European buckthorn and Amur honeysuckle make up more than 42% of the region’s trees.
from the 2020 Chicago Region Tree Census
The Growing Problem with Invasive Buckthorn
TED Talk with Allison Frederick - WHY WE CAN'T LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE.
Invasive Buckthorn & Bush Honeysuckle
Green isn't always a good thing!
Below are images to help you recognize these invaders. These photos were all taken in the Crystal Lake area.
Photo Gallery
INVASIVE SPECIES 101
Stopping Invasive Species in the U.S.
from Aldo Leopold's essay "The Land Ethic"
"One of the penalties of an Ecological Education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An Ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise."
About Us
Awareness is the First Step!
This Environmental Organization, Go Green Crystal Lake, and site is offered as a resource for learning of the devastating environmental impact of Invasive Buckthorn, and other non-native plant species found in Northern Illinois, such as Bush Honeysuckle -- and best practices for mitigation. Go Green Crystal Lake was started by Jan Carter Seymour in October 2021. We are under the umbrella of GoGreenIllinois.org. I met the co-founder, Beth Drucker, who is also President of GoGreenWilmette.org, in Chicago at a women's march in 2018. She was wearing a hard hat with the message "Time to Get to Work" and my sign said, "Vote for Earth's Sake". Beth asked if I would be interested in starting a Go Green Group in Crystal Lake. Immediately, self-doubt set in -- but the seed was planted... and, after three years laying dormant, a spark was lit. It's time to make a difference. It's up to us!
Get Involved
We're just getting started -- explore this site -- spread the word...
Thank You
Welcome
Jan Carter Seymour is the Founder and President of Go Green Crystal Lake. Her message is: "The health of this Planet is depending on us".