Palos Restoration Project - Blog

Cranberry Slough January 12, Hidden Pond January 13, 2019

1/16/2019

Cranberry Slough Saturday January 12
We had a small group and a single chainsaw (thank you Steve!) thinning trees in the northeast part of Cranberry. Fresh snow made the walk in scenic if a bit more challenging. I could not stay due to another obligation, but managed to grab a couple pictures before departing.

Hidden Pond Sunday January 13
Thank you Steve Krupa (again!) and Bob Erck for bringing their chainsaws and skills out to Hidden Pond. They took down some hazard trees and helped buck and burn a mass of cut honeysuckle from our last time out in December. We're pretty well set up now for our next Hidden Pond date, on February 10.

ConEx 2019 Saturday January 12
ConEx, short for Conservation Expo, was the first of its kind at A.A. Stagg HS. Organized by junior Peter Gordan, it boasted an abundance of exhibitors with a variety of interests, fascinating stories and important information about protecting nature. Palos Restoration Project will happily return for a ConEx 2020.

Thank you so much to Maureen Neidle, Dave Branigan, Kristine Linquist , and Kathy Bruch for coming to assist on a snowy Saturday! Thanks also to Mike Kazaitis, Jim and Kathy Foreman, Pat Hayes, Kathy Branigan, several members of Palos Heights Garden Club, and numerous others who stopped to say hello.

Cap Sauers, Paw Paw, & McClaughrey January 3-6, 2019

1/8/2019

Cap Sauers Holding Thursday January 3
In December a small crew cut a huge amount of honeysuckle which did not get burned. Bob, Michelle, Kurt Leslie and I came back on the 3rd to drag and burn a good portion of it. Good times in Palos...

Paw Paw Woods Saturday January 5
Thinning and burning small trees on a hill and getting a reminder how much moisture a maple contains; on a day with wind not much exceeding our required minimum of 5 mph, it took the better part of the morning to get the fire truly cooking. Once we did we loaded it like little demons and did a really thorough cleanup.

McClaughrey Springs Sunday January 6
Some thick honeysuckles grow on the west edge of McClaughrey, aside the La Grange Road underpass. We had a good group out Sunday morning attacking these guys and expanding the cleared area started just a month ago. Another humid morning = reluctant fires, again... First-time Palos volunteers Kyle and Tony were among those present.

Cap Sauers Holding Sunday January 6
Another small group for our afternoon session, finishing the clean-up that we started three days earlier. Thanks to first-timer Rebecca and to Andrew and Dave for their excellent help.

Willow Springs Woods December 29, 2018

1/2/2019

Willow Springs Woods Saturday December 29
We were at Willow West for this one, right along the cemetery fence clearing some seriously chunky buckthorns. A light dusting of snow added winter ambiance to the scene. Thanks to first-time Palos volunteers Mara and Dave for joining us on our final restoration day of the year.

We accomplished much in 2018 and plan to keep our momentum going in the new year. After this weekend we'll be thinning trees on Saturdays, while Sundays will be geared more toward woody brush removal with some light tree thinning mixed in.

Each volunteer visit is a blessing and we are grateful every time someone carves a few hours out of their day to support our efforts. It truly does make a difference!

Spears Woods December 22, Swallow Cliff December 23, 2018

12/26/2018

Spears Woods Saturday December 22
Our trek into Spears was most pleasant, looking at what's been accomplished in recent days at the site. Contract work along La Grange Road on both sides of the picnic grove has removed large stretches of brush - including extensive infestations of barberry - resulting is a much more open woodland. It's simply terrific!

For a relatively small group we hit it hard. Doug did much damage with the brushcutter, Diana with the chain saw. We had three students from Chicago Bulls College Prep helping us (who came again to Swallow Cliff the following day) and several of our regular hard-working Saturday crew.

It was an easy day to get fire going, with a brisk enough breeze to keep it that way. We're clearing right on a prairie's edge with a good view of the center portion of Spears.

Swallow Cliff Sunday December 23
Two days before Christmas we weren't sure what to expect. What we did NOT expect was a group of 25 volunteers! Twelve scouts and parents came from St. Sympharosa on the SW Side, the three guys from Chicago Bulls College Prep, first time Palos volunteer Patrick, Emma and Kelli from Hinsdale, Brian and Leslie, Mike and Dave and Jean, Carrie and Devin, and my apologies to anyone I may have overlooked.

So, yeah, a most pleasant surprise and a super day. We stayed near the parking lot, starting with one fire and eventually adding another as the area cleared of brush grew and grew. Walked out thinking of next time, in January.

Cap Sauers December 15, Black Partridge December 16, 2018

12/17/2018

Saturday December 15, Cap Sauers Moraines
Sunshine and warmer temps made it a good day for attacking a thicket of brush at Cap Sauers. That included another unhealthy dose of bittersweet vine. Pictured below is a bittersweet as big as the tree it victimized - it reminds me of video of a boa constrictor strangling its prey. Seems unfair...

So we hacked away at the honeysuckle and entwined vines, and loaded the fires as best we could, eventually clearing a respectable stretch lying between Ford Road and the multi-use trail. A lovely spot made more lovely by removal of the trespassers.

