Renee Costanzo, the Chicago Park District’s only full-time employee at the Kilbourn Park greenhouse, has overseen the growth of over 15,000 plants for the park’s annual plant sale. This year, the sale attracted a record attendance of over 2,300 shoppers, significantly up from previous years. Historically, the sale featured standard garden plants, but nearly 20% of this year's offerings included native plant species, which are adapted to the local climate and require less maintenance.
Neil Diboll, president of Prairie Nursery, noted a steady increase in demand for native plants, with his nursery shipping out approximately 500,000 plants this year. Concerns about declining insect populations and climate change have contributed to this trend. Native plants are recognized for their resilience and ecological benefits, including supporting pollinators and preventing flooding.
Organizations like Wild Ones have been promoting the use of native plants for nearly 50 years, and their efforts have led to increased sales and awareness. The Kilbourn Park plant sale, supported by local volunteers, has successfully met the rising demand for native plants, generating approximately $48,000 this year to fund educational initiatives.
