In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, host Aaron Masliansky sky introduces Inside the Skev listeners to the Chicagoland Guide, reconnects with longtime friend, scientist, and conservationist Dr. Becky Barak of the Chicago Botanic Garden to explore how native plants can play a key role in the future of urban and suburban living across the region.

Becky will be speaking at Skokie Public Library on April 24, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in an event titled “Rethinking Lawns: Incorporating Native Plants into Home Landscapes.” In this conversation, we go in-depth on what native plants are, why they matter for our local ecosystems, how they can help with flood prevention, and how homeowners, HOAs, and municipalities can shift their approach to landscaping.

Aaron and Becky also discuss practical advice for how to:

Introduce native plants into townhome communities like College Hill

Talk to landscaping professionals about transitioning away from traditional turf grass

Select beginner-friendly native species for home gardens or rain basins

Avoid common mistakes in native lawn conversion

If you care about water management, storm resilience, biodiversity, and beautiful, low-maintenance alternatives to traditional lawns — this episode is for you.

🌱 Becky Barak’s Website

🏛️ Becky’s Profile at the Chicago Botanic Garden

📚 Rethinking Lawns Event at Skokie Public Library (April 24)

🌎 RethinkingLawns.com – Research, Resources, and Plant Lists

💼 Connect with Becky on LinkedIn

This conversation is another reminder of why Chicagoland is such a dynamic, thoughtful place to live — where world-class institutions like the Chicago Botanic Garden are working on local solutions to global problems. Whether you’re in Evanston, Skokie, or anywhere across the region, this episode offers practical insight on how we can make our communities more beautiful, resilient, and sustainable — one yard at a time.

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