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Willow Springs February 25, Swallow Cliff February 26

2/26/2017

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Willow Springs Woods Saturday February 25
We were back in the vicinity of Katydid Slough. The area really looks different after Kathy Bruch's Atrium Landscape cleared brush over a large area on the southern and western edges. A prescribed burn also was done recently on both the woodland and the prairie. So much more inviting now than several years ago. To actually see Katydid Slough from a distance... Amazing!

The day was not without its challenges. We had one hung-up tree that required much effort, more than a little discussion, and a final tug of war to bring it to the ground.

John O'Lear had an afternoon session at Swallow Cliff, on the western edge, cutting and burning viburnum which has taken a fancy to that location.

Swallow Cliff Kickoff Sunday February 26

We cut a lot of honeysuckle; we had a good time. We're working at the junction of two trails and hope, over the next few weeks, to clear the brush east to the picnic grove. In one morning's work I think the difference is discernible - see the before/after pics below.

Thanks to everyone, new friends and old, who attended. Thanks to Jackie for leading the day, to Raquel for supporting it, to Doug for his yeoman's job of organizing, and to Joe for taking our guests for a informative walk. 

Swallow Cliff is a favorite spot of mine, for hiking, cross country skiing, even climbing the lung-busting stairs, so I'm super stoked to be doing restoration here.

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Black Partridge February 19, Paddock February 20, 2017

2/20/2017

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Prescribed Burns, February 16-23, 2017

Prescribed burns all over the preserves took advantage of the record warmth and surprising string of dry days. Crews burned at sites throughout our area; see a small sampling of photos below.

Black Partridge Woods February 19

First time (in my experience) we burned in the parking lot. Interesting. It was our good fortune that the cut pieces were up the hill, so we were able to roll them down. Thank you Mr. Newton for that gravity thing...  Maxwell and Kyle made a most entertaining game of it.

Our thanks to Kris DaPra of Volunteer Resources for her help the past two weekends in Palos.

Paddock Woods February 22

We are virtually done clearing brush from one section where we've been for several weeks, will be moving a short distance east and clearing/burning in an adjacent section. It's really opening up - perhaps a prescribed burn will come to this area in the not-too--distant future.

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John Marlin & chainsaw in the upland
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Pileated snack bar, per Ann Petric. At Paddock Woods.
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Brush piles burning in the parking lot, to protect sensitive plants up above
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Fungus of the week at Paddock Woods
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Spears Woods Feb.11, Paddock Woods Feb. 15, 2017

2/15/2017

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Spears Woods Feb.11

Spears was a day of big, hot brush piles. So it was surprising, on a return trip Monday, to find almost everything had burned away. Some of the piles had half-burned logs on the perimeter - see one of the pictures below - but that was it.

The group was also big that day, including a couple of first-timers, FPCC staffers from Resource Management, Kris and Raquel from Volunteer Resources, Brenda and crew from FOTFP, and the Atrium sawyers. Very impressive team!

Paddock Woods February 15

Beyond the work that got completed on Wednesday, the big news at Paddock was the prescribed burn two days earlier. Contractors did the inner loop, getting good coverage, especially near the parking lot and moving south/west from there. With any luck that kick-starts the natives come spring. We spread some of the seed collected last fall in the burned area.

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Part of the area burned by contractors at Paddock February 13
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Bob, Dennis, and a burnt-out snag
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 Cap Sauers February 4 & 5, Paddock February 8, 2017

2/8/2017

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Short post today. We're planning an event at Swallow Cliff on Sunday February 26 and should have a web page up, with details, in the next couple days. Part walking tour, part habitat restoration, all fun!

Cap Sauers Moraines February 4

Another big, productive Saturday at Cap, with the Atrium sawyers knocking things down and everyone else hauling, tossing, and burning. "Only" seven fires this time. We also had the biggest "barberchair" break I've seen, several feet above the intended cut.

The area we've worked the past two months should be fantastic come growing season. Looking forward to a midsummer visit.

Cap Sauers Holding Sunday February 5

Smaller crew this time, competing with Super Bowl pre-game I guess. I was only able to stay a short time but it's worth stopping to walk the Visitation Trail up the hill. Bob and crew are working their way over to the edge of a ravine lying east of the trail. It will be fun to clear and open that area.

Paddock Woods Wednesday February 8

We're close enough the the Montessori school now that we'll use hand tools only next time, with the chainsaw moving farther east. Thanks to everyone who comes to our Paddock Wednesdays, we're getting a lot accomplished there.



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An active work site at Cap Sauers Moraines, Saturday February 4, 2017
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Don't try this at home, kids.
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Visitation Trail Sunday February 5, looking more like November.
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Mother teased us with a sprinkling of snow at Paddock, Wednesday February 8
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    Author

    I'm Jan Pietrzak with the Palos Restoration Project. This blog and website were created for your information and enjoyment.

    I hope you'll be encouraged and inspired to volunteer at any of the numerous forest preserves in our area.

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