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Paw Paw Woods August 25, 2018

8/30/2018

Paw Paw Woods Saturday August 25
We don't get to Paw Paw too often, always a pleasure when we do. It is one of the oldest nature preserves in Illinois and features wonderful topography, with high bluffs and steep ravines.

On this Saturday it also featured four student-athletes from Oak Lawn Community High School, numerous other volunteers, and the return of brush-cutting, power tools, and brush pile burns to Palos as the fall season kicks off. While some might miss snipping weed heads, most seemed quite content with the day's activities.

On the coming weekend we bring September in with a full slate of activities at Paddock Woods on Saturday, McClaughrey Springs and Cap Sauers Holding on Sunday.

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Cap Sauers August 18, Swallow Cliff & Black Partridge August 19, 2018

8/22/2018

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Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday August 18
Margaret and crew cut brush in an area she’d been looking at for three years, working the side of a hill rich with natives including oaks and sedges. The small honeysuckle seen when she first scouted the area had since become ‘threateningly large’, so it was great to get in and get them.

New volunteer Evan, who would show up again the following day at Black Partridge, joined regulars Dave, Diana, Joe, Kathy, and co-steward Bob.

Swallow Cliff Sunday August 19
Ginger Rubinstein led this one, getting a second observation for her workday leader certification. Thanks, Ginger, for agreeing to help at Swallow Cliff!

We numbered 15 or 16, collecting seed in the wooded upland area near the South grove. Along the way we spotted some colorful fungi, insects, and a tiny frog, all pictured below. Shout-out to first-timers Denise, Bob, Kent, Kelly, and Ethan.

Black Partridge Sunday August 19
Another super group, including a team of eight from SWCA Environmental Consultants and first-time volunteers Manny and Matt. John split us into two groups, some collecting seed of woodland grasses and others cutting and stacking brush near the old home site. An enjoyable afternoon in the woods of Palos!

Butterfly Mama
After passing several monarch caterpillars to friends, Julie P released her first on Tuesday. Several agonizing hours waiting for her wings to dry, and a stretch where she seemed totally happy on Julie's finger, ended when the baby finally got her wings going and took off!

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Ecology Walk August 11, Hidden Pond August 12, 2018

8/15/2018

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Cap Sauers Ecology Walk Saturday August 11
Ecologist Kristin Pink led us from Ford Road into the preserve, past Visitation Prairie, to the Cap Sauers esker. We stopped several times, for mini-lessons on local plants and updates on restoration initiatives. It was enjoyable and informative - thank you Kristin for a terrific job.

Thanks also to volunteer stewards Bob Arentz and Margaret Tobin, and to FPCC staff assisting with the walk. A huge thank you to our 'angel' who made a very generous contribution to support our work!

Hidden Pond Woods Sunday August 12
This was an another great day, with 17 volunteers helping cut brush on the northwest edge of the prairie. Too hot to burn - steward Mary Busch will try to get the Conservation Corps in to dispose of the large piles of brush we cut. What started as a small opening quickly expanded thanks to the energy of our group. Hot fun in the summertime!

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Willow Springs August 4, Cap Sauers August 5, 2018

8/7/2018

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Saturday August 4, Willow Springs Woods
"Off with 'is 'ead!" That's the battle cry when you're after invasive thistles, cutting the flower-head to prevent seed from developing. Our group started near Country Lane Woods, working north toward Katydid Slough. Parts of this area are wetland, though not so much after a July of minimal rain.

Thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Violet for joining us on the hunt!.

Sunday August 5, Cap Sauers Holding
Bob's original plan was to cut brush; another hot afternoon led him to switch to seed collecting. We gathered a goodly amount of bottlebrush grass seed, which will be distributed later in the season.

Caterpillar Days
Ms Julie has a couple milkweeds at home, which, of course, means monarch eggs and caterpillars. Thus far we've only fostered them while finding adoptive parents; in the short time we've had them it's been illuminating to watch their behavior.

While picking dill, in my backyard, I felt one swallowtail caterpillar drop onto my leg. Julie found his buddy on another branch. These two are also guests at the moment.

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Spears Woods July 28, 2018

8/2/2018

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Saturday July 28, Spears Woods
Can't really say what the main body of volunteers did as Jim and I got separated early on and spent about two hours wandering Spears south of the picnic grove. It seems we covered the same ground as the others, just at a different time.

It was a good walk; highlights included some way-cool fungi (see below) and a larger patch of native jewelweed than any I've encountered.

Our main target was Japanese hedge parsley, a relatively new invasive (our stewards have been talking about it maybe for a couple years) which is popping up all around the area. While Jim and I didn't encounter much, the main group brought back several bags for disposal.

It's prime time for prairie blazing star - the purple spikes are blooming for your enjoyment in most prairie settings now. Sundown Meadow has an embarrassingly large profusion of the blooms, also seen below.

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Paw Paw Woods August 25, 2018

Cap Sauers August 18, Swallow Cliff & Black Partridge August 19, 2018

Ecology Walk August 11, Hidden Pond August 12, 2018

Willow Springs August 4, Cap Sauers August 5, 2018

Spears Woods July 28, 2018

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