Sunday December 16, Black Partridge Woods
This was a tree-thinning day, done the old-fashioned way, with bowsaws. A tip of the hat to first-timers Kieran, Kayla, and Justin from Whitney Young HS, and to regulars Leo from Westinghouse and dad Gian Luca, all bringing great energy to the endeavor and enhancing their tree-felling skills.

Willow Springs Woods December 8, Hidden Pond December 9, 2018

12/13/2018

Willow Springs Woods, Saturday December 8
A weekend with no rain, what a blessing! We had another super group out, including three more students (and two parents) from Whitney Young freshman biology class. We continued to clear brush in the same area we've hit earlier this fall and it's looking great.

As noted in prior posts, this part of Willow Springs Woods is thick with the invasive bittersweet vine (Celastrus orbiculatus). This is the demon with pretty red berries and gold capsule, the one that crafters use to decorate wreaths and other creations. Don't do this! This is nasty, nasty stuff!

Hidden Pond Woods, Sunday December 9
On a 16-degree morning, we were greeted with almost no wind, which meant no brush pile burning. Not a problem for the vigorous group assembled on prairie's edge; bowsaws, loppers, and dragging generate lots of body heat if you keep moving. The bright sun also was a big help.

Big thank-yous to Nicole and Kevin from Volunteer Resources, new volunteers Maggie, Esperanza (and mom), and returnees Andrew, Dave, Laura, Zachary, Jean, and Kathy, and steward Mary. Great day, many feeder piles built for next time.

McClaughrey Springs and Cap Sauers Holding, December 2, 2018

12/6/2018

Saturday at Spears Woods was canceled due to rain, words that roll too easily off the tongue these days. Fortunately we did better on Sunday.

McClaughrey Springs Sunday December 2
Great turnout for this one, with several students from Whitney Young HS (yes, another school assignment which we benefit immensely from), also help from the Tinley Resource management crew and first-time Palos volunteer Jake.

Diana's working farther west along the Yellow Trail now, right before it dips beneath La Grange Road and heads west to Swallow Cliff. This is a really nice area, with some good spring ephemerals growing on the side of the bluff in season. It sound like she will focus attention on this area for several months now.

Cap Sauers Sunday December 2
This was our afternoon session, where we did not burn, just went bow-saw crazy for a couple hours. Amazing how much you cut when you're not dragging everything to the fire. And when we return to burn it we'll have drier, more easily burned brush awaiting us in stacks throughout the work zone.

Thanks to Patrick, Devin, and Carrie for their great energy and to Kathy for her diligence in herbiciding all the stumps. My shoulders ached later, wonder if anyone else felt the same. Fun time!

Pioneer Woods November 24, 2018

11/29/2018

Pioneer Woods Saturday November 24
Lots of power tools running this morning, including Mark and Brendan from FPCC Resource Management. A big thanks for their help!

We cleared brush a short distance west of Old Country Lane and our previous work site in September. Cleared a lot of brush; check the before and after pics below. This spot has a horrible infestation of bittersweet, which wraps and tangles everything it touches. Nasty, Nasty!

The dampness made for good fungus weather and a couple interesting varieties turned up, also pictured below. Snow that followed within 48 hours put a huge damper on FPCC plans for prescribed burns; now they have to await this weekend's rains, then hope for a few dry days, before any burning can be contemplated. The prescribed burn is a terrific tool but one whose moments are quite fleeting.

We canceled our November 25 date at Swallow Cliff Woods South, will be back there on Sunday December 23.

Cap Sauers November 17, Black Partridge November 18, 2018

11/21/2018

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday November 17
Unable to attend this one & have no report or pictures from those present. From Doub Boaco's FB post from that date., sounds like it was another bittersweet tangle www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2387885241240130&set=a.2387884701240184&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Black Partridge Woods Sunday November 18
John Marlin became steward at Black Partridge in April 1992. Sunday he/we finished one chapter of work there, burning the remaining cut brush from an area near the old farm house site that was the last true thicket of invasive brush at Partridge.

I'm not saying the work is done here. As John puts it, "most of the brush has been removed with just small pockets remaining to be cleaned up. As well as staying on top of any resprouts that may occur." But it truly IS progress; we've been working that one location pretty consistently for three years.

Another of those little feel-good moments you get from time to time in this arena. John deserves much credit for his persistence.

Willow Springs November 10, Hidden Pond November 11, 2018

11/15/2018

Willow Springs Woods Saturday November 10
Back to the area we worked two weeks ago, we continued to push farther from the footpath where we began our assaulut. We opened an area around a row of oaks, including one impressive two-trunk tree, hopefully providing an area where their acorns can take root and produce a new generation of trees.

Hidden Pond Sunday November 11
Shepard High School students returned, 28 strong this time, and did a terrific job clearing brush from the wooded area bordering the prairie. They were energetic, engaged and curious, a delight to work with on a brisk Sunday morning. Our thanks to them and to Brian Sievers of Shepard for bringing them!

Nature Walk With a Librarian Swallow Cliff South, November 15
We had another good walk this morning, from Swallow Cliff South over to Horsetail Lake and back. The snow was only enough to get your shoes wet. Looking forward to resuming them Spring 2019!

Signs of season's change abounding even before this morning's snow; frequent flights of sandhill cranes, milkweed pods opening and releasing seed (mother says it's time to plant now), snow fences and hay bales in place at Swallow Cliff sledding hill, all pictured below.