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McMahon Woods & Fen July 24, 2021

7/29/2021

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McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday July 24
Despite the late-July heat wave, we had an even dozen volunteers on the prairie, including first-timer Thomas, along with sister Carolina and mother Melissa who previously joined us at Swallow Cliff. Our target was white sweet clover, always a tough foe. Saturday's work was complicated by several dry days, so many of the plants refused to uproot, forcing us to clip them near the stem.

I felt trapped in a 3 Stooges routine. Hold the clippers in one hand and the next few plants pull up easily. Put the clippers back in pocket, the next one has roots that go to China. Remove clippers from pocket, clip plant, repeat. We made a big compost pile of everything we removed, pictured below.

The high point of the day: Viewing the result of our efforts, a sea of prairie forbs and grasses waving gently in the breeze, unencumbered by those tall intrusive stalks of sweet clover. The prairie was even prettier than I recall from past visits, maybe because we usually come out in early July for sweet clover and this time we waited almost to the end of the month. More time for the wild bergamot, compass plants, two species of coneflowers, rattlesnake master, Culver's root, and all the other native plants to put out flowers.

Palatine Prairie
I visited Palatine Prairie Sunday, helping for a short time clipping teasel flowers. Stewards Cyndi, our former stewardship aide from FPCC, and Brian have a remarkable little piece of land under management, lying on one side along a railroad right-of-way and chock-full of native flowers. Last time out was the day of their spring burn, so I'd never seen it in full glory of the growing season. It did not disappoint.

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Cap Sauers July 17, Black Partridge July 18, 2021

7/22/2021

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Cap Sauers Saturday July 17
We had a small group of six and spent our morning dead-heading Canada and bull thistle. Bull thistle, ouch! I'd forgotten how sharp and stiff those thorns are. Nothing short of welding gloves will offer full protection, and we were relieved when the bull thistles were finished and we could switch to the Canada variety.

As is always the case, we encountered a number of native flowers in bloom as we moved through the preserve.

Black Partridge Sunday July 18
We worked on teasel along the south side of Bluff Road, in a series of small fields separated by hedgerows. This, if I recall correctly, was the location of the dairy farm of years gone by. Teasel was not as numerous as a year ago, though it's a bit early and there may be more plants bolting as the summer goes on. So we got whatever we could find, and also pulled a few white sweet clover for good measure.

Thanks to first-time Palos volunteers Steve and Angelica, and to Olga for providing hand-wipes when we took our cookie break. It wasn't a terribly hot day, but the afternoon sun was direct and it felt great to grab some shade and kick back for a spell.

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Cranberry Slough July 10,2021

7/15/2021

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Cranberry Slough Saturday July 10
We worked at the far south end of Cranberry, in a corner bounded by Old Country Lane and 107th Street. Our main target was Canada thistle, growing in a sector cleared of brush by contractors less than two years ago. Thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Olga, to Darien and Julia, and to the rest of the stalwarts who showed up on a damp day in the midst of mosquito season.

Judicious application of repellent kept the skeeters at bay, and we loaded numerous trash bags with thistle flowers and seed. Joe, Diana, and Carolyn carried backpack sprayers and herbicided behind us as we wiped out the bulk of the biggest thistle patch.

The prairie at McMahon is quite beautiful. with a variety of native flowers in bloom right now. We saw two kinds of coneflowers, two of the Siphium genus (rosinweed and compass plant, with prairie dock present but not bolted yet), Monarda, black-eyed Susans, and much, much more. It's great evidence what can happen with removal of invasive species and careful management.

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McMahon Woods July 3, 2021

7/7/2021

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McMahon Woods & Fen Saturday July 3
After a couple false starts - the first time we got lost at the beginning of the day - we arrived at a big patch of black mustard targeted for removal. They were as large as advertised, some likely 10 ft. or taller. At least they pulled without much struggle, and our group removed the ENTIRE patch before noon. Ann spotted and pulled a patch of mugwort, which gave her a measure pleasure.

What a group it was too!  We had 15 volunteers total, very impressive for a holiday weekend. That included first-time Palos volunteers Aneel and Malcolm, the latter of whom proving his path-finding skills on the way out. Much thanks for sharing part of your weekend with Palos Restoration Project.

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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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