Nature's Edge - Natural Areas or Weeds? - February 2005

Natures Weeds are simply plants growing out of place. Have you ever looked over an open field of dandelions and thought how beautiful they look? What about when one or two show up in your manicured lawn?

Some plants, insects, etc. have come to our country from Europe or Asia where they were beautiful and functional in those landscapes. They had natural predators so they were easily controlled. Yet, here in our country - where they do not have any natural predators – they create significant problems. Buckthorn was originally brought to this country to provide hedge rows for fields and cattle. Garlic mustard is quite tasty in a salad or soup. Here they take over the understory and eliminate our native Illinois plants, trees and shrubs. Look at all of the concern over the gypsy moth and Asian long horn beetle! These are insect "weeds" here in our country.

On the other hand, some have commented that our native Illinois naturalized areas look "weedy". While they may look "weedy" to some, these naturalized areas often perform vital functions for our community. When "weedy", non-native plants are removed from our naturalized areas i.e., detention ponds and native plants planted in their place,– they absorb more water and filter out more pollutants than do short mowed turf or buckthorn thickets. Native plant’s deep root systems hold soils in place and keep erosion and siltation from occurring.

The significant efforts of the Village to eliminate non-native "weeds" (i.e., buckthorn, garlic mustard, reed canary grass, etc.) and restore Rivershire Park, North Park, Florsheim Park and other parcels of land along the Village waterways (Des Plaines River and Chicago River), have made a significant difference in our watersheds. These naturalized areas balance out the developed areas of our community. Areas filled with roads, parking lots, and buildings do not absorb water and are avenues for significant pollution. Water from these areas is directed to our naturalized areas where much of the pollutants and water are absorbed, protecting the water quality of our rivers and our property from flooding.

At North Park, the naturalized areas along the paths, driveway and parking lot provide filtration and absorption of fertilizers, pollutants and excess water runoff. Because these areas are naturalized, larger portions of the park were available for the development of soccer fields and less space was required for the detention basin.

Naturalized areas also provide significant habitat for native Illinois birds, animals, insects, amphibians, salamanders, fish, etc. which increase the biological diversity of our area. Because our natural areas are different, they provide measurable benefits to us while at the same time providing us the opportunity to experience the native beauty of our Illinois wetlands, flood plain forests, flatwoods, oak/hickory woodlands, prairies and savannas with all their natural beauty and diversity only footsteps from our front doors.

Let's remember that "weeds" are plants out of place and that our naturalized areas are not weeds. Our natural areas are havens for biological diversity while at the same time providing a very significant beneficial function in our community– for which we should all be grateful.