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McClaughrey Springs February 22, Swallow Cliff February 23, 2020

2/27/2020

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McClaughrey Springs Saturday February 22
Instructor Erin Faulkner of Curie High School and 11 of her students joined our volunteers and a crew from Atrium Landscape for a morning of tree thinning on the west side of the preserve, near La Grange Road and the northern crossing of the Yellow Trail. Sawyers cut a lot and lit several fires to burn it; a followup day is planned for additional cleanup.

Thanks also to first-time Palos volunteer Abigail from Moraine Valley, and a tip o' the cap to Michael for completing his first Brush Pile Burn Boss observation.!

Swallow Cliff Woods South, Sunday February 23
The ice on the trails at day's start was rather tricky, affirming why I have NOT been walking those trails recently. So the number of walkers and runners braving those conditions was quite impressive, and as the day wore on the sun softened the ice considerably, making conditions less treacherous.

We had another great group, with four first-time Palos volunteers: Meghan, Hollyn, David, and Reid. Abigail, who made her Palos debut the previous day, was back for more. Thanks to them, and numerous others, we cleared another big stretch on the bottom portion of the slope near the trail spur going to the stairs. It's really opening up nicely, and Jackie and Ginger already selected a spot for our March work.


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Cap Sauers February 15, Spears Woods February 17, 2020

2/20/2020

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

2/12/2020

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

2/5/2020

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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.
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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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