Palos Restoration Project - Blog

Cap Sauers November 19, Black Partridge November 20, 2022

11/23/2022

Cap Sauers Saturday November 19
This was probably the coldest morning of the season, a time to second-guess how much clothing is needed. It felt wintry at first, though quite fine at the work site, where we eventually had three fires. That, and ample chances to cut and drag voluminous amounts of brush, obviated any possible complaints of feeling chilled.

By the end of the morning volunteers effectively pushed brush back to the drainage that marked the margin between the brushy and more open tracts of land. Looking great!

Black Partridge Sunday November 20
The second cold morning became quite tolerable in a short time - we were in a sheltered spot and totally cozy once we got a fire going. We almost broke through our brushy patch to its west side, an open area that once was pasture for the dairy farm in its previous incarnation.

We had one first-time Palos volunteer, Steward John Marlin's nephew Adam, and a return visit from last week's new kids, George and Janina. It seems like everyone brought their "A" game, and we cut and burned a lot.

Willow Springs November 12, Hidden Pond November 13, 2022

11/17/2022

Willow Springs Woods Saturday November 12
Volunteers returned to the preceding week's work site to have one more crack at multi-flora rose. Courage! It grows tangled with the honeysuckle and separating the two can be an epic struggle.

They were up to the task as they always are. Thorny plants like multi-flora rose and barberry make a strong case (along with flying embers) for wearing eye protection all the time.

Hidden Pond Woods Sunday November 13
We cut honeysuckle on the west border of the prairie, first time there since January. We cleared a big patch, with an energetic group including first-time Palos volunteers Janina and George. Teri Radke from Forest Preserves Volunteer Resources led the activities, assisted by co-worker Emily Russell.

A chilly start gave way to a single hot fire and an impressive pile of hot embers by noon, given the size of the group and the absence of power tools on this day. Great job, everyone!

Willow Springs November 5, McClaughrey Springs November 6, 2022

11/9/2022

Saturday November 5, Willow Springs Woods
We cut brush on a windy, at tiems rainy day, unable to burn due to wind speed exceeding the allowed level on the burn permit. Joe picked a location away from any tall trees for volunteer safety. We cut a lot of honeysuckle and too much multiflora rose (everybody's NOT fave invasive) and stacked it for burning this weekend.

A storm front moved in shortly before quitting time, with some of our group getting to the parking lot just ahead of it, with others, (guess who) not making it and getting a quick soaking.

Saturday November 5, Nature Walk at Sagawau
A quick burst of rain around 9:30 am likely kept a few of our walkers at home, yet we still had a hardy group of six. And the rain stopped by the time we were ready to walk.

Big thanks to naturalist Laura at Sagawau, who was pressed into service at the last minute and shared some great insights on local plants and wildlife. Several evening grosbeaks (an uncommon bird around here, I'm told) chose that morning to pay a visit, bringing a goodly number of birders out. Love their passion! Some of us caught a quick look at the grosbeaks through borrowed binoculars.

We also saw water running through the waterfall - not too common in these droughty times - and a bur oak that is high on Laura's list of favorite trees. Pictured below.

Sunday November 6, McClaughrey Springs Woods
By Sunday morning winds had diminished somewhat, and we were back to our autumn norm, cutting and burning brush. We weren't far from Kean Avenue, on the east side of Mill Creek, clearing above its banks on a small rise. Just like the waterfall above, Mill Creek had a steady flow following rain over the preceding two days.

Our smallish group got a good piece of land cleared of honeysuckle on yet another lovely fall morning.

McMahon October 29, McClaughrey Springs October 30, 2022

11/2/2022

McMahon Woods & Fen October 29, 2022
Volunteers moved east for this day, to the 'sand dune' area. First order of business was cleaning up a lot of ground clutter, logs and brush cut on previous days when we weren't burning. They continued with cutting and hauling more brush to the fire.

It was quite the productive day; thanks to all who helped, including first-time Palos volunteer Al.

Nature Walk at Swallow Cliff, Saturday October 29
This was another Trailblazer walk, led by volunteer Bruce who always keeps things interesting. He's been to all our national parks and shares insights from his travels in ways that relate to local nature. This time we walked the Yellow Trail east through McClaughrey Springs and Paddock before returning to the starting point at Forty Acres Woods.

McClaughrey Springs Woods Sunday October 30
This was another day of cutting brush, a mix of "creeping bittersweet vine and haunting honeysuckle" per Joy's FB account. She also shared a striking picture of a milkweed seed pod, seen below.

The work at McClaughrey is coming along nicely. During the nature walk Bruce recognized volunteer efforts along Mill Creek.

