Palos Restoration Project - Blog

Cap Sauers February 16, Black Partridge February 17, Willow Springs February 18, 2019

2/20/2019

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday February 16
Thanks to first-timer Marc and second-time Palos volunteer Chris for being part of this one, to Jim and Doug for their tireless energy and strength. We thinned trees not far from the trail and Ford Road, with several big, hot fires on a chilly morning.

Cap Sauers looks beautiful these days, with large tracts opening up due to brush-mowing funded by an anonymous benefactor. We are ever so grateful for this generous spirit - in addition to making huge improvements to the landscape, it brings a strong gust of wind to volunteers' sails.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday February 17
My thanks to Kathy Bruch for providing photos and an account of this session. And it was a tough one, an icy, sleety cold afternoon that resisted Carrie's and Devin's best efforts to build a sustainable fire. Perhaps if they had some 'dream wood' handy... see my next entry for more on this wondrous stuff.

Willow Springs Woods Monday February 18
This was our President's Day special and we spent it cutting and burning catalpa trees that have made their way into Willow on the north end. I am giving catalpa the tag 'dream wood' for two reasons.

One; it's a lightweight, low-density wood enabling one to easily hoist a much larger log than would be possible with maple or other denser woods. It can trick you into thinking you're actually strong!

Two, it burns like a dream. Despite three inches of new snow, we got our fires going with a few short minutes of propane to each stack, no need to follow up with a leaf-blower. Carolyn stopped gathering deadwood for kindling because it wasn't needed.

Thanks to FOTFP Palos crew leader Xochitl, who came to help on her day off AND brought a friend, Aaron. Kevin and Joe also were on hand.

Willow West February 9, Hidden Pond and Cap Sauers February 10, 2019

2/14/2019

Willow West Saturday February 9
We had a small group thinning trees at Willow West, again in sight of Fairmount Memorial Gardens. Sunshine took the edge off a cold early morning, and several large fires were an immense help too.

Thanks to first-time Palos volunteers Andrew and his dad Mike. They're from a local Boy Scout troop and we hope to join forces with them again.

Hidden Pond Sunday February 10
We had a great group, with first-timers Chris, Maeve, Joe, Mike, and Trevor, as well as returning friends Andrew, John, Tyler, and Doug. John ran his chain saw while the rest of us hacked and burned, pushing farther north on the slope rising above the prairie.

The snow started at 1 pm, a little ahead of schedule, as the last of the volunteers walked out. Someone on the radio said we had a string of over 30 days with some form of precipitation; this was one of those lighter snowfalls that do little more than make driving more interesting.

Cap Sauers Sunday February 10
With the snowfall, we did not burn this afternoon. We certainly cut a lot, ample fuel for next month's brush pile burns. First-time Palos volunteer Ingrid joined us on a fine day, with a little slipping and sliding mixed in on the trek back to the road. Cap Sauers looking lovely, as always...

Salute to Tom McAvoy
A note of sadness - learned Monday that Tom McAvoy, former 3rd Ward Alderman in Hickory Hills, passed away last December. Tom was a long-time friend of Roger and Cara Keller, and a friend of Palos Restoration Project.
For years Roger and Cara wrote a bulletin, "The Other Side of Kean", informing their neighbors of restoration activities at Hidden Pond. Alderman McAvoy included this in his 3rd Ward newsletter, distributed throughout the ward. I believe their last issue was June 2015, months before Roger's passing.
Doug Chien and I met Alderman McAvoy about two years ago at Moraine Valley College, when he asked us to produce another edition of "The Other Side of Kean". Doug did so and the alderman's corps of volunteers again distributed it.
Tom also attended our dedication of Roger Keller's memorial bench at Hidden Pond last June, the last time we spoke with him. A gregarious, entertaining storyteller...
We are grateful for the kindness and help extended to us by this gentleman.

Black Partridge Woods February 2, 2019

2/7/2019

Black Partridge Saturday February 2

Perhaps it was other sites canceling, perhaps cabin fever after that pair of bitter cold days mid-week. Whatever the cause, we were blessed with a great turnout of volunteers Saturday morning, from home sites including Schiller and LaBagh, Thatcher, Arie Crown, Ted Stone, Sundown Meadow, probably others as well.

Saturday was also the 'last day of winter', with the thaw beginning that afternoon and accelerating Sunday and Monday. When we arrived at 9 you wouldn't have suspected. The snow-filled lot looking ready to swallow up a few cars, it was hard to imagine that several days later the thick white blanket would be gone.

Another week, more fires that started slowly. The leaf blower is as essential as boots and gloves on these days, and we put it to good use, finally stoking the fires and getting the cut pieces burned.. Our heart-felt thanks goes to everyone who came to help on this day!

A Tragedy in Five Acts

I noted the ephemeral nature of snow. That was well-illustrated last week.

Cranberry Slough January 26, Swallow Cliff January 27, 2019

1/31/2019

Cranberry Slough Saturday January 26
We had a smallish crew - augmented wonderfully by three sawyers and three helpers from Atrium Landscape, thank you Kathy Bruch! - thinning trees near the namesake slough. It was a cold start warming to 12 -14 F by afternoon. Our fires were reluctant so the leaf blower and propane tank were essential for the day's task.

Enough about the cold, I should emphasize what a truly beautiful day it was. Bright and sunny, a fresh dusting of snow, you can't go wrong with that combination...

Swallow Cliff Sunday January 27
Another small group, but, hey, it was still below zero when we started. We also had about three inches of fresh new snow, fluffy and light like confectioner's sugar. Cyndi had to open the parking lot when she arrived around 8:45.

Most impressed by Agustin who Ubered (that's a verb, isn't it?) his way to the site. Another reluctant fire which we finally were able to coax into providing heat, another increment of brush pushed back by lopper and bow saw.

Wintry Weekend January 19-20, 2019

1/24/2019

We canceled both our sessions last weekend due to snow and high winds. It was neither prudent nor safe to work out there in those conditions, and while we make no claims either way about prudence, we hold firm beliefs in the importance of safety.

Monday conditions were better and I was able to drive to Dan Ryan Woods in Chicago for the Forest Preserves MLK Service Day. This is a good event, with school and community groups sending busloads of youngsters to get a taste of restoration. While they, too, had some weather-related cancellations, enough came to make it an enjoyable afternoon.

Snow Play
No restoration meant lots of play time in the snow. Mostly that means cross-country skiing though I also squeezed in some hiking.

From Lake Katherine in Palos Heights, my closest nature retreat, to Swallow Cliff, quite possible my favorite, 'It's all too beautiful' - I have a prize for the first person who tells me where I lifted the first four words of this sentence.

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.