About Prairie Plant Revival

Hi, I’m Judy Grimes, founder of Prairie Plant Revival. As an experienced native plant gardener, I am pleased to share my knowledge and love of native plants — and excited to help them on their journey From My Yard to Yours!

My fascination with native plants began 30 years ago when I enrolled in a naturalist course at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. Over several years, I was introduced to the Illinois prairie and the unique and beautiful native grasses, woody plants, and forbs (herbaceous flowering plants) that formerly covered our state. To say I fell in love with the prairie would be putting it mildly! Prior to European settlement, the tall grass prairie covered more than 60 percent of our state. Today, less than one tenth of one percent of Illinois qualifies as “prairie.”

When I moved into my home in Arlington Heights, Illinois, in 1996, I began transforming my traditional suburban yard into one that celebrated our state’s native plant heritage. During this process, I removed typical non-native garden plants and replaced them with native forbs and shrubs. Today my 1,500-square-foot yard is 85 percent comprised of plants native to the Chicago region, including 62 varieties of prairie forbs, 11 species of native trees and shrubs, and seven native grasses. My yard is vibrant and alive, providing habitat for many species of native bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and birds.

At this point, you might be wondering, “What makes native plants so special?”

Native plants have existed in the Chicago region for thousands of years, evolving over time to not only survive but thrive through long, hot summers and extended periods of drought, extreme cold, and heavy snow.

In order to adapt to their environment, prairie plants developed extraordinarily long root systems — some as long as 15 feet. These long root systems improve the water-holding capacity of the soil and store carbon in their roots and surrounding soil. This ensures the plants will survive the extremes of summer and winter weather as well as extended dry periods.

Native plants also play a crucial role in supporting native insect and wildlife communities by providing food and shelter. Many of our native bees, birds, butterflies, and other insects are specialists. Without access to the specific plants that support their lifecycle, their numbers will decline. In short, when you add native plants to your landscape, you’ll also be helping our native pollinators and wildlife.

Welcome to Prairie Plant Revival! Thanks for stopping by.