McMahon October 22, Swallow Cliff South October 23, 2022

10/27/2022

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday October 22
Back to the prairie's north edge, we cut and burned more brush on another in a string of beautiful October days. Two chainsawyers (Jim & Kevin), and Doug on brushcutter were able to do a lot of damage to the honeysuckle population, and a single fire took care of the cuttings.

We'll be back at McMahon this Saturday (October 29), working farther east and meeting at Morrill Meadow field.

Nature Walk at Cranberry Slough, Saturday October 22
Librarian Jessica Rock and about a dozen patrons of Palos Park Library came to Cranberry for a loop around the namesake slough and return trek along the Old Country Lane. It was a stunning day, with a full palette of fall colors.

Swallow Cliff Woods South Sunday October 23
Our Sunday team included first-time Palos volunteer Emily and nine others. We cut honeysuckle near the sloughs in the south woods (now known as either the Muskrat Sloughs or Cherry Hill Sloughs). It was a dry, breezy day so we took extra care to ensure the fire remained where we wanted it; that credit goes to Joy who's a terrific fire manager.

We expanded the open area we started a month ago and plan to return here regularly over the next few months. It's a lovely spot, with an open expanse to the immediate west and a view of the trail just north.

Cap Sauers October 15, Black Partridge October 16, 2022

10/19/2022

Cap Sauers Holding Saturday October 15
We had a big group of volunteers, including eight grad students from U. of C. and first-time Palos volunteers Pam and Ray. We continued cutting brush in the area worked last month, with Margaret reporting we cleared 0.3 acre by morning's end.

It was another in a string of beautiful days, the perfect time to be outdoors under sunny fall skies. Thanks to all who attended.

Sunday October 16, Black Partridge Woods
Though Sunday's group was a bit smaller,. we were no less determined. We were on the south side of Bluff Road, clearing a brushy patch not far from Goose Lake and the Des Plaines River. Just like Saturday, the morning began a bit crisp and soon warmed (or was it the fire and activity?)

We began in the middle of our patch, clearing from the center out in all directions, breaking through both east and west while making significant progress in the other two. Thanks to Maureen, whose first volunteer stint in Palos was just a week earlier, who also brought her brother Steve to help. Loving the family plan!

Spears Woods October 8, Hidden Pond October 9, 2022

10/13/2022

Spears Woods Saturday October 8
Scouts from Troop 216, La Grange, led by Eagle candidate Daniel R., planted and caged hazelnut shrubs at Spears. They did a great job, were well organized and brought lots of energy to the project. We've collaborated with Scouts from this troop in the past and they always come through.

Some of the shrubs were propagated at Chicago Botanic Garden, from nuts collected at the site, while others came from Possibility Place nursery. Caging will protect the baby shrubs from deer who find them a tasty treat. While the scouts planted, our regular volunteer group cut and burned honeysuckle nearby, making it a win-win day. Take out the bad, bring in the good!

Hidden Pond Woods Sunday October 9
We collected seeds from the prairie at Hidden Pond, an impressive variety of seeds, including several grasses and a number of forbs. Some were easily found, some were sparse, and at the end of the morning we had an impressive array of bags to process for distribution later in the season.

This was the last of three service days in partnership with Forest Preserves of Cook County, CITGO Fueling Good, and National Recreation and Park Association. We appreciate their support.

McMahon October 1, McClaughrey Springs October 2, 2022

10/6/2022

McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday October 1
Volunteers returned to the northern edge of the prairie, cutting multi-flora rose and honeysuckle with chainsaw, brush-cutter, and hand tools. They broke through on the eastern edge, which should allow mechanical brush-mowing come winter. It also will allow prescribed fire to move into the cleared area. Progress!

Thanks to Kathy Bruch for pictures and the account for this day and the following morning at McClaughrey Springs.

McClaughrey Springs Sunday October 2
This is the second of three Heart Your Park service days. It was another "breakthrough" day, with volunteers punching through a wall of honeysuckle and the prairie northwest of our work site.

We had a super group of volunteers augmented by support from Forest Preserves' Volunteer Resource Center. Two staffers from National Recreation and Parks Association, the agency that wrote the grant, attended and spoke with Kathy about the unique nature of the volunteer program in Cook County. It's encouraging to be a part of a program that works, and that could serve as a model for other municipalities.

Little Red Schoolhouse Arts & Crafts Fair Sunday October 2
The first Arts and Crafts Fair since COVID, and it was back to the outdoors, a fine choice on a beautiful fall day. I offer a huge thank-you to Cyndi Duda, Julie Pietrzak, Maureen Neidle, and Kathy Bruch for helping spread the word about local nature and the value of restoration.

We spoke with numerous shoppers at the fair and had a good time doing so. Thanks also to staff at Little Red Schoolhouse, always the gracious hosts!

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.