Turley Park
1010 N. Glenview St.

The Carbondale Garden Study Club assumed responsibility for the Turley garden in 2021, after being asked by the City if we would like to take it over.  At the time, it was called a “Butterfly Garden,” but we wanted to turn it into a “Pollinator Garden” which would support more species of insects and create a more diverse habitat. Since then, we have been working to transform it into a native plant garden that supports a broad range of insects and pollinators.  
This has been a huge, multi-year, ongoing project… especially challenging for our very small group of volunteer gardeners.  We started by researching pollinators…what did they need to live and thrive throughout their entire lifecycle?  This included host plants, nectar plants, and sheltering plants, as well as other things they need, such as nesting sites and eco-friendly gardening practices.
After doing this research, we designed the new garden!  From there, we did the necessary infrastructure work, such as expanding the size of the garden, adding boulders and flagstone paths, and removing the majority of the existing plants.  Why did we remove the existing plants?  Because, while they were very pretty, they were not native to our area and didn't actually support enough life.  Native plants and native pollinators evolved together and our ultimate goal is to build a garden that is as close to a complete ecosystem as we can get, supporting as much life as possible.  
When the infrastructure work was complete, we needed lots of plants!  With the help of a very generous donor and the revenue from our own plant sales, we purchased and planted over two hundred plants, starting with native grasses, then perennials.  We are continuing to add new species of plants every year, as time and budget allow.    
Over the past 5 years, we have worked very hard to create and maintain this beautiful and useful garden.  We built this native garden for our community.  We hope it will serve as a living laboratory.  An educational garden where anyone can learn about adding native plants to their home gardens, and how to support our native pollinators so they can thrive… and, in turn, help us all survive. We welcome anyone who wants to garden with us, and all are welcome to enjoy this beautiful, ever-changing, public space!
The City of Carbondale has been a fantastic partner in this project.  Mark McDaniel and his team expanded the garden for us, installed the boulders and flagstone entry paths, and donated some of the plants.  They continue to provide mulch and other resources that help us tremendously every year.  We could not do this without their support.  
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​SIU LifeScience II
1125 Lincoln Dr.

​SIU Life Science II Native Garden
Located at the Life Science II Building on the Southern Illinois University campus, this native garden showcases the beauty and ecological value of plants that naturally occur in our region. Native plants are well adapted to local soils and weather conditions, making them important sources of food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
This garden serves as both a living classroom and a demonstration of sustainable landscaping practices. As you explore the site, notice the diversity of plant life and how native species work together to support a healthy ecosystem. Keep Carbondale Beautiful thanks Southern Illinois University and the volunteers who help maintain this valuable educational and pollinator-friendly space.

606 W. Elem

Our garden grew from the bones of a 3-generation-deep garden created at least a century ago. For the past 17 years we have put our stamp on it. Every year is different. This year we left our vegetable garden fallow; a carrot cultivar, Ami White Lacer, took over. Along with heritage peonies, irises, bluebells and an array of spring bulbs. the garden includes a massive post oak, grandiflora and star magnolias, possumhaw, hollies, and a redbud tree reputed to have descended from a Campbell Hill line brought here more than 100 years ago. We have moved toward bulbs, corms, and perennials that bloom from earliest spring to late fall. We allow natives like rudbeckia. sunflowers, beebalm, yarrow, butterfly weed, wild petunia, wild ageratum, and boneset to colonize, while fighting invasive vines, weeds, bermuda grass, and (regretfully) the all-too-rambunctious goldenrod. We plant annuals like zinnias and gomphrena for cutting, and from time to time try tempting plants from Lowe's and catalogues, some of which become keepers - wine cups (Callirhoe involucrata) being this year's surprise delight.
This year, with its late spring, low rainfall, and many interruptions, has been a challenge for planting annuals and keeping the gardens neat and tidy, but the natives seem to be thriving.

​106 N. Almond St.

