In the Media

Illinois Botanizer in the Media

June 22, 2022 - Additional Wilderness Areas proposed in the Shawnee National Forest on WSIU radio.

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

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

May 26, 2021 - Discovery At Touch of Nature interview with Kevin Boucher at WSIU radio about the discocvery of Buffalo Clover at Touch of Nature

May 6, 2021 - Illinois Native Plant Society field trip report. 

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 video presentation for LaSalle Public Library virtual programming.

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