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Latest News & Events

How to Convert Lawn to Wildflower Meadow with Seed

20 February 2024
Tired of maintaining large sections of lawn grass? Want to attract birds and butterflies? Learn how to convert areas of your lawn to a native wildflower mead…

Forest Bathing Walk – March 22

15 February 2024
Join certified forest bathing guide Jennifer Boudart for a mindful walk to celebrate the arrival of the spring season. You’ll be guided through a series of i…

The Dance of the Woodcock – Five Dates in April

06 February 2024
Spring is here! Join us to watch American Woodcocks performing their amazing courtship flights. The male woodcocks will make several preent calls and then la…

Learn to Burn March 23

22 January 2024
Join TLC to learn how to use fire to manage prairies, wetlands and woodlands safely. The class will be inside and outside so dress appropriately. Safety equi…

Gardening with Native Trees and Shrubs Webinar March 14

22 January 2024
Native trees and shrubs provide year-round beauty as well as food and nesting habitat for birds and pollinators. Join TLC’s Sarah Michehl for some favorite n…

Stakeholder Notification/Public Notice

11 January 2024
The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places …

Enter TLC’s 2024 Amateur Photography Contest

09 January 2024
Art of the Land Amateur Photography Contest Enter today! The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC) hosts this contest each year to highlight …

In memory of Lou Emmons

29 November 2023
TLC member Betty Lou Emmons passed away on Nov. 6, 2023. You can read more about her remarkable life here. As requested by her family, if you would like t…

Women Farmland Owners Encircle for Community and Collaboration

31 October 2023
“If you’re going to farm, make sure you find land with a forest.” This tip, shared at one of the Learning Circles this year, resonates at a couple of frequen…

How Can You Help Preserve Land for Life? Become a Volunteer!

26 April 2023
Through the contributions of many volunteers, the programs TLC is able to offer and the impact it has had on the landscape has grown dramatically. Volunteers…

TLC Creates New Membership Levels and Benefits for 2023

08 March 2023
TLC has created new membership levels and benefits for 2023 in addition to the current membership levels. Sustainability Circle – Join TLC’s Sustainabilit…

TLC Receives Mission Grant

24 January 2023
TLC is pleased to announce that is the recipient of a two-year Mission Grant from The Community Foundation for McHenry County. TLC will receive $19,000 per y…

Job Openings

09 January 2023
Job Openings Work with a great group of people who are passionate about the McHenry County landscape! Please follow the instructions in the job description t…

Plan Your Native Plant Garden Webinar Feb. 9

19 December 2022
Planning on starting a new native plant garden this spring? Join us! We will discuss site preparation, favorite easy plant choices for sun and shade, the pol…

Congratulations to the 2022 Art of the Land Award Winners

21 November 2022
Best in Show – Alfred Stark, Self Portrait as a Sparrow Honorable Mention – Mary Mariutto, Mushroom #31 Honorable Mention – Tom Cubr, Fields and Stream…

Winter Night’s Family Fun Event Jan. 13

21 November 2022
Bring the whole family out to experience the magic of a Woodstock winter evening. Enjoy a wintery night in the woods complete with bonfires, night hikes and …

Become a Member of TLC This Fall!

28 October 2022
Not yet a member of TLC? Join a network of individuals who support the care and preservation of the wetlands, woodlands, prairies and farmland of McHenry Cou…

Volunteer at Art of the Land

28 October 2022
People like you ensure the success of Art of the Land, TLC’s biggest fundraiser of the year. A variety of volunteer positions are available, including welcom…

Seed Sharing Day Oct. 15

18 August 2022
Open to TLC members, Seed Sharing Day is an annual event organized by TLC and hosted by a number of landowners. This is an opportunity for people to collect …

Fall Celebration and Memorial Oak Planting Oct. 8

18 August 2022
Did you purchase an oak tree for the fall planting? The planting will take place on Oct. 8 at Boloria Meadows Nature Preserve in Bull Valley. You may choose …

Learn about spring ephemerals – videos

12 May 2022
The short-lived season of spring epehemerals is here! Learn about a couple of McHenry County’s early-blooming native plants in these videos.  

TLC Protects 300+ Acres for New Park in Public-Private Conservation Partnership

09 March 2022
For Immediate Release Contact: Bold Bison Communications & Consulting, [email protected] (Media Inquiries Only) THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF MCHENRY COUN…

Learn about The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy at TLC’s Annual Celebration Brunch

01 November 2021
Doug Tallamy will be the guest speaker at TLC’s Annual Celebration Brunch on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. He will inspire us with a talk on “The Nature of Oaks: Th…

TLC receives $16,440 mission grant from The Community Foundation for McHenry County

29 October 2021
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC) has been awarded a $16,440 Mission Grant from The Community Foundation for McHenry County to help fund TLC’s Con…

Volunteer at a restoration workday in McHenry County!

25 October 2021
Do you like spending time outdoors near a crackling fire? Join one of TLC’s restoration workdays in McHenry County! We are always in need of volunteers at ou…

What does it mean to be an accredited land trust?

