Palos Restoration Project - Blog

McMahon September 25, Swallow Cliff September 25, 2022

9/26/2022

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday September 24
Joe chose a small area, between the creek and the main prairie, for Saturday's work site. It had a lot of honeysuckle, blocking prescribed fire from moving father north.

Doug with the brush-cutter, Neal with the chainsaw, the rest of us with hand tools, we cut and dragged and burned, removing all the undesirables within the area. Quite a productive morning for our smallish crew.

Palos Park Library Walk Saturday September 24
This was our first fall walk with Palos Park Library, and we did it at Spears Woods, walking the loop from the parking lot to Boomerang Slough, then to Old Country Lane. It's a tour that has it all, woodland, wetlands, and prairie, in the space of a couple miles. The library patrons are always fun to walk with - next time out will be October 22 at Cranberry Slough.

It also instills a deeper appreciation for all the parties involved in restoration. As we passed different sites I could say "Two years ago this was honeysuckle hell, then contractors came in with brush mowers", or "Conservation Corps cleared all along this ravine", or "here we had volunteers cutting and burning".

It truly does take a village, a web of partnerships that support and sustain one another.

Swallow Cliff Woods South Sunday September 25
Our Lady of the Woods sent another group to Swallow Cliff, and they were as energetic and fun as those who came last March. We're starting work in a new section this fall, so our first steps off the trail were a plunge into head-high goldenrod bordering the wall of brush we're targeting.

We did very well, burning two brush piles and clearing a nice-sized section that was quite thick with honeysuckle. I returned the next day and was impressed. Thank you Our Lady of the Woods, thank you Leah and Emilie and the rest of Sunday's team.

Maple Lake/Paw Paw Woods September 10, 2022

9/15/2022

Maple Lake/Paw Paw Woods Saturday September 10
We had a small group of volunteers cutting and burning invasive brush on the north shore of Maple Lake. This is a spot we've worked in the past, including a fun day of winter tree-thinning several years ago when we dropped the cut trees onto lake ice. A bit warmer in September, but a cool enough morning to kick off fall brushpile burns.

My thanks to Jim Dzialowy for pictures and his account of the morning.

Our Heart Your Park service day at Hidden Pond was rained out last Sunday and is rescheduled for Sunday October 9. We again plan to collect seeds of native plants from the prairie and welcome your participation.

Willow Springs September 3, McClaughrey Springs September 4, 2022

9/8/2022

Willow Springs Woods Saturday September 3
We were another small group on this Saturday preceding Labor Day, chasing down thistles in a contractor work area of a year or two ago It's impressive how quickly forbs and grasses come back after a plot is cleared of brush; not all of it is native and desirable, of course, impressive just the same.

Our main target was bull thistle, with several of us clipping flowers while Joe and Diana carried back[pack sprayers. It was a pretty day, albeit warm as the morning wore on, and we dragged our bags of booty back to the lot at quittin' time for disposal.

McClaughrey Springs Woods Sunday September 4
Diana had a small group at the meadow at McClaughrey, cutting and burning woody invasives. Could not attend due to prior plans, told it was a productive morning.

This weekend will be split between brush-cutting at Paw Paw (Saturday) and seed collecting at Hidden Pond Sunday. By the end of September the primary focus will be brush-cutting, and will remain there throughout fall.

Willow Springs Woods August 27, Swallow Cliff Woods August 28, 2022

9/1/2022

Willow Springs Woods Saturday August 27
I missed this one due to another obligation, using Kathy Bruch's account and Doug Bosco's FB post/photos. The main target was bull thistle, aka the thistle whose thorns get through almost anything. Ouch! Aside from the clippers there were a couple backpack sprayers joining the fray, which will be repeated this Saturday, September 3. We're getting near the end of weed season.

Swallow Cliff Woods Sunday August 28
This was the first of our three dates collaborating with Forest Preserves of Cook County, Citgo, and National Recreation and Park Association. We collected seed in the south woodland, bottlebrush grass, woodland brome, a bit of silky rye, and several forbs.

And yes! We had several finds of doll's eyes, always a high point of these dates (at least to this correspondent). We also had a good turnout, including five first-time Palos volunteers; Jared, Brian, Dan, Jesse, and John. A big thanks to Kris DaPra for obtaining the grant, Emily Russell for leading the day, and Diana Krug who toted a backpack sprayer for several hours while we did our seed hunt.

McClaughrey Springs August 21, 2022

8/25/2022

McClaughrey Springs Sunday August 21
We were scheduled for Cap Sauers the preceding day but Margaret had to cancel after two rounds of rain moved through the area. She planned to collect seed and rain literally throws a damper on that task.

So a small group came to McClaughrey on Sunday, cutting brush near recent work areas (relying on Doug Bosco's FB post as your correspondent was out of town). Doug was on brushcutter, ending a two-month plus hiatus and no doubt making him happy. No burning on this day, cut-and-drop.

Soon, however, we will return to cut and burn sessions. Not this weekend, with one weed day and one seed-collecting day planned, but soon after that. Depends on the weather and the stewards.

Redgate Woods Trailblazers Walk Thursday August 18
This walk was led by Martha, a volunteer with a keen interest in history, and focused on the original Argonne Laboratory site at Redgate Woods. Fascinating stuff! After hearing the history we hiked to Site M, where the old reactor is buried. Quite the enjoyable and informative time.

McMahon Woods August 13, Black Partridge Woods August 14, 2022

8/15/2022

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday August 13
Originally slotted for Cranberry Slough, we instead ended up at McMahon for one last shot at white sweetclover.
By now many of the plants are dropping seed; see the picture below of what must be thousands of tiny seeds at the bottom of a collapsible yard waste bag. As I pushed the plants into the bag I could hear the sound of the seeds hitting its bottom - it sounded rather like rainfall.

