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Schedule a Presentation

TLC offers a variety of presentations suitable for a variety of groups, adults and families. A number of suggested topics are below. Looking for something specific? We can tailor a presentation to the needs of your group. All presentations include a question-and-answer session. We can host your Zoom webinar, or we are happy to have you host as well! A suggested donation of $150 to The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is kindly requested, but not required.

Email Sarah Michehl, Community Ecologist or call her at 815-337-9502 ext. 109 for additional information and to schedule a presentation.

Home Gardens:

  • Birds, Bees, and Butterflies: Plant Your Own Pollinator Garden (1 hr) (Winter, Spring, Summer)
    Learn how to attract monarch butterflies and other butterflies, birds, and bees to your yard. Sarah Michehl from The Land Conservancy of McHenry County will give you easy tips and info on gardening with native plant communities that will provide beauty and everything a pollinator could need.

  • Plan Your Native Plant Garden (1 hr) (Year-Round)
    Planning on starting a new native plant garden? Sarah Michehl of TLC will talk about site preparation, favorite plant choices, the pollinator connection, and vital maintenance tips to make any garden a success.

  • Native Plants for Sunny Gardens (30-60 minutes) (Year-Round)
    Let’s dream about our native sun-loving prairie plants and how they can add beauty and function in our gardens! Layering techniques and favorite combos will be shown for gardens big and small.

  • Native Plants for Shade Gardens (30-60 minutes) (Year-Round)
    Shade gardens can be filled with a beautiful diversity of native plants, from wildflowers to sedges and ferns. Get creative ideas on enhancing those shady areas of your yard while supporting pollinators and suppressing weed growth!

  • Native Plants for Small Spaces (1 hr) (Year-Round)
    Native plants can bring beauty and ecological health to even the smallest spaces in your yard, but it’s vital to choose the right plants. Join TLC’s Sarah Michehl to hear about her favorite native plants for small garden spaces. We will cover maintenance tips as well!

  • Native Trees and Shrubs for the Home Garden (1.5 hrs) (Year-Round)
    Native trees and shrubs provide year-round beauty as well as food and nesting habitat for birds and pollinators. Sarah Michehl from TLC will share some favorite native trees and shrubs appropriate for the home landscape. The program will also cover foundation plantings, privacy hedgerows and species worth featuring in small spaces.

  • How to Convert Lawn to a Native Wildflower Meadow from Seed (1-1.5 hrs) (Year-Round)
    Tired of maintaining large sections of lawn grass and want to attract birds and butterflies? Learn how to convert areas of your lawn to a native wildflower meadow from seed in this program with Sarah Michehl of TLC.

  • Pollinator-Friendly Fall Garden Care (1 hr) (September-November)
    What to do with your native plant garden over the winter? Sarah Michehl of TLC will share techniques for preparing your native plant garden for the upcoming fall and winter season while supporting pollinators and birds.

  • Sustainable Yards: Native Replacements for Invasive Shrubs (45 minutes) (Year-Round)
    Many homeowners have inherited invasive landscaping that needs to be replaced, whether for ecological or aesthetic reasons. Invasive trees and shrubs don’t stay in our yards! In this presentation, Sarah Michehl of TLC uses her yard as a case study to show “before” photos of invasive shrubs and the “after” of native replacements to bring beauty and life back to her yard.

  • Backyard Water Conservation and Composting for Beginners (45 minutes) (February-April)
    Learn easy ways to save water and turn those food scraps into something useful. You will also learn the basics of using rain barrels and composters in a suburban landscape.

  • Native Landscaping for Winter Beauty (1 hr) (November- January)
    Sarah Michehl of TLC will give winter landscaping tips that show off the beauty of our native grasses, wildflowers and shrubs. She will also share the connection between wildlife and these particular plants.

  • Native Seed Collection for the Home Gardener (1 hr) (April-October)
    Use those seeds! Sarah Michehl of TLC will share tips and tricks on how to collect your native plant seeds. The program will also cover basic seed identification, collection methods, timelines, and tips on how to direct sow. Our habitats need all the native plant help they can get, so let’s use those seeds!

Caring for Habitats:

  • Battle Against Buckthorn and Its Buddies (1 hr) (Year-Round)
    Do you want some practical tips on how to rid your property of invasive tree species such as buckthorn, honeysuckle and garlic mustard? Join Sarah Michehl of TLC to learn how to control these invasive species. She will also offer native plant replacement recommendations.

  • How to Care for Your Oak Woods (1-1.5 hrs) (Year-Round)
    McHenry County has lost 87% of its oaks since 1837, and we need you to help care for those that remain, as well as nurture the next generation. Join Sarah Michehl of TLC to learn how to care for your oak woods as an entire habitat. This will include methods for analyzing your woods, identifying and managing invasive species, planting natives, and letting the sunshine in to encourage new oaks to grow!

  • The Ecology of Oaks (1 hr) (Year-round)
    Our native oaks are a keystone species that many other species rely on. How do they connect with other woodland plants, and what can you do to help our native oak trees? Sarah Michehl of TLC will share more about the fascinating life of oak trees.