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Maple Lake, Spears, and Paddock: August 26-30, 2017

8/31/2017

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Maple Lake/Paw Paw August 26
On a lovely morning we had a great turnout, working along the shore of Maple Lake selectively removing and burning invasive brush. Thanks to first-time volunteers Jillian, Mike, Laura, James, and Kevin, and to Jessica, One of our Paddock Wednesday people, for bringing husband Kevin.

Spears Woods August 29
We collected seed on the prairie at Spears, with five volunteers from U of I Extension Master Naturalist program, a couple Palos regulars, and Kris DaPra from FPCC Volunteer Resources. Special thanks to Kris for putting this program together. We will have four more seed collection days before season's end.

Paddock Woods August 30
This was the first day officially led by Bob Schwaan, who proved his mettle by prepping three brush piles so we had fire within minutes of our arrival. Another super turnout with 22 volunteers total, including first-timers Christian and Julianna. We got so much done we could break for lunch shortly after 11 chill while watching the fires burn down.

Congrats to Ginger on her new gig with Friends of the Forest Preserves; we will miss her on Wednesdays. We'll also miss Devin, who starts high school next week. He and mom Carrie have been a huge help at multiple sites this year.

Postcard from Redwood:

Brad Marciniec, who volunteered extensively since fall 2016, sent some pictures and an update this week. He remains at Redwood National Park until autumn and has been promoted from volunteer to interpretive ranger. Congratulations!  The trees seen in the last picture below are NOT found in the Palos preserves.

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Cap Sauers August 19, Paddock August 23, 2017

8/23/2017

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Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday August 19

Margaret and company cut brush and burned at Cap Sauers, with two brushcutters going at least for a portion of the day. They were joined by a family group memorializing a recently departed loved one. Buckthorn and arrowwood viburnum were the main targets of this workday.

Paddock Woods Wednesday August 23

By Wednesday it was cooler and less humid, making it far easier to burn brush. We had two fires and disposed of another huge amount of cut brush. Thanks to first-time volunteer Lance and our usual, incredible Wednesday Paddock people.

The popping, sizzling sound of brush added to the fire reminded several volunteers of the sound of breakfast cooking - bacon  and pancakes on a hot griddle. I guess we were hungry. So next week we will cook lunch at day's end to celebrate Bob Schwaan becoming workday leader at Paddock Woods.

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Willow Springs August 12, Hidden Pond August 13, Paddock August 16, 2017

8/14/2017

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Willow Springs/Katydid August 12

Brush-cutting near the area where contractors cleared brush last winter, volunteers discovered impressive new growth in what had been a brushy, otherwise rather barren area. It's encouraging when you see a response like that.


Hidden Pond August 13

No wind meant no burn as we cleared brush on the south margin of the prairie, building feeder piles for another day. When you cannot burn you get so much more cut because your entire focus is on that.

Volunteer Rebecca took the Managing Invasives class the previous day and says she got good reinforcement, encountering honeysuckle, multi-flora rose, and barberry. The multi-flora was particularly ornery.

Paddock August 16

Last week (forgot to mention this) we cleared a row of brush and found an abundance of small white oaks growing behind it. What a pleasant surprise! Many were 6-8 ft. tall, while others were much smaller, maybe a foot-and-a-half.

This week we burned, ridding the site of a much of the brush from three previous weeks of cutting. Dennis Kankowske and John Plunkett brought chainsaws and helped by bucking the downed pieces. It was a tough haul, with temperature and humidity both rising higher than previously forecast.


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McClaughrey Springs & Cap Sauers August 6, Paddock August 9, 2017

8/10/2017

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McClaughrey Springs August 6

Diana and company cut brush at McClaughrey - due to another commitment I was not able to work this one and the Cap Sauers session that followed. My team of roving correspondents was apparently on assignment on the Korean peninsula covering geopolitical drama so I don't have any pictures and only brief accounts of the workdays.

Cap Sauers August 6

Bob collected seed on this day, primarily bottlebrush grass but a couple other woodland grasses as well. Our thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Robert for his help.

If you've never collected seed, I suggest you give it a whirl. It's a different kind of day than invasives removal, with the chance to put your hands on something good, something we want to propagate. The next logical step after getting rid of the bad guys. It's also the ideal setting for contemplation.

Paddock August 9

Hey, no contemplative, navel-gazing here on this day. All bowsaws and loppers and brush hitting the ground. Huge thanks to Jim Foreman for handling the herbiciding task for a crew of 10 - that's a challenge and he was up to it!

Next week at Paddock we hope to do some brush pile burns, unless the temp goes back up.

I posted two pictures of a walking stick below, seen at Paddock. Their camouflage is terrific - hard to tell what is insect and what is surroundings. A very cool bug: one South American species grows to 14" long, and measures over 20" with legs extended. Females can reproduce without the assistance of a male, which I find troubling on some level. More info on walking sticks right here: https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Invertebrates/Walking-Sticks.aspx

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He's on the twig that bisects the picture left to right
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That's a bowsaw handle and lopper tip behind him.
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Meadow at McClaughrey, photo by Diana Krug
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Willow Springs July 29, Paddock August 2, 2017

8/1/2017

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Willow Springs Woods July 29

Sincere thanks to new volunteers Nina, Andrew, and Kevin for their unbounded energy. We cleared brush from a hillside right in the middle of Willow West, rising above a deep ravine that bisects the area.

We encountered lots of honeysuckle, and far too much multi-flora rose. The latter was particularly annoying, with its nasty shredding thorns. Made the barberry seem docile in comparison. One section had some huge rose bushes, and the morning got better once they were removed.

Paddock Woods August 2

Some of Saturday's multi-flora rose followed us to Paddock on Wednesday. That, plus an abundance of honeysuckle, and some euonymus, kept us going. We pushed farther to the south and east, closer to the trailhead at 86th Ave and 119th St.

It was a super turnout, including two first-time volunteers, Jackie and Jessica, and several almost-newbies. New friends and old friends, great to have them all!

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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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