Steve Packard grew up a remarkable and talented youth, seen as far ahead of his time. After putting in extensive work and passion into the antiwar movement, the movement slowly faded away, along with Packer’s identity.
Thirty years old and down on his luck, he called this period “this empty hole in my life.” All seemed dismal until a former coworker showed him the light by suggesting the Roger Tory Peterson-Margaret McKenny field guide to North American wildflowers. The book not only gave Steve motivation but also a reminder of his green thumb and infatuation with nature from his youth. Vacant lots in his neighborhood and near small factories became his prime location for his vision of wildflowers bringing beauty to the areas.
Betz’s The Prairie: Swell and Swale was Packard’s next read, sparking a fascination with prairies in his state. On a bicycle and with a camera in hand, Packard explored the remaining prairie sites. On June 22, 1975, Packard came across what endured from the Bunker Hill Prairie. To his astonishment, he found seven species of prairie plants and three bobolinks in the prairie boarded by brush.
Finding seven additional openings to the prairie and worried about the future of the sites, Packard decided to make his hobby his main priority. His first step was joining the Illinois Environmental Council as the Chicago representative, which he called “the first worthy job [he] ever had.”
Continuing to absorb as much information about prairies as possible, Packard recognized the importance of creating a connection between people and the land and getting communities involved in his goal. Receiving support from the Forest Preserve District’s superintendent of conservation, Packard was ready to embark on a mission to get people involved in restoring the prairies to their former glory.
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