21 October 2021
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is proud to be an accredited land trust. Accreditation is awarded to land trusts meeting the highest national standar…

Wednesday Walks: OAKtober Edition

24 August 2021
Oaks are the keystone species in McHenry County, playing an essential role in the health and survival of hundreds of species of butterflies and moths as well…

Learning Circle for Women Farmland Owners

18 August 2021
Learning Circles provide women the opportunity to meet other landowners, share their farm successes and challenges, discuss goals for their land, and get adv…

CLIP program wish list

10 June 2021
As a nonprofit organization, TLC relies on the generosity of donors for the success of many of our programs. The CLIP team has created a wish list to help en…

Wednesday Walks in May and June

15 April 2021
Get outside and enjoy some exercise and company on beautiful trails. Join TLC for a simple nature walk every Wednesday in May or June. Attend eight of the ni…

Tree and Shrub Identification Class

12 April 2021
Learn how to identify common native trees and shrubs with Megan Oropeza, TLC’s restoration ecologist. The class will be held outside, so dress for the weathe…

Tomatoes 101

17 February 2021
Learn how to grow tomatoes! This webinar will give you an introduction to growing tomatoes covering all the basics, from planting to harvesting…

Composting and Water Conservation Webinars

17 February 2021
Water, food waste, and leaves … don’t throw them away, let’s use them! Sarah Michehl from TLC will share some easy ways to conserve water and turn…

Native Shrubs for the Home Landscape Webinar

16 February 2021
Native shrubs provide year-round beauty as well as food and nesting habitat for birds and pollinators. Sarah Michehl from TLC will share info f…

CLIP PROGRAM DETAILS: Field Trips

04 February 2021
CLIP PROGRAM DETAILS: Field Trips CLIPterns will receive a professional contact from each field trip location and may apply for summer positions at these …

CLIP Program Details: Skills gained

04 February 2021
CLIP Program Details: Skills gained Land management: Invasive removal, site preparation and restoration techniques will be reviewed for ongoing TLC re…

Betty White Oak

16 November 2020
 McHenry County’s oldest resident was struck down by the derecho wind on Aug. 10, 2020 (Clockwise from left) An oak seedling thrives in shadow of …

A legacy of nature preserved in Harvard

01 July 2020
In the 1970s, Alice McCluggage and her family moved from the city to a homestead in Harvard, IL.   The property, covering almost 19 acres, was perfec…

TLC Preserves 83.5 Acres in Harvard

26 June 2020
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC) has preserved an 83.5-acre parcel, Crowley Oaks Preserve, in Harvard. The property includes remnant oak woods…

Try a compass course at Wolf Oak Woods!

17 April 2020
Grab your compass (or phone) and head out to Wolf Oak Woods!  Bring the family or yourself out to Wolf Oak Woods to test your compass-wielding skills…

What can I do to make it better?

02 March 2020
One family’s story of preserving 40 acres of oaks in McHenry County.  Mike and Melody DiGrazia with Roscoe, who loves their property their property t…

Volunteer to help oaks

22 January 2020
There are many ways to help oaks, whether at your own home or throughout McHenry County! Here are some ideas:  Volunteer at a TLC restoration workday …

Learn more about oak trees

13 January 2020
Learn more about oak trees Learn to support and incorporate oaks in your landscape. Programs include:  How to Convert Lawn to a Wildflower Mead…

Plant Oaks

13 January 2020
Whether planted in your yard or at a public park, planting oaks is one of the best things you can do for the local environment. Buy oaks to plant duri…

A girl, a boy and the land: A family preserves 80 acres

17 December 2019
This is the story of Alix Blair and her memories of growing up on her family’s land. The Blair family placed a conservation easement on their land in Harv…

Congratulations to the 2019 Art of the Land Winning Artists!

11 November 2019
Each year one piece of art receives Best in Show and two Honorable Mentions are awarded as well.  Best in Show: Line Dance, Tree Ring Patterns Var. 15…

Amateur Photography Contest Site Descriptions

06 June 2019
Anderson Conservation Easement, Bull Valley This private conservation easement protects several different habitat types and dozens of native organisms. Bull…

Virtual Learning Circle for Women Farmland Owners

18 April 2019
Are you a woman who owns or manages farmland in McHenry and surrounding counties? You are invited to participate in a discussion that is centered around c…

Local sources for farm-fresh food

01 April 2019
A listing of local sources for farm-fresh food. Meats, Veggies and more MM Graff of M’s Organic Farm 14101 Washington Street Woodstock, IL 60098 630-9…

Some of those recognized by the Memorial & Celebration Oaks

18 June 2012
  “Sister Trees” At peace together in heaven           In memory of…  Kimberly Petersen September 21, 1964 – June 7, 1974 Deanna Marie Bracke…

Wingate Circle

18 June 2012
“The experience of sitting beneath a bur oak, finding a leopard frog, watching a cooper’s hawk hunt, or discovering a trillium in bloom… these are thin…