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McMahon July 22. Swallow Cliff July 23, Paddock July 26 2017

7/24/2017

McMahon Woods & Fen, Saturday July 22

As long as thistle (or melilotus, last year's blight) remains at the site, volunteers come back to chase it. This was the case again Saturday, working near 107th Street where the Canada thistle is prolific. Having "a very good year" as Frank might say.

Swallow Cliff Woods, Sunday July 23

This day, Jackie Grom's last as our FPCC Stewardship Aide, was productive, with 14 volunteers working in two locations. Most worked on resprouts in the area where we cleared brush earlier this year, while a small group tackled clumps of thistle and white sweet clover nearby.

Jackie will continue to lead workdays, as a volunteer, at Swallow Cliff. That's great news and I welcome her continued involvement in Palos.

Paddock Woods Wednesday July 26

Warm and humid, again, yet it didn't stop our group from cutting another mass of brush. We're moving right through this section of woodland which is flush with honeysuckle and euonymus.

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Around Palos; week of July 14, 2017

7/14/2017

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Cranberry Slough Ecology Walk Saturday July 15

FPCC Ecologist Kristin Pink conducted a tour of Cranberry, walking the loop and stopping at various points of interest. She talked about the brush mowing project that started two years ago - it's remarkable how areas fill in once brush is removed. Thank you, Kristin, for an informative morning!

Paddock Woods Friday July 14

We hosted a group of young people from Palos Heights Christian Reformed Church. In the Chicago area for a week of volunteer service, they came from various places - Ontario, Canada; South Dakota, and Michigan, to name a few. They were great, their adult leaders were great, and we look forward to working with them in the future. With the temperature only reaching the mid-seventies, we were able to burn two brush piles, a pleasant surprise.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday July 16

This day was quite productive, with 'guest appearances' from Bob Erck of Ted Stone and Arie Crown, toting his chainsaw, and Jim Carberry from Orland Grasslands hauling a backpack sprayer. We also had new volunteers Brook, Calixto, Sam, Moira, and Marcus, and almost newbie Chris.

Volunteers did weed control and brush cutting and experienced the lushness of Partridge on a lovely summer afternoon.

Paddock Woods Wednesday July 19

Cutting without burning, on a warm rather humid morning. We got a lot done with a few motivated volunteers. Soon we'll collect seed, some of it to be distributed in this recently-cleared area.

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Spears July 8, Hidden Pond July 9, Paddock July 12, 2017

7/13/2017

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Spears Woods July 8

A small group of volunteers wandered from Boomerang Slough, to Hogwash, and eventually to the woodland. Most areas were happily light on thistles and other invasives, and even the thistles we found were not prolific flower and seed producers.

Hidden Pond July 9

We walked the edge of the site along Kean Avenue, pulling melilotus, clipping thistle and teasel heads, and taking a short tour of the prairie where a number of lovely natives displayed their blooms. Very nice, and a good showing of volunteers on a Sunday that started out cool and heated up considerably by noon.

Paddock Woods July 12

Under threat of storms, we worked until 10:30 and broke through a line of brush to 119th Street on the south end of the site. The "Good Timing" medal goes to Doug Chien for choosing to call it a day when he did; we heard rumbles of thunder on the walk back and reached the parking lot just as the serious rain began.

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McMahon July 1 & 2, Paddock July 5, 2017

7/6/2017

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McMahon July 1 & 2

Last year at McMahon we faced an infestation of white sweet clover (melilotus alba) requiring multiple visits and much grief. This year the melilotus isn't so bad - it's Canada thistle that runs wild. Wow, dadgummit, as mom would say.

Joe hypothesizes that burning spurred the germination of thistle seed. Whatever happened, it's a mess. Fun facts about Canada thistle (from U of I Extension):

One plant can produce 1,500 - 5,000 airborne seeds
The seeds can be viable for 20 years or more
That plant can also produce six meters of rhizomes in a year
Canada thistle is listed as a noxious weed in 43 states, meaning its control is required by law

So the members of Palos Restoration Project show not only their love of nature, but also their good citizenship, in their ongoing effort to control this pest.

Paddock July 5

Cut-and-drop brush was the order of the day, with honeysuckle and euonymus the two primary targets. Working near 119th Street in the southeast corner, we encountered some oversized specimens of both - see the picture below for a monster honeysuckle tackled by Geri Rode and Lauren Russ. The ground beneath this one was almost barren, should do much better now that sunlight will reach it again.

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McMahon July 22. Swallow Cliff July 23, Paddock July 26 2017

Around Palos; week of July 14, 2017

Spears July 8, Hidden Pond July 9, Paddock July 12, 2017

McMahon July 1 & 2, Paddock July 5, 2017

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