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Pioneer August 24, Swallow Cliff August 25, Seed Workshop August 25, 2019

8/26/2019

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Pioneer Woods Saturday August 24
Recently FPCC reopened the Tuma Lake parking lot and cleared brush in the vicinity. Our volunteers went there on Saturday to continue the work, focusing on weed control. I'm told they found (and pulled) a lot of white sweet clover around the lake, and two members carried backpack sprayers and dealt with other invasives.

Seed Collection Workshop Sunday August 25
We started with an indoor session at Sagawau then moved to Spears Woods for the outdoor component to the class. We had a big group (ja, XXVII) coming from all around the county. Some, like me, were relative newcomers to seed collecting, while others were old pros.

A huge thank-you to Eileen Sutter from the North Branch (Watersmeet Woods) Joe Neumann from Palos (too many to list), and Becky Collings, head ecologist from Forest Preserves of Cook County for sharing from their voluminous store of knowledge, also to Cyndi Duda who helped facilitate.

There's been much contract work done in our region in the past couple years, meaning we now have large open areas in need of seed. Joe plans on holding some seed collection Tuesdays in coming weeks - if this appeals to you look at our weekly email (or calendar page on this website) for dates and locations. It's another great way to get involved.

Swallow Cliff Sunday August 25
After our seed workshop a couple of us, including one first-time Palos volunteer - Welcome, Jordan! - walked the south trail loop at Swallow Cliff looking for ripe seed. We found some bottlebrush grass, a wetland rush, and a couple others that were ready to go.

Old Friends
On Tuesday I went to my usual workday at Sundown and was pleasantly surprised to see past volunteer Steve Kirkilas. Steve volunteered in Palos, and all over the county, since 2017, then moved to Seward, Alaska to take a new job about a year ago.. Back in town for a visit with family, he found time to join us for buckthorn clearing at Sundown.

Interestingly, he said he can't find any volunteer habitat restoration activities like ours in his part of Alaska. Apparently natural areas there are relatively unspoiled, a problem that many of us might like but won't likely get. Unless we move to Seward AK?

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Cap Sauers Moraines August 17, Black Partridge August 18, 2019

8/22/2019

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Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday August 17
We had a small group at Cap Sauers Saturday,  collecting bottlebrush grass and enjoying a variety of other plants. It was good until the rain moved in and everyone had to beat it back to the cars. Thanks to Doug Bosco for the pictures from this day.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday August 18
Sunday's team split into two groups; some stayed in the woodland collecting seed while others crossed to the prairie to cut teasel where we got soaked a month ago. Thanks to Kathy Bruch for her account of this day and the great spider picture seen below.

Road Trip
I missed the above activities while visiting in-laws in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Driving Ozark country is always a delight, but heat indices high as 109 killed any notions of active outdoor play. We witnessed an impressive thunderstorm our last night in town, coming up quickly, dropping the temp by 20 degrees or more and dumping many buckets of rain in a very short time.
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Pioneer Woods August 10, Hidden Pond August 11, 2019

8/14/2019

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Pioneer Woods Saturday August 10
We wandered along Old Country Lane, searching for Japanese hedge parsley again, and finding a) enough to justify our time b)too much to feel we've got a handle on it. Time will tell, perhaps next year we won't see as much.

Instant gratification and restoration work are antithetical to one another. If you like to see results RIGHT NOW you may get frustrated in this field. It's more like Eventual Gratification.


Hidden Pond Sunday August 11
Rain started falling around 7 a.m.; though it stopped before 9 we had a small turnout. We still managed to remove all the giant ragweed we could find along Kean Avenue by the prairie, and also hit some teasel and sweet clover wherever spotted. The giant ragweed is really annoying me, always on the edge and so tall it screens the view into whatever site it invades.

A good morning, capped off with brownies and coffee cake in the shade.
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Spears Woods August 3, 2019

8/7/2019

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Spears Woods Saturday August 3

Japanese hedge parsley has really established a foothold along La Grange Road at Spears, and Saturday we tried to do something about it. We walked the roadside with trash bags, uprooting the plants (when possible), otherwise breaking them off close to the ground.

We carried multiple bags out by quitting time, with other invasives like Canada thistle and white sweet clover mixed in. I suspect we'll be back there next year doing more of the same. Thanks to all who helped on a warm sunny morning.

Willow Fest 2019
This is Willow Spring's summer festival, starting tonight and running through Sunday August 11. Last year we had a table there; this year we do not, but Forest Preserves of Cook County does and Dave and Kathy Branigan will join them as Nature Ambassadors, .

Hours Thursday and Friday are 4 - 10 p.m. Satuday noon - 11 p.m., Sunday noon - 10 p.m.  If you're in the area stop by, it's a good time.




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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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