Doug (L) and Dan (R) Schandelmeier. Photo: Mark Luthin
A Conservation@Home Story
By Mark Luthin, NLI President
As Dan Schandelmeier greeted me in his driveway in northwest Rockford, his enthusiasm for the work that he’s been doing on the 2-acre property where he lives was quite apparent. He couldn’t wait to show me what he’s been doing and what his future plans are. Being relatively new to native landscaping, he hoped to get ideas and advice.
Immediately, Dan impressed me with the sheer amount of invasive honeysuckle and buckthorn that he has removed. Rather than using herbicides, Dan cuts the woody stems, and then physically digs out the roots so they don’t send up suckers. Clearing the invasive shrubs has opened up the borders of his property so we could easily see the mature black walnuts, hackberry, black cherry and American elm trees that were hidden. Many young saplings were also exposed, including the native American elm and either white or green ash. We found a lovely patch of elderberry, that is obviously spreading to different areas.
Dan is eager to see what spring ephemerals will surface now that the dense understory is cleaned out. We did see a lot of snakeroot that has gone to seed, as well as hairy aster, New England aster and goldenrod still in bloom. The seed heads and stems of bee balm (the cultivar of bergamot) were also prevalent in various patches.
Doug Schandelmeier, Dan’s dad and property owner, joined us fairly early in the tour. It was fun to watch them talk, as Dan would tell his dad what he hoped to do, and Doug, with his big smile, would just say “go for it”.
Discussion centered around clearing out more honeysuckle, removing some trees that are competing with “better” trees, and then planting native shrubs and forbs in their place. Dan said he sees lots of birds, and many species of bees and wasps on his property. He was particularly proud of the lightning bugs that they get to see in the summer, which is an indication that he has a healthy, chemical-free landscape. Towards the end of the tour, we spotted a nice clump of red-osier dogwood, and at the very end of the tour, a healthy, mid-sized yellow birch, which was exciting. Dan’s commitment and enthusiasm for native landscaping is contagious. Both Doug and I were pleased to be a witness to his enthusiasm.
To find out how your property can become a Conservation@Home, Work (or Church), or School site read about the program here.
Photos by Mark Luthin
