Palos Restoration Project
  • Home
  • About
  • Schedule
  • Maps
  • Volunteer
  • Blog
  • Contact

Maple Lake August 27, 2016

8/30/2016

0 Comments

 
The following report and pictures come compliments of guest blogger Margaret Tobin. Thank you, Margaret!

With a good soaking rain earlier in the morning, and with over 80% relative humidity, we figured our option was to just stack brush instead of burning it. However, the stacks of brush were getting in our way, and Joe decided we were going to burn. So, with a paper sack of dead branches and twigs he saved for such a purpose, along with one fire log, and one match, Brush Pile Burning in Palos was officially opened by Joe Neumann.

It burned well and easily, once we had it going. There was a nice breeze from the lake, and the weather was not too hot. The heat also helped dry out our soaked clothes.

Joe says we will probably come back to this area, as additional, careful removal of brush amidst good native species will be necessary.

​
0 Comments

Black Partridge Woods August 21, 2016

8/24/2016

0 Comments

 
On Saturday August 20 we had that most rare of occurrences, a Palos cancellation!

Yeah, it was pouring rain, sure you can't herbicide in those conditions, of course it was the right call. It just doesn't happen very often. We've been quite fortunate in that regard.

So the following day John hosted volunteers at Black Partridge on a beautiful, sunny day. The primary task was the marking of native shrubs with tape, to protect them when John holds brush-cutting workdays later in the season.

Many thanks to Margaret Tobin for taking pictures and giving me a rundown of the weekend while I was away for several days in Arkansas.

0 Comments

McMahon August 13, Hidden Pond August 14 2016

8/16/2016

0 Comments

 
McMahon Woods & Fen August 13, 2016

This was another day of pulling white sweet clover. Fun facts about white sweet clover:
  • Estimates of longevity of seed in the soil range from 2-1/2 to 81 years.
  • Viable sweet clover seed has been extracted from animal feces.
  • Sweet clover is well adapted to survive fire...
So I guess I'm saying I expect to be back there next year.

The above, and much more, can be seen at www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/melspp/all.html


Hidden Pond August 14, 2016

This morning was all about our old friend honeysuckle. We cut and stacked piles in the middle of the prairie - there was insufficient wind for burning - and cleared the entire area targeted. We were most productive!

Thanks to new volunteer Rebecca, to Jackie Grom from FPCC for running the day (and, with Diana, doing the herbiciding), and to Doug who was tearing it up on brush-cutter.



0 Comments

McMahon, McClaughrey, & Cap Sauers August 6-7, 2016

8/10/2016

0 Comments

 
McMahon Woods & Fen August 6, 2016

The first weekend of the month is our busiest, and it began at McMahon.

Our third assault on white sweet clover in the McMahon prairie went much like the prior two; we removed a lot and left much more. The good news is that when it drops all its seed we stop coming. The bad news is we'll be dealing with that seed two years from now. Job security for restoration volunteers...

McClaughrey Springs August 7, 2016

Out first brushpile burn since the end of April was a good one. We burned off all the honeysuckle piles the Shedd Aquarium group cut in July. We got an assist - chainsaws and all - from the FPCC crew that's been coming out recently on weekends. Much appreciated!



Cap Sauers Holding August 7, 2016

Our afternoon session was spent collecting seed (primarily bottle-brush grass) which translates to wandering the site. Saw a lot of mushrooms, large numbers of wild onions in bloom, and a variety of other goodies. The big oak pictured at bottom right is a beauty!

0 Comments

Cap Sauers Moraines July 30, 2016

8/4/2016

0 Comments

 
We had extra help on this one, from FPCC staff Ryan, Nick, and Mark, and interns Lance and John. Past steward and present Plants of Concern volunteer Jackie Whitler also came out, as did Mark from Whistler Woods.

We spent most of our time removing thistle heads in the general area of Visitation Prairie and enjoying the many natives in bloom. It was another great day to be outside!

0 Comments

    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.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly