The Pros at Home

ILCA Visits Industry Members at Home

Jack Pizzo’s dazzling prairie makes coming home a pleasure

by Nina A. Koziol

In late summer, the gently

rolling landscape around Jack Pizzo’s home in Clare, Illinois, is a medley of blue, violet, gold and white flowering perennials—all native to northeastern Illinois. Big and little bluestem grasses with seedheads shaped like turkey’s feet sway on the breeze. Migrating songbirds and dragonflies dart overhead while scores of butterflies, beetles and bees visit asters in this spectacular prairie that once was a soybean field. While goldfinches pick coneflower seeds, yellow sulphur butterflies flit around the flowers. Stand amongst the tall compass plants in fall and it feels as if you’re back in 1850 when prairies dominated the state.

“The best thing about it is the dynamic nature of the property and how it’s different every year, every month, every hour—it’s never the same,” says Pizzo, whose firm Pizzo & Associates, Ltd. in Leland, has received countless awards for its work, which includes natural areas restoration and management, prescribed fire, invasive species control and sustainable landscaping using native plants.

In 2002, he purchased 40 acres of wet farmland, built a house on the highest point, and moved his family from their home in River Forest. Many of the seeds and plants came from Pizzo Native Plant Nursery LLC, in Leland. He also collected seed on his own. The wetlands and fencerows harbored a few remaining native plants: Cordgrass, Rice cutgrass, Carolina Rose, American plum and one

milkweed. That was it. Now there are more than 225 native plant species with 10 percent grasses, 30 percent sedges and 60 percent flowers.

To say the change has been dramatic is a wild understatement. From bean fields to a rich tapestry of nectar- and pollen-producing plants, it’s a pollinator’s paradise. Nearly 160 species of birds, including more than 20 different warblers have been logged visiting the prairie along with mink, possum, skunk, (continued on page 46)

Call for a Tour (262) 214-2058

N5480 Johnson Road • Delavan, WI

www.TurtleCreekWholesale.com

(continued from page 45) fox, coyote, northern shrews, prairie voles and deer mice. White-faced ibis, black terns, upland sandpiper, sandhill cranes and rare black-billed cuckoos have stopped to eat or drink. He’s even spotted a lone whooping crane from his all-terrain vehicle. And monarch butterflies that typically arrive in April, can be seen in large numbers roosting during fall migration on one of his trees.

“I’ve had a bald eagle, tree swallows, barred owls, long- and short-eared owls, great horned owls and screech owls along with harriers, which are great hunters. And tons of dragonflies.”

Seldom seen, elusive badgers now come to the property, digging holes in search of food. Their efforts resulted in a fascinating discovery. “Violets—oh my god—they are the absolute proof of biodiversity and how it works. I couldn’t find any and didn’t expect any on the property but once the badgers started digging, the following spring there were violets everywhere that they had excavated the soil. And, bumblebees were all over the violets. Badgers created bumblebee habitat.”

Before he planted the prairie, brown thrashers were never present because there was nothing there for them. Now they’re back each spring along with redbreasted grosbeaks. He planted seven savanna blazing stars (Liatris scariosa) and now there are hundreds that feed bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. And some things—like a lone orchid— nodding ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes cernua)—showed up on its own! Four other species of native orchids were found at the Leland property.

A wide range of waterfowl visit the area, which often has standing water in many places after a heavy rain. “There was only one place that was buildable— everything else floods. There are drain tiles here but it collects 800 acres of water onto my property.” The plants were chosen based on their moisture needs. Bioswales and rain gardens move the water away from the house to desired spots.

Habitat Helper

The long winding gravel driveway is lined with hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) with its elegant spikes of blueviolet flowers. But plants come and go from one year to the next. “Everyone says New England aster takes over but I haven’t seen that. You’ll see one or two and then patches—waxing and waning. I’ve seen it get dense and then it disappears. Same thing with yellow coneflower.”

Some native flowers and grasses begin blooming in early April and others flower through October. Shooting stars, phlox, gentians, thistle, clematis, several species of liatris, blue-eyed grass, baptisia, asters, five species of goldenrod, climbing rose (Rosa setigera), white prairie clover, leadplant, stiff sunflower, lousewort, mad-dog

Prescribed burning on Pizzo’s prairie enhances biodiversity

skullcap (a Pizzo favorite) and bastard toad flax are just some of the delightful, pollinator-attracting forbs that grace this very special, ever-changing landscape.

“It’s not about making native plants grow,” he explains. “It’s about making non-natives and aggressive species not grow. I did incredible amounts of invasive species control leading up to the planting.”

Oaks are one of his favorite trees. “Doug Tallamy has said they support 427 species of moths and butterflies.” An oak by his patio was six feet tall and one inch in diameter when he planted it 15 years ago. “Get a good healthy plant and oaks grow like crazy—50 feet tall in 15 years. I’ve got two nice black cherries brought in by the birds.” He also planted chestnuts, ironwood and hazelnuts.

Trail-Blazing

There are no trails in his prairie and he regularly takes visitors—like Doug Tallamy, author of “Nature’s Best Hope”—each armed with a beer— strolling right through the tall plants while carefully examining flowers, insects and the terrain. It’s startling to see the farm fields abutting his prairie, especially after harvest. They are a good three feet lower than Pizzo’s property because the soil has simply eroded, blown away, or has been used up through decades of farming.

“The last ice age was 15,000 years ago. The plants didn’t just appear. Everyone worries about climate change, but there were glaciers here and boreal forests. The glaciers wiped this place clean, leaving gravel, rocks, sand. The plants moved north—their gene pool was southern. As the glaciers retreated, ecosystems followed them. Then fire met prairie—it’s evolution. Ecosystems are very dynamic.”

