Downtown Glen Ellyn has new perennial plantings that bloom longer, attract pollinators and cut water use.
The Village of Glen Ellyn announced on X on Thursday, Sept. 3, that the plantings are in place, crediting volunteers Christy Truitt and Jennifer Umlauf for their time and expertise. Truitt chairs the Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission, according to the DuPage Monarch Project. Umlauf's specific role has not been identified by the village.
The village did not specify which downtown locations received the new perennials. One documented pollinator project nearby is the Montclair Monarch Meadow, a 7-foot-by-700-foot strip along the Illinois Prairie Path near the Montclair commuter lot that volunteers replanted with more than 40 native species after clearing invasive plants including buckthorn, honeysuckle, garlic mustard and poison ivy. That project was funded through a DuPage County Board Member Initiative Project grant secured by Lynn LaPlante, a Glen Ellyn resident and DuPage County Board commissioner.
The effort is part of a broader push.
Glen Ellyn earned the Monarch Champion designation in 2025 under the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge after completing 26 of 30 recommended conservation actions, according to the DuPage Monarch Project. It was the only Illinois community and one of eight nationwide to receive the honor.
The village's Public Works team strengthened pollinator-friendly landscaping and updated ordinances to support milkweed. The Glen Ellyn Public Library launched a Seed Library, and the Environmental Commission and Park District planted 28 native trees and shrubs at Churchill Park on May 8, according to the village.
Downtown Glen Ellyn also offers a self-guided Pollinator Garden Tour with four stops featuring plants that support butterflies, bees and native pollinators. A Monarch Mural by artist Rose Fenske is on display in the alley next to The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn at 475 N. Main St. Residents can pick up a printable map and look for butterfly signs at each tour stop.
Upcoming community events
- Sept. 12: Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ returns for its 18th year.
- Sept. 17: Glenbard hosts a free Spanish-only parenting webinar.
- Oct. 8: College of DuPage Fall Open House in Glen Ellyn.
