Palos Restoration Project - Blog

Cap Sauers February 15, Spears Woods February 17, 2020

2/20/2020

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday February 15
Cap Sauers with a light coating of snow, you can't go wrong. We had several fires going as is the norm on these days, hauling brush by hand and by sled to the fires.

We can't always keep up with the Atrium sawyers, but we give it our best shot. You always walk away from one of these days knowing you've contributed..

Spears Woods Monday February 17
Our Presidents Day was spent thinning trees on a small hill near the north end of the Yellow Trail at Spears. Atrium Landscape sawyers and haulers were present, along with three first time Palos volunteers - Eddie, Wojciech, and Corrine, and returning friends Michael, Laura, Jim, Steve, and Carolyn.

Another relatively dry breezy day, five fires with little trouble starting them. The hillside looked much more open when the work was finished, which was the goal for the day.

Paw Paw Woods February 8, Hidden Pond February 9, 2020

2/12/2020

Paw Paw Woods Saturday February 8
No rain or mist for the first Saturday in a month or more. What a treat! We built and burned several big brush piles, right in the middle of Paw Paw. Thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Michael, also to Joanna Huyck and Kris DaPra from Volunteer Resources who visited to do the Palos segment of their "People of the Preserves" program.

We'll be back at Paw Paw on Leap Day, February 29, so anyone who missed last Saturday still has a chance to help at this lovely place that we don't visit too often.

Hidden Pond Sunday February 9
We had a small group, probably due to the threat of snow showers that didn't materialize until close to noon. By that time we'd removed and burned all the honeysuckle from our target area, and steward Mary Busch was able to effectively shut things down much sooner than anticipated.

Steve's chainsaw was a big reason we finished early. Thanks to him, also to Ed Costin, a volunteer with the Kellers and others in the early days of Palos Restoration Project who had to take a bit of time off to raise a family. Good to see him back, new friends are silver, old ones are gold.

Cranberry Slough February 1, Black Partridge and Cap Sauers February 2, 2020

2/5/2020

Cranberry Slough Saturday February 1
This was another log-tossing, tree-thinning day, with multiple fires that, for at least the third consecutive Saturday, were slow to start due to high humidity and wet fuel. Sure, we eventually get them going. There were brief moments when the sun broke through, all too brief.

Special thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Courtney and to Kathy Bruch of Atrium Landscape and the sawyers and haulers donated by her to help us improve the health of our preserves.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday February 2
On Sunday we marked World Wetlands Day with a brush-clearing morning at Black Partridge. This was a collaboration with Forest Preserves of Cook County, National Recreation and Park Association, and funding partner Citgo.

We numbered 17, including Dan from Citgo making his first visit to one of our restoration workdays. We also had a good showing from the T.Stone/Sundown folks and an assortment of other energetic volunteers, all cutting and dragging to two fires in our latest target area, across Bluff Road from the parking lot. We cleared around some big lovely oaks; perhaps one day, with the increased light, we'll see some of their offsping sprouting. Steward John Marlin expressed his pleasure with the day's accomplishments.

Cap Sauers Holding Sunday February 2
Our third effort of the weekend continued that World Wetlands Day theme, as we worked right above the small wetland visited a month ago, cutting brush up the slope to the north. A special shout-out to Mai, Myra and Luke who doubled up, morning and afternoon with us. True stalwarts! This was the first truly sunny day in nearly two weeks making it a joy to be outdoors.

Cap Sauers January 25, Swallow Cliff South January 26, 2020

1/29/2020

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday January 25
We extended our recent run of damp Saturday mornings with this one. Yeah, it does slow ya down when the ground and fuel are saturated. Given that, we still had multiple fires burning and loaded them up well.

Like so much of our post-glacial terrain, Cap Sauers is rife with rolling hills and ravines, small drainages and larger creeks moving water from high to low ground. Stunning landscapes!

Swallow Cliff Woods South Sunday January 26
We had an excellent group today, with seven scouts and leaders from Troop 671 in Chicago, and additional first-time Palos volunteers Amy, Dylan and Luke. The ground was mostly frozen so we were able to work without the muddy mess we often have encountered this warm wet January.

With a wide stretch now clear all the way down to the marsh, our work site looks better each time we walk away. More sun reaching the ground means more native herbaceous plants come spring. Thanks to all who help make our local nature healthy!

Paddock Woods January 18, MLK Day of Service January 20, 2020

1/21/2020

Paddock Woods Saturday January 18
Our only session of the weekend was a slushy one, not optimal for fire-starting but still manageable. We had multiple brush piles burning in a really pretty area of Paddock. Our thanks to all who came to haul and pitch, including first-time Palos volunteer Drew.

Characteristic of our winter dates, we all got an excellent workout and headed home with the feeling of a job well done.

MLK Day of Service Monday January 20
This year's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday marked the 25th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader's life and legacy. Forest Preserves of Cook County hosted several restoration days around the county; the nearest to Palos was at Dan Ryan Woods.

With busloads of students coming throughout the afternoon, Volunteer Resources and Little Red Schoolhouse staffers did a terrific job helping them cut and burn buckthorn and other invasive brush. It was a privilege to be a part of that day AND it got me to a preserve I don't visit often.

Lake Katherine, Palos Heights
Though it's not part of the forest preserves, this is one of my go-to places. It's only half a mile's walk from home, has a one-mile chipped path around the lake, and connects to the Cal-Sag paved trail at both ends.

On most days it's well-trafficked, so people who don't feel safe walking alone tend to come here. You don't get the solitude of a long walk on a preserves trail but that's a trade-off many are willing to make.