Working It

Although his home landscape is substantial, Pizzo now tends it alone. “I’m 16 years into this. Four years ago, it got to the point where I could do it myself.” In April and May, he works on it 20 to 30 hours a month. “It’s about 10 hours a month by June and in August there’s not much to do.” He mows the lawn—native buffalo grass— (continued on page 48) The Landscape Contractor December 2021

The prairie changes constantly with new flowers and grasses appearing. (continued from page 47) about eight times during the growing season as opposed to the typical 29 times for a bluegrass lawn. The buffalo grass is burned with the prairie.

“Buffalo love sedges. These plants and animals evolved with fire and the indigenous peoples saw the effect fire had on the land and realized they could use it as a tool of agriculture. Fire also cleared the land around encampments and allowed tribes to see great distances. The burned fields quickly warm up in spring but they’re a boon over winter.” That’s because the black soil absorbs sunlight, quickly melting the snow.

His vegetable garden features rosemary, marjoram, basil, celery, oregano, sage, eggplant, kale, carrots and poblano peppers. Apple trees and Asian pears are nearby along with a large patch of magenta-colored zinnias. “They’re my mother’s favorite flower.”

Feel the Burn

“The more you burn, the more diversity you’ll have. Whenever it’s ready, we’ll burn.” Burn season takes place mid- to late-October and ends in April. “Think about those dates. That’s the point in which the plants basically stop growing. The humidity in summer is about 97 percent—from plants. Come morning, there’s little humidity but once the sun

YEAR END SALE

UP TO 10% OFF SELECT TRACTORS & ATTACHMENTS GDS ENTERPRISES

179 N Spruce, Arthur, IL 61911 (217) 543-3681

www.gdslawnandgarden.com

comes out, the plants evaporate water. When they stop growing and are dormant they stop releasing water. You see the temperature rise and the humidity plummet. When we get to that inverse relation, that’s when you get into burn season.”

“The fire rarely burns to the actual soil because it’s usually moist. And the freeze-thaw cycle in winter works the seeds into the soil. The yellow coneflower seeds may have 50 percent of the seeds on the plant and the rest is on the ground or the finches ate them. We’ll collect the seeds on the plants and spread them after the burn.”

Transitions

Pizzo is a licensed landscape architect with a B.S. in ornamental horticulture and an M.S. in ecology. He’s also an Illinois Certified Nursery Professional, and has served on several boards including the Illinois Prescribed Fire Council. He’s taught numerous classes and the emphasis is always on fire safety.

His parents owned a retail florist and landscaping service in Naperville and his father was a college biology professor who encouraged his son’s interest in science. “I’ve been working since I was 10 years old, after school and weekends and there were no lazy summers.” As soon as his homework was finished, he’d help the florists. Flash forward and his company has done work in 14 states and Canada and he has an office in Three Oaks, Michigan, where there is an everincreasing demand for his products and services.

Although he was a traditional horticulturist when he first got into the business, his pivotal moment came when he was laid off from a firm during the banking downturn. Before he left that job, his last client was in Elgin. “He had big oaks on his property and he (continued on page 50)

Poplar Grove, IL

21283 IL Route 76 Poplar Grove, IL 61065

Clinton, WI

11228 East County Road X Clinton, WI 53525

Salem, WI

7530 288th Avenue Salem, WI 53168

1-262-537-3326

wholesale@breezyhillnursery.com

Several species of liatris attract bees, butterflies and humming birds (continued from page 49) wanted wildflowers back in his woods. I grew up identifying wildflowers and I was like ‘oh my god!’ that’s what I want to do.” He started his own company on June 10, 1988.

In 1993, he began using 50 percent natives in residential and some commercial projects. “By 1996 it was all natives. We completely changed.” In 1999, he moved his business from Cicero, Illinois, to Leland. “We’d lived in River Forest for 14 years.” The transition from suburb to rural acreage was a big leap that checked off everything on his wish list. The Leland nursery property was also 40 acres with 8 1/2 acres in corn. “The rest was remnant prairie. I tripped on a large tussock sedge and fell face first on an iris clump.” He was hooked.

With more than 80 staff, Pizzo is adamant when he says, “Everyone comes

A liated With: Ditch Witch Midwest and Rentals Plus

www.1stChoiceEquipment.com 630-510-6050

1555 Atlantic Drive West Chicago, IL 60185 1stChoiceEquipment.com 630-510-6050

in knowing that they have to have a passion. I want someone who comes to us and wants a career.” Employees have degrees in biology, business that provide a balanced mix for his unique operation.

Rooms with a View From inside his home, Pizzo has phenomenal views of the prairie from every single direction. From his sunroom, he enjoys spectacular sunsets. His walls are filled with wildlife prints including the works of John James Audubon.

Legacy

His four children—Joe, Nick, Jack and Bella—and three grandchildren are the stars in his life. When Bella was little, she helped plant an area that is now called Bella’s Prairie, the most diverse on the property.

“What’s happened here is nothing short of a miracle,” he says. “I’m not the owner of the property, I’m the steward of the property. Living here alone I get to observe nature. For at least the past 4,000 years people have been here manipulating this land. It’s not about nature. Mother Nature is fine with asphalt, concrete—the whole reason we’re doing this is the preservation of our species. If we mess up, nature will be just fine, but we might be gone. I have seen nature restore, so I’m an eternal optimist.”

See Jack Pizzo’s work at https://www.pizzo.info

Jack Pizzo — a man outstanding in his field.