​When Liz and Tom made the decision to relocate from Chicago back to Carbondale — Liz’s
alma mater at SIU — they brought with them a passion for pollinators and a vision for what their urban property could become. Nestled in the heart of downtown Carbondale, they have thoughtfully transformed their yard into a thriving pollinator sanctuary, designed to support the hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies that depend on healthy urban green spaces. In partnership with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, they have also established a Pollinator Pod dedicated to scientific research, making their garden not just beautiful but scientifically meaningful. Built on sheer determination and a deep commitment to conservation, this sanctuary is a testament to what one household can do to make a difference for these vital creatures.

​Unitarian Fellowship
105 N. Parrish Ln.

​The Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship welcomes you to explore their one-acre native plant
prairie, a living landscape that supports over 14 species of butterflies, along with dragonflies and bees, through blooms that span the entire growing season. Visitors are invited to wander the path and perimeter at their own pace, with knowledgeable guides on hand to answer questions and share the story behind this remarkable community green space. A QR code is also available on-site, linking to a curated slideshow of the prairie’s blooms across a full season — a beautiful reminder of how native landscapes change and flourish over time.

1010 S. Oakland

This four-tenths-of-an-acre property is a showcase of intentional native planting, featuring rain gardens, stone pathways, and a dry stream swale designed to manage stormwater naturally. From Culver’s Root and Joe Pye Weed to Fragrant Sumac, Elderberry, and American Smoke Tree, the landscape offers a rich variety of native shrubs, trees, and perennials across sun and shade conditions. Visitors are welcome to explore the yard and see firsthand how native plants can transform a residential landscape.
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​1212 W. Carter St.

​This 35 x 7-foot native plant garden is entering its third summer and serves as a living example of how a simple roadside ditch can become a thriving native habitat. All plants were selected based on observations at Green Earth’s Chautauqua Bottoms Prairie, rooting this garden in the local ecosystem. The plot follows a minimal-maintenance philosophy — new plants receive care during their first year or two of establishment, then are left to naturalize on their own. Over time, natural competition has shaped the garden organically, with some species yielding ground while others spread and flourish. The result is a dynamic, ever-evolving native landscape that demonstrates how working with nature, rather than against it, can create beauty with very little intervention.
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​1010 S. Oakland Ave.

​This four-tenths-of-an-acre property features native plantings throughout both the front and back yards, thriving in conditions ranging from full shade to full sun. Stone pathways wind through several rain gardens, and a natural swale — a dry stream bed that collects and channels water during rainfall — manages runoff from the sump pump and the yard’s position as the lowest point in the neighborhood. Native perennials include Milkweeds, Joe Pye Weed, Mountain Mint, Rose Verbena, Culver’s Root, and Foxglove Lobelia, while an impressive collection of native shrubs and trees rounds out the landscape: Viburnums, Fragrant Sumac, St. John’s Wort, Coralberry, Elderberry, Beautyberry, Roughleaf Dogwood, Bottlebrush Buckeye, Fringe Tree, and American Smoke Tree. The homeowners are actively managing invasive species including Creeping Charlie, Winter Creeper, and Wiregrass, and warmly welcome visitors to explore the garden and share their own gardening stories and plans.
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​705 S. Taylor

​This welcoming landscape demonstrates how native plants, flowering shrubs, and thoughtful garden design can create valuable habitat for pollinators while providing beauty throughout the growing season. Visitors will find a diverse collection of plants including daffodils, jonquils, golden alexander, pink ladies (spring beauties), purple coneflower, hosta, hydrangea, snowball bush, crape myrtle, yucca, white fringe tree, tiger lily, and a mature crabapple tree. Many of these plants provide nectar, pollen, shelter, or seasonal interest for butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.
The garden features layered planting beds around the home and along the property edges, creating continuous blooms from spring through summer and fall. Native and pollinator-friendly species such as golden alexander, purple coneflower, and white fringe tree help support local wildlife, while ornamental favorites add color and structure. This yard is a wonderful example of how homeowners can combine attractive landscaping with practices that benefit pollinators and contribute to a healthier environment.