On the first day of the holiday weekend, our smallish group returned to the same area where we picked garlic mustard three weeks prior. We found a considerable amount still growing, prompting several trips to the compost pile.
Most of the spring ephemerals have faded, and the next round of herbaceous woodland plants is taking hold. Carolyn found a nice population of white baneberry on a slope, always a fun plant to see.
Swallow Cliff Woods South, Sunday May 28
Another day of garlic mustard, this time starting near the parking lot at the south woods. I thought we'd make quick work of one section, then move farther north, toward the stairs, but I'd underestimated the number of targets populating this spot. We ended up spending the entire morning there.
We were joined by six!!! first time Palos volunteers, thank you Marc, Jessica, and Jesse, Joan and Jennifer, and Alex for coming on this lovely morning. Garlic mustard season is winding down now; we may have a couple more shots at it before the remaining plants die back, drop seed, whatever.