About

Biography

Christopher David Benda is a botanist living in southern Illinois.  He coordinates the Plants of Concern Southern Illinois Program for the Chicago Botanic Garden, conducts rare plant surveys for the Shawnee National Forest, and teaches The Flora of Southern Illinois at Southern Illinois University.   An accomplished photographer under the moniker Illinois Botanizer, Chris shares his extensive collection of plant photos on his website, illinoisbotanizer.com.  He can be reached by email at botanizer@gmail.com.

LinkedIn profile

Professional Affiliations

 

 

    

Illinois Botanizer in the Media

January 7, 2023 - Botanist to discuss Illinois Big Tree Registry update process - a presentation by Chris Benda

August 10, 2022 - The Southern Illinoisan - Giant City State Park to host a photo exhibit during the month of August - photo exhibit by Chris Benda

July 3, 2022 - KFVS12 news - Discover Illinois’ rare species of plants at Giant City State Park - a presentation by Chris Benda

June 22, 2022 - WSIU radio - InFocus: Coalition of nature stakeholders send letter to Senators Duckworth and Durbin asking for three new wilderness areas to be designated in the Shawnee National Forest including interview with Chris Benda.

February 13, 2022 - Chris Benda is interviewed about How Can We Improve our Stewardship of Forests by Andrew Hedman of ZokomoTV about botanizing in Illinois.  

November 21, 2021 - Chris Benda is interviewed on The Mike Nowak Show about the effort to save Bell Bowl Prairie in Rockford, Illinois.  Interview begins at 33:54.  

October 26, 2021 - Butterfly Host Plants zoom presentation for Chicago Living Corridors 

September 23, 2021 - Chris Benda produced this video about a Day in the Life of a Field Biologist for the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum’s Science Speaker Series.

September 13, 2021 - InFocus, the comments of Ornithologist Mike Baltz, on WSIU radio mentions Chris Benda

June 15th, 2021 - Chris Benda presents on the Plants of Concern Program in southern Illinois for the Illinois Native Plant Society

May 26, 2021 - Discovery At Touch of Nature radio interview for WSIU radio (local NPR station).

May 3, 2021 - Celebrating champion trees in Illinois news clip for WAND TV.

April 22, 2021 - Take a walk outside and enjoy spring flowers news clip for WAND TV.

March 4, 2021 - The Original Prairie with the Illinois Botanizer Chris Benda video for The Sun Foundation.

January 12, 2021 - Illinois Pioneer Cemetery Prairies for the LaSalle Public Library.

October 8, 2020 - Real Green People: Rob Rothrock created a 15-acre prairie on his property near Pomona in The Southern newspaper.

September 16, 2020 - Wild Ones presents virtual program on cemetery prairies in northern Illinois in The Rock River Times.

May 10, 2020 - Meet the Illinois Botanizer in The Southern newspaper

April 9, 2020 - Natural History of Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers YouTube recording for Illinois Environmental Council

August 10, 2019 - wildflower walk for the 150th anniversary in the town of Riverside YouTube video "Olmsted Society: Walk with the Illinois Botanizer"

August 10, 2019 - presentation for the 150th anniversary in the town of Riverside YouTube video "Illinois Wildflowers for the Home Garden."

August 2019 - Partners (Illinois Farm Bureau magazine) "Illinois Cemetery Prairies"

January 10 & 11, 2019 - WSIU two part radio interview about hiking the River to River Trail across southern Illinois.

November 14th, 2018 - Nature in Chicagoland blog

WINTER 2018 - Illinois Audubon magazine "Creating a Pollinator-friendly Yard" (digital copy unavailable)

August 4, 2017 - Chicago Tribune:  In pioneer cemeteries, a disappearing part of Illinois' landscape lives on

May 9, 2017 - The Southern: Native Plant are Vital for Wildlife 

February 8, 2017 - University of Illinois Extension: LEARN HOW TO PLANT NATIVES WITH CHRIS BENDA

February 4th, 2017 - Allsup: Make plans for Home/Garden show

September 19, 2016 - Chicago Is Home To More Super-Rare Plants Than You Might Think

June 21, 2016 - Illinois Cemetery Prairies (part 2) - RFD Radio Network
http://chirb.it/Bz2s2N​

June 20, 2016 - Illinois Cemetery Prairies (part 1) - RFD Radio Network
http://chirb.it/BEL8Mw

May 21, 2016 - 2016 Wildflower Walks on the Shawnee National Forest - RFD Radio Network
​http://chirb.it/wKn4sx

May 9, 2016 - Rim Rock National Recreation Trail - RFD Radio Network
http://chirb.it/Bm8pyG

April 16, 2016 - Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve - RFD Radio Network
http://chirb.it/OJzqka

March 29, 2016 - LaRue Pine Hills - RFD Radio Network
http://chirb.it/tywChJ

February 19, 2016 - There are many good reasons to use native plants in your landscape
http://thesouthern.com/lifestyles/magazine/highlights/there-are-many-good-reasons-to-use-native-plants-in/article_9957f3b2-bf2c-5146-8c99-cca34618d301.html

February 7, 2016 - In Defense of Plants podcast, Botanizing Illinois
http://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2016/2/7/ep-42-botanizing-illinois

January 30, 2016 - Free program at Giant City State Park features wild orchids
http://m.kfvs12.com/kfvs12/db_349220/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=B8LmDDj4

December 31, 2015 - A Look Back at 2015: The Natural Areas of Southern Illinois
http://news.wsiu.org/post/look-back-2015-natural-areas-southern-illinois#stream/0

October 25, 2015 - Chicago Region Trees Initiative (Oaktober 2015)
http://chicagorti.org/how-did-illinois-celebrate-oaktober-2015

October 23, 2015 - WSIU Almanac
http://news.wsiu.org/post/wsiu-almanac-october-23rd-2015#stream/0

July 4, 2015 - A Wildflower Hike with Chris Benda at Dixon Springs State Park
http://news.wsiu.org/post/wildflower-hike-chris-benda-dixon-springs-state-park#stream/0

May 13, 2015 - Little Known Preserve Offers an Array of Spring Wildflowers
http://wglt.org/search/google/merwin?query=merwin&cx=007705902156182082353%3Aesoxmex3fzm&cof=FORID%3A11&sitesearch=#stream/0 

August 29, 2014 - Wildflowers in bloom despite stifling heat
http://thesouthern.com/sports/outdoors/wildflowers-in-bloom-despite-stifling-heat/article_90840e21-76db-5d30-845a-afc74ad7df8d.html

July 14, 2014 - Wildflower Walk: Ozark Hills
http://news.wsiu.org/post/wildflower-walk-ozark-hills#stream/0

Celebrating Wildflowers - Eastern Viewing Region - Ohio River National Scenic Byway
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/eastern/OhioRiver/index.shtml

Testimonials

"I went to his session at the Wild Things conference last weekend. He was speaking about remnant prairies!! Very good speaker."  - Pam Carrington Chism on Facebook

"Funny, wil definitely follow his blogs and website.  Informative, good sense of humor.  Very knowledgeable, entertaining, and inspirational." - Feedback from 2019 Illinois Association of Conservation Districts conference