat Highland Park is eager to welcome all residents and organizations interested in participating in this initiative. Register your wildlife habitat here.
Please contact Candice Dalrymple at cdalrymple@jhu.edu to learn how you can join the Habitat Highland Park army!

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Habitat Highland Park Steering Committee
The Habitat HP Steering Committee always welcomes new members!  Our group meets on Zoom once every 6 weeks to discuss increasing the number of pollinator-friendly gardens in Highland Park. Our goal is to maintain our NWF Community Wildlife Habitat Certification.  Steering Committee participation involves sharing ideas to increase pollinator awareness and supporting events that help Highland Parkers learn how to plant and certify pollinator-friendly gardens (even small ones, in pots!)