A Conservation@Home Story
By Mark Luthin, President, Natural Land Institute
June 2026
Dianne and Dennis Stenserson next to their Conservation@Home sign. Photo by Mark Luthin
Having lived in their home for 28 years, and working on naturalizing their yard for the past 25, Dianne and Dennis Stenerson had quite a lot to show off. Nestled in a northeast Rockford neighborhood, the 1.24 acres lot had a number of mature sugar maples, white pines and red oaks. So, the trick is providing continuous blooms for the pollinators in a predominately shaded area. Having been an active member of Wild Ones of Rock River Valley for 25 years, Dianne was able to strategically plant the forbs and shrubs that are mostly likely to survive. Using Wild Ones plant sales as well as participating in a number of plant rescues, the amount of mowing has been whittled down from approximately 21,000 sq. feet to roughly 8300 square feet. In those 25 years, the Stenersons have added 112 new native plant species in their yard from 20 to approximately 132, a whopping 660% increase!
As we walked, the bees were very busy on the Ohio Spiderwort and the Solomon’s Seal. A hummingbird was also seen enjoying the delicious nectar from the dangling Solomon’s Seal flowers. Noticeable early bloomers still holding onto their leaves include wild ginger, bloodroot, cream indigo, Virginia waterleaf, Canada anemone, columbine, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and meadow rue to name a few. Some flowers were just starting to show their colors including butterfly milkweed and thimbleweed. Coming soon where the sun actually shines, lead plant, prairie petunia and senna will all be blooming, as well as Dianne’s “Red, White and Blue Garden” which hosts royal catchfly, Culver’s root and tall bellflower. No doubt, it’ll be a spectacular show in the next month or so. Particularly impressive was the number of understory shrubs that have been planted. A lovely Pagoda dogwood has provided a number of offspring, as has the “thicket” of coralberry. The nannyberries were also impressive. Dianne does have one regret. Planting gray dogwood close to the house does provide a lot of food and shelter for our feathered friends, but they do become tall and aggressive.
A little pond provides water for thirsty critters, as well as a home for the occasional frog. In 2020, their property was hit by the tornado that went through that part of Rockford and a number of trees were damaged or fell. One silver maple died, but they left the 3 main trunks that are now covered with Virginia creeper and no doubt provide ideal nesting spots for cavity nesting birds.
The Stenersons are hopeful that as they work to place their property for sale in the near future, the future homeowners will appreciate their efforts to provide food and habitat for wildlife and will maintain their productive landscape.
Read about the Conservation@Home program here.
A patch of blooming Butterfly Weed. Photo by Mark Luthin
Dianne’s “Red, White, and Blue Garden” featuring native Royal Catchfly, Tall Bellflower, and Culver’s Root (L to R). Photo by Dianne Stenerson
Pond providing habitat for wildlife. Photo by Mark Luthin
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Phlox plant. Photo by Dianne Stenerson