Staff and volunteers are doing a prairie restoration on one end and invasives removal throughout. Other features include a pollinator garden (by Palos Heights Garden Club), vegetable garden, and much more. Lake Katherine is part of the Palos Heights park system and definitely something my current hometown is doing right.

Hidden Pond Woods January 11, 2020

1/13/2020

The weather outside was frightful... Saturday January 11
Last Saturday and all restoration days in the Cook County Preserves were canceled. Which was okay for those of us were scheduled for the weekend's indoor activity, which follows.

ConEx at Stagg High School, Saturday January 11
This event was organized by Peter Gordan, a graduating senior and the founder of Homes4Monarchs, an organization dedicated to building awareness and providing habitat for the monarch butterfly. This was ConEx's second year and several exhibitors expressed the hope that Peter's graduation won't preclude another one in 2021.

It was much fun, with about 80 exhibitors and vendors including Orland Grassland Volunteers, Shedd Aquarium, Forest Preserves of Cook County, and others too numerous to list.. Extras included live animals, live music, and an authentic T-Rex skull. A huge personal thank-you to Dave Branigan, Bob Erck, and Kathy Bruch for joining me and to all who stopped at our table to say hey.

Hidden Pond Sunday January 12
Sunday was a much better day to be outside and we took advantage, cutting brush near a little wetland south of the prairie. . Wet ground and fuel didn't keep us from getting a hot fire going and we cleared a nice patch of land by noon.

Spears Woods January 4, McClaughrey Springs & Cap Sauers January 5, 2020

1/7/2020

Spears Woods Saturday January 4
This was the first of our tree-thinning days of the season, with three chain sawyers from Atrium Landscape, compliments of Kathy Bruch. We had an excellent group, including first-time Palos volunteer Jim T., a regular at Bartel Grassland.

We worked close to the Old Country Lane and 87th Street, continuing in an area started two years ago. We managed several seriously large fires going (propane and the leaf blower in starring roles) and got some good work done.

McClaughrey Springs Sunday January 5
Diana had a small group on Sunday morning, but with Steve and Bob both toting chainsaws you can figure on a goodly amount of brush going down. These guys take no prisoners. While I couldn't make this one I am told it was productive.

Cap Sauers Holding Sunday January 5
We were 16 strong on Sunday afternoon, including first-time Palos volunteers Arlene and Sean, as well as Steve and Ann who came with son Max. Max volunteered with us way back in 2016 when he was in high school; now he's at Tulane U. and back to help again.

Working just above a small drainage along Visitation Trail, we dragged and burned a number of bigger buckthorns that were already cut and awaiting us, and targeted invasive brush in an expanding circle as the afternoon progressed.

What was a tangled mess upon arrival was much more open and inviting by the time we finished. Thanks to all who attended for a super day!

Paddock Woods December 28, McClaughrey Springs December 29, 2019

1/2/2020

Paddock Woods Saturday December 28
We returned to the site last worked before Thanksgiving, removing brush from both sides of a ravine inside the Yellow Trail loop. Two gas brushcutters helped immensely. Meanwhile, our chain sawyers thinned trees a safe distance away.

We were joined by first-time Palos volunteer Kaela and returning friends including Sheri, Jake and Miguel. The year-end warm spell continued, working against us in one respect; the soft damp earth limited our ability to traverse the sides of the ravine. Though it felt good to shed clothing and work in shirtsleeves this late in the year...

McClaughrey Springs Sunday December 29
This marked the last session of the year in Palos. We cleared brush along a winding stretch of Mill Creek, giving us a clear view of the creek by morning's end. This is the instant gratification we don't often get in our endeavors - pushing a wall of brush back doesn't have the same visual impact.

We were fortunate to have Steve and his chainsaw (and later Ben's) to deal with the bigger, tangled masses of brush. That freed the rest of the group to haul and burn, which we did with great energy. Much thanks to Kaela, who, along with Steve, Kathy, and Diana, doubled up Saturday and Sunday.

Cap Sauers December 21, Swallow Cliff South December 22, 2019

12/26/2019

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday December 21
We had a smaller group on this pre-holiday weekend, cutting brush along the multi-use trail coming from Ford Road. Unseasonably warm, as it has been for the better part of a week already, With Jim and Kevin running chainsaws and Doug on the brushcutter, we still got a mess o' brush cut and burned.

With the major contract project done last winter and our continuing efforts, Cap Sauers continues to become the open woodland that our stewards envision. The post-glacial topography is stunning and invariably impresses first-time visitors.

Swallow Cliff South Sunday December 22
Back to Swallow Cliff with Jackie, Srdjan, and Maxim. We continued to expand our work area in three directions, hoping in a couple more sessions we'll reach the marsh at slope's bottom as well as the trail spur leading to the stairs. That will be major progress.

Thanks to Ginger for helping lead, to Jesse, Nick, Raul, Laura and Elizabeth for their terrific help (after break Laura and Elizabeth helped distribute seed collected earlier in the year), and to Kathy for her tenacious wielding of the herbicide wand.

Willow Springs December 14, Black Partridge December 15, 2019

12/18/2019

Willow Springs/Katydid Saturday December 14
We had a chainsaw, a couple brush-cutters, AND a group of scouts from Troop 216, all helping clear brush near 95th and Willow Springs Road. Though your correspondent was otherwise engaged this morning, sources report that it was a most productive day. From Doug Bosco's pictures it also looks like they tackled some heinous tangles of brush. Kudos to all who attended!

Black Partridge Woods Sunday December 15
We had a small group on Sunday and returned to the south side of Bluff Road to continue our vendetta against the many, large honeysuckle populating that area. Old burn scar, new fuel, and a scrappy fire that took too long to really get cooking. We were joined by several first-time Palos volunteers; thank you Matt, Jannah, Jamilla, and Kyle for your generous help!