A Conservation@Home Story
By Mark Luthin, NLI Vice President
Driving up to the Hohlen Homestead northwest of Dixon, owned for the past three years by Justin and Christy Hohlen, it was easy to notice the vibrant yellow brown-eyed Susan in a couple of small beds at the front of the house. Initially, I thought my visit would be brief, as those beds and a newly started native garden were all that I could see as I parked my car. An hour later, after a wonderful tour led by Justin, accompanied by their lovely daughter Eva and joined in progress by Christy and young Henry, I came away extremely impressed with what they have accomplished in a short amount of time. Justin’s newest bed contains a mix of purchased native plugs and those Justin started from seed, but what immediately caught my eye was the ironweed and blazing star in full bloom. Surrounding the ironweed is the beautiful rose milkweed, pale purple coneflower and rattlesnake master, all wonderful sources of food for our pollinator friends.
Eager to show me more, Justin took me into the shaded area of their 3.7 acres, comprised mostly of silver maples and a handful of freshly planted pecans, where each clump of trees has native shade plants gradually being incorporated.
The tour continued past their productive vegetable gardens into a “meadow in progress”, which has a variety of native plants gradually appearing, including cardinal flower, Joe-pye-weed, bottle brush grass, and Virginia wild rye. Other, more formal beds such as the “Big L” and “Little l” beds were alive with bee activity and color. Blue vervain, black-eyed Susan, royal catchfly, butterfly weed, giant purple hyssop, and others were all in full bloom. Cup plant, one of the 3 members of the Silphium species planted was also showing its summer colors. Three types of Penstemon are already done blooming, but certainly the bees had a wonderful spring food source.
Even though the forbs were most noticeable due to their lovely blooms, a large variety of shrubs have been incorporated into the homestead, including elderberry, nine bark, nanny berry, pussy willow, plums, hazelnut, aronia berry, button bush and silky dogwood. A number of small trees and shrubs were still in pots, no doubt finding their permanent home this coming fall.
Justin also has a hoop house, where a large number of forbs have been started from seed, which will gradually make their way into one of the many beds. One of Justin’s dreams is to eventually grow enough native forbs and grasses from seed that he can sell them. After seeing what he’s accomplished in just 3 years, I have no doubt that his dream will come true.
Justin hopes to have at least 70% of his yard planted in native plants. Not only does this cut down on mowing, but it also provides much needed food and shelter for our wild friends. Justin does give tours of the Hohlen Homestead, with an upcoming Master Gardeners tour. He also has a Facebook page that you can access if you’d like to see more images of what he’s done.
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Photos by Mark Luthin and Justin Hohlen
