Native landscaping
Learn how to use native plants for landscaping to reduce maintenance costs and create a healthy, beautiful environment for people and nature.
Conservation@Home (Conserve Lake County)
Gardening with Wildflowers (University of Illinois Extension)
Local organizations
These local non-profits provide education about conservation in Mettawa and Lake County, Illinois.
Mettawa Open Lands Association
Lake County Audubon Society (An Illinois Chapter of the National Audubon Society)
Lake Cook Audubon (Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society)
Wildflowers
Visual identification guides for native wildflowers.
Illinois Wildflowers Guide (Illinois Wildflowers)
Gallery of Illinois Plants (Illinois Natural History Survey)
Native Wildflowers of Northern Illinois (Rick Barton)
Invasive species
Learn why invasive species are so harmful to a native environment, and what you can do to help.
Invasive Plant Species (Conserve Lake County)
Video: “Cultivating Awareness: Ornamental Plants Invading Natural Areas” (Midwest Invasive Plant Network)
Sustainable homes
Please see our Sustainable Options page.
Birdwatching
Local birding organizations:
- Lake County Audubon Society
- Lake Cook Audubon (Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society)
- Illinois Ornithological Society
Online/mobile bird identification
- All About Birds (Cornell) Top site which allows rapid ID via name, shape or taxonomy.
- Merlin Bird ID App (Cornell)
Wildlife
Information about the native animals in this area.
Living with wildlife (Lake County Forest Preserve District)
Living with White-tailed Deer (University of Illinois Extension)