It can take years to see what impact our efforts had - so many variables go into plant growth - that we can only hope the population is reduced over time.

Best part of the day was the richness of plants on the prairie. Saw my first cardinal flower and obedient plant of the season that morning, evidence how deep we are into summer. Each week brings something new.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday August 14
Sunday was a pleasant change of pace. Instead of chasing weeds, we spent the afternoon collecting seed and touring the nature preserve side of the site. We'll have a couple more sessions of seed collecting coming up, at Swallow Cliff August 28 and Hidden Pond September 11.

Cool day, somewhat overcast, so weather was no concern at all. Saw my first great blue lobelia of the season, just a day after its red cousin noted above. While many of the seeds are not ready yet, we got some grasses and a small amount of a couple forbs.

McMahon Woods & Fen August 6, 2022

8/10/2022

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday August 6
Just a couple of us pulling white sweetclover on the prairie, a couple more carrying backpack sprayers. The sun was intense so we took a couple extended shade/hydration breaks. Many of the larger plants have gone to seed by now, while new, smaller ones continue to pop up. Tenacious!

Our Sunday session at McClaughrey Springs was canceled by rain, rescheduled to Sunday August 21. Black Partridge, usually on that third Sunday, will instead be on Sunday August 14, 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

Just a few more weeks of weed control, then comes a transition back to brush-cutting and burn piles. We'll also see moderation of the heat; while we haven't had crazy-high temps (just a couple days near 100 degrees) the humidity and exposure to the sun are a double whammy.

We offer a sincere thank-you to each of the volunteers that graced us with their presence over the past couple months.

McMahon July 30, Sagawau July 31, 2022

8/4/2022

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday July 30
We returned for another bout with melilotus alba (white sweet clover), our fourth of the season. This time, at least, it seemed we were pushing it back a bit. We'll return again this Saturday, and I fully expect to be back again next summer. This stuff fights back, it's tenacious.

Our weed-pulling crew numbered eight of so, including first-time Palos volunteer Lisa, and Brea, who didn't get enough of melilotus the previous Sunday at Black Partridge. Lisa also spotted a really cool moth caterpillar, pictured below. We also had two people cutting and stacking brush and four toting backpack sprayers across the prairie. Rock stars one and all!

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Sunday July 31
With an open fifth Sunday, I made my way to Sagawau to join naturalist Laura and a small group of volunteers cutting brush. It's truly pretty there right now and I highly recommend a visit to see all their colors of summer.

The brush-cutting was reminiscent of honeysuckle days at McMahon, where bittersweet vine ties all the targets into a tangled mess. Here the offending vine was grape, with the effect the same. The volunteer group handled it well and punched a nice hole into the thicket of brush at Sagawau fen.

Ecologist Walk July 23, Black Partridge Woods July 24, 2024

7/28/2022

Paw Paw Woods Ecologist Walk, Saturday July 23
Kristin Pink led a large group on this walk, emphasizing the rich mix of native shrubs found at Paw Paw. What's most notable about Kristin? Her abundance of passion for her work and for the land she helps manage.

We saw a number of those shrubs, learned some ID tips, heard about the history of the site and land management practices, and got some hill climbing practice at the same time. One walker from outside Palos (a flat-lander) spoke a day or two later of muscle soreness from navigating the terrain.

Our walk was cut short due to nearby thunder and lightning, but we saw enough the whet the appetite for more. Paw Paw is a truly beautiful place and well worth the effort.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday July 24
We were quite the small group on this Sunday afternoon, pulling white sweet clover and snipping teasel near Bluff Road. We cleared the area where we began, near Goose Lake, then moved west to a pasture where we composted several bags of weeds.

We cut some teasel there, didn't even attempt to tackle the large infestation of melilotus (sweet clover). It was big and tall and insanely thick; we'd have needed forty people, maybe more, to clear that in the time we had left. So that will wait for another day, perhaps another strategy. Meanwhile, we got some good work done and saw numerous pollinators feasting on nectar plants in our work area.

Walkin' in the Rain
An hour after last Sunday's walk at Little Red Schoolhouse was canceled in a downpour, I made my way to Swallow Cliff. The rain was just a drizzle now (of course!) and the preserve was deserted.

Rain's aftermath is a fine time for plant photography; every surface glows with moisture and tiny droplets grace every picture. Simply beautiful!

Cap Sauers Holding, Swallow Cliff Walk July 16, 2022

7/21/2022

Cap Sauers Holding July 16, 2022
We were a small group, relocating near the junction of Ford Road and Will Cook Road where steward Margaret found an active population of Canada thistle. This was a largely overcast day, and relatively cool, making for a better time working in a spot with limited shade.

Some of the thistle was concentrated in small patches, though I suspect volunteers ranged farther afield once that low-hanging fruit was dealt with. Thanks to all who came, including first-time Palos volunteer Brea.

Trailblazers Walk at Swallow Cliff, Saturday July 16
Walk leader Bruce did another fine job, taking us from Forty Acres Woods through part of McClaughrey Springs, then on to Swallow Cliff. We had a big group, and a good time! Bruce has diverse interests; his opening remarks included a little geology, some meteorology, and Leave No Trace principles, all before we left the parking lot.

We also witnessed some of the numerous signs of high usage around the site. Once-narrow footpaths have, in some places, become six feet wide or more. It's a huge burden on the land, increasing erosion of a rare soil type, Lemont drift, that, once gone, is